Upgrading Finderscope

[ecw199]

I've had my telescope less than a week and I'm already looking for more things to spend my money on! Whilst I'm following the advice here about eyepieces and waiting until I have got used to the scope I am seriously considering upgrading the finderscope. I have a skywatcher 200p dob and although I have only had the chance to use it twice I am already finding the straight through finderscope that came with it awkward. I want to upgrade to a right angled one.

Just wanted to check that this would be the one to go for and would fit the existing shoe on my scope?

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/skywatcher-9x50-right-angled-erecting-finderscope.html

[ronl]

Yes that's the one you need.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Yep, that would be fine. Many people combine a RACI finder with a Telrad or Rigel - makes finding targets far easier than just the straight through finder.

There you go, something else to spend your money on 

[ecw199]

About to show my complete ignorance here! I'm not really sure what a telerad is. Would it be used with/alongside the finderscope? I had kind of assumed it was just a different sort of finderscope

[RichieP]

I think some sort of zero magnification finder (e.g. red dot finder, Rigel or Telrad) is needed if you are going to use a RACI finder. With the RACI finder alone, you have nothing to get you approximately on target.

Richard

[Zuben Elgenubi]

The Telrad projects 3 red circles onto your view of the sky, allowing you to quite accurately point the scope to the correct area. You can then use your conventional finder to more precisely align to your target. This may explain better:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/telrad-finder-astronomy.html

[ecw199]

I understand better now - thank you. Would you recommend buying the RACI and telerad together or start with the RACI and see how I get on?

[AndyWB]

I'd suggest getting a telrad (Or Rigel Quikfinder - I use one of those) first, and worry about the RACI later. Or together if you must. I could survive without the finder scope, but without the Rigel, I'd be lost...

[AstroAdam]

There is always something to spend your money on!

[AstroAdam]

And a telrad is definitely recommended from this side too

[triton1]

I would also recommend the Telrad.0 mag,use with both eyes open,everything right way up,left is left,easy to star hop and can get charts showing exactly where to go using the circles

Jonn

[triton1]

P.S not very expensive

[Astro Imp]

FWIW I use a Telrad and a RACI and find this a great combination.

Good luck.

[ecw199]

Thanks everyone for great advice as always, I have been off researching telerads and this is exactly what I need to help find things more easily. I suspect I will buy the RACI at some point too but I'll start with the telerad

[Astro Imp]

Thanks everyone for great advice as always, I have been off researching telerads and this is exactly what I need to help find things more easily. I suspect I will buy the RACI at some point too but I'll start with the telerad

Good choice, let us know how you get on with it.