Too much choice, come help me navigate please

[neptune1]

Thanks, will do. Not in any rush and I want to get it right. I've used bins for a couple of years so fairly familiar with the sky. I suppose my reservations about goto were using up most of the budget in technology rather than the basics and the fact it will eventually break and need replacing. is it possible to have goto separate to the telescope? 

[GuillermoBarrancos]

Thanks, will do. Not in any rush and I want to get it right. I've used bins for a couple of years so fairly familiar with the sky. I suppose my reservations about goto were using up most of the budget in technology rather than the basics and the fact it will eventually break and need replacing. is it possible to have goto separate to the telescope? 

GoTo is build into the Mount. So it's already seperate from the Scope.

If you are already familiar with the Sky, then you can just stick to a simple Alt-Az Mount (like the Porta II I suggest 2 posts earlier). But if you want to Upgrade to GoTo later, then you could opt to go for an non-motorized Equitorial Mount, which can be upgraded later.

Something like an EQ5 DeLuxe: http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-eq5-deluxe.html

[faulksy]

http://www.orionoptics.co.uk/VX/vx10-10l.html

Hi welcome to SGL. I had similar requirements and went for an orion optics 10" dob and fitted a nexus push to system to locate stuff. It's been great.

It's a lot to spend if you're not really sure what commitment you'll have to the hobby so a cheaper make or second hand might be the way to go until you know. I definitely think a dob is the way to go.

i would reccomend very highly this nexus system if you need help to navigate the skies, as richard (scooot) says is brilliant, i use my android phone and sky safari, to give yo a example of its accuracy friday night i went into the mountains with daniel k and barry, we were out for around 6 hours and all night everything was bang in the centre of view, it performed better than the cpc i had. hope you dont mind me adding this to your post neptune1

[Chris Rowland]

As I see it:

If you enjoy searching for objects then you don't need goto

If you want to see objects then goto is for you.

It's easier for imaging because they are fundamentally involved with seeing - imaging - objects.

If the technology involved with goto gets in the way as far as you are concerned then don't get it.

But from what I've seen if you don't want technology to get in the way then it's a matter of getting enough of it - or hiding it..  The Celestron StarSense is very good at hiding the technology, with this it can be as simple as turning the scope on, waiting a few minutes, and the scope is aligned and will get pretty close to any object.

Chris

[Scooot]

As I see it:

If you enjoy searching for objects then you don't need goto

If you want to see objects then goto is for you.

It's easier for imaging because they are fundamentally involved with seeing - imaging - objects.

If the technology involved with goto gets in the way as far as you are concerned then don't get it.

But from what I've seen if you don't want technology to get in the way then it's a matter of getting enough of it - or hiding it.. The Celestron StarSense is very good at hiding the technology, with this it can be as simple as turning the scope on, waiting a few minutes, and the scope is aligned and will get pretty close to any object.

Chris

Yep agreed, if you don't need or want any help then goto's not necessary. Push-to isn't goto though, no need to polar align, no motors, it purely helps you find things. At a dark site it's easier to find your way around with practice, in a light polluted site it's not so easy and I'm sure many would like some help. People use wixies, apps, star maps, and all sorts of aids. Everyone to their own, but being aware of the options helps decide what's for you.

[neptune1]

Thanks very much to all who responded, very thoughtful and considered advice, I've read up on all you've suggested. It's brought home to me how little I know about all this stuff! I'm off to visit some specialist shops this weekend but am going to hold off buying until I can try out properly at the local club and get my head round how fiddly each set up is, and importantly what it shows me.  So much choice and I don't want to get it wrong. Will report back once I have a bit more of a clue and might  need to ask again for your opinions before final decision to buy. Thanks all.

[dweller25]

Neptune1 - having re-read your posts you might want to consider one of these ...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/se-series/celestron-nexstar-6se.html

[neptune1]

Thanks Dweller 25 I have been looking at those, they look great. 

Any thoughts about the skywatcher explorer 190mn? Tring astronomy centre have it with a good looking mount. I can't work out the size of the thing but it looks good for planets and deep sky?

[GuillermoBarrancos]

Thanks Dweller 25 I have been looking at those, they look great. 

Any thoughts about the skywatcher explorer 190mn? Tring astronomy centre have it with a good looking mount. I can't work out the size of the thing but it looks good for planets and deep sky?

It´s a fantastic Scope. Optimised for imaging. It´s also a very heavy beast! Tube alone is 10kg! So as you are looking for something portable, not really an option to be honest.

For pure Visual, this scope would still need at least a HEQ5 Pro or Advanced VX Mount. Pushing you beyond your budget.

Because it´s a primarily photographic instrument, the package deals are often with the NEQ6 Pro Mount (which is also a very heavy mount).

[neptune1]

Thanks Guillermo, very helpful.