New (to me) SW 200p hopefully coming

[Daz69]

Hopefully, if all goes well, there's a SW 200p dob soon to join the fold  

I'll keep my 130 as a grab and go, and I can transport that up to my parents on the NE Lincs coast as the night sky up there is cracking. It was also a Christmas pressie from Mrs Daz, so probably a bit too early to sell it!

I'm hoping that there will be a significant difference..........

Daz

[triton1]

Congrats a very capable scope should have years of enjoyment from it

[Charic]

Should be a difference  between the  130 once correctly setup and if your skies are better on the NE Lincs coast, the scope will perform even better, easily transportable in a car.
Mine works well enough from my back garden, have seen a stunning crystal clear image of Jupiter, with a Moon transit shadow, and can just make out the  very tiny smudge of  M31.
Taken to a darker site,  M31 fills the eyepiece, the difference is stunning,  questioning, how can the scope be so different? Its all down to the conditions, get those right, and the 8" is a great scope. In-fact ANY scope will work better if correctly setup and used from a darker site than your present site, unless you already have the darkest site.

[Daz69]

Thanks guys.

Got to finalise the courier as it's in Scotland and I'm in Hampshire  but fingers crossed we should be good to go. 

1 hour ago, triton1 said:

Congrats a very capable scope should have years of enjoyment from it

Thanks Triton. 

18 minutes ago, Charic said:

Should be a difference  between the  130 once correctly setup and if your skies are better on the NE Lincs coast, the scope will perform even better, easily transportable in a car.
Mine works well enough from my back garden, have seen a stunning crystal clear image of Jupiter, with a Moon transit shadow, and can just make out the  very tiny smudge of  M31.
Taken to a darker site,  M31 fills the eyepiece, the difference is stunning,  questioning, how can the scope be so different? Its all down to the conditions, get those right, and the 8" is a great scope. In-fact ANY scope will work better if correctly setup and used from a darker site than your present site, unless you already have the darkest site.

I haven't got the darkest skies unfortunately where I live due to an atomic weapons establishment about a mile away, however we still get a fairly good night sky. At my parents house it is much darker, so I am looking for a big difference. 

The one I'm hoping to get has a black tube on which it pivots. How does this break down?

Daz

[Charic]

4 minutes ago, Daz69 said:

The one I'm hoping to get has a black tube on which it pivots

Do you have a pic? Not sure if we have the same scope from your description! Unless you getting the collapsible variant.
Sky-watcher to my knowledge make two 200P telescopes, the Skyliner (Dobsonian) and the Explorer ( Equatorial)

[Daz69]

This one https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html it has a black tube on which it pivots (by the looks of it)

[Charic]

Ok. The 'tube' you see  is the Tensioner handle.

One each side. used to lift and carry the scope, and to tension the pitch control, so the scope stays in position when positioned.
We do have the same scope. The handles just unscrew, put them aside, then lift the tube from the bearing seat, and place the tube in a duvet or similar to cushion the travel whilst in the car, the base can go in the boot or like me. front seat!

[Daz69]

 

Lol   Thanks for clearing that up

[Charic]

get the manual here. http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/product_manuals.html Third paragraph, select Dobsonian with tension handles. The manual covers the three sizes of scope.

[SyedT]

The 200P is a great scope, I'll never forget my first look at Saturn and Jupiter with it.

[Daz69]

45 minutes ago, SyedT said:

The 200P is a great scope, I'll never forget my first look at Saturn and Jupiter with it.

I hear and read some good reviews. Thanks.

Was wondering how this would work in a home obsy if I was to build one? Would it fit on a pier if I get tube rings and a mount? Will need steps to reach the EP

[SyedT]

4 hours ago, Daz69 said:

I hear and read some good reviews. Thanks.

Was wondering how this would work in a home obsy if I was to build one? Would it fit on a pier if I get tube rings and a mount? Will need steps to reach the EP

I don't see why it wouldn't fit, although I don't have any personal experience of having an observatory. You're right though, you would end up needing steps to reach the EP, and the positioning can be quite awkward; however, you can always loosen the rings and adjust the position. You'd also need sufficient clearance between the pier and roof to allow the scope to swing around without hitting the roof as it's a decent-sized scope. 

[niallk]

I've an SW dob too - great scopes 

Enjoy!

[Daz69]

2 hours ago, SyedT said:

I don't see why it wouldn't fit, although I don't have any personal experience of having an observatory. You're right though, you would end up needing steps to reach the EP, and the positioning can be quite awkward; however, you can always loosen the rings and adjust the position. You'd also need sufficient clearance between the pier and roof to allow the scope to swing around without hitting the roof as it's a decent-sized scope. 

Thanks for reply. It's only a thought at this stage. If I did build one, it would have a roll off roof so I'll have the complete sky. Probably would have drop down sides to 2 aspects as well, or half of the 2 sides would slide with the roof. 

LOL, didn't think about sliding it down the rings

[Charic]

28 minutes ago, Daz69 said:

If I did build one, it would have a roll off roof so I'll have the complete sky.

I have very little access to my sky, due to screening, and what with  street lighting, I would want to limit the amount of sky I could see, preventing even further,  light pollution from entering the 'dome' so I would opt, If I were building ( I am looking for a solution) a domed roof with a slit, just wide enough to accommodate the Skyliner.

[Ricochet]

9 hours ago, Daz69 said:

LOL, didn't think about sliding it down the rings

You don't slide it up and down the rings (unless perhaps of you are changing from a really light to really heavy ep) as that would mess up the balance. As an eq mount arcs across the sky it rotates the ota and so you have to loosen the rings and rotate the tube to bring the focuser back to a useable position. 

[Daz69]

Well, I have been badly let down and the sale won't be happening now. 

[Ricochet]

Sorry to hear that Daz. 

[Putaendo Patrick]

Bad luck that it hasn't worked out - however, this type of telescope comes up quite regularly second-hand. So keep trying , they are fantastic scopes!

[Daz69]

3 hours ago, Ricochet said:

Sorry to hear that Daz. 

Yes, I wasn't happy with it either. Think I'll buy from FLO or similar now so this sort of thing won't happen again.

[jetstream]

Yes a new purchase from FLO will be rewarding, congrats for the fine upcoming telescope!

[Daz69]

Fingers crossed please guys n' gals, got another enquiry going in for another 200p.

[Daz69]

It's on it's way! It's a SW 200p Explorer, but doesn't have a tripod. Paid £120, but I'll make a Dob base for it now until I can afford a HEQ5. Parcelforce says that it'll be with me tomorrow! Just got to tell the wife............ If I'm not seen again, please inform the authorities, and can someone come and feed my birds please? 

[Charic]

....only half the scope! The Mrs won't even notice? he he!
Best of luck, and I hope the scope arrives safely. 
Do remember the two 200P Skywatchers are different with respect to their focal length and focal ratios.

[Daz69]

4 hours ago, Charic said:

....only half the scope! The Mrs won't even notice? he he!
Best of luck, and I hope the scope arrives safely. 
Do remember the two 200P Skywatchers are different with respect to their focal length and focal ratios.

It's an f/5 which is the same as my 130. Think the Skyliner is f/6? Just checked the tracking on the parcel and it's on the truck. What I didn't factor in was that the Mrs is off today, they must have a 6th sense!