just starting out

[dillon80uk]

hello all im just  starting  out  need  some help  i have  been offerd a  Konus Konusky-200 200mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope  with mount for 100 pound   i  want to see  deep  space  objects with it.  will it be  able to  or am i better  off getting a  different scope  

thanks and best regards

       

[wxsatuser]

Don't know the quality of these but if the mirrors look ok and the mount works, £100 might be worth a punt.

[Dave In Vermont]

A 200mm ( 8") Newtonian is an excellent telescope which will be quite able to show you DSO's, and show them well. At this aperture of 200mm, it can bring in enough light to show you a new and fascinating object every night for the rest of your life. It's what some call a 'lifetime-telescope.' I hope this answers your question.

One day you'll need to "Collimate" these types of telescope. So, while I'm thinking of it, allow me to give you a copy of one of the very best guides available to doing so - written by a member here - Astro_Baby. Normally I'd post a link to her website, but her site is down. So I'll leave a Pdf. below - I suggest you click on it and 'save' to your computer for use when that day arrives:

Astro Baby's Collimation Guide.pdf

And welcome to SGL - we love questions and finding answers here. So no need to be shy with yours!

Starry Skies,

Dave

[Gabby76]

Hi Dillon, a nice scope with some good aperture!

It will definitely show you some DSO and I think you will be quite happy with the views.

The only weak point I would say is the mount which looks like a EQ-5 style. It will have the capacity to carry the scope easily but the surface area of the tube may make it shake a bit if there is a breeze.

If you get it, enjoy it!

[Dave In Vermont]

At £100, I'd grab it up. There are work-arounds to help - greatly - a shaky or windy mount. Just be sure to balance the telescope in the mount, then if you have it and need to know about this, I'll tell you:

This will seem a bit disingenuous - but it works: Find a heavy - I use 10lbs. - weight. 5 or 10ish. And attach it to a piece of strong cord or similar that's long enough to hang the weight by - about 15" or so - as close to from the center of the mount. The inherent weight of the mount ends up competing with the weight which results in countering the shake or unstable nature of the just the mount alone. It's a little, practical trick of physics. Strange as it may seem, it works quite well.

And some pads under each leg of the tripod made of Sorbothane® (Amazon has such) can be used to dampen vibrations as well. Or you can buy the ready-made one's from a variety of outfits - like Celestron. But these are ridiculously expensive. Making your own is just as effective - and far less £££!

Best wishes -

Dave

Edited February 13, 2017 by Dave In Vermont
Sp.

[cloudsweeper]

Welcome to SGL.  Yes, you'll be able to see a range of fascinating objects - various clusters in a lot of detail, and also galaxies and nebulae/nebulosity.  How many of the faint ones (and whether you see much detail) depends on seeing conditions and sky darkness, but just seeing evidence of these beauties at all is a delight!

Doug.

[laudropb]

Hello and a warm welcome to the SGL.

[dillon80uk]

thank you guys for the welcome and thank you for the replies im picking it up friday   cant wait and i will take your advice about the mount dave thank you plus thank you for the  Collimate  pdf guide much appreciated 

thank you all

btw great forum community here guys

[rockystar]

I don't know the make, but as long the mirror is ok and the mount works, i'd say you've got a bit of a bargain there.

 

welcome to the forum and keep us updated on how you get on with it

 

[Astro Imp]

Welcome to SGL you've come to the right place for advice.

Looks good but you seem to be missing counterweights and bar.

[Dave In Vermont]

18 minutes ago, Astro Imp said:

Welcome to SGL you've come to the right place for advice.

Looks good but you seem to be missing counterweights and bar.

Woah!

I totally missed that, Alan! Thanks for pointing the obvious out!

Ask the seller about that, Dillon. Otherwise you'll be needing parts, if it's a commercial-mount and they sell such. Nothing like a 'monkey-wrench' tossed into the gears at the last moment!

Rodent-Pellets!

Dave

[dillon80uk]

no counterweights and bar unfortunately i  would have try to source them from somwhere here is a pic from bottom of the scope and thank you guys i did not even think about that

The mount is the ubiquitous CG-5/EQ-4 mount

Edited February 13, 2017 by dillon80uk

[Stu]

Regardless of that, it looks good value to get you started Dillon.

Astroboot are a breatbplace to pick up stuff like this. If you can confirm the thread size needed, the often have counterweight bars and the weights themselves. Example attached.

http://www.astroboot.co.uk/AstroBoot

[dillon80uk]

thank you stu and thank you guys . im waiting to hear from the seller about shaft size

 

[Gabby76]

If it is the same as the Celestron it 0.780" or 20mm diameter bar, I do not have one right at hand to give you a thread count but I could in a few hours if you need it.

[dillon80uk]

4 hours ago, Gabby76 said:

If it is the same as the Celestron it 0.780" or 20mm diameter bar, I do not have one right at hand to give you a thread count but I could in a few hours if you need it.

thank you if you could that would be  a great help. best regards

[LukeSkywatcher]

If the optics are in good condition............for £100 thats a steal. Sure you will have to invest in counterweights etc.

Well worth a punt.......IF the optics are in good condition.

Ask the seller for images of the mirrors. Dust and dirt on them is not a worry (easily cleaned). If they need recovering.........probably not worth it.

As Dave (in Vermont) said earlier...........an 8" scope really is a "lifer".

Edited February 14, 2017 by LukeSkywatcher

[dillon80uk]

hi just been sent this pic of inside the  telescope i think the mirror looks ok to me .

[LukeSkywatcher]

Primary looks good from here.

[dillon80uk]

glad it looks good   thank you super giant for checking  it out. i  really appreciate buddy

[Dave In Vermont]

27 minutes ago, dillon80uk said:

glad it looks good   thank you super giant for checking  it out. i  really appreciate buddy

Just to clarify things here, Dillon - things placed on profiles like 'Super Giant' (or 'Little Green Man' in my case) are our ranks as assigned by the computer-program that runs this place - SGL. As you continue to post here, your rank will go up from 'Vacuum' where you are now. Your actual name you assigned yourself is dillon80uk.

Okay? Everyone is confused at this at first.

Have fun -

Dave

Edited February 14, 2017 by Dave In Vermont

[acmineiro]

I think if it checks out and is in good shape and built with solid materials and of course the mirrors look perfect. I would buy it.

Just my opinion.

 

ACM

[GoodOleJim]

That primary mirror looks clean. That sounds like a great price for a starting scope. I say it's worth a shot. The counterweights are a must, though. It's going to be relatively hard to balance a telescope that large without them. That's small price to pay compared to what you appear to be getting in return though! Let us know what you decide to do!

[Dave In Vermont]

Just the cost of £100.00 ($124US) for the OTA (without the mount/tripod) would be a good bargain. I'd certainly grab it - if it was sound, of course.

Dave

[dillon80uk]

thank you guys you have all been a great help. got thescope now everything looks good primary and secondary mirror clean. and i have orderd m16 size bar  http://www.ironmongeryonline.com/m16-metric-threaded-rod-steel 

to act as counterweight bar with m16 size locking nut. can you guys suggest good eyepieces please i have been looking around and found good reviews for bst  and vixen and skywatcher sp.  thanks guys