Overwhelmed Beginner

[LukeSkywatcher]

I have an 8SE. Brilliant scope in most ways. If you want to turn to the dark side (imaging), its not really suitable because its an Alt-Az mount. Imaging requires an EQ mount. 

For $1,200, id say you got a bargain.

Best advice that I can give is:

Use your scope and other stuff until you know it inside out and backwards. You will learn what works for you, and what doesnt. Dont rush to buy anything else. Astronomy is a slippery slope (imaging, even more so). The scope is the cheapest part. Its all the accessories and eyepieces that empty your wallet.

Edited July 30, 2020 by LukeSkywatcher

[Tenor Viol]

19 hours ago, Louis D said:

During the summer season here in Texas, we get a high pressure dome that settles over us for months leading to dead stable skies and extreme drought conditions.  Every once in a while, a tropical storm or hurricane tries to bully its way into Texas for a few days every month or so, but that's about it.  As a result, 200x and more is quite usable with an 8" scope on most nights.  I've used 350x with just as much ease with my 15" Dob.  It's really mostly aperture limited.  During the fall to spring time frame, conditions are generally less favorable, but still better than in the UK.

In the UK we don't get that type of weather... so it is very rare to be able to use very high magnifications. 

[LukeSkywatcher]

2 minutes ago, Tenor Viol said:

In the UK we don't get that type of weather... so it is very rare to be able to use very high magnifications. 

Ive used a 4mm eyepiece ONCE here in Ireland to view the Moon . It felt like i was hovering a couple of miles above the surface.  Ive never had that experience again. It was a night when everything was perfect.

[Tenor Viol]

1 minute ago, LukeSkywatcher said:

Ive used a 4mm eyepiece ONCE here in Ireland to view the Moon . It felt like i was hovering a couple of miles above the surface.  Ive never had that experience again. It was a night when everything was perfect.

I remember many years ago seeing Saturn through a 5" Cooke refractor (f/15) under a fairly high magnification in extremely good conditions. That was about 40 years ago....

[LukeSkywatcher]

4 minutes ago, Tenor Viol said:

I remember many years ago seeing Saturn through a 5" Cooke refractor (f/15) under a fairly high magnification in extremely good conditions. That was about 40 years ago....

My 1st view of Saturn was with a 90mm  Celestron Fistscope refractor (F11.....IIRC).  I cant remember the EP. I remember me words to this day. I cant post them here. It was in 2010.

Probably a 10mm Celstron Plossel.

Edited July 30, 2020 by LukeSkywatcher

[Liquidtravel]

Thank you all very much.  Doing a little more research, I am not considering these lenses: 

 

• Celestron X-Cel LX 9mm (1.25") - High Power Eyepiece ($89 - already purchased)
  • Magnification - 225x
  • Exit Pupil - 0.9
  • AFOV - 60°
  • TFOV - 0.2666°
• Explore Scientific - 70º Series - 15mm (1.25") - Medium-High Power Eyepiece ($50)
  • Magnification: 135x
  • Exit Pupil: 1.5mm
  • AVOF: 70°
  • TVOF: 0.52° 
• Explore Scientific - 70º Series - 20mm (1.25") - Medium-Low Power Eyepiece ($60)
  • Magnification: 102x
  • Exit Pupil: 2mm
  • AVOF: 70°
  • TVOF: 0.69° 
• Celestron's 25mm E-Lux Series Plossl Eyepiece ($1.25") - Medium-Low Power Eyepiece ($35 - already purchased)
  • Magnification - 81x
  • Exit Pupil - 2.5
  • AFOV - 50°
  • TFOV - 0.6172°
• Explore Scientific - 70º Series - 30mm (1.25") - Low Power Eyepiece ($120)
  • Magnification: 68x
  • Exit Pupil: 3mm
  • AVOF: 70°
  • TVOF: 1.03° 
• Explore Scientific - 70º Series - 35mm (1.25") - Low Power Eyepiece ($150)
  • Magnification: 58x
  • Exit Pupil: 3.5mm
  • AVOF: 70°
  • TVOF: 1.21° 

2 of the above will come when the kit arrives in a couple of months and the rest I will buy over the 6 months afterwards as I learn more about what I am doing and what I need.  It might change but that is my thinking at the moment.

What is the biggest advantage to moving up to a 2" eyepiece?  Is it worth moving up to a 2" sooner rather than later?  Also, do they  make a focal reducer for a 2"?

I have considered the wedge as well but that will come only after I learn what I need to learn and still feel like it is the right option over getting another scope or getting an EQ mount.  

thanks again everyone. 

Edited July 31, 2020 by Liquidtravel

[Louis D]

I would cross import the 35mm Aero ED from FLO rather than getting the two low power ES-70 eyepieces.  It is both cheaper and better performing.  There's no VAT, sales tax, or import tariffs, just shipping charges.  The difference between 58x and 68x does not justify two eyepieces.

A 56mm Plossl would be a better option to get a larger exit pupil for using an OIII filter on nebula.  The true field won't be any larger than with the 35mm Aero ED, though.

[Cosmic Geoff]

Until you have received the kit and used it with the stock 25mm eyepiece (which isn't bad - it's a Celestron Plossl unlike the anonymous eyepieces in cheaper kits), and the 9mm X-cel LX, I'd urge you to not even look at listings of other eyepieces.

My opinion of 2" eyepieces on the C8 SE is that while they will gain some extra field of view compared with the lowest powers that fit in a 1.25" barrel, once you have paid for a 2" visual back, a 2" diagonal and a 2" eyepiece, the total bill may cause you to reflect that you should have bought an additional widefield telescope instead. Others may not agree...  In any event, don't go there before trying a 32mm 1.25" Plossl. That will give the max field of view that fits in a 1.25" barrel.

Don't consider the wedge.  A number of imagers have adopted a wedge with enthusiasm, then afer a while given up and bought a German equatorial. There was a discussion about this on the Forum not long ago.

[Peter Drew]

I've had a 8se for a few years, love the telescope, great lunar and planetary views and imaging.  The downside is that the telescope is maxed out on the mount so has to be operated delicately.  DSO views are a lot better than most people give it credit for.  IMO forget DSO imaging for now, it's 10% satisfaction and 90% problems and frustration according to imaging posts!  A zoom eyepiece will cover your eyepiece requirements until you need to specialise.   🙂

[Andy R]

A couple of pics taken with my 6se

canon 600d and heq5 mount for the galaxies and asi120mm mini alt/as mount for the moon shots