Telescope Advice - Newbie

[NapoleonicGamer]

Hello, so I got properly into astronomy around a year and a half ago now when I bought my first pair of 10X50 Binoculars on the advice of a group of Astronomers who recommended it as a starting point over a telescope. I must say that was very prudent advice, and I have had some great viewing experiences with my 10X50 binoculars which I used in conjunction with a cheap tripod I bought from amazon.

Now I have had great fun with my binoculars and if I was to narrow down the things I enjoyed looking at the most, it has to be the Pleiades star cluster which look fantastic on a clear night, but for me the thing that beat everything else was Jupiter and the moons. I have lost count how many times now I have gone out and had a look at Jupiter which is a very bright bit of light with its distinctive four moons on a good night either side of the planet through my binoculars. 

I have also looked at Saturn but unfortunately not made out the ring in my binoculars, as well as looked at Mars which is basically just an orange bit of light inside my binoculars.

Now I don't really know how much better it can get with a telescope, but I want more power, as I want to be able to see the cloud bands on Jupiter and see Mars properly formed etc.

I also would like to properly explore some deep sky objects, which my binoculars are not powerful enough to give form.

I am looking to spend up to about £1000 pounds on a telescope and have been thinking of buying from these so far as a rough plan, but obviously would do well with some advice;

Celestron 11068 NexStar 6 SE Computerised Telescope  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-11068-NexStar-Computerised-Telescope/dp/B000GUKTDM/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=celestron+se&qid=1600202026&sr=8-2

Bresser Messier MCX-102 GoTo Telescope EQ/AZ https://www.telescopehouse.com/telescopes/telescopes-by-price/telescopes-500-1000/bresser-messier-mcx-102-goto-telescope-eq-az.html

Those two I have put in are computerized and honestly I do wonder if I would just be better with a manual one but am not sure in this regard.

Appreciate any advice others can give however.

 

[Pain in the Neck]

I am also a newbie, so am not qualified to advise on equipment. However, I would tend to shop around a bit - I know it’s very easy to buy stuff on Amazon, but you may find better prices (and a lot more advice) buying from a specialist. FLO and RVO spring immediately to mind.

I went for a Skywatcher 6” newtonian on a half-decent EQ goto mount. However, I have yet to use the goto facility to any great extent, preferring to star-hop and manually track. When (and if!) I get into imaging I’m sure the mount will come into its own.

Welcome to the lounge!

p.s. Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s bands are easily visible in my ‘scope, although still a little on the small side.

Edited September 15, 2020 by Pain in the Neck

[Pixies]

As another who came into the field from a few years of binocular viewing, you should have a good knowledge of the skies? Do you really want a GOTO mount? Fair enough if you've had enough of that and want to be taken to your targets.

However, these scopes do allow you to follow a target as it passes through your field of view. It helps when trying to observe a planet, which requires higher magnification and so passes by more quickly.

For a manual mount you have 2 ends of the spectrum: 

• A dobsonian where all the money goes into the optics. You will be able to get a very large scope for your budget. To get the benefit, though, you will need darker skies.
• An EQ  mount. Harder to set up, but even with manual tracking, is much easier as you will only have 1 slow-motion control to use to follow the object.
• In the middle is the AltAz  type mount. A bit of both worlds.

Having been in a similar position to you, I went for the biggest dob I could afford. I have no regrets, but when trying to observe Mars, do fancy trying an EQ mount to make it easier to just sit and observe with just the occasional twiddle, rather than nudging it along.

 

Of course, if you decide for a mount and not a dob, you then have the decision to make about the type of scope you want!

 

[sputniksteve]

Hi,

That's a considerable budget for a first 'scope. In your position, I'd probably be tempted to get a dobsonian, and then one or two quality eyepieces. My first scope was a Meade Lightbridge, and I loved it. I learnt a bit about the sky using that, just star hopping to locate objects of interest. Stupidly, I sold that scope a few years ago. I've just got hold of a second hand Skymax 127 on a goto. These things promise to be simple straight away, but they're not entirely - and I feel reasonably confident that I know what I'm doing. 

Having said all that, I must confess that if I had £1000 to spare right now, I'd probably go Celestron 6SE, or even push it to an 8SE. 

In normal times, I'd recommend attending a local astronomy group so that you could look through a range of instruments before deciding. Alas, that door is not open to you. However, the second-hand market is!

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi @NapoleonicGamer and welcome to SGL.

If you want ease of setup, then I would go for a 'Dobsonian' such as this one...  https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html 

I used to own a Vixen GP, which to me was the best EQ mount that I have owned and used. I am now using alt-az mounts, as per the image below.

I also have three 'scope's which are:

• TeleVue Ranger
• Celestron C6/SCT-xlt
• 're-modded' Meade ETX105 - shown below on a small alt-az mount.

Edited September 18, 2020 by Philip R

[NapoleonicGamer]

Hello again sorry its taken a while to reply, I thank you all for your advice. I have ended up buying a telescope, I have bought a Celestron Nexstar 8 SE, I really like the other ideas but saw a great deal on Amazon for it. Have got it used for £715, from a seller in Germany, but apparently its unopened so hoping if it isn't in English I can change it to English in the options on the handset. 

Am now probably going to get some accessories for it, such as a power pack, and Dew Shield. 

Another area I could use some advice on is the actual eye pieces, the Celestron comes with a 25mm eye piece but am thinking of getting this celestron eyepiece pack seeming I got the telescope for such a reduced price https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-94303-Eyepiece-Filter-Kit/dp/B000A3OPTE?th=1

Think I will wait to see the scope first though just incase I cant switch it from German and have to send it back.

[RT65CB-SWL]

On 17/09/2020 at 20:47, NapoleonicGamer said:

Hello again sorry its taken a while to reply, I thank you all for your advice. I have ended up buying a telescope, I have bought a Celestron Nexstar 8 SE, I really like the other ideas but saw a great deal on Amazon for it. Have got it used for £715, from a seller in Germany, but apparently its unopened so hoping if it isn't in English I can change it to English in the options on the handset. 

Am now probably going to get some accessories for it, such as a power pack, and Dew Shield. 

Another area I could use some advice on is the actual eye pieces, the Celestron comes with a 25mm eye piece but am thinking of getting this celestron eyepiece pack seeming I got the telescope for such a reduced price https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-94303-Eyepiece-Filter-Kit/dp/B000A3OPTE?th=1

Think I will wait to see the scope first though just incase I cant switch it from German and have to send it back.

Personally I would advise not to buy the eyepiece and filter set, but go for individual eyepieces. As long as they say 1.25" or 2" you will be OK... they don't necessarily have to have Celestron stamped on them. Colour filters are a 'Marmite' thing... you either love them or hate them. The filters I use most often are: 

• a variable polarising filter
• Baader Planetarium neodymium (also a 'Marmite' filter) - a.k.a. my 'Swiss-army knife' filter.
• Baader Planetarium contrast booster
• Explore Scientific UHC
• Explore Scientific O-lll

Edited September 19, 2020 by Philip R

[Cosmic Geoff]

Great choice of telescope. The C8 is not demanding of eyepieces: with mine I use the 25mm that came with it, a 15mm Plossl and a 8-24 zoom or an 8mm eyepiece. Don't buy an eyepiece/filter set.

[Second Time Around]

I agree with Philip about not getting the accessory set.  The eyepieces are not high quality and are too close in focal length.  You can do a lot better buying 1 or 2 individual eyepieces.