First light with Bresser 10" Dobsonian

[HollyHound]

Well after deliberating for almost a year, I finally did it and bought a reflector... indeed a Dobsonian. I'd first been looking at these things last Christmas after I got myself the little Mak 102 and started this short (so far) astronomy journey. They were dotted throughout the Backyard Astronomer book and of course looked the business, but at the same time I was worried that they might be too awkward and clunky to use!

Three Maks, three refractors, an SCT and almost 12 months later, I spotted that @FLO had the Bresser 10" Dob in stock, so jumped and bought it. I'd seen various recommendations for this model, including of course some good reviews and modification articles by @johninderby (thanks 👍) and in particular the construction, bearing quality & focuser seemed to be good for the price.

It arrived yesterday in two boxes, one of which was of course massive and I had a moments panic, thinking I might have bitten off more than I could chew. Despite having a sore shoulder, I got it setup and ready for early evening. Carried it out in two parts quite easily and setup on the patio. I was impressed by how quickly it can be taken outside and it's ready to go. We're just outside Thornbury but on a farm and so have reasonably dark (perhaps Bortle 4/5 skies) and last night it was clear apart from a few bits of cloud here and there.

Around 8pm, Mars was up and Pleiades too, so popped in the Aero ED 35mm, installed the supplied finder and had a quick look... nothing would focus, no matter how far in or out I moved the focuser! After a few minutes of confusion, I realised that I'd instinctively popped a 2" star diagonal in and so thinking that could be the cause, tried a 1.25" one instead with the Panoptic 24mm... still nothing would focus! I realised that I'd never seen pictures of anyone using a reflector with a diagonal, so thought "ah ha, simple", immediately removed it and used just the Aero 35mm again... still nothing would focus and it seemed like I needed to be able to move "out" more on the focuser. At this point I remembered there was an extension ring supplied with the scope, so installed that and miraculously it all started working and I could see stars 🙂

I swung it round to Mars and roughly calibrated the finder. This confirmed two things... the supplied finder is a bit plasticky and not the best (although usable) and also that I definitely do need to install my 9x50 RACI finder before using this properly, just from a comfort and ease of use point of view.

What was immediately apparent was just how many stars were visible through this big "light bucket", it was very impressive. Tried various eyepieces including Aero 35mm, Panoptic 24mm, DeLite 18.2mm & 13mm and the Ortho 6mm, all worked very well. I'm sure that better eyepieces could be used too, but for now these are more than enough.

Mars through the 6mm Ortho was a good sized disc and the dark surface features were very visible, I would say as clear but not quite as contrasty as the StellaMira 80mm f/10 or indeed the Mak127, but very nice indeed. Not so keen on the four diffraction spikes coming off the planet, but they were really only visible on Mars and at no other time. So for planets this is very usable.

Pleiades in the 35mm was awesome... just so many stars and just filled the eyepiece perfectly.

I put the end cap back on and left it for a couple of hours to cool down and wait for the moon and Orion to be high enough to observe. When they appeared I set my sights on M42, as this was the very first nebula I observed through the Mak 102 almost a year ago. The difference was (to me) staggering... previously I could see the grey "smudge" and with averted vision could see shape and just make out four of the Trapezium, but with this scope at various magnifications (I recall the 13mm DeLite being perfect) I was able to see shape and structure directly and even more with averted vision, plus four main Trapezium stars were clear and very well spaced (I'm sure more would be visible with the right magnification and time). This was what I hoped a large(ish) aperture reflector would give me and it was better than expected 😃

Finally I swung around to the moon and dropped down to the 6mm ortho for some really crisp, relaxed and detailed views of the lunar surface. It "seems" more detailed than the Mak127, can't be certain, but it's absolutely fantastic lunar viewing and I'm now thinking that with the right night, I could extend the magnification up from 200x to even perhaps 400x (3mm) and get some stunning views... for another night.

Overall impressions of the dob (and I'm sure other dobs too) are that despite misgivings about size and potential "clunkiness", this is an amazing scope. I was really surprised how easy it was to locate (despite the finder) and then track objects, even at 200x. Rotating the tube allowed me to place the eyepiece in a comfortable position, so I could use my old guitar stool still as an observing chair and remain very comfortable throughout. The movements were both effortless and smooth, so I think the comments about the Bresser bearings used, are spot on. Packing it away again after 90mins, was quick and easy, just carry the OTA in and then the base and drop OTA back onto base, stood upright... doesn't get much more simple... no tripods, mounts, bits etc. Oh, and not a sign of dewing at any time in 2hours of use!

I was thinking this would likely be a "specialist" scope that I got out occasionally, but now realise that I am likely to use it an awful lot more than I originally imagined, due to its ease of use and fantastic bright views.

Next task is to get the TelRad or Rigel fitted (will try both), the 9x50 RACI mounted on a Synta (Baader) shoe and to upgrade the focuser with fine focuser knob... all incoming from @FLO.

Highly, highly recommended and thanks to all for the reviews/guidance towards this class and model of scope 👍

I look forward to many hours working my way through "Turn left at Orion" and chasing all sorts of DSOs over the next months/years. I'm also happy that 10" seems to be more than enough aperture and won't have me yearning for something bigger in the short term at least! The StellaMira, Mak127 and C5 all still have their role, but this big guy is going to get a lot of use!

Cheers

Gary

Edited November 7, 2020 by HollyHound
minor spelling

[Pixies]

It astounds me why Bresser supply that cheap plastic finder, when everything else is high quality. Even the supplied starter EP isn't bad.

[HollyHound]

Just now, Pixies said:

It astounds me why Bresser supply that cheap plastic finder, when everything else is high quality. Even the supplied starter EP isn't bad.

Fortunately I have a couple of 9x50 finders, but yes it's the only bit that lets it down... thankfully it's easily replaceable 👍

[John]

Excellent stuff !

10 inches of aperture gives masses of observing potential for years of pleasure.

I love my refractors but it's my big dob that has provided the vast majority of my "firsts" and "wows" over the years

[Kyle Allen]

That's a very good looking scope! I love my 8 inch Dob - it's so easy to use and set up (can be carried outside in one go) yet has loads of light grasp and resolution for planets and deep sky. 

Have fun using it. 🙂

[HollyHound]

20 minutes ago, John said:

I love my refractors but it's my big dob that has provided the vast majority of my "firsts" and "wows" over the years

That's what I'm hoping for and also I was really (pleasantly) surprised how easy it was to setup and use... such a simple alt/az system, stable and smooth 👍

[HollyHound]

12 minutes ago, Kyle Allen said:

I love my 8 inch Dob - it's so easy to use and set up (can be carried outside in one go) yet has loads of light grasp and resolution for planets and deep sky. 

Great to hear... I love all the other scopes for the roles they are suitable for, but this one has the ability to provide some really deep views 😃

[John]

1 minute ago, HollyHound said:

That's what I'm hoping for and also I was really (pleasantly) surprised how easy it was to setup and use... such a simple alt/az system, stable and smooth 👍

My 12 inch dob is as quick, if not quicker to set up than any of my refractors. Imagine what sort size / cost of mount a 10 or 12 inch optical tube would need to enable steady observing at 300x or more ?. The dobsonian mount, though simple, does just that. Great design.

[johninderby]

The subject of why almost all manufacturers of mass market scopes fit rubbish finders desevers it’s own thread. 🙄

Have been impressed by the Bresser 10” dob. exceptionaly good and well specced for a mass market scope. 👍🏻

Edited November 6, 2020 by johninderby

[HollyHound]

1 minute ago, John said:

My 12 inch dob is as quick, if not quicker to set up than any of my refractors. Imagine what sort size / cost of mount a 10 or 12 inch optical tube would need to enable steady observing at 300x or more ?. The dobsonian mount, though simple, does just that. Great design.

I almost feel like I've now got an "observatory class" instrument available, both in appearance and functionality. I know it's quite small in dob terms, but massive increase from the 5" scopes I have currently.

[HollyHound]

1 minute ago, johninderby said:

The subject of why almost all manufacturers of mass market scopes fit rubbish finders desevers it’s own thread. 🙄

Have been impressed by the Bresser 10” dob. exceptionaly good and well specced for a mass market scope. 👍🏻

It's certainly not the best finder, but I still think the value for money in this package is amazing!

You were right about the construction and particularly the bearing system... smooth, accurate and also they function as handles to transport the OTA in and out of doors too 👍

[johninderby]

Now if only Bresser brings out a 12” version. 🤔.  😁😁😁

Edited November 6, 2020 by johninderby

[HollyHound]

3 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Now if only Bresser brings out a 12” version. 🤔.  😁😁😁

No... please don't, at least not for a year, this is more than enough 🤔🤣

[cloudsweeper]

Welcome to the 10" Bresser Club Gary!  A fine 'scope - easy action, manageable (glad I didn't get a 12").  Holds collimation well.  I use a RACI finder and a Rigel reflex one.  Also, I built a sturdy table to place it on to get the EP at a more convenient height.

Enjoy!

Doug.

[John]

12 inch dobs are usually a surprising step up again in terms of size and weight. Your scope is nearly as large as you are !.

 

 

Edited November 6, 2020 by John

[Captain Scarlet]

12" doesn't sound that much bigger than a 10", but the 3D size, and therefore the weight, scales up as the cube of linear dimensions (perhaps slightly less as the mirror doesn't always change thickness). I have both 12" and 8" SW newts from the same stable. 12x12x12/(8x8x8) = 3.375, and my 12" is indeed around 3 times heavier than my 8". The scale-up from 10 to 12 is 1.728 so you're looking at nearly twice the volume and weight for a "mere" 2 inches difference in spec. The 12" is truly huge.

M

[johninderby]

My 14” OO dob just didn’t get a lot of use. Just that step bigger than I wanted. 🙁

The 12” I sold to buy the 14” was in comparison much lighter, smaller and more portable. Still biggish but not unmanageable if you don’t have any problems carrying heavy weights. 

My old OD350 and 10” SW.

[John]

The Orion Optics dobs are made a bit more manageable through their lighter weight. My 12 inch F/5.3 weighs about the same as the Bresser 10 inch dob.

 

[Second Time Around]

Does the Bresser have a steel or aluminium tube?

[johninderby]

The 10” Bresser OTA is about 13kg and the OO12 f5.3 is aboit 16kg. The Bresser has steel tube but is much lighter than a SW250px which is about 16 or 17kg I think.

Edited November 6, 2020 by johninderby

[John]

9 minutes ago, johninderby said:

The 10” Bresser OTA is about 13kg and the OO12 f5.3 is aboit 16kg. The Bresser has steel tube but is much lighter than a SW250px which is about 16 or 17kg I think.

I thought the Synta 250PX OTA weighs around 13kg as well ?. The one I used to have did. Perhaps they have put on weight ?

No matter - the Bresser 10 inch dobsonian is a very fine all round instrument as a number of SGL members are finding out

[Second Time Around]

22 minutes ago, johninderby said:

The 10” Bresser OTA is about 13kg and the OO12 f5.3 is aboit 16kg. The Bresser has steel tube but is much lighter than a SW250px which is about 16 or 17kg I think.

Thanks, John.

The OTA of my 10in f/4.8 OOUK is listed at 11kgs.   I don't know whether or not this includes the 50mm finder.  The corresponding weights of their 12in f/4 and f/6.3 are 14 and 16kgs respectively.

 

[Captain Scarlet]

My 12" blue-tube SW has a steel tube and is slightly over 20kg. Finders, rings, eyepieces etc bring it to around 26kg on the mount! I'm in the process of ordering a carbon tube for it which will save me around 4kg. Aluminium is only slightly heavier than carbon when you add in the foam or honeycombs needed to create the tube, so those OO weights make sense.

[orions_boot]

Since I got my bresser at the same time as @HollyHound I thought I might as well contribute to the obs reports than start a new one today.

Last night I got the whole thing unpacked and setup in the hour.   Today I spent some time trying to align the finder scope.  It doesn't seem to stay exactly in place and I am sure it has moved since then.

Tonight there was a clear hour to use before it got cloudy.  I got the setup outside and aimed at Jupiter in 10 minutes.  Thanks to where I keep it the tube is already pretty cold.  As I was just really mucking around to see how it works I went from one thing to another also because I was so excited.

I stuck in a Hyperion Zoom and went hell for leather on Jupiter.  At the widest zoom it was a bright disk and faint colour and all the moons visible.  As I got down to 8mm I could see colour banding in the brief seconds when the haze would stop.  

I then whizzed to Saturn with the same setup and immediately got the rings separated from the planet.  I actually stayed here for quite a bit and eventually could see different shades of yellow bands.  Even the wife was impressed.

Mars was a bright red disk with elements of dark shading along the middle.

I then stuck the Hyperion Barlow in and this is where the problem started.  Through the zoom all I got was blackness and the only light aspect was the reflection of the secondary mirror and veins (?)

To check the Barlow worked I stuck it in with the 25mm plossl and went back to Saturn.  Very crystal clear image so the whole thing does work.  Another 10 minutes staring at Saturn then it clouded over again.

I am going out again after midnight and studying Orion.

Perhaps someone can advise:

When I use the Barlow on the zoom why can I only see what I think is the secondary mirror and nothing else?

 

 

 

 

 

[HollyHound]

6 minutes ago, orions_boot said:

When I use the Barlow on the zoom why can I only see what I think is the secondary mirror and nothing else?

I had issues with focus until I used the supplied extension tube on the focuser. Does the Barlow significantly affect focussing distance I wonder ?