Beginner Scope Recommendations

[Aussiexplorer]

Hello, 

I am new to astronomy and am looking for telescope recommendations. I live nomadically and move frequently with work around Australia so I would be looking for something portable. The consensus I have seen online is an 8inch dobsonian is a good beginners but I don't have the space yet for a larger telescope. 

Initially I just want to do general observing but as I am a photographer I would also like to astrophotography down the line once I get enough experience and a more permanent job.

I am asking if you could give me a recommendation for a good beginner telescope and what opinions on an astrophotography setup down the track.

Budget for beginner scope I'm looking at $500-700AUD.

 

Thankyou in advance, 

Aussiexplorer

Edited November 22, 2021 by Aussiexplorer

[RT65CB-SWL]

G’day @Aussiexplorer and welcome to SGL. 

I am not into Astro-imaging at the time of writing, but from what I have read here since joining SGL, some have gone for a SkyWatcher SW80 or clone. As for mount, get something like the EQ6. No need to upgrade it later on when you get a bigger ‘scope.

[Aussiexplorer]

Thankyou @Philip R

I have looked at the SW80 as a matter of fact, issue currently is there's basically no stock which I assume is due to COVID and parts shortage in Asia.

I have heard a good quality mount will last you a long time, similar with photography. 

 

[vlaiv]

Hi and welcome to SGL.

Not sure if your budget will allow for scope that will both satisfy your need for observing at the moment and be usable for AP in the future.

Maybe look into 130PDS on AZ4 mount (will need to purchase those two separately). Even that is over the budget. If we take FLO prices - 130 PDS is ~£220 and AZ4 is ~ £190 and that does not include eyepieces. combined total is about £400 or $740AUD.

It would be best to concentrate on good visual scope at the moment and think about AP later.

What size scope are you comfortable with to store and transport? You can always get something like this:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/sky-watcher-heritage-150p-flextube-dobsonian-telescope.html

[Aussiexplorer]

Hello, 

I mainly just want to do observing at the moment.

AP is quite a rabbit hole and expensive from what I have seen, I just wanted to see what people were using haha.

Just to stick with observing I could probably push the budget up a little bit. I think size wise length isn't an issue as much as bulk and width 

 

[Aussiexplorer]

@vlaiv From what I am looking at the moment a refractor size scope would work better than a dobsonian for me I think

[vlaiv]

14 minutes ago, Aussiexplorer said:

@vlaiv From what I am looking at the moment a refractor size scope would work better than a dobsonian for me I think

If you want to keep within your budget, then look at this option:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/evostar/sky-watcher-evostar-90-660-az-pronto.html

and some upgrades to that scope in form of eyepieces and diagonal (maybe even focuser upgrade).

Ideally, if going refractor route - you'd want something like 4" ED doublet, but I think that will be way over your budget (such scope can be later used for AP).

 

[Carbon Brush]

My suggestion (like @vlaiv) is that you regard visual and astrophotography as separate projects, until you get a feel for how you get on.

As you have ruled out an 8" dob or similar, you are (I think) looking at a refractor. The suggestion is 80 to 100mm aperture.
Accept the chromatic aberration on low cost cost scopes. Decent glass can multiply the scope cost.

If you go for a short tube refractor you wil get really nice wide field views.
You may get annoyed by colour fringing on planets. Some hate it. Some tolerate it.
You can buy 'fringe killer' filters but like all 'fixes' they don't work as well as spending $5000 on the glass in the first place😄

If you go for a long (focal length) tube refractor, CA is better. But the long tube is less portable and places a greater burden on the mount.
It isn't just scope weight, it is also the long mass twisting and blowing the wind.

Next mount type.
An alt/az mount is very intuitive to use.
The only argument for an equatorial mount is that when properly aligned, you only twiddle one knob to follow an object.
Assuming you don't spend on motor drive or goto.

Don't forget, when you buy, your budget is split 3 ways. Scope, mount and electronics.
If you are happy to avoid the goto electronics, you can put the money to a decent scope & mount.

As a general rule, packages of scope & mount come with the smalles/flimsiest mount the manufacturer can get away with.
There are good arguments for talking with the supplier about 'next size up' mount compared to the standard offer.

Finally. Buy from a specialist astronomy retailer. Sorry I can't recommend anyone local to you. I only know the UK retailers.
Avoid departments stores and general online retail such as Amazon and ebay. You may well need after sales support and assistance.
Some UK scope retailers share or spill over between astronomy, nature optics and photography.
Presumably it is a similar situation for you.
These people can be very good. But just make sure it isn't one scope in the corner and 100 cameras on display in the shop.

Keep asking the questions, David.

 

 

 

[Aussiexplorer]

@Carbon Brush and @vlaiv Thankyou for the suggestions. After reading your replies I think chromatic aberration will just be something I will live with until I get the hang of astronomy and observation. Then I will look at something more serious down the line.

This is the scope I have picked out. I will go a little above my budget but that is alright. What do you think? I think something like this will be a good starter for me and I will get a decent alt az mount to go with it. 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/evostar/skywatcher-evostar-120-ota.html

Aussiexplorer

 

 

[vlaiv]

5 hours ago, Aussiexplorer said:

What do you think? I think something like this will be a good starter for me and I will get a decent alt az mount to go with it. 

I think that is a good scope.

Yes, it will have some chromatic aberration - but it can be tamed in various ways, if it really bothers you.

Creating aperture mask is one of those ways. Useful for lunar and planetary viewing. Don't use it on deep sky objects as it restricts the light, but for bright objects like the Moon and planets - it is ok.  For deep sky you don't need it because CA is not visible on those levels of light (except on very bright stars).

For example - you can create aperture mask that turns this scope into 4" F/10 variant (btw - I have that scope, Skywatcher 102mm F/10 Evostar - which is "younger brother" of your scope). It gives very nice views of planets (still a bit chromatic aberration left). Next thing would be use of Wratten #8 filter or Baader contrast booster filter. First one gives yellow tint obviously, but removes purple fringing. Second keeps more natural tone and also improves contrast (but it is a bit more expensive). You can also mix the two - aperture mask and a filter, for best effect. Again - this is for planetary use.

Mounting that scope is going to be somewhat of a challenge. Although specs say that it is ~5Kg - you would not want to put it on mounts that can handle for example 6-7kg like Skywatcher Az4 or Az5. This is because scope is long. It is about 1m long and has a lot of arm momentum.

Best mount for it (in budget range) would be something like SkyTee2 (in az category) or Eq5 (in eq category).

Btw, scopes are bigger than they appear on images (for some strange reason - it is very rare that scope is smaller in person that it appears - it is almost always the opposite - it is larger than it looks). For that reason, it is good idea to see some images of it together with a person holding it - so you can get the sense of the size. Let me see if I can find some online.

Ok, this seems like nice video to give you idea of the size:

 

[Aussiexplorer]

Again thankyou @vlaiv I have a good idea on what I am going to get now. Hopefully the Aussie skies do me good.

Look forward to chatting in the future

Aussiexplorer

[nfotis]

Welcome here,

Another idea would be an ED doublet refractor, like the SVBONY 80ED and 102ED. These could be do both observation and astrophotography (within limits, of course), if you add a reducer/flattener.

Personally, I started with a Maksutov scope (Skymax 127, then a Skymax 180), due to the huge light pollution, which forced me to focus on the Moon and planets - and these require a long focal length, in which Maks and other catadioptric designs excel (Schmidt-Cassegrain, Classic Cassegrain). These need a German equatorial mount in order to enjoy long observation, IMHO, though.

N.F.