May I ask for some advice please?

[Rocket dog]

Hello everyone,
                            I was wondering if I could ask for some advice regarding telescopes please,
I am currently (trying) to save up for a first time telescope and have arrived at two possible purchases, one is a is a Bresser 10” Dobsonian and the other is a StellaLyra 10" Dobsonian, both are available from First light optics.
I know that many people will advise getting something smaller and cheaper to start with and I can understand where they are coming from, however I would prefer to buy a decent telescope once and learn from there.   
I noticed that the Bresser from reading parts of the forums is maybe of a better build quality but the accessories are not that good, while the StellaLyra is a decent all rounder but I remember that there was an article regarding about the focuser which I am unable to find.
Could anyone offer a fresh perspective regarding the two telescopes which will be used for visual astronomy, such as is one build really better than the other, can they be upgraded to a ‘goto’ product, and can they be adapted to take photos in the future? Etc.
I do realise that there have been several threads in the forums with the same discussion, however I get to buy this telescope once and I can’t really afford to make any mistakes.
In addition could I have some suggestions on what accessories would be best to purchase?
Could anyone offer their expertise please?
Thank you.  

 

[bosun21]

Both these scopes are very good for visual astronomy although personally I would go for the 8” model. The strong plus for the Bresser is its large altitude trunnions which gives it a slightly better movement in this axis. The Stella Lyra has a dual speed focuser whilst the Bresser has a single speed (can be updated to dual speed by buying the kit). The Stella Lyra has a better finder scope which is a 8x50 RACI (right angle correct image). The Stella Lyra also has a rear fan which can aid with cooling the telescope when first put outside to cool (reach equilibrium temperature). If a telescope hasn’t reached equilibrium with the outside temperature it can affect the views. Some points are, 1: How far do you need to move it to where you intend to observe? 2: How dark are your skies(light pollution etc? A 10” dobsonian is not a small telescope by any means. Can you  take photos? A dobsonian isn’t designed for astrophotography however you can still manage to photograph the planets by taking short videos and stacking them. Some people including myself can do a bit of EEA(electronic enhanced astronomy) by placing the dobsonian on an equatorial platform which will track the target as it moves through the sky. Regarding proper astrophotography, forget it. The only real accessory I would recommend at the start would be to upgrade the eyepiece(s). Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Guest]

The first thing you should do is stop and do nothing.  Find a astro club and go look at one up close and in person.  While a ten inch isnt huge it isnt exactly small either.  So the questions of transportation and storage need to be answered before you buy this thing.  If the OTA doesnt fit in your car, well taking it anyplace becomes a problem.  If you live in a place with lots of steps, setting it up becomes a issue.  So don't be in a hurry to do this.

As far as upgrades, thumbscrews on the secondary and new springs on the primary.  Have those handy when you get it.  Those two items are almost a must do.  Dew control may or may not be an issue and if it is a shield or even heaters might become necessary.  To help with finding stuff a adjustable setting circle and angle gauge is a cheap and easy option. If it were me i would opt for the SL, basically  its identical to my Orion Skyline.  

[doublevodka]

Given a choice between the two only, personally, I would probably  go with the StellaLyra, or to throw in a curveball maybe the Celestron Starsense Explorer https://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-starsense-explorer-series/celestron-starsense-explorer-10-dobsonian.html

However, as the others have said it's a fairly sizeable scope so don't underestimate it, can you store it? will you be able to easily move it to your observing spot/put it into the car to travel if wanted? Statistically 10 inchers get used a chunk less that 8 inchers purely because of the size and bulk so it's something to consider (maybe someone will be along with the stats shortly)

Some good info here from Ed Ting about dobsonian sizes which may be worth a watch

 

[Mr Spock]

The StellaLyra is the better scope. I have the 12" and the optics are amazing. As others have said, bear in mind the size. It isn't the weight, it's the bulk. I can move my 12" a few feet from the shed to the patio and that's it. I do have a slipped disc though 

If you want to do planetary photography an equatorial platform will help. It's also a convenient for visual too. Forget deep sky photography - that's a specialised and expensive hobby!

Don't forget to budget for decent eyepieces. They are key to getting the best out of a scope.

[moggi1964]

9 hours ago, Rocket dog said:

Hello everyone,
                            I was wondering if I could ask for some advice regarding telescopes please,
I am currently (trying) to save up for a first time telescope and have arrived at two possible purchases, one is a is a Bresser 10” Dobsonian and the other is a StellaLyra 10" Dobsonian, both are available from First light optics.
I know that many people will advise getting something smaller and cheaper to start with and I can understand where they are coming from, however I would prefer to buy a decent telescope once and learn from there.   
I noticed that the Bresser from reading parts of the forums is maybe of a better build quality but the accessories are not that good, while the StellaLyra is a decent all rounder but I remember that there was an article regarding about the focuser which I am unable to find.
Could anyone offer a fresh perspective regarding the two telescopes which will be used for visual astronomy, such as is one build really better than the other, can they be upgraded to a ‘goto’ product, and can they be adapted to take photos in the future? Etc.
I do realise that there have been several threads in the forums with the same discussion, however I get to buy this telescope once and I can’t really afford to make any mistakes.
In addition could I have some suggestions on what accessories would be best to purchase?
Could anyone offer their expertise please?
Thank you.  

 

It's not clear if you have looked through a scope of this type and size before but if you haven't perhaps the advice from Mike Q is a good place to start. I have come across two types of people who get a furst look through a telescope:

Type 1: WOW! That's incredible. (I include myself in that group when I first looked through my Orion 8" dob).

Type 2: Is that it? You mean that little spec is a galaxy, looks more like smudge. Are you sure it's not a smudge? I've seen pictures of Saturn, what else can you see?

I would hope you fall into the first category or at least grow into it.

Anyway, just sharing a thought and an experience. Both scopes look good to me btw.

Accessories: eyepieces of course. A collimator. Some form of finder, I like the little red dot type but also use a small finder scope. A large order of patience, you can never have too much of that>

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

[Guest]

Eyepieces.... this will be the first trap you will fall into.  The selection is endless.   If I remember correctly both these scopes are in the F5 area so you will more then likely experience some coma.  A GSO coma corrector would be one of the first things I would order.  As a matter of fact i would get it when you get the scope.  It will make the two eyepieces that come with the scope  better.  Do NOT buy eyepiece sets.  Do buy some sort of moon filter and eventually you will want some variation of a nebula filter.  The truth is the scope is just the start of you spending money.  

[Spile]

If you are set on a 10” then I would go for the StellaLyra but I’d also echo the recommendation to go and see one first.

[IB20]

Maybe look at the Celestron Starsense dobsonian too; push to already fitted as long as you have a compatible smartphone. I wish they were around when I bought my first scope.

[Rocket dog]

On 11/08/2023 at 01:21, bosun21 said:

Both these scopes are very good for visual astronomy although personally I would go for the 8” model. The strong plus for the Bresser is its large altitude trunnions which gives it a slightly better movement in this axis. The Stella Lyra has a dual speed focuser whilst the Bresser has a single speed (can be updated to dual speed by buying the kit). The Stella Lyra has a better finder scope which is a 8x50 RACI (right angle correct image). The Stella Lyra also has a rear fan which can aid with cooling the telescope when first put outside to cool (reach equilibrium temperature). If a telescope hasn’t reached equilibrium with the outside temperature it can affect the views. Some points are, 1: How far do you need to move it to where you intend to observe? 2: How dark are your skies(light pollution etc? A 10” dobsonian is not a small telescope by any means. Can you  take photos? A dobsonian isn’t designed for astrophotography however you can still manage to photograph the planets by taking short videos and stacking them. Some people including myself can do a bit of EEA(electronic enhanced astronomy) by placing the dobsonian on an equatorial platform which will track the target as it moves through the sky. Regarding proper astrophotography, forget it. The only real accessory I would recommend at the start would be to upgrade the eyepiece(s). Good luck with whatever you choose.

Thank you for replying, a large number of people do recommend the 8 inch over the 10, are there any reasons for this other than the size and bulk? but to answer your questions, I intend to use the telescope in the garden and would I need to move it about 20 or so meters, however some of the distance will be down some steps and according to some websites I live in a class 5 Bortle area.
If I could ask, with regards to the eyepieces, would you have some recommendations please, as in what price range and type would I have to start looking at?
Thank you  

 

[Rocket dog]

On 11/08/2023 at 01:35, Mike Q said:

The first thing you should do is stop and do nothing.  Find a astro club and go look at one up close and in person.  While a ten inch isnt huge it isnt exactly small either.  So the questions of transportation and storage need to be answered before you buy this thing.  If the OTA doesnt fit in your car, well taking it anyplace becomes a problem.  If you live in a place with lots of steps, setting it up becomes a issue.  So don't be in a hurry to do this.

As far as upgrades, thumbscrews on the secondary and new springs on the primary.  Have those handy when you get it.  Those two items are almost a must do.  Dew control may or may not be an issue and if it is a shield or even heaters might become necessary.  To help with finding stuff a adjustable setting circle and angle gauge is a cheap and easy option. If it were me i would opt for the SL, basically  its identical to my Orion Skyline.  

Thank you for your reply; it was mentioned the springs are best to be replaced, if I could ask where you would purchase those springs from please. 

[Rocket dog]

On 11/08/2023 at 08:52, doublevodka said:

Given a choice between the two only, personally, I would probably  go with the StellaLyra, or to throw in a curveball maybe the Celestron Starsense Explorer https://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-starsense-explorer-series/celestron-starsense-explorer-10-dobsonian.html

However, as the others have said it's a fairly sizeable scope so don't underestimate it, can you store it? will you be able to easily move it to your observing spot/put it into the car to travel if wanted? Statistically 10 inchers get used a chunk less that 8 inchers purely because of the size and bulk so it's something to consider (maybe someone will be along with the stats shortly)

Some good info here from Ed Ting about dobsonian sizes which may be worth a watch

 

Thank you for this video, it has answered so many more questions I had.

[Rocket dog]

On 11/08/2023 at 10:11, Mr Spock said:

The StellaLyra is the better scope. I have the 12" and the optics are amazing. As others have said, bear in mind the size. It isn't the weight, it's the bulk. I can move my 12" a few feet from the shed to the patio and that's it. I do have a slipped disc though 

If you want to do planetary photography an equatorial platform will help. It's also a convenient for visual too. Forget deep sky photography - that's a specialised and expensive hobby!

Don't forget to budget for decent eyepieces. They are key to getting the best out of a scope.

Thank you for replying, if I could ask, what eyepieces would you recommend, or are there some which you would avoid.

[Rocket dog]

On 11/08/2023 at 10:48, moggi1964 said:

It's not clear if you have looked through a scope of this type and size before but if you haven't perhaps the advice from Mike Q is a good place to start. I have come across two types of people who get a furst look through a telescope:

Type 1: WOW! That's incredible. (I include myself in that group when I first looked through my Orion 8" dob).

Type 2: Is that it? You mean that little spec is a galaxy, looks more like smudge. Are you sure it's not a smudge? I've seen pictures of Saturn, what else can you see?

I would hope you fall into the first category or at least grow into it.

Anyway, just sharing a thought and an experience. Both scopes look good to me btw.

Accessories: eyepieces of course. A collimator. Some form of finder, I like the little red dot type but also use a small finder scope. A large order of patience, you can never have too much of that>

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

Thank you for your reply, it would appear from the forum member answers  the eyepieces are highly regarded and very important, it was something that I didn’t consider and will have to look more in to it.  (no pun intended) 

[Rocket dog]

On 11/08/2023 at 15:12, Mike Q said:

Eyepieces.... this will be the first trap you will fall into.  The selection is endless.   If I remember correctly both these scopes are in the F5 area so you will more then likely experience some coma.  A GSO coma corrector would be one of the first things I would order.  As a matter of fact i would get it when you get the scope.  It will make the two eyepieces that come with the scope  better.  Do NOT buy eyepiece sets.  Do buy some sort of moon filter and eventually you will want some variation of a nebula filter.  The truth is the scope is just the start of you spending money.  

Thank you for your reply, the majority of members’ have recommended the eyepieces and to be honest I didn’t factor this in the overall price, but if  I could ask is there a recommended eyepiece make and model for the type of telescope please?
Thank you

 

[Rocket dog]

20 hours ago, Spile said:

If you are set on a 10” then I would go for the StellaLyra but I’d also echo the recommendation to go and see one first.

Thank you for your reply, at this moment in time I am open to suggestions, but forum members seem to like the SL more, however will definitely attempt to view both telescopes up close. 

[Rocket dog]

9 hours ago, IB20 said:

Maybe look at the Celestron Starsense dobsonian too; push to already fitted as long as you have a compatible smartphone. I wish they were around when I bought my first scope.

Thank you for your reply, didn’t know that this telescope existed, will have a more detailed look at this one.

[bosun21]

5 minutes ago, Rocket dog said:

Thank you for replying, a large number of people do recommend the 8 inch over the 10, are there any reasons for this other than the size and bulk? but to answer your questions, I intend to use the telescope in the garden and would I need to move it about 20 or so meters, however some of the distance will be down some steps and according to some websites I live in a class 5 Bortle area.
If I could ask, with regards to the eyepieces, would you have some recommendations please, as in what price range and type would I have to start looking at?
Thank you  

 

Regarding eyepieces for your scope I would start off by buying a couple of BST Starguider eyepieces. They are far superior to those that come with your telescope. In the UK they retail at between £50-£60. Eyepieces are a large topic for discussion and can quickly become expensive. The BST Starguider eyepieces will be more than enough for you cut your teeth in astronomy and observing. I wouldn’t buy expensive eyepieces until you decide whether this hobby is for you or not. There’s plenty of time and opportunity down the road for upgrades.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Rocket dog said:

Thank you for your reply; it was mentioned the springs are best to be replaced, if I could ask where you would purchase those springs from please. 

Here in the States i got my springs from Bob's Knobs.  @bosun21 can give you a point on that side of the pond.  

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Rocket dog said:

Thank you for your reply, the majority of members’ have recommended the eyepieces and to be honest I didn’t factor this in the overall price, but if  I could ask is there a recommended eyepiece make and model for the type of telescope please?
Thank you

 

Eyepieces are a very personal choice.  What you get will be based on your personal preferences.  This is where getting with a astro club and looking through different scopes with different eyepieces is important.  What i like and what you like may be two different things completely.  So when you are looking at scopes dont be afraid to ask what an object looks like with a different eyepiece.  Its the only way to really know. 

[bosun21]

The springs i fitted on my 12" were 15mm in length, 12mm in diameter and 1.2mm guage wire.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155039917362?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=7mzay4pntzc&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=bx3n7nxfspg&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Edited August 12, 2023 by bosun21
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