Getting back into it!

[Nebula82]

Hi folks

After 6 years or so I am getting back into stargazing 🔭 

Previously I had an 8 inch Skywatcher Dob which I struggled with and became too fixated with aligning mirrors to enjoy the skies. Before that I had a beautiful Skywatcher refractor but the equatorial mount took a while to set up and take down. 
 

So…currently I’d like something compact and easy to set up and use. I was thinking of the Celestron SE 4inch Maksutov Cassegrain. My interest is mainly planetary. Is this a good choice? Any help and recommendations would be greatly appreciated. 
 

 

Thanks to all

Neb

[happy-kat]

Welcome

Liking at sky watcher for example keeping in budget of the suggestion you gave there's the skymax 127 or 102 in a flavour of mount options.

Depends what's key to you like portability, goto, ease or weight etc.

[StevieDvd]

An often talked about comparison is the Nexstar 4SE and SW AZ-GTi with SW 127 mak  -  see this old thread

 

[Nebula82]

2 hours ago, happy-kat said:

Welcome

Liking at sky watcher for example keeping in budget of the suggestion you gave there's the skymax 127 or 102 in a flavour of mount options.

Depends what's key to you like portability, goto, ease or weight etc.

Hi Kat 

Thanks for your reply. Portability and a goto function is high on the list. The Celestron startsense looks appealing however I will check the skywatcher suggestions you mentioned too. 
 

Thank again

Neb 

[Nebula82]

2 hours ago, StevieDvd said:

An often talked about comparison is the Nexstar 4SE and SW AZ-GTi with SW 127 mak  -  see this old thread

 

Thanks Stevie

[Cosmic Geoff]

TBH the 4" Nexstar 4SE is a bit small for planetary.  Depending on your definition of portability you could look at the 6 SE and the 8SE

I have the latter, and it is still light and compact enough to carry outdoors as 1 assembly.

1 hour ago, Nebula82 said:

The Celestron startsense looks appealing

Did you mean the Starsense Autoalign (camera system) at around £350? I have one but you do NOT need that for planetary observation.

There are various Maks and mounts in the smaller sizes.  The Celestron 127mm Mak and the  Skywatcher 127mm Mak are basically the same, and can (or could) be bought with the same-looking GoTo mount - only the GoTo system software differed.  IMHO the Nexstar system is easier to use than the Skywatcher Synscan -I have both.  And the Nexstar has a handy Solar System Align that lets you align on a planet. The Synscan has no obvious equivalent. 

Celestron now offer some small SCTs (5" and 6") with alt-azimuth GoTo mounts. I don't like the look of the tripods though - wobbly?

[Elp]

Those bundled aluminium extrusion tripods are the worst. Thick steel ones are better.

Edited April 20 by Elp

[Nebula82]

12 minutes ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

TBH the 4" Nexstar 4SE is a bit small for planetary.  Depending on your definition of portability you could look at the 6 SE and the 8SE

I have the latter, and it is still light and compact enough to carry outdoors as 1 assembly.

Did you mean the Starsense Autoalign (camera system) at around £350? I have one but you do NOT need that for planetary observation.

There are various Maks and mounts in the smaller sizes.  The Celestron 127mm Mak and the  Skywatcher 127mm Mak are basically the same, and can (or could) be bought with the same-looking GoTo mount - only the GoTo system software differed.  IMHO the Nexstar system is easier to use than the Skywatcher Synscan -I have both.  And the Nexstar has a handy Solar System Align that lets you align on a planet. The Synscan has no obvious equivalent. 

Celestron now offer some small SCTs (5" and 6") with alt-azimuth GoTo mounts. I don't like the look of the tripods though - wobbly?

Thanks Geoff

Yes the star sense was appealing for quickness navigating the night sky. 
 

I have always been very interested in the Celestron Nexstar range and have noticed that the Celestron alignment is often mentioned easier than the skywatcher equivalent. However, the skywatcher AZ GTI mount with a mak 127 is very nice looking. Choices choices!! 
 

Thanks 

Nebula 

 

Edited April 20 by Nebula82
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