Need a better planetary scope....

[dweller25]

I currently have a very good Slywatcher 8" F/6 newtonian. The planetary images it gives are really excellent BUT the scope is too long for my mount and the eyepiece is at the wrong end !!

I need a shorter scope but with the same visual planetary performance of the newt - any ideas ??

[GazOC]

Pro Series - Skywatcher Skymax 180 PRO

This is my current 'weapon of choice' for lunar/ planetary. Great scope if you don't mind the cool down.

[Merlin66]

PM sent re skymax Mak...

[brianb]

I need a shorter scope but with the same visual planetary performance of the newt - any ideas ??

You won't beat a Newtonian, except with a Newtonian of longer focal length ... or a very long & very expensive apochromatic refractor ... unless you can increase the aperture.

See if you can get hold of a 9.25", 10" or 11" SCT OTA which should suit your existing GP mount. (Maybe the 11" is a bit marginal....)