Which 2 Scopes Would Compliment Each Other The Best

[gordyb]

For example maybe a evostar 102mm and an 8" dobsonian or a evostar 90mm and a 6" dobsonian,i am interested on members opinions of what 2 scopes compliment each other the best and why,whether for a beginner or a professional Cheers Gordy

[Ben Ritchie]

For visual use, i'd pick something that can be up and running in seconds (TV76 on a Alt-Az, for me) and a decent-sized but portable Dob.

[sixela]

I think a smallish refractor (small enough to be seen as a real grab'n'go refractor if put on a small Alt/Az mount) and a largish Dobsonian would be ideally complementary.

The more there is a spread between the different apertures, the better.

A 80mm or 90mm ED or APO refractor and an 8" or 10" refractor are very popular combinations. The first --when coupled with a solid German equatorial mount-- can even be used as a wide field astrophotography platform while you observe with the other.

But each person has other preferences, and budgets do matter as well, as well as intended usage. I actually have two reflectors, a wide field 114mm StarBlast and a 400mm Dob.

I think I'd actually prefer an 80mm ED APO to the StarBlast at home (or close to home), but the StarBlast was cheaper and the extra aperture does help when the StarBlast is my only travel scope on holiday (because fitting the Other Scope in the car with my family now works since it's bee rebuilt, but there is the small matter of luggage for the family too).

[ollypenrice]

Only two?? Blimey, tough one!!! For observatory based visual, a five inch apo and a big driven Dob; twenty inch or more. That gives a field capable of showing M45, superb planetary views and good deep sky. Dreams, dreams...

Olly

[brantuk]

I pondered this very same question ages ago and wound up with three: a large(ish) dob for dso observing, a Schmitt Cas for planetary (obs and imaging), and a short tube refractor for dso wide field imaging.

Couldn't really find two scopes that cover all the combinations I'm now priveledged to. You'd also need to factor in hefty budget for a range of ep and camera combinations to go with. Should keep me going for years, but a pro would probably want to double all the apertures and upgrade all the optics

[Ags]

I've been thinking about this, from a purely visual, non-imaging point of view.

Scope 1: a Skywatcher GOTO dob, as big as practical. good for DSOs, and as it has tracking it is good for high mags on planets too.

Scope 2: A refractor with a short focal length (sub-1000mm) for wide-field views and quick set up.

My current scope is OF COURSE neither scope 1 nor scope 2. Botherations.

[CGolder]

I always have this battle with myself and my scopes and i come to the conclusion i need 3 scopes.

my 10" LX90 will be at home and the plan it to pier mount it in a obsy next summer.

The 8" lx10 is my star party scope, with on its own forks or on the EQ mount depending on if i want goto. (is a decent grab on go on the folks when used on the garden table) This can be operated without power too which is great.

The ETX is my travel scope, packs up nice and small and light. if i take my kids and dont have space for the LX10. this will come.

But my choices are always limited by space so Maks and SCT's are my weapon of choice.

I am also a visual observer. i have been tempted by imaging lately but i am not sure its going to happen.

I like to work towards..

Biggest possible home scope

Decent Size Starparty/Darksite scope

Grab setup

[GazOC]

I have quite a few scopes (I'm a bit of a hoarder!) but as a visual observer I think I could be happy with just my alt/az ED120, 14" Dob and 7" Mak/Cass on a EQ6.

[Ags]

I have quite a few scopes (I'm a bit of a hoarder!) but as a visual observer I think I could be happy with just my alt/az ED120, 14" Dob and 7" Mak/Cass on a EQ6.

I'd be happy with it too! It's not too hard to be happy with that lot... ;-)

[Chris H]

If you can use the scopes at home then as big a Dob as you can handle paired with a 100mm Apo refractor. That should do it.

[Moonshane]

I'm actually really happy with my two scopes. I have a 6" f11 dob which is really designed for planetary /lunar and double stars. The 12" f5.3 dob is perfect for fainter stuff (but also great on planets etc) and both are pretty portable too.

The best thing is that they are the same focal length and therefore I don't have to think about different EPs and scale etc.

In a way I also have a third option too which is a pair of decent 15x70s. Anything too wide to fit in the scopes will usually fit in the bins no problem. They also make a great piece of kit for holidays etc.

I think as long as you have something with a slower focal ratio for planets and a large aperture with a faster focal ratio for faint fuzzies then you are pretty well covered.

If I had to lose one though it would be the 6".

[GazOC]

I'd be happy with it too! It's not too hard to be happy with that lot... ;-)

Yep, it was a bit of a dumb thing to post looking back...

[Steve]

Generally, for visual use, enthusiast astronomers often own three telescopes: A planet-killer, Light bucket and grab-and-go. With that in mind a Maksutov, Dobsonian and short-medium length refractor would go well together.

[John]

Generally, for visual use, enthusiast astronomers often own three telescopes: A planet-killer, Light bucket and grab-and-go. With that in mind a Maksutov, Dobsonian and short-medium length refractor would go well together.

There's a co-incidence

I've currently got:

- 6" maksutov-newtonian

- 10" alt-az mounted newtonain

- 4" F/6.5 ED refractor

Oh and the PST which is a specialist piece of kit of course.

Darn - no excuse for any more scopes then

[GazOC]

Generally, for visual use, enthusiast astronomers often own three telescopes: A planet-killer, Light bucket and grab-and-go. With that in mind a Maksutov, Dobsonian and short-medium length refractor would go well together.

Great minds!!!

[Nexus 6]

Ye 3 scopes would be ideal!, just need another two then, plus.....

"Start's counting the money in the big bottle"

Alan

[Ags]

Generally, for visual use, enthusiast astronomers often own three telescopes: A planet-killer, Light bucket and grab-and-go. With that in mind a Maksutov, Dobsonian and short-medium length refractor would go well together.

In my Five Year Plan, the skywatcher goto dob does both the light bucket and planet 'killing' roles. Obviously I will need to buy 4mm / 3mm EPs for planets; I'll just buy more TS Planetaries.

Surely a mid-size dob is grab-and-go-ish? So a 200mm goto dob would cover all three roles! I suppose it would be a compromise in each role though.

The trouble about buying a refractor is you start thinking about getting into imaging, and taking the consequent Imager's Vow of Poverty... ;-)

[Darth Takahashi]

Easy...any Takahashi next to another Takahashi;

For example Sky90MKII SV with FS102NSV or Sky90MKII SV with TOA130F etc...

If you really want to impress go with the FS102NSV in tandem with the TOA130F and the Sky90MKII mounted on top of the TOA130F...

By now you should have guessed that I have a problem...an addiction for Takahashi scopes.

It could be worse, I could be drinking and smoking myself to death

[gustavo_sanchez]

My current combination of a Celestron Omni XLT 120 refractor and Meade 12" Lightbridge seems very good to my visual needs. After a few accesories I got for both scopes to improve their stock condition (Fringe Killer filter, 9x50 RACI finderscope to be used on both scopes, mount extension for the Omni CG-4, 2" dielectric diagonal, replacement knobs for the Meade, and a light shroud I am sewing myself ) I think I got almost everything covered. Now... eyepieces! MORE eyepieces!!!

[dweller25]

Two scopes - purely visual.....

5" Apo

10" Dob

[Ben Ritchie]

It could be worse

Or addicted to Astro-Physics

[cdd2455]

I tried to achieve that with my pair, a TV101 ( 4inch, f5.4 ) refractor on TV's Gibraltar mount and a 12.5inch Obsession.

Both scopes perform very well, but, of course aperture rules for dobs, as does long focal lenght for planetary views through a refractor and so I'm wishfully thinking building an 18 or 20 inch dob and a 6 inch f15 refractor.

Best Regards

Carl

[ollypenrice]

Don't forget TEC, you AP and Tak buffs. (I'm an any good apo buff myself!) For some reason TEC have no great UK following but here in Europe and also in the states they are considered second to no one. That's how I encountered them, never having heard of them before.

That and a driven 25 inch Obsession, ho-hum. But that would be harder to get past madame...

Olly

[Darth Takahashi]

But that would be harder to get past madame...

Olly

Yes, I think we all know that feeling very well; hence my drinking and smoking comment, just in case 'her in doors' happens to check up on me.

If that doesn't work I point out all the guy's here with AP, TEC and Paramount ME mounts with of course large format ccd etc...

[johninderby]

Don't forget TEC, you AP and Tak buffs. (I'm an any good apo buff myself!) For some reason TEC have no great UK following but here in Europe and also in the states they are considered second to no one. That's how I encountered them, never having heard of them before.

That and a driven 25 inch Obsession, ho-hum. But that would be harder to get past madame...

Olly

Olly

Is this next on your shopping list?

John

TEC APO 180FL F/7 Fluorite Triplet, 3.5" Feathertouch focuser