First scope + what else?

[Ronseal]

Hi all & Happy New year (nearly),

I've been observing with my 15x70 binos for quite a while now & have seen some great views, it ceases to amaze me that each time I observe I usually have a "wow" moment.

Anyway, I'm seriously considering getting a first scope & have basically chosen the Skywatcher Explorer 150P EQ3-2 for planetary and DSO observing with potential to try some photography in the future.

Asided from the scope & mount, what else should I consider??

My thoughts are:

1) Collimator eyepiece

2) Red LED torch (not got one yet but have a Petzl headtorch (bulb version) I may modify with red filter)

3) Dew shield - type?

4) Extra eyepieces?

5) Filters?

6) Matting when on lawn?

Future upgrades:

1) Tracking motor drive

2) Cannon DSLR camera mount / focus

Any suggestions would be welcome, then onto Flo me thinks

Thanks

Chris

[NGC 1502]

Hi Chris, any idea of your budget ? especially for the eyepieces and DSLR.

Best regards, Ed.

[John]

There are simply dozens of different accessories that you might find useful however my advice would be to restrict it to i) a collimation tool such as a cheshire eyepiece and ii) a good star atlas.

Once you have the scope and have used it for a while, you will have a much clearer idea of what accessories will be useful to you. The classified section and the UK Astro Ad's pages are full of accessories that "seemed a good idea at the time"

[BlueAstra]

I agree with the above. Collimation EP, star atlas, perhaps a moon filter and a red torch. Try it all out for a while until you gain some experience.

[Capricorn]

Would you consider the 150PL instead of the 150P.

The 150P is f/5 and it will need better collimation, more time doing it, and eyepieces for an f/5 also need to be better, more expensive. Especially if you start wanting higher magnifications on planets.

As a first scope the 150PL is easier to get along with. Not sure of the f number of the 150PL but I didn't think it was greatly different to the 150P, f/7 ??, but enough to make a difference in every day use.

Other then that the list covers the bits you need, I would tend to get the motors sooner rather then later, they make moving round the sky easier for you. Oh yes, motors will want a power source.

Just thought: Does the EQ3-2 come with a polar scope for alignment? Check when ordering.

[Ronseal]

Thanks for all the replies, sound advice as ever!

The DSLR I have at present is a cannon 350d, taken some images of the stars at the grand canyon, 20-30 min exposures, but thats about it & would be for future imaging but probably have a go on the moon straight away when i get the scope

[A McEwan]

I too would recommend the 150L version over the shorter one. Also I'd bump up the motor drive (RA only essential) to sooner rather than later. Makes observing much more convenient.

Ant