New Telescope

[Pilchy120]

Hi all,

I currently have a Meade DS-2000 refracter which is quite good, but when you have got something in the scope as you try to adjust the focus the whole thing shakes and is very hard to keep the object in the sight, so I am thinking of upgrading to a better telescope. What telescopes do you recommend. What sizes do you recommend for a quality image and be able to see deep space objects.

any help is appreciated, Thanks

[John]

What sort of budget are you thinking of ?.

For a bit under £300 you can have an 8" dobsonian (which is a newtonian reflector on a simple mount). That will show lots of deep spece objects.

Give us some more details and we will make some suggestions - is portability important to you for example ?.

[Mr Spock]

How much do you have to spend? That will determine which scopes you should be looking at.

[Pilchy120]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply, I was thinking of spending £300 maximum, still in college so don't have loads to spend on one.

[Pilchy120]

Portability isn't really a problem.

[Pilchy120]

When focusing objects with the 8" Dobsonian, does it shake, or is it smooth

[E621Keith]

I think that will depend on the dob's design and magnification, but it should be better than your DS2000.

[swamp thing]

Pretty much all scopes will shake when you touch em. what is more the question is how quickly the mount will dampen the movement. a good dob will dampen any movement almost the instant you cease contact.

Steve

[Pilchy120]

Thanks for all the feedback. Is there an electric motor on the dob, doesn't matter if there isn't. But where can I get a Dob from.

Cheers

[John]

Some have motors on (for more £'s of course). First Light Optics sell the Skywatcher ones here:

Dobsonians

[E621Keith]

You can get GOTO dobs, but they are out of your budget. Dob are cheap because they have the simplest but very stable mount design, hence you can get better optics for the same amount of money.

You can get Dobs from FLO. I think they do Skywatcher's Skyliner, Flexitube, and Meade Lightbridge line.