ICBM launcher arrives!!!! (Skywatcher 8" reflector)

[Ben Cole]

Well the scope arrived yesterday

Boxes not as large as I expected which was a nice surprise...until I actually saw the scope. It's big. No matter how much I thought about what to expect I knew something would be a surprise.

Anyway after a good start to the evening viewing the comet I came home for a play around. Put all the bits together which was pretty straight forward. The mount with the counterweights on is a heavy item!

I didn't have a powersource and have never aligned a scope so being an impatient soul just went outside and pointed at saturn and the the orion nebula.

Loved the views. Can't say I was TOTALLY blown away but then I wasn't dissappointed either. I just think I was realistic about what to expect. I did have a little chuckle to myself with saturn looking so stunning though. And it was curious to look upon M42 on a totally new scale.....instead of "fuzziness" you can make out the nebulous material :shock:

All this was done with terrible light pollution, literally yards from a street lamp which also meant my eyes were not adjusted at all.

As expected I did get eventually get frustrated not being able to track my targets and therefore not really being able to use the higher mags on saturn.

All round though a pleasing start and I was just glad that I had a clear first night. Now I need to learn my polar alignment because I think accurate tracking is the key for a rewarding session as it greatly reduces the effort for the reward.

Regarding the scope, quite impressed with the all round quality and glad I got the HEQ5 because even that beast was fluttering in the "breeze".

Also a mention for Steve at First Light Optics. Good price, service and customer support. Thanks Steve.

[geppetto]

Congrats Ben

Have lots of fun with your new gear

[SteelRat]

Well done matey 8) Have fun!

[Jamie]

Nice one Ben.

Hope you get loadsa good weather to use it.

[Andrew*]

Sounds just like my experience yesterday. Same scope. Small box - huge scope. Seeing Saturn clearly, but not managing to up the mag (from just 50x) due to lack of bother to polar align. I also had an LP problem - a glaring outside light I didn't turn off until after an hour of observing!

Only difference was I didn't deal with Steve. sorry, Steve. I'll try better for my next investment - probably a new 2" EP

Andrew

[Ben Cole]

Just reading your thread Andrew...sounds like you were like a dog after a rabbit too!!!!

Shame it's cloudy tonight though.

[The Warthog]

ICBM launcher? No, no! Turnip cannon! You have to be at least 30" to do ICBMs. Great scope, though, and I'm sure you'll be very happy with it. What were you useing before?

[proflight2000]

Being realistic, what would you expect to see with an 8" over say a 6", taking into account lenses etc. With my now gone etx 105 I could see saturn and her rings, not brilliant but what else would I or could I expect to see in an upgrade. Thanks all.

[Ben Cole]

What were you useing before?

Nothing. Had a small Tasco refractor 20 yrs ago that's all. It's only in the last year it's become viable to have a decent scope.