Opinions on my current gear

[vr4]

Hi,
About a year ago i started out with a cheap ebay scope that worked well enough to get me interested in telescopes. I ended up buying an old york skyrover n200 scope with a gazer equatorial mount for a couple hundred. Its focal length is 800mm. I havent used it very much but have been trying to learn how to align it properly and find objects with Dec/RA, as usual, too much cloud lately to perfect this stuff :/

I wanted to ask if anyone here knows anything about this scope/brand and have had any experience with them. I know they aren't around anymore. I haven't used any others to compare to see if mine's just an old piece of crap or if its half decent. Seems stable enough, just curious about the optic quality and if age affects it.

I'm considering buying something a bit better with the potential to try a bit of photography later on but for now finding out how this old thing rates will help me decide if i should upgrade the scope first or keep it a bit longer and invest in a tracking capable mount and get a better tube later.

Thanks
Here's a couple pics

[multiweb]

As it's a newt I'd invest in a catseye collimation set and get a tracking mount. There's plenty you can do with that scope.

[vr4]

Thanks for the reply. New mount was what i was leaning towards. Do you have any suggestions for a suitable eq mount that would handle my 200mm scope and also leave room for me to upgrade to something a bit bigger later on if needed?

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

A HEQ5 is a popular choice. There are 2 for sale here on IIS. They are rated to carry 14Kg (some say 18Kg but 14Kg would be more advisable). If buying used, check what bits it is still fitted with, but new they came with go-to tracking fitted.

Cheers

[multiweb]

Depending on your budget there is a G11 going on the IIS classified (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=107311)at the moment. For what's offered it is a bargain. I bought a second hand G11 in 2007 and that's the only mount I've ever had and used.

[vr4]

After a lot of research, i think for now i will just buy a dobsonian for observing and ease of use, and to reduce the budget as i can see this costing more than i'd like to spend right now.

I think i have narrowed it down to 2 choices. I can get an orion xt10 without intelliscope from a local dealer for about the same price as a 12" gso delivered. Any opinions on these 2 scopes appreciated to help with the decision.

[dannat]

York was an astronomy shop with shops in Melb,Syd & Bris (I think)

I much prefer alt as mounts, the 200mm newt is ok, you could prob just build a dobsonian base for it

You could visit a local astro club to get someone to teach you how to align it