Astrograph or normal scope?

[TheAstroChannel]

Is an Astrograph worth getting?
I also don't know the difference between a normal scope and an Astrograph :P
So i don't really know what to go for.
I am currently looking for a new scope since my 17th is coming up so i just want some basic information on cassegrains and Astrographs.
I currently have a ALT-AZ goto mount with a 130mm reflector, a Sony A57 for imaging. so i will assume my current mount wont be able to handle more than 7-8 kgs max.

I just dont know what to look into! :D
any help for a soon to be seventeen year old would be much appreciated!

[14cge]

Astrographs are as the name says, mainly for photography which they do fantastically. What they don't do we'll is visual. I've looked through a couple and you wonder how they take such great photos. Most of the different scopes do something better than another type. No scope is truly a all rounder for everything.
What are you mainly planning to do with it?
What else do you want to do withit?

[TheAstroChannel]

I want to be able to image the sky well and also be able to have a decent view of what i image through the scope directly. :)

[14cge]

Difficult one to answer. A 120mm quality refractor for one is a good choice. You won't get a scope that will do both very very well. I'd forget about trying to get one scope to do both well. If you want to be serious about photography you need a good quality German Equatorial mount first otherwise you will just be chasing your tail.

Sorry it's not a definite answer....

[Amaranthus]

A GEM mounted SCT in the 9-14" range will do both well, but $$$

[Camelopardalis]

I would suggest keeping the scopes for different purposes separate, so as to avoid making unnecessary or undesirable compromises...

For astrophotography, start with a well corrected small refractor - around 80mm or so. The short focal length will be easier to handle on mounts costing less than a small car. And the scope can also act as your grab and go :D

Then for more serious visual, get yourself a larger Dobsonian. Depending on what you're interests are, 8-12 inches aperture, but see/try before you buy because they can get big :eyepop:

Astrographs, or at least the fast focal ratio ones, make it very hard for less than expensive eyepieces to give a pleasing view.

Of course, if you've got the budget that would buy a medium sedan, there are many other solutions we could suggest :lol:

[Amaranthus]

For me, GOTO and tracking together make my visual work incredibly more satisfying, which is why I don't choose to go down the 'big Dob' route (despite the 'light bucket' appeal), and love my computerised telescopes and associated software/apps.

[TheAstroChannel]

Thanks to everyone for the extremely useful advice!

[Bassnut]

Interesting.

[Amaranthus]

...that said, the new GOTO Dobs in the 16" range have got me very interested! ;)

[Camelopardalis]

I'll be interested when they're as light and easy to setup as my 8SE :lol:

[Amaranthus]

Yeah, that's one of the limitations! I'm thinking longer term here, i.e. end of the year, when I will have a permanent country site (in dreamy Bortle 2 skies) at which to leave it -- and maybe a roll off shed? But I'm getting ahead of myself ;)

[LAW]

I picked up a second hand 8"f/5 newt and an older EQ6 for ~$1000 total. There's no goto, auto guiding, or gps gizmos (I've 'shoestring'd an auto guide port into it for imaging though) but for what I've spent on it I'm pretty happy with the views and photos it collects.

[rally]

Roy,

I am not sure I can agree with your sweeping statement!

What specific astrographs did you look through ?
Was this reflectors with large obstructions or refractors ?
What eyepieces did you use ?
What were the problems ?

An FSQ106 is a well renowned astrograph and makes a truly superb visual scope as well. It doesnt just do it well, it does it exceedingly well and even better than some Apochromatics due to its colour correction, high strehl ratio, baffling . . . which gives it great colour and contrast.

I have used one many times and also for some public viewing nights - it was stunning to look through and would have put most achromats to shame, especially on lunar viewing.

Sean,

What is your budget ?
Obviously most astrographs are usually higher quality and fully corrected so they tend to be more expensive.
Also did you have in mind a reflector or a refractor ?

Cheers
Rally

[TheAstroChannel]

I dont currently have a budget at the moment since I am not sure if i will going after one or not, but if i absolutely was, i would say nothing higher than about 700-900 dollars.

Im not exactly fussed about refractors or reflectors, i just want a decent long term scope to put on my current GOTO ALT-AZ mount so i can get some decent pictures :D
But im also open to scopes that arent Astrographs, but still produce great results visually and imaging wise.
I was looking at an ED80 from Skywatcher, but it is sort of out of my price range(for now, until work begins in a few weeks.)
Also, i have heard that my current mount(ALT-AZ GOTO) will limit really long exposures, but at the moment i am able to produce some pretty damn fine images with it. So maybe for now i should keep the current scope, and upgrade the mount, or buy some better imaging equipment( Proper T-Adapter) or maybe even some reducers.

Im just in the planning zone atm, but im open to any help i can get :D

Also, thanks Rally, that is really helpful info you gave me! :)