Choosing Telescope (Beginner!)

[kagenoha]

I'm very new to the astronomy community and prior to considering buying a telescope I did some research but I am still unsure of what to buy.
The telescope I need is one where I can view deep space objects (nebulae, galaxies) and also view planets (though they aren't my top priority).

Portability would also be a good feature.

Cheers. :)

[raymo]

If you don't plan to do any serious astrophotography in the foreseeable
future, an 8" Dobsonian is a great starter scope, either standard, or
Go To [computerised], according to your budget; very portable, and
simple to use, and decent aperture, pretty much ticks all the boxes.
raymo

[Allan_L]

Hi Sophie.
Welcome to IIS
:welcome:
Where are you located?

[mattyb217]

Hi Sophie, :welcome: i would recommend an 8" dob. I got one last year (my first real scope) & love it! It's very easy to set up & use, the only thing to consider is how bulky the dobs are. Try going into a store & looking at them first hand. Good luck :)

[brian nordstrom]

:welcome: to IIS Sophie , another vote for the 8 inch Dob , awesome first scope that as already said ' ticks all the boxes '.
Brian.

[kagenoha]

Wow! I wasn't expecting this many replies. Many thanks!
And to Allan, I live in north Queensland (rural) but I'll be moving to Tasmania early next year for uni :)

[kagenoha]

Also, would it be worth just getting a Newtonian reflector with an EQ mount instead of a Dobsonian? Can anyone tell me the difference or what pros and cons come with the first?

Or, (and I am considering this) would it be worth building my own as I definitely have the means to do so. Does it lower the quality because it's a simple DIY project? (many of my friend's say it would but then again, they don't know what Polaris is soooo....)

Cheers and thanks again for the great advice.:)

[Allan_L]

The Newtonian reflector on an eq mount would no doubt cost more and be more difficult to use (IMHO).

These are more attuned to those who progress down the Dark Side (ie Astrophotography).

I also commend the advice given to go with the Dobsonian.
It is the same optical tube (essentially) but on a much more user friendly mount.

[mattyb217]

I'd say go ahead & build your own. Not to sure how it would compare to a bought one but having something that you made would be awesome :thumbsup:

The only other advice i can give you would be on the dob, it's the only mount i have used. It's very basic, easy to use & there is next to no set up to start your night observing.

[barx1963]

Sophie

Having used both as a raw beginner I think the best way to express it is this:
If you enjoy standing in the dark, wondering why things are so hard to find, why you are kneeling on the ground trying to look up in an eyepiece, why am I swearing a piece of inaminate metal and why can I never actually get to see stuff, buy an newtonian on an EQ mount.
If you enjoy taking a scope out, setting up in a minute or so, and getting to look at stuff in the sky, get a dob.

This assumes you want to do visual. The whole idea of dob is they are easy to use and you can find stuff.

Malcolm

[cometcatcher]

Building your own is not worth it $$ wise, the Chinese are hard to beat, but is worth it for the knowledge you gain. For extra fun grind your own mirror!

[Bernie.o]

Along the lines of what raymo said, IMO - for a first telescope I would go with the best value 2nd hand one I could get that was still computerised. For a beginner there's nothing like being taken on a guided tour of the night sky to build practical first hand knowledge of what's out there...

[Q.]

Hi Sophie,

I started visual with a 5" reflector on a EQ mount.
I then upgraded with a 10" dobs.

I really enjoyed the EQ mount. Even though I did not spent time to polar align accurately (I just put in the direction showing the south celestial pole by Sky Map on my phone), tracking with the 2 slow motion cables was easy and stable especially at high magnification. Very easy.
The dobs is also very easy to use but I was a bit frustrated by the movements (a bit less after improving the azimuth bearing with the ebony star laminate). Then, for sure I saw a lot more with the 10".

As a beginner, I would recommend to start small i.e. 5 or 6", portability is good. You will be able to see all open clusters, some globular clusters like Omega centauri, some nebulas like Orion and Eta Carina. Dark sky site recommended for fainter objects.
A 5" reflector on EQ mount or a 6" dobs should be in the same price range, $400-500 brand new or $200-300 second hand.
Then you will be able to upgrade according to your liking and budget.

Regarding a GOTO/computerised scope, I am happy I started without. I waned to learn where the constellations and objects are, and I found it fun, exiting to locate objects myself. But as Bernie said, for a guided tour it is very convenient though. This also depends on your budget...

Cheers,
Quentin.

[AstralTraveller]

When people say 8" dobs I say 10"! Sure the tube is fatter but it isn't any longer. The reason is that most 8" (20cm) scopes are f/6 (20 x 6 = 120cm focal length) whereas 10" are generally f/5 (25 x 5 = 125cm). So, if you are limited by the length (or width) of your car, they will both get in the same space. The bigger scope will weigh a bit more (not sure of the details) but I fitted a handle to mine and don't find it too much of a hassle. The up side, of course, is light gathering. The ratio is 10^2:8^2 or 100:64. That means the bigger scope gathers 1.56x more light and that translates into more stars, more nebulosity and more galaxies. It also delays the onset of aperture fever :D.

[raymo]

I would largely agree with David, but the 10" Dob base is somewhat
bulkier and taller, and has to be put into my hatchback on it's side, and then turned upright, where it just clears the roof. The 10" collapsible tube weighs 14.5kg against the 8"at approx. 10kg. I am getting on in years, and the 10" is the most that I could handle.
On the light gathering ability, for those not of a mathematical bent,
I find it easier to just square the scope diameter in inches so a 6"
inch scope would be 36, an 8" 64, a 10" 100, a 12" 144, and so on.
raymo

[inertia8]

I've started with a 5" tabletop dob, and used an 8" on loan from the ASV. The 8 was a joy to use with the right seat. The 5 wiggles around too much without a solid table or the ground and a good deal of practice, so I'm trying a different approach and mounting it to an az3 Tripod.

Personally I'm going for a 10" when the right deal is available and finances allow, I considered a collapsible 12 but goto and tracking are now in my list of desired features.

My advise is to personally go and see the scopes you are looking to purchase so you will be able to pickup the components and get a feel for portability and usage.

I think I will be adding a couple of those "strap handles" the whatever I buy to help my back.


Good luck.