help with nexstar 8i

[pikpakboom]

I recently purchased a nexstar 8i off the internet and i haven't received it yet. I am so excited and I am wondering if anyone can give me advice on which eyepieces to get? Also is the nexstar 8i a good telescope? I am a total novice and I really need all the advice i can get. Thanks!:help:

[[1ponders]]

G'day pikpakboom, :welcome: to the site.

I can't comment on the operational ability of the 8i but I've had a similar sized meade 8" and i still use the same size scope. You should get a real kick out of it.

Someone who knows more about eyepieces than I should pop along shortly and answer your eyepiece question, though alot of them might be at the South Pacific Star Party this weekend.

[[1ponders]]

BTW if you ever decide to come over to the dark side of astroimaging have a look at what one of our other members in Finland ( YoHakainen (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=1485))can achieve with the 8i

http://www.noba-finland.com/Saturnus/28.3.2007.html

[MikeyB]

Welcome aboard ppb.

The N8i is a great scope IMHO, especially optically, but has its quota of quirks and user tricks to learn. The manual (downloadable from the Celestron website http://www.celestron.com/c2/downloads.php, scroll down the right-hand list), is OK but not perfect.

To get yourself up the learning curve as quickly and painlessly as possible, I'd recommend that you also thoroughly explore Mike Swanson's excellent NexStar Resource Site:

http://www.nexstarsite.com/index.html

[pikpakboom]

wow! thanks a lot for the replies! you guys are really helpful!!! it's nice to know i can ask you guys if i have questions. thank you!:P

[pikpakboom]

is it possible to use a meade dsi suite for a nexstar 8i scope? celestron has an imager too but it's just for planets right?