Guan Sheng 10" Dobsonian vs Skywatcher 10" Dobsonian

[flyingbaby]

Hi there,

I am new to Astronomy and wish to select a telescope for Planets and Deep Space viewing and may later progress to Astrophotography.

I am planning to install either one of these on to the EQ6 Go-to Mount...

So.. I am just concern which one to choose..... to put on my EQ6 mount... They are the same price...

Hope someone can give me some comments...

Thank You


Guan Sheng GS-880 10" ASDX
250mm x 1250mm

First grade 10" (250mm x 1250mm) Dobsonian reflectors with truly outstanding 1/12 surface wave BK7 mirrors and 2" focusers and 2" to 1.25" adaptors.
Resolving power; 0.49 arc second.
Limiting magnitude; 14.5.

Super Deluxe version includes a right-angle correct image 8 x 50 finderscope, 2" Crayford style microfocuser with 10:1 fine focusing and a 2" to 1.25" adaptor, fan, Premium GSO 6mm, 9mm and 25mm 1.25" Plossl eyepieces - and a bonus SP series 2" eyepiece, too!

Adjustable Super Deluxe (ASDX) models have the same inclusions as Super Deluxe (SDX) models.
Large knurled aluminium side knobs adjust tube tension (our recommendation).


The leaflet included in discontinued GSO Dobsonian style telescope base boxes showing needle roller bearings and steel sheets being incorporated within a rotating base is incorrect. In fact, teflon pads are fitted to those Dobsonian telescopes' bases!

The new Adjustable tension Super Deluxe (ASDX) GSO Dobsonians have an upgraded needle roller bearing rotating base which also incorporates thicker steel plates.

or

Skywatcher 10" Dobsonian

Optical Design Newtonian (Parabolic)
Lens Material Pyrex
Diameter 203mm
Focal Length 1200mm
Scondary Mirror Diameter 47mm
F/ratio F/5.9
Highest Practical Power 406x
Faintest Steller Magnitude 14.2
Resoving Power 0.56
Finderscope 9x50
Focuser diameter 2” with 1.25” adapter
Eyepiece(s) 1.25” Super 25 and 10*
Mount Type Dobsonian

[mental4astro]

Hi flyingbaby,

First, is the Skywatcher you mention really a 10"? The details you list have it an 8": 203mm diameter, & f/5.9 for essentially the same focal length.

Visually, a 10" dob is brilliant.

If you are after an astrophotography rig, a 10" is damn massive. If it is your first, you are really in for an uncomfortable learning curve. The main limiting factor will be the mount, and you'd be pushing the very limits of an Eq 6. You will have very little margin for correcting balance issues.

The difference between a GSO 10" dob & a SkyWatcher 10" today, I'd say no difference. Today these scopes are both really good quality for a mass produced instrument. It is more of the sales pitch that gets you. Me, a little less slick in advertising, but more value for money sways me towards a GSO. Depends also on where you are, what is available, and any freight charges you'd be up for.

You really won't have issues with planetary and deep sky objects with scopes this size. Photography of DSO's and the planets have different requirements.

Good luck with the choice!

Mental.

[Suzy]

Hi Allan,
There is a thread running at the moment that will give you lots of invaluable information regarding the complications of mounting a 10" dob.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=66164

Getting into astrophotography unleashes a pandora's box, and if you are unsure on whether that's the road you want to take at this stage, I would advise you, no better - stress to you, that you keep it simple to start with. In time, you will find out what you want to pursue. When I first started, I had no idea I'd be getting into the things that interest me now. This is a journey. Don't stress on the future, you may actually end up throwing wasted money against the wind. This will not be the first scope you will get. Too many beginners think that way and over analysis their future scope purchase. Start simple, learn and progress, and enjoy the journey it takes you on- who knows you may decide sketching and staying visual brings you delight, or making important contributions for variable star observing is a lot of fun, etc etc. There is a lot of areas in astronomy - find yourself first. :)

Kind regards,
Suzy.

[flyingbaby]

Suzy...

Thanks for your reply and you say start off easy... what telescope do you recommend? When I was young, my parents brought me a 100 dollars telescope and I can even see the moon properly...

Could you please advice me with some expert opinion please.

Thank You

Greatly appreciated..

Allan

[peter_4059]

Allan,

I've got a 10" GSO dob on an EQ6 - no problem. I think the GSO has a larger diameter OTA than the Skywatcher (bigger gap around the mirror) and from what I've seen the secondary mirror cell is different. I think the skywatcher has the secondary glued to the holder whereas the GSO is held in a cell so the mirror can be removed (an cleaned if necessary).

Peter

[Suzy]

For simplicity and easy of use it's very hard to go past a dob. for beginners. Go the 10" if you can afford/handle/transport it. It will show you planets and deep sky, and will keep you happy for quite some time. Unlike setting up a mount, which can be frustrating for beginners and ruin the experience, dobs are ready to use at a whim (make sure you allow scope to cool down for planets tho, all that's involved is leaving it outside for a bit, instr. book will explain.
Allan, have a read through the threads in this section, plenty of advice given for people in the same situation as yourself.

As for which one, personally, I prefer the tension handles on the Skywatcher and Saxon to the GSO, as the long handles can be used to move the scope around with (esp. if you add wheels). That to me, was more important than the extra accessories the GSO comes with.

Kind regards,
Suzy.

[Suzy]

Allan, here's some reading for you to help you understand a bit more about telescopes. Hope you find them useful. :)

http://www.fvastro.org/beginners/BuyingBestTelescope.pdf

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-260-0-0-1-0.html (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/../63-260-0-0-1-0.html)

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-261-0-0-1-0.html (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/../63-261-0-0-1-0.html)

[RobF]

Good advice there Allan

The depth and breadth of options to explore in Astronomy is huge, and I know I was surprised at some of the directions I ended up exploring - certainly not what I originally envisionaged. That's brings up another issue - IIS is such a fantastic resource that you'll always be learning new things you wouldn't have thought of yourself - as well as spending money on things you didn't expect too :)

If you're able to, get along to a local gathering of astronomers - the imaging guys will be doing quite different "stuff" to the visual buffs - see what gets you going....

[bmitchell82]

With the GSO the diameter of the tube is just to allow more of the 75% light path. the Skywatcher is better for astro photography the Pyrex with its low CoE means you don't have to worry about the mirror expanding like the glass of the GSO with BK-7 glass, but like i say its not made for astrophotograhy so be prepared to modify it to work properly!

Not to put you off it, but to do it properly your looking at at least 3-5k straight up to get a basic kit together from scratch. Skimping along the way will lead you to spend more in the end.

have a look at my website

www.brendanmitchell.net for a look at some of the photos i have taken and the equipment i use.

there are also more photos at my photobucket site.