Buying Another Telescope

[nightsky]

Hello, I am in the market to buy a new telescope, what I am interested in
is Deep Sky objects ie:galaxies,nebulae but also enjoy viewing the planets
I have a open tube Dob 18" mirror for over 16yrs imported from the USA but because of health reason have not been able to use it for some time now, so what I would like to buy is a Telescope with a sturdy mount and 5"or 6" aperture around the $2000 plus or so price and easy enough to set up on my own. I would also like to be able to view the night sky using a laptop with software that I can just sit on a chair (arm chair Astronomer) and be able to view anything that the software on a laptop can show.similar to the "Goto" I have all the eye pieces,filters etc but they are 2" Nagler and very heavy, not sure how they would go into a smaller scope. I would be very grateful for any advice and suggestions .
TIA

[Adrian-H]

im buying a televue-85 refractor , i have a 12"newt allso that is underconstruction, i go for televue 85 just cause it is a small scope and a allrounder scope for many many uses, and it is so good. i will make a piggymount bracket for the dob to hold it =)
the televue-85 seems kinda like the telescope you are trying to discribe, it fits 2" eyepeices allso actually.
cost
$2200w/o acess,
$3000w acess,possl,diagnol,case,T-ring,

i am geting it with acessories, i like the brass one.

[iceman]

For that price ($2-3k), it's going to be hard to find something with a good goto mount, and 5-6" of aperture.

It's quite easy to hook most good goto mounts up to a laptop, and use a planetarium program to drive the goto, but the price of the mount alone would be $1500-$2500 (EQ6 with skyscan), and so it doesn't leave a lot of budget for the scope on top.. the cheapest option would be an ED80 or ED100, but if you're after 5-6" of aperture, it'd have to be a very expensive high quality refractor, or a smaller 6" reflector.

[[1ponders]]

There's not much in the 5 or 6" range. Maybe an ETX125 @ $1800. Not 2" nagler friendly though I wouldn't think. Another option is the 8"LX90 @ $2900. It's bit bigger than you are after and maybe the weight setting it up may be a consideration but at least you would get to use your naglers.

Maybe you could sell your 2"ers here, buy 1.25 type 6ers and get the ETX125. I'm pretty sure your eyepieces would be very popular around here. :)

[casstony]

nightsky,
it might help to know what your weight limit is for any individual component.

The 8"LX90 weighs about 30 to 32 pounds (without tripod) and is very simple to set up and use. I store mine at waist height so that no bending is required to shift from house to tripod. I've seen some pretty hefty discounts on used LX90s.

-Tony

[janoskiss]

How about the Vixen 5" Newt on a Porta mount for visual and/or a Goto mount for interfacing with a PC.

[nightsky]

Thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions,the problem with my DOB is not just the weight it's also the ladder climbing,as you would all know the best time to view. is when the object in high in the sky which means a climb up the ladder, and of course it's bulky,I have to use my trailer every time I want to go to a dark site,don't get me wrong, I can set it up under 15 mins,and I have a small computer attached for finding deep sky objects (10yes old now) I am just getting to old for all the hassle. I have been searching lots and lots of web sites here the US and Germany and because of the weight and size of the 5" and 6" mirrors the tripods are to expensive or and heavy,so I am down to a 4" or 5" maybe even a 3". I've been looking at the Meade ETX 12 Sat http://www.staroptics.com.au/index.php?a=telescopes&p=26 and other Meade sizes.Thank you all again for your input and will keep you informed when I decide.you have been a great help.

[janoskiss]

:confuse3: Sounds like what you need is a smaller (8-10") Dob with an ArgoNavis and a decent observing chair.

[Miaplacidus]

Yeah, what Steve said.

[dhumpie]

Your best bet would be either a 6" GS dob or the 130mm Vixen with a porta mount period! And I know what you mean by large scope hassles. That's why I think my 10" GS is the best of both worlds....big enough for some really deep sky observing and yet easy to handle and you don't need a ladder :)

Darren

[dugnsuz]

Hi nightsky,
There's a Celestron 6inch SCT on a GOTO mount for around the $2000 mark, it would need a 2" diagonal though to accomodate your Naglers.
Good Luck - I wish I had 2K to spend!!
Cheers
Doug

[nightsky]

Hi Duhnuz I have been looking at the Celestron 6" there the right weight but as you say they don't have the 2" dia I have asked a couple of retail stores if they can be alterted for the 2" ,still waiting on a reply. Thanks m8

[AstroJunk]

I can't imagine you would ever be satisfied with a tiny scope after your 18" for visual work!

I have an ETX 125 in the garage, in a box, gathering dust as it just cannot come close to the big scope. That's the trouble with aperture - you can't go back.

Maybe you could chuck in the visual stuff and try your hand at Astrophotography instead with an ED80 like alot of the guys around here use - iceman will soon have you converted!

[nightsky]

Hi AstroJunk, I agree with you regarding the aperture, but I have no other choice but to go lower,I am just getting to old for the Big Light Bucket, that is why I dont know which scope to buy, 6" 8" because I know which ever way I go, I am going to say damm!! I should have gone for the bigger one. All I want now is a scope that I can just dial up on my computer and while it does the searching, I'll have a smoke.Whats you ETX 125 like?

[AstroJunk]

The ETX is optically good. I feel that it gives nice contrasty images. The computer control from Autostar is outstanding - I have the software to control it from a laptop, but it proved poinless because Autostar is so good. The mount is the weakest link so forget photography other than with a webcam and all Meades are a tad noisy. Oh, and it's 1.25 inch eyepieces only.

No problems for size and portability and I always viewed sitting down so it is comfortable to use. It's best used in alt-az mode, as are all fork mounts at these lattitudes, but comes with a tripod capable of equatorial too.

I've used a few scopes around this size and not found any better as an all-round packgage. I did notice that when i dovetailed the OTA to an HEQ5 mount that I got substantially better high magnification images, but this was down to that mount again!

So I need a home for an ETX, and you need a home for some Naglers ... :thumbsup:

[nightsky]

you have my full attention, as I was thinking of buying a CCD ,do you have any pictures of the scope it's self? also I get all mixed up with the meade ETX series there are so many, so if you can send me more info on it or a link where I can get all the specs I would be gratful

[AstroJunk]

The official:
http://www.meade.com/catalog/etx/etx_mak.html
The unofficial:
http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html
to whet your appetite.

I'll PM you tomorrow if your still interested (consider an LX90 too, it's bigger, but a very nice scope for the money).

[nightsky]

Great thanks m8, I'll check out the links, look forward to your email.

[iceman]

What do you plan to do with your big scope nightsky?

I live just around the corner from you - would love to see it.

[matt]

I can see an 18" expansion for the Iceman in the works;)

[iceman]

hmm wouldn't that be lovely ;) But then i'd have to buy servocat and argo navis.. :) Would love to stick my ToUcam in it though!

[[1ponders]]

:rofl:@Iceman :lol:

It wouldn't fit on your tracking platform Mike so you wouldn't be able to use our DSLR with it :)

[nightsky]

Hi Iceman, to be honest I have not given it much thought

[nightsky]

Iceman forgot to answer the other part of your question duhh!!!
as for seeing the scope, it's in the cabin, and unfortunately there is some furniture I am holding for a friend as there moving house, and the scope is right at the back, as soon as I can get to it , I'll let you know and your welcome to call round and see it.

[nightsky]

G'day Just wanted to thank everyone for there advise and suggestions I really do appreciate your input:thumbsup: I'm now the proud owner of a Meade ETX 125 EC :) thanks again
Clear Sky's everyone