Newbie needs help choosing a scope.

[Spaced Out]

Ok, firstly what money I have wasted in my start up to astronomical observing. I have purchased the following Binoculars.1. Leica-10x20 2. Zeiss wetzlar 7x50. 3. Zeiss Jenna 10x50. 4. Zeiss (west) 15x60 5.Optolyth 15x63 6.Russian Tento 20x60 & 7.Oberwork 22x100. Telescope Celestron C90 and tripods. (none of these cut it )The above listing is only there to show how obsessive I get and I don't want to do it with telescopes! I am an eBay addict but don’t like what I see when it comes too buying a quality telescope (beware there are too many rip offs) My budget will be between $3000-$5000 I only want to do this once.
I have read a lot and I have a few problems. Dust Dust and more Dust, the big downside of living near sugarcane. This sort of rules out a big dob (perhaps). I have looked at a few schmidt-cassigrains up to A celestron 11" with goto. I probably will get into astro photography so it looks like I have limited choices, all the advise leads to upgrading latter and for me and my obsessive buying that’s not a good idea. If I at least start off in the good to very good arena I will hopefully stay satisfied for a lot lot longer. Please :help:
Refractors aren’t out of the question either and I would buy secondhand if its from someone reputable.
I would like to start off with good views of the planets and carry on to stars and then later photography which isnt included in this budget figure.Any and all advise will be appreciated!!!:thumbsup:

[cjmarsh81]

If dust is that much of a problem then you could be limited to a refractor. As far as I know the Schmidt Cassegrain are not air-tight like the refractors.

That is quite a collection of binoculars you have there. :whistle:

:welcome: to IIS. I am sure somebody who knows a bit more will be along to answer your questions.

[Spaced Out]

:) Thanks I am looking forward to some usefull info.

[[1ponders]]

:welcome: Spaced Out.

Does your wish list include GOTO or are you happy to push around the sky hunting?

[Striker]

I'm happy to offer my services as I will be going through Childers in the next 3 weeks.

Did you want to eventualy do Deep space Photography or just planets and lunar.

Planets you can get away with a toucam and a digital SLR camera will do your Deep space images.

[Spaced Out]

Goto sounds like the go. I will look forward to talking with you more Striker.
Cheers Brett

[[1ponders]]

Maybe think about one of the fork mounted SCTs and then when you want to do photography get a wedge. You can seal an sct with a dust and moisture filter. Anything in the line of a meade 8" or 10" LX90 or 8" LX200.

Alternatively you could look at a Schmidt Newtonian on an EQ mount like the Meade LX75 10" which would be suitable straight up for imaging as well as viewing.

You could go for a refractor on an eq mount, but for visual deep sky viewing the more aperture the more you can see.

[casstony]

With regard to the dust, you could still use a solid tube dob if you placed a Baader turbo-film filter on the open end while observing - you might need to have the scope outside with a thin cloth over the end for cooling before placing the filter on. Just a way to keep your options open.

Baader turbo-film is a thin clear optical quality filter that degrades the image only slightly. I use it much of the time on the front of my SCT to keep dust from building up on the corrector, as I live in a dustier than average environment courtesy of local power stations.

-Tony

[Spaced Out]

Thanks people I am learning more by the minute!!:D
But you can never have too many opinions so please keep your ideas and comments comming.

[Spaced Out]

Thanks to the few kind enough to add their comments, I have fortunately and thankfully found and purchased what I believe to be an excellent start up package from a fellow forum member Striker.
SO thanks everyone !!:thumbsup:

[Starkler]

You bought Tony's scope, I hope its not infectious :rofl: