New to Astronomy

[moonstar]

Hi guys, My name is Pete, I live in Stroud NSW. I am new to Astronomy and would like to learn more. I recently bought a cheap scope from the local recyclers (for $10), took it home, set it up that night, looked at the moon and was instantly hooked. What I saw was amazing, so many craters on the moon! Since then I have been reading this forum most nights. Its a wealth of information but I still dont know what scope I should buy next ::shrug:. I would like to look at deep space more than planets and I'll spend up to $1000. I am happy to buy second hand to get a more powerful scope for the money. Any advice would would be greatly appreciated.
I have a question. Is it possible to see deep space in colour at all? Bigger scope?
Its a shame about Bretti for the 11th, its just up the road for me. How often do you go there?
Thanks guys, hope you will have me here, Pete

[brian nordstrom]

:) Hi Pete and :welcome: , mate .
You are right about this site , its awsome in every way great people with big hearts .
On a new scope , you need to think about what you want to observe and where you will be observing from . ;).
Eg . if you have to travel a 10 inch Dobsonion is probably as big as you will move easily in a car , where as a 14-16 inch is easily transported in a ute or van ( getting BIG here ) .
If you live in a unit :eyepop: up stairs an 8 inch dob is as big as I would go , so there are a lot of variables to consider , but I would say the concensous here will be a 10 inch Dob , great starter scopes , easy to set up and use and will last you years . :thumbsup: .
They pop up here from time to time , but even brand new from all the main suppliers they are very well priced .
Have a google .
Brian.

[Allan_L]

Hi Pete,
Welcome to IIS :welcome:

Brian is spot on the money with his advice.
I have had quite a few scopes, different types, different sizes, from $5,000 down to $100.
But my current scope is a humble Skywatcher 10 inch collapsible DOB.
And to be honest, I like it best of all.

But good eyepieces can cost as much or more than a scope.
And these can make or break your viewing pleasure.

As for Bretti, you are lucky you can duck down there whenever you want.
YES, its a shame we moved the venue.
We probably try to get to Bretti about 4 times a year.
But why don't you come to Lostock instead.
It is still pretty close for you I think.

and you can have a look through our various scopes and eyepieces.
You don't even need to bring a scope if you don't want to.
But will be welcome to come with your current scope too.

PM me if you want more info.

Hope to meet you soon.
Allan

[omegacrux]

10in collapsing Dob right on your budget
Awsome scope you would get years of pleasure from that
Easy set up unlike an eq mount you'd pull your hair out just trying to find the scp
Ep's at stupid angles

David

Oh and welcome Pete

[fauxpas]

http://www.bintel.com.au/Telescopes/Dobsonian/33/catmenu.aspx

Bintel 12" $899

Meade 12" Truss $1099

I drive a small car and will likely be needing to get the Meade...

[jjjnettie]

:) Excellent advice.
Sky Watcher also makes a collapsible dob.
If you can save up a few more $$ you might be interested in getting a Goto Dob.

[moonstar]

Thanks for the welcome everyone :) and the good advice. I will be viewing from my verandah mostly if there is not too much light pollution. I have a dual cab 4wd ute, so transporting a large scope shouldnt be a problem. I was wondering about goto, sounds like a good idea.
Is it possible to see deep space in colour at all? Bigger scope?
Thanks for the invite, Lostock sounds good, hope I can make it :).

Pete

[Allan_L]

Colour in deep space objects, my experience is = generally no.
You can see the colour in planets, Mars red, Neptune Blue Uranus green.
As an exception, You may see some colour in the blue planetary nebula,
But generally the colours you see in, say, the Orion Nebula, the Helix nebula, the carina nebula, for example, can only be picked up by the long exposures obtainable in photography.
Even in a 20 inch Dobsonian.
Visual observations are generally just black and white.
This is due to the colour sensitive areas of the eye(cones) being the less sensitive areas of the eye, while the more sensitive (the rods) are not colour sensitive areas.
Google Rods and Cones

[barx1963]

Hi Pete
Unfortunately with deep space objects colour is all but non existent, they are simply too faint even with a very big scope to activate the colour cells in your eye. The very brightest nebula (M42) I once believe I could catch a tinge of pink with my 12" on a night of exceptional clarity, but certainly nothing like the photos you see.
Stars certainly have discernable colours and many multiple star systems have contrasting colours (Albireo in Cygnus or Beta Cygni is a prime example currently visible) which are very pretty and make fine targets.

I use a GSO 12" which is identical to the Bintel one mentioned. It is a fine instrument for the money, but there are a couple of caveats. It would be difficult to transport if I had only a small sedan and it can be a little cumbersome to move around the backyard. If those 2 things are issues, a collapsible or truss dob is often a better way to go.

Malcolm

[moonstar]

Thanks for the info guys :thumbsup:. After all your advice and more reading I am thinking a 10" or 12" DOB maybe with goto. The only thing now is which brand. I did read somewhere here about different brands having different lense materials, something to do with cooling off period. Any updates or advice on this would be great :). Have a great night everyone :):):)
Pete

[barx1963]

The glass in the scope makes very little difference as far as cooling time is concerned. Rather good glass doesn't change shape while it is cooling. The two main glass types used in commercial dobs are BK7 (Used in the GSO/Bintel dobs and the Meade Lightbridge series) and Pyrex, which I believe is still used in the Skywatchers (but I cannot find specific info on that!) Both are perfectly alright.

Skywatcher do collapsible Go To Dobs and from what I have seen and heard the build quality is good and most reports on the Go To say it is OK. GSO/Bintel/Meade dobs are not usually available with Go To but can be retrofitted with a Argo Navis Push To system.

Malcolm

[Allan_L]

If you can come to Lostock with us this month, Pete, you will see a variety of different DOBs, some with goto others, push to, and others fully manual navigation systems.
Also different sizes from 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 inch versions (mostly collapsible and truss designs, from Skywatcher, Orion, Bintel, GSO and Meade.
There will also be a Meade SCT.
and possibly a refractor or two.

You can compare views and the owners' experiences.
The Skywatcher and Orion have Pyrex, I believe, which is generally considered better material for mirrors, The others BK7 glass, whioch is also used in most binos.

Hope to see you there.

[moonstar]

Thanks again for the heads up guys ;). I actually went to a a scope shop today, had a look at some and spoke with the salesman. Everything points towards a reflector, apature, price. I did get a shock of the size and weight. I think a 10" is probably going to be too big to be realistically useable, for what I want anyway. I think an 8" will suit me better. I got a price for an 8" skywatcher on an eq5, 10 and 25mm eyepieces, $1000. Does that sound reasonable to you guys? I think I can get one slightly cheaper in Sydney, but need to travel or have it posted. I almost bought it, but reconsidered. It would be nice to be looking through it now :).

Pete

[Zhou]

G'day Pete,

I am glad the astronomy bug has bitten you look forwards to an amazing hobby.

With your choice of telescope, you dont have to spend $1000 (big bucks) on your first serious piece of glass. A 200 or 250mm dobsonian is sufficient to start your astronomical journey, It maybe all the scope you will ever need. If, however, you later develop apeture fever or want to embark in astro imaging then you can spend serious money purchasing more esoteric equipment.

A 200mm Dob with a couple of good eyepieces and maybe a filter (eg OIII) with get you going on a hobby that will keep you fascinated for a lifetime.

Mick

[Allan_L]

For visual astronomy, I VERY Highly recomend a DOBsonian mount instead of the EQ5 mount.

Apart from easier to use, it should also be much cheaper.

EQ mount only for astro-photography.

Prices:
Skywatcher 8 inch relector on dob base $599

10 inch $799

These are collapsible scopes which make them MUCH easier to handle than a full tube scope.

[Ausrock]

Pete,

If you went to the shop in Broadmeadow (the only almost serious astro supplier in N'cle), I would seriously suggest you check pricing from Andrews and Bintel in Sydney before committing to spend $$$. B'meadow is convenient but from my experience they are not price competitive.

Chris

[barx1963]

I agree with Alan. Stay away from an EQ mount unless imaging is definitely where you are heading. A dob mount will be much easier to use and cheaper.
EQ mount only advantage for visual use is that they track, but disadvantages are
They require power
Eyepiece ends up in all sorts of odd positions
Require polar aligning
More things to go wrong
Steeper learning curve
Harder to find objects, at least for beginners

I know, have used both, always recommend a dob!

Malcolm

[moonstar]

Thanks guys. I'd like to get into some imaging down the track and I enjoy the challenge of using and learning the Hi-tech side of equipment, so I might still go with the eq5. In the meantime I have been enjoying looking at the moon through the cheapy. Hopefully I can catch up with some of you at Lostock. Clear skies everone :)

Pete