[GC - South Aus]

G'day All

My name is Gav from South Australia.

As a result of experiencing some family and personal issues late last year and early this year, I sold off pretty much all the equipment I had. I am currently getting by with a pair of 10x50 bino's at the moment, and have a couple of EP's waiting to see light again.

After some time off from astronomy, I want to come back and I am looking for a cheap, simplistic but yet effective (future proof) setup.

I want to make sure I don't make all the mistakes I made before, by rushing in and buying and trading things that I didn't really need. Now I wouldn't consider myself an expert, but not a beginner either. I would like to think I have learnt something from my mistakes!

One of the things I have learnt is the value of other people's opinions. Now we are not always going to agree on things, and we will have different opinions and interests. But any advice can be learnt from.

I really want to get back in to imaging again (eventually), but I do like a little visual observing too. I want something that will grow with me and meet my future AP interests.

I have already formed a general opinion as to what I want/need. I am currently advertising a wanted advert/post for the following:

MOUNT: Celestron CI700, Losmandy G11-S (Non Goto) or perhaps CGEM (Goto) or similar (push and go DSC system perhaps - that is for the CI700 and G11-S).

I would also like any of the following - MI250 or CGE Pro and whilst not really important to me perhaps the nicety of GOTO. But on my meager funds/finances these are probably going to be well outside my purchase ability.

OTA: I am looking primarily at a refractor ED/APO. Anything in the 100-130mm (4-5") range. Ones of particular interest are - Skywatcher ED100 or ED120 gold tube, Orion 110mm Premium ED, Orion 100 or 120 EON or a Meade 127 APO.

The above have not only just been chosen based on capability, but my financial situation too. They have also been chosen based on the age of the items and the likelihood someone may have moved on from these and have them sitting around in their obs gathering dust. So in providing advice please don't recommend TEC140's, Paramount MX or AP900's etc. I am basically stretched and any potential purchase really is pushing my finances out of the comfort zone.

I am also interested in the refractor and above mount sizes because I want something portable and not completely back braking! I know I could probably get a very large Newt, reasonable sized SCT or MAK or an Orion Atlas/EQ6 mount etc fairly cheap. But these aren't really what I am after.

So what do you think? Advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Gav