Hi,
I have been considering getting a scope for about a year now. I come close to a decision and then sit back and think about the price, the usage, where, when. Anyhow, I was looking at the Orion XT10 Intelliscope and then Ron from Sirius Optics let me know that for the same money or less I could get a no-name Dob with Argo Navis (I'm a newbie and I want to learn and know what I'm looking at at the same time). That got me thinking about the GS Dobs that have got high marks in the forums. And so, I'm looking at the 10in Premium model with 2in Crayford Focuser. At $880 odd, I'm not unhappy, except that adding AN puts it at about $2K, and a decent GOTO EQ, 8in though, is "only" a grand more.
Anyhoo, I decided to add up everything I'd like, within reason. It came to $9000. A litle of this, a little of that. Wow.
And so, I am wondering what exactly will be useful, what wont work with the scope, etc.
My thoughts, for a 10in F/5 GS Dob with 2in Crayford Focuser and 9X50 Finderscope:
Televue Barlow 2x Powermate 2in (I've been wondering whether it's better to have a 2x or 2.5x. Also, I understand it's better than an ordinary Barlow. Do I need a separate Barlow thought, and also, how does it go with Paracorr or am I cancelling each other out.
Laser Collimater Deluxe
or
Orion Collimating Eyepiece (I think it has a Cheshire, whatever exactly that is)
Hurricane Blower Bulb
Televue Paracorr Tunable Top (for EPs that are ordinarily too big)
Televue Paracorr 2in - 1.25in reducing adapter (so I can use both sizes of EP)
Televue Paracorr Coma Corrector visual model (to reduce coma in an F/5)
Televue 2in eyepiece barrel extender (likewise to focus and fit eyepieces)
Televue Everbright star diagonal 2in
Orion Eyepiece and Accessory case (Medium or Large - the Large is $16 cheaper?? Anyone have either and know why?)
Orion 9 x 50 Finder RACI (would this be better than the one that comes with the scope)
Telrad (can you use this with a Finderscope, or does it replace it?)
Telrad Dew Shield+ (do we need these in Melbourne?)
Astronomik H-Beta 1.25in filter (I can use this, right?)
Astronomik 0-III 2in filter
JMB Solar Type A- 10in Newtonian
Meade Moon Filter - ND96 1.25in
Bintel GSO #25 Red 1.25in filter (for Mars and Jupiter)
Nortons Star Atlas
Star Testing Astronomical Telescopes
Uranometria 2000 Southern Hemisphere
Uranometria Deep Sky Guide
Sky Atlas 2000 Deluxe 2nd ed
Hartungs Astronomical Objects for Southern Scopes
Cambridge Star Atlas (sounds cheap and small - $49)
Orion Ronchi Tester (I use this to check collimation and the mirrors, right. And how?)
Televue Radian 6mm 1.25in
Televue Radian 4mm 1.25in
I want the small Radians because I was shocked at the size of Mars and Saturn as seen through the simulated 10in scope at
www.scopesim.com. Only thing is, I get the impression the atmosphere will rarely allow me to use such high mag. In any case, because my eyesight is so bad I need to wear glasses at the scope and ER is key, so a range of Radians is likely.
I was thinking the 12mm Nagler T4, which has good reviews, but the ER is only 17, which is a little small. Maybe the 12 or 10mm Radian (except they're so expensive)
Then something like a 35mm Panoptic.
Meade Filter Set #1,2, and 3 (1.25in colored filters
Meade #905 Variable Polarizing 1.25in (I think it helps with Light Pollution or the Moon)
And finally, $1100 for Argo Navis. Is it easy to install?
Sorry, I know it's a long message. There's a lot of little things in the after sale. I was thinking of buying a little at a time. What do people think as priorities. Is there anything I left out. I'm already trying to work out how to move it around, where to use it, base mods, etc.
Thanks for your patience. I look forward to and appreciate the collective advice of the forum. And Happy Easter to one and all.
Phil