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Old 17-02-2008, 05:22 PM
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tbentley
with my other baby

tbentley is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: South Hedland, WA
Posts: 64
Good choice on a first scope. I have the 8" Skywatcher dob and have found it to be ideal to start with. Big enough to see everything you want to, cheap enough to get you into decent equipment and simple enough that you have to learn what you are doing without relying on a computer controlling it.
For mine I'd say that after a cheshire for collimation (which I consider a tool for maintenance rather than an accessory) the Telrad has been the purchase that has made the biggest difference to my experience as a beginner dob owner.
At first it can get very difficult trying to translate the upside-down, back-to-front image you see in a magnified finder into the correct way to move your scope. Also, a constellation which is well defined when you can only see the visible stars can become most confusing when you get another couple of magnitudes worth of stars in the finder.
You can certainly make do with the eyepieces you get with the "super deluxe" and tracking an object at high magnification is hard to do when you are just learning so a barlow is not essential. Seating can be an issue but there is always an inexpensive option (dining chair with phone books anyone?)
Oh, and one thing that hasn't been said and everyone will either kick themselves for forgetting or say that it's so obvious it doesn't need mentioning is a red light torch. Can't survive without one, especially with a dob.
Good luck and don't spend too much too early. Start with the basics and think long and hard before every purchase.
Travis
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