[Dindsy]

hi Guys,
I've not looked into my scope for a year I think (about the time i went to a sky party and looked through someones $3000 Meade GOTO thingy that had crystal clear images) but am keen to get back into it. I think my problem is that i get disheartened with my expectations and i what i end up seeing. I read about the great things people see with 6 inch scopes and how on earth did that 17 year old see Saturns rings with a home made 3 inch in the latest AS&T?

I have a 6 inch newt Sywatcher 150 on an EQ6 GEM.

I took it out last night, despite the huffing and lugging and had a look at Jupiter. OK I could see it quite well, i saw the bands around it. Two distinct bands. But it was small. There was no way i was going to see the spot and I'm sure i read about people seeing this with a 6 inch. It was a clear night but don't ask me about seeing because i don't think i could tell the difference.

My scope probably does need collimating but it was collimated by someone who knows how to when i last used it at the sky party. And i still wasn't overly impressed with my images

I used a 10mm Televue plossl that i just bought because i only had the generic ones that came with it and i was hoping to be more impressed.

So the questions:
1. Am i going to see more/bigger/better images if i get say a 4mm EP and give me 250x image?

2. If i followed common advice and got an 8in or 10in dob would i see a better image? i'm guessing from the ones i've seen that the size of the image would be about the same as they have similar Focal lengths (1200 - 1500mm) Mine is 1000mm?

My real passion would be to take some photos but i know i enter a whole new world of pain here. I'd like to be able to at leat get some ordinary looking shots before delving into DSO's etc.

Anyway, enough for one post?

cheers