Hi, I've got an extremely tight budget and am getting back into stargazing after about a twenty year break!
I have my old, old Celestron C8 and wegde and a couple of eyepieces, it is a bit dusty, but still functions and the kids and I have had some fun looking at the stars and using the ipod touch starwalk app (excellent!!) to find things in the night sky.
I'm looking to take some photos, I like the moon and planets, but think with the planets I may tire of taking photos as there are only a few to pick from
So I'm thinking deep sky and have a few questions.
I can afford a CG5 mount or for a little more a HEQ5Pro that comes with a 10" Newtonian scope ($1400) . Or for a few hundred more I can get the EQ6Pro on its own.
Can I use the C8 tube on any of these mounts, or is it two heavy for the cheaper models?
It a 10" Newtonian any good for photography? Would I be better off getting the 10" + HEQ5Pro and selling the old C8?
I have a Nikon D90 DSLR and a T-Ring mount for it to suit the Celestron.
I also happen to have a Toucam Pro webcam that we used to use for Skype and would have the basic skills to convert it for use as a camera for the scope.
Where should I go from here? I've read heaps about astrophotography, and it looks bloody difficult but rewarding, I'd like to take photos with the kids, using the DSLR and the Toucam and maybe save up for a better camera in a few years. I have a current laptop.
My total budget is around $1600, I'm a single Dad and can't afford any more than that. Other than the mount, and the gear I already have, what else would I need, I don't want to suddenly find out there is another $500 worth of kit that I then couldn't afford. Any help really appreciated.