Hi Raj here,
So a few weeks ago I decided to take the plunge and buy a telescope of my own. I have the privilege of being able to head down to Wye River regularly on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. A friend loaned me her 'supermarket' budget refractor (60mm aperture, 700mm fl) for a play. I couldn't see anything at all to start with and effectively dismantled it all (somewhat) gave it a clean and put it back together, and then we had some success.
So, it comes with rather crappy looking 20, 10 and 4mm EPs. I enjoyed what I saw but overall it was (expectedly) pretty crappy experience. Fast forward a month or so.
I've done A LOT of reading. The forums, articles, advices etc are very very helpful and much appreciated (thanks in advance)
So on all that advice I decided to grab an 8" Saxon Dob (collapsible)!
I managed to get what looked like a very well looked after scope. Original receipt indicated it was only about 6 months old which confirmed the previous owner's remarks. Only used a couple of time, seemed true. So, a bit less than what I would pay new, I was a happy newbie astronomer.
It comes with blanket 10 and 25mm possl EPs. When I got a first look from central Melbourne at the moon I was blown away. Clarity is nuts. Then I hit Jupiter. So excited. Moved it down to Wye River and again, have had some real fun. Have seen Saturn and 'ooh aah'd at lots of stars.
But i don't get to see much color, which I now understand a bit more is unlikely (impossible?) with just viasual observing and an 8". And I struggle with things other than the brightest of stars and the planets. I've read an 8" should get me the Cassini division and M42 pretty clearly, but I merely see splodges
My g/f seems to see things better, and I admit I wear glasses, but I'm not sure I'm really seeing all that I could. I also have a pair of Bushnell 10x42 binos, which should help, and they do make the night sky look pretty but I don't get the impression I'm seeing what everyone else is talking about.
Anyway, I know there is more time I have to spend at it, and I will, but I will look for a star gazing club in central Melbourne or on the coast (Lorne/Wye/Apollo etc), but it is hard for me to make time with work commitments.
Given all my reading, I decided to grab a 2" 30mm UWA GSO EP. waiting for it to arrive, but hoping it gives me a little more. Now, my questions...people talk about GSO EPs if you are on a budget (which to some degree I am) to being really good value for money, but others say they are not much better than the standard. Some of course say they are a major upgrade, all thing considered. Without having met other star gazers and without having had the chance to try other peoples EPs in my scope or to look through theirs, I was wondering on views on this point, in terms of what I think we're quite good pieces that came as standard.
Views?
Also, thinking a Barlow 2x GSO will help with my range and is good value for better seeing without breaking the bank. Trust me I've read and read but just wanted a view, worth it on standard EPs or do I wait and stay 'flat' with my current experiences?
Anyway, some questions, but more musings. Sorry to bore, just really would love to get the 'wow' factor with things like M42 (and all the other things that elude me)...looking forward to meeting some of you sometime.
Regards,
Raj
P.s. Happy Easter