Over the top newbie scope??

LovingtheSilver (Jeremy) · #1 25-03-2010, 05:32 AM

Hello there guys/girls, great to join this forum... having a browse through and see alot of informative tips. I was into astro years ago(10+) with a hell basic scope and am looking at getting back into it. I see that the dobsonian 8 or 10 are recommended for beginners but i prefer to buy something that i won't need to upgrade for a while, and one thati will be happy with immediatley. Previous scope was for moon only and i was curious, looking through 'image of the week', are those shots taken from modified scopes or as they come out of the box? I know taken a photo like that is difficult but if i can get a scope with that kind of view i will be more than stoked. Am looking at the Celestron 9.25 CPC 925 XLT... or would i need something like 11 inches up? Im not totally cashed up but i don't mind paying more if it going to perform the way i want.. however if you guys think im totally nuts spending that much then i will follow previous recommendations and go wth Saxon 10" Dobsonian to break myself back in. Cheers for your help and keep the beautiful images coming.

Jeremy

LovingtheSilver (Jeremy) · #2 25-03-2010, 06:22 AM

This could be a better alternative?
Celestron NexStar 130 SLT Computerized Reflector Telescope .. from ozscopes, has a few more features but compromise on size

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #3 25-03-2010, 07:54 AM

Similarly to you, I had a 60mm Tasco when I was about 8 which was not much good for anything. About 10 or so years ago I got back into astronomy by purchasing a Celestron C8NGT, computerised 8" Newtonian on an equatorial mount. I found this scope an excellent starting point. Being a Newtonian, collimation is quite simple...collimating an SCT is much more difficult, so the CPC would be a challenge. I have seen a couple of 130's and they are not much more than a toy.

For ease of use, you probably can't go past an 8" Dob of some sort, although you will have to spend time finding things. I guess it depends a lot on what you want to do. I have always used my scopes to show things to the public, so I don't have time to search objects out....hence the computerised mount.

I am sure others on the forum will give you further advice...just stay away from toys and try to buy it from a place who specialises in telescopes rather than electronics or clothing!

TheDecepticon · #4 25-03-2010, 08:50 AM

Honestly, I would go for one of the newer style dobs(10") with "push to" electronics or get a good dob and put argo navis on it. Bang for buck and a big help in finding objects.

casstony · #5 25-03-2010, 09:34 AM

Compared to a CPC9.25, a 10" dob is easier to carry, easier to cool and cheaper. You can wheel the dob around on a trolley easily provided there aren't steps to negotiate. Collimation is easy with either scope.

I prefer the observing position of an alt/az mounted cassegrain (such as the CPC) but most are happy with dobs. Some type of electronic aid for finding objects is highly recommended for the dob.

The greatest disadvantage of the CPC9.25 is getting the ota cooled with falling night time temperatures - unless the scope is close to ambient temperature the images will suffer greatly.

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #6 25-03-2010, 11:16 AM

I think you need to define what you are wanting to do. Are you looking for a visual scope or imaging? If purely visual, dobs with as large an aperture as you can afford is usually the way to go. Remember, aperture ALWAYS wins!
Going for a computerised go to sounds attractive but you will always trade aperture for convenience of the go-to. Look around at any star party the visual guys use big dobs 80 - 90% of the time.
Getting the "sort of view" shown in photos is just about impossible at the eyepiece as photos are long exposure to enhance colour and detail.
On the other hand if you want to get into imaging, the equipment needs are fairly specialized and costly.

gary · #7 25-03-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LovingtheSilver

Hello there guys/girls, great to join this forum... having a browse through and see alot of informative tips. I was into astro years ago(10+) with a hell basic scope and am looking at getting back into it. I see that the dobsonian 8 or 10 are recommended for beginners but i prefer to buy something that i won't need to upgrade for a while, and one thati will be happy with immediatley. Previous scope was for moon only and i was curious, looking through 'image of the week', are those shots taken from modified scopes or as they come out of the box? I know taken a photo like that is difficult but if i can get a scope with that kind of view i will be more than stoked. Am looking at the Celestron 9.25 CPC 925 XLT... or would i need something like 11 inches up? Im not totally cashed up but i don't mind paying more if it going to perform the way i want.. however if you guys think im totally nuts spending that much then i will follow previous recommendations and go wth Saxon 10" Dobsonian to break myself back in. Cheers for your help and keep the beautiful images coming.

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy,

The good news is that there is no rule that says one has to migrate through a
range of scopes before finally owning the scope you always really wanted.

Often the tip to beginners to buy something initially modest is based on the
observation that going outside in the cold at night and looking up at the sky
is not everyone's cup of tea. The risk is that for some, astronomy might be
a passing interest and the financial investment in a large telescope might
not be justified if they then end up using it a couple of times. This is particularly
true of school children. Some well meaning parents hope their child might
be the next Galileo or Einstein and so buy them a scope but discover their
prodigy seems more interested in playing with the Playstation.

But this doesn't sound like you. You make mention that you were into astro
photography a decade or more ago using a modest scope, but now you are
back. You have seen the types of things other people are doing and you
want to take a step up from where you left off. So you are not an absolute
beginner and you have some ideas as to where you might like to go next,
but want to make sure that you won't make the wrong decision with respect to
purchasing a scope.

I think the most important decision you now have to ask yourself is,
are you primarily a visual observer or are you more interested in astrophotography?

I would recommend the following -

If the former, go grab yourself the largest aperture, bang for your buck Dob
that you are prepared to pay for and that you can readily transport to a dark sky
site.

If the later, consider the heaviest duty equatorial mount that you are prepared
to pay for and that you can readily transport at least in and out of the garage
and equip it with a suitable OTA and camera.

If you are unsure, hang off for a little bit, join your local astronomy club
and get to a few outings. That will give you an opportunity to look at what
other people are doing and then hopefully it will help you articulate what
you really want to do next.

Good luck!

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Phone +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

LovingtheSilver (Jeremy) · #8 27-03-2010, 03:23 AM

Thanks everybody for replying to my question... i think for now the best thing for me to do would head out to a club to check everything out, maybe get a pair of binos also. Wish i could get to Canberra in early April but will be at work, i think that will been an interesting event worth going to.
See you guys soon, will check everything out first then get back. Leaning towards the biggest dob with goto/computerised stand at the moment now. Clarify in the future.
All the best... and happy viewing.