Beginner equipment dilemma, with a twist.

[Jerous]

Hi all, first time poster long time lurker.

I'll give you a bit of a background to where my family is at.

We've been into looking at the night sky since August or so last year. Myself and my youngest son have maintained the passion since then, we make it to various local Astronomy nights when we can. We followed the sensible advice and bought binoculars and a small tripod for them. We feel we are ready to push further now.

My son and I know the major constellations and he delights in looking up which planets are in the sky and when.

We've maintained the focus and passion for a while now so it's time to jump in with an equipment purchase.

A few things about us. Don't want anything big and bulky, if it's too much hassle, it'll sit and rot, I need something low maintinence. So I think a Dobsonian is probably not a good idea, although I am aware they are the best bang for the buck.

Photography has some appeal further down the track, my son loves pictures and I know he'd get a kick out of capturing images, doesn't have to be professional quality though...

Here is the twist. We have family travelling over from the USA next month. So I was thinking of getting them to pick something up for us, considering the Aussie dollar ATM. Originally I was thinking of picking up a CELESTRON NEXSTAR 6SE SCHMIDT -CASSEGRAIN but I've realized it's too big for the plane and you don't want optics in anything but hand luggage.

So here is my dilemma. I am looking to spend about $800-1000 in total, inc mount. I need to pick up something compact enough to travel on a plane for the US with people that are non astronomy lovers.

Should I just bite the bullet and pay for an all in one package from an Australian shop? Or is there value buying something like a Celestron C6-A-XLT Optical Tube Assembly OTA and picking up the mount here? How much will the cost blow out to fully kit up, inc stand, if the tube is $629?

Not sure what the best scope to target is, I want something compact but still get to some deep space objects.

I am not into brands, I am not fussed at all about what brand it is as long as the quality is there.

Thanks in advance.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Hi Jerous and welcome!
I know people will think I am sounding like a broken record in these forums, but don't dismiss a dob! Dobs are the lowest maintenance scope you can have, thats is why they were designed in the first place. True, at the top end they can be complex instruments, but a basic 8 to 12" dob is easy to set up, easy to use and relatively hassle free.
I had a 130mm Newt on am EQ mount before I bought the 12" dob, and I know which one I think is easy to handle and use, hint, its the big one!

My 2 cents worth!
Good luck with the decision!

Malcolm

[Jerous]

Thanks, and I'll seriously weigh a Dob up at the end of the day. Just the opportunity to get something direct from the states without all the crazy postage is burning a hole on my pocket and the size of the Dob makes that choice impractical. But if I dilly dally much further, it'll be too late.

[renormalised (Carl)]

A dob would be the least maintenance scope of the lot and the problem of moving one around can be solved rather easily.

Get the scope from out here. Despite the favourable US vs AUS dollar, there are other issues (such as transport, import duty and added GST, warranty issues etc etc) which will detract from buying it over there.

But, if you want to buy a SCT goto, you're not going to get one for $1000, brand new. Maybe if you get a 127mm Mak from Andrews ($899), you might just scrape in. If you buy the OTA over there and the mount here, it's going to cost you as much or more than buying the scope/mount combo in the first place...depending on the cost of the mount you buy.

Your best bet is a dob...the new 8" Skywatcher Synscan GOTO would be a good choice. Not too large, portable enough to get around easily, plenty of aperture (more than the Celestron or the Mak) , not too dear ($1099).

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

As will no doubt be mentioned in other posts, Jan has just started using her Go To SW 12" dob and it worked a treat. And she was able to transport it in her Hyundai hatchback with camping gear and her old scope.
The collaspible go to scopes are great value for money IMHO

[Jerous]

Ok, maybe the promise of getting one from OS is clouding my judgement, into a Mak which is not the best choice at the end of the day. I can respect that, it's why I came to ask the opinions of Vets.

If I got an 8" Dob would it fit in the back of a family sedan? Think Camry, with a car seat.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

We have a Camry 2003 model I think (it's the missus's car) and I wouldn't worry about fitting an 8" dob in it. The tube is approx 1200mm long and I have checked and it would fint the boot with room to spare.
The base on my 8" I could sit on the backseat of my Astra, so shouldn't be a prob in a Camry.
Give one of the local suppliers a call for the dimensions, thats what I did before buying my 12"!

[Lismore Bloke (Paul)]

I can carry my GSO 12" solid tube dob in our Nissan Maxima sedan. I just recline the passenger's seat fully flat and use the curved styrofoam packing pieces as a cradle. The base fits on the back seat by moving the driver's seat forward a bit. Where there's a will, there's a way.

[dannat (Daniel)]

I am a Dob disenter, I reckon if your family are coming over a Meade etx125 is the way to go, alt/az ready to go quickly & not bulky apart from the legs, slightly smaller than the 6se.
My etx90 fits in carry on luggage if you don't count the tripod, with the etx125 you will see a reasonable amount, & the toto is there to help you find more difficult things. At f13.7 it is real kind to eyepieces, you could get a 20mm 82 deg from Andrews for 39, or ge your family to pick you up some explore sic ep's as well

You can always get the don down the track, youll always have the etx125 as your grab go

[ben.]

I've got the Celestron NexStar 4SE. Having great fun with it, seeing loads and taking some fun pictures. $999

[AstroGuy]

Hi Jerous,

I'm not sure if you can get a big aperature scope with the constraints you have imposed.

Have you considered a second-hand scope? if so, have you checked out any of the classifieds here in the forums?

Before I purchased my current scope in over 20 years, I had my sights on a goto system. Primarily because i wanted to interface it to a computer if needed. I also wanted something portable, good quality and reasonably priced and easy to setup. I settled for a Nextstar 4se Mak. I now own a 8" Mak and plan to use the 4se as a guidescope. Basically what I'm trying to point out is, that if you plan it wisely you can make use of original equipment for later expansion if you decide to go that way.

A little step at a time is best I think. Some people jump straight in with large scopes and all the doodads and become disinterested when it's too much to handle. This happens a lot, and these people become discouraged and basically grow weary of Amateur Astronomy very quickly.

As far as I know Celestron 6se are selling for about $700.00 US in the USA. That includes mount and OTA. That's best price I've seen. PM me if you want a link. I suppose with insured freight etc...could do it for just under $1000.00. Alternatively you could send the mount by shipping it from USA in original packaging (should be a lot cheaper than buying here) and ask your friend to bring the OTA as carry on (well packed of course).

Personally I would opt for a secondhand unit (there have been really good deals available on this sight recently) and use the savings to buy good quality accessories, eyepieces etc... Of course it would help having someone Astronomically minded to check out the item first (unless you feel you are up to it of course).

If you don't mind smaller aperature scopes and want goto, easy setup etc... the Meade ETX-80AT-TC 80mm f/5 Achromatic Refractor with BackPack is about 299.00 US. That would definately fit on a plane as carry on.

I guess it really depends on how much of an astronomical view you want to achieve for the effort. The only other thing I can suggest is wait a little while, and see if something comes up in the classified section. There's always great stuff being sold there.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Hi and welcome!
If you are going to the US, I'd buy a scope there. The Aussie $ is around par or above and absolute prices in the US are still much cheaper, even with sales tax.
Its up to you whether or not you declare it as an o'seas purchase to customs or not.

Dannat makes a good point about the ETX 125 vs Dob. A 6-8" dob might be portable, but its not necessarily convenient - quite honestly I find them a PITA. Better an 8" - 10" newt on an sturdy Alt / Az mount. Then you can add digital setting circles later for a "push-to" or use a computerised scope as the pointer.

Both the Meade ETX series and the Celestron Nexstar series are good choices for starter go-to's, though they have quite narrow fields of view.
MY choice would be the Nexstar 6 as, you might want to get an 80-100mm refractor for wider fields, and its easy to swap the 6SE for another scope in this size.
Good luck!
Peter

[Jerous]

Thanks for taking to the time to provide your opinions.

I still stuck in the dilemma, I like the idea of buying an upgradable piece of equipment though!

I think to keep the interest going and keep it easy to handle.

Like

Nexstar MAK127 SLT from Andrews Com, that's going for $1000

or

Maksutov-Cassegrain MAK127AZ-GT from Andrews for $899 with go to.

I am starting to worry about having my family carry something.on a plane, I can't be sure it'd get looked after the way I'd want it too, but I'd bare the ramifications of the flight...

I can always amass accessories as I go, but If I drop more than $1k upfront, the Ministry for Finance won't be happy. Bearing in mind, $1k is more than I've spend on a hobby ever, but I feel it's going to get use.

I will have a look at the Meade etx125, I have not explored Meade too much so far.

My worry about the car is if I am travelling, I got very easily have the wife and 2 kids in the back with some camping supplies. I like the idea of an 8" Dob just worried about practically and how much of a slacker I am.

[dannat (Daniel)]

Not a big deal of difference I would go the cheaper & buy a decent eyepiece

[Jerous]

I've just been checking out the ETX 125 from Meade. It does look nice to my untrained eye.

It has an EQ mode as well, so that could fill the astrophoto side of things in a minor level that the boy wants to do.

I like that you can flip it from photo to eye piece quickly as well. I know I am already breaking my own budget. I can pick one up from Andrews for $1099.

I can always upgrade from there and grab a few eye pieces.

Something tells me everything you end up doing in this hobby is a budget breaker...

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by Jerous

I've just been checking out the ETX 125 from Meade. It does look nice to my untrained eye.

It has an EQ mode as well, so that could fill the astrophoto side of things in a minor level that the boy wants to do.

I like that you can flip it from photo to eye piece quickly as well. I know I am already breaking my own budget. I can pick one up from Andrews for $1099.

I can always upgrade from there and grab a few eye pieces.

Something tells me everything you end up doing in this hobby is a budget breaker...

Wait till you get into astrophotography

You will need to purchase a one way plane ticket to Brazil when SWMBO/The Minister for Finance finds out about that little excursion into astro-madness

[RichardK (Richard)]

One good thing about a DOB is that it can be easily opertaed especially by a child - if this is a consideration.

Richard

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Biggest drama of having the visitors bring stuff in from USA is the warranty. It won't have one.

Any problems and you can't send it back for repairs.

Whichever scope you end up getting, best to get it local as far as warranty goes.

[Brian W (Brian)]

Hi, heres how it worked for me. First I had a friend bring in a 4.5" short tube reflector from Orion. It was pretty much airline size. later I moved up to a Meade 8" Lightbridge which is a truss design and is a pretty small package for shipping.

Something to consider is that an SCT will not give you as good a view visually aperture for aperture. You and your son can do astrophotography, albeit of a limited nature with a dob mounted reflector.

The bad reputation reflectors have for needing maintenance is not really much more than a myth.

Collimation is not a swear word and neither is it difficult... yes there is a proper way to do it but once the technique is learned it is just a minute or two to do it at the start of the night and with a scope of 8" aperture or less it is a one person job that is basically twisting a nob or two to line things up while looking through something as simple as a collimation cap.

Might I suggest you go to a dealer or a star party and try to move a SCT on a tripod versus a reflector on a dob mount. Personally I find the dob mount a lot easier to move.

Also please bear in mind you may find that after you check things out a SCT is what you want and that is why there is more than one type of set-up.

Brian

[Brian W (Brian)]

Hi I forgot to mention that an 8" Meade Lightbridge will fit in the back of an an older Austin Mini.
Brian