well the aperture fever has set in. it's time for an upgrade from my 70mm refractor - already!
I'm looking at an 8" dobs. probably a GSO or OzScopes one.
Will this give me better views by a considerable amount? Will I be able to see colors in Nebulae? More precisely, my favourite nebula, M42 (Great Nebula in Orion).
What are the planetary views going to be like? I will have a TV delos 6mm, GSO 20mm & 32mm. At current through a 10mm EP, I can see Saturn quite easily, but it is very small, although I can make out the gap between Saturn and it's rings on a still night. What will the dobs be like compared too this?
I can also see Jupiter, but i can't make out any detail. I can see Europa, Io, Ganymede and Callisto, faintly. What will it be like through the dobs?
If you want to see colours in the Nebs, then get a GSTAR camera or similar, you don't really see any colour in nebs otherwise unless you have a truly monster scope.
If you are going to be using the scope mostly in your back yard, then step up to a 12" dob on a trolley, I think you will be disappointed with the views through an 8".
But then again the jump from 70mm to 200mm is HUGE !
As Poita says the colours wont be visable in nebula , they will look a lot bigger tho, and a 200mm Newtonion views will knock your sox off compared to the 70mm , you wont be dissapointed .
You will see colours in Mars , jupiter , saturn and stars very well with a 200mm scope .
Brian.
hi Jeremy
You will love the views I started with an 8in Dob and sold it .
Have a few scopes but never happy until a couple of weeks ago ,
I purchased a 10in Dob , see so much more its great on Jupiter .
The jewel box is amazing the colours and wait till you see Orion .
Enjoy your new toy when it arrives
Jeremy. To date I have had a 130mm newt, 8" dob, 12" dob and now 20" dob so I am reasonavly able to give some ideas on what you may see.
Colours in DSOs are almost impossible with the exception of some planetary nebulae and maybe M42. I have seen hints of colour in M42 with the 12" once on an exceptional night. This Friday just past with the 20" it was clearly coloured, but they are very pale colours. PNs will show colours even in an 8", but not all of them. The Blue Planetary (NGC3918) in Centaurus is an obvious example that is accessible now.
In regard to planets, a 10" will reveal nice surface detail on Jupiter. On good nights you will be able to make out several bands and some mottling. On Saturn the Cassini Division is easily seen. A good target would be Enceladus which is an ice moon of Saturn that is only 500kms wide. I nabbed it a few times in my 12" so should be OK on good nights with a 10".
The good new is that with a 10" there are lots of DSO's available. I did about 80 odd Messiers and lots of NGCs with the 8" over a 6 month period so just get out there and use it.
With your eyepieces, the 6mm Delos will probably only be useful on really still nights with great seeing.The other 2 will be OK, you will probably find the 20mm is your most used EP. If thinking about an upgarde I can recommend a 24mm Panoptic as the best value premium EP I have used.
As a relatively new (5 or 6) month 8" dob owner I strongly second Malcolm. I am actually surprised how many deep sky objects can be seen from an outer suburban location and how good they look - after I invested in a couple of high end EPs... Especially a 24 Pan.
The difference between these and the supplied plossls are night and day and really enhance the use and reach of the scope. You should be very satisfied from your location of you are nearer to the edge of town, even without going to a dark sky site.
Example: 5 March. Seeing and transparancy excellent. NGC 5128 - 92x (13T6) appeared like a gash in the sky with a clear dark lane border by brighter regions looking like they were raised against the background.
Not a bad view I thought and favourably compared to photos of the object in visible light.
But then again the jump from 70mm to 200mm is HUGE !
You will like it ! .
