hi and great to join you

[robfishfan (Robert)]

hi i want to see those stars that ive been looking at , up there i want to take photos like you guys ,

im in syd and the shop in glebe has this for 2000
Celestron C8-SGT XLT Advanced Series 8" SCT XLT Telescope

is this a good starting out model and something to keep for along time .

many cheers and thanks to you.

sorry about the text size . rob

[robfishfan (Robert)]

ok so i would like to use this telescope and mount for astro photos , i already have a cannon 500d , and that set up is in my budget ,

[casstony]

Hi Robert, it's a good scope and mount, but not the best choice for visual and not the best choice for imaging.

For visual astronomy the Nexstar 8SE is easier to set up and use. For imaging a higher quality mount (EQ6) with an 80mm ED refractor would be better to start with.

I'd recommend that you focus on visual astronomy and venture into imaging at a later time. Welcome to IIS

p.s. you'll likely get a number of opinions and there are many paths you can take with astronomy equipment, including the cheaper option of an 8" Dob.

[NorthernLight (Max)]

Hi Robert,

its a nice scope what you are looking at but Tony is right, its better starting visual and definetly better starting with a much smaller focal lenght. For visual the scope is great and should work well for moon and perhaps some planetary shots with a modded webcam. But forget about long exposure.
Your scope has about 2m focal lenght wich is pretty hard to guide. And without guiding there is no exposure longer than 2seconds esp. not with this scope unless you have a very accurate mount (def. not this mount-it cant even be guided) and a very, very accurate set up (have you ever set up an equatorial mount? - its sometimes frustrating and can take forever).
If you really want to start with astro photography you better stretch your budget to allow for a mount like the proven EQ6PRO and a guide scope and a guide cam and a notebook and 12V DC power supply in the field (or a transformer if you have mains) and a bathinov mask to focus and some warm boots/clothes and some clip filters for your 500D and all the adaptors you need to connect everything and means of transporting it and a car big enough to hold it all and a partner who understands that you are away on most moonless cloudfree weekends especially in winter when your camera actually works best...

[NorthernLight (Max)]

me again...
I forgot the most important part of it all: check yourself and your interest in Astronomy first! It is easily overlooked by beginners. But some get hemselfes gear worth a small fortune just to use a few times and than try selling it again (which will give you half the money you spent in the best case). Better you get a decent Dobsonian mounted Newton of 8" or more and start getting familiar with it opens to you (they are way cheaper and sell good second hand if you´re not as nocturnal as you initially thought). If you´re unsure, spend your budget on a decent and sharp lens for your cam and get a decent ext flash unit - you wont regret that.

BR
Max

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

I have a C8 and CG5. The mount will be replaced with a Losmandy next weekend. While the CG5 is acceptable for visual work, and short exposure photography, the tracking can't really cope with the weight of a C8 + guide scope + two cameras.

The field of view is pretty narrow. It is good for small targets like planets, but not larger objects. eg neither the Moon nor Omega Centauri fit on my QHY8 without a focal reducer.

On the other hand, the mount software does make it pretty easy to get reasonably aligned.

If you want the convenience of an 8" SCT (it's a convenient size and weight) and an equatorial mount, consider getting the OTA and an EQ6Pro.

[robfishfan (Robert)]

Ok i've taken in as much as i can and have decided to start right from scratch , i bought a celstron powerseeker 127EQ , from york .

just thought i would see how much i have got the bug , and after a cupple of hours last night , i pretty happy to start off with this model , we looked at Jupiter and saw 4 moons and we looked at the moon and were stunned and almost blinded wow , so now i can start to get an understanding what its all about , and what you guys are raving about ,

i was worried i would buy this thing that would sit in the corner and gather dust and be harassed about how much it cost .

so next get a lens and filter kit and see what we can see and meet some of you nice folks at a star party ,

so happy to join you in the viewing pleasure and glad to clime the ladder slowly .

cheers from rob

[robfishfan (Robert)]

is this a good lens kit to start off with or should i buy them separately.

this kit sells for about 280 delivered

• Five Superior Grade Plossl Eyepieces
  
  • 1.25" - 4-element design with a 52 AFOV (32mm has a 44°)
  • Superb color, resolution, edge sharpness, and clarity.
  • All eyepieces are fully multi-coated for maximum contrast and resolution.
  • Included eyepieces are:
    4mm
    6mm
    9mm
    15mm
    32mm
• Barlow Lens - 2x 1.25"
  
  • Complements the Plössl eyepieces in this kit and gives you a total of ten power combinations. The highest grade glass optics with fully multi-coated lenses are used so there is no degradation of image.
• Six Colored Eyepiece (Planetary) Filters - 1.25"- Included are:
  
  • Kodak Wratten #12
  • Kodak Wratten #21
  • Kodak Wratten #25
  • Kodak Wratten #56
  • Kodak Wratten #58A
  • Kodak Wratten #80A
• Moon Filter - 1.25"
  
  • A neutral density filter which allows you maximum enjoyment of the moon especially during the brighter phases.
• Impact Resistance Metal Carrying Case
  
  • This sturdy and well-built case fits all of the above items in the die-cut foam interior and his room for additional accessories.

[mbo (Pat and Kirk)]

It may be a bit cheaper here
Does this kit double up on your existing eyepieces?

[casstony]

At $280 the kit is much too expensive for what it contains. You'd be better off getting one or two extra Skywatcher super plossls, a barlow and filters from Andrews; avoid the shorter focal length plossls since your eye has to be very close to the eyepiece which is uncomfortable and causes it to fog up - better to barlow a longer focal length eyepiece.

[robfishfan (Robert)]

cheers everyone i got some eyepieces and a barlow and color filters and two moon filter that twist together and a shiny box

12mm

20mm

32mm

grabbed these today in the city , now i just need some clear sky's , please stop raining .

ok cheers everyone for your help .

[erick (Eric)]

Great, and tell us about the fish (of which you are a fan) in the General Chat Forum!