Should I or shouldn't I??? Please Help!

Truscott · #1 01-01-2006, 01:51 AM

I have just bought my self a Celestron Nexstar GT4. Have I done the right thing? I have only used it once for about half an hour and that was in a paddock infested with mozies. I have the option of taking it back for a full refund before the 20th of Jan 06. The reason I say this is that in the very short time I used it I wasn't very impressed with its capabilities. It is my first scope and I am on a very steep learning curve. I like the idea of the Go-To function and its portability, however I feel it lacks in power for the money I spent. Do I just need better lenses or would I be better of saving up for an 8" like the Nexstar 8i XLT or something else.
Regards and Happy 2006

davidpretorius · #2 01-01-2006, 07:56 AM

i have a dob, so please excuse my ignorance, but what do you pay for one of those?

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #3 01-01-2006, 08:12 AM

HI Truscott welcome to the forum. My personal opinion is that goto scopes are good if you know how to drive them correctly. With the limited apature of the GT4 you are limited on the number of objects you can see with it. Obviously you are still learning how to operate it, and this is probably one of the reasons why you feel uncomfortable in using it. Not to mention mozzies giving you are bad time. I suggest sit at home and learn how to operate and drive it around the night sky. You will be amazed at what a little scope can do. Was the scope aligned correctly? I am guessing they have excluded the objects that are beyond the reach of a small scope. My first real scope was a 4.5" reflector which was great, eventually you may become addicted to apature and want a bigger scope. Do you really want GOTO? Is it needed for what you want to look at and use it for? Maybe something in a different class like an 8" or a 10" dobsonian would be better, more bang for buck, although without GOTO, but that gives you an excuse to learn the night sky and find objects by starhopping.

Anyway you look at it the GT4 could be quite a good scope, its quite possible you just need to become more familiar with it. Just think what you want to do with eventually and work up from there. Start with the basics and add to it as funds become available.

Good luck on your quest. Others may have more knowledge with the scope and its abilities..

xstream (John) · #4 01-01-2006, 08:23 AM

Truscott, If you have the option to return it I would. Then save my pennies for either an 8" or 10".
There's nothing quite like aperture.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #5 01-01-2006, 10:03 AM

I would have to agree with xstream. A good friend of mine has the same scope as you have just bought, and I used to have an 8" meade. After looking through his 4" Nexstar I am so glad I went for the 8" meade. If you want a goto then I can recommend the Meade LX200GPS (that's what I had). Of for less expense with the same OTA (optical Tube Assembly) but still with GOTO, the LX90 is good value.

#6 01-01-2006, 11:10 AM

HI Truscott, Welcome aboard!!

I agree with John and Paul, beside goto maybe nice to start with, but if you
have at least one arm, an eyeball a copy of CDC (freeware) and a printer
(optional, but handy) and throw in a lil patience you will see you already
have goto built in : ). Plus you'll learn the sky quicker using you in built
setup mentioned above, purely from scrunitinising the sky with your eyeball
instead of a hand controler. I have logged many an extra stella wonder from
star hopping. Save the electronic goto system until your old and lazy : ) and
go get some aperture... being new to this hobby you want to see a lil Wow! factor.

Just my 2 cents worth, However I have never tried a Celestron Nexstar GT4
so I cant comment on it's performance.

regards,CS

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #7 01-01-2006, 11:47 AM

I agree with all of the above.
In the meantime, buy yourself a pair of binoculars and maybe a tripod, then be amazed at how much you can see through them.

Truscott · #8 01-01-2006, 01:46 PM

Thanks for all your feed back guys. The GT4 appears to be very easily to operate as I have not had any problems setting it up and driving it around the sky. The GOTO function was also designed in mind to interest the young family and get them involved. A small portable all round scope that can travel on planes is a bonus as I work away from home, 2 on 2 off in the middle of no where, where it gets very, very black at night, and theres plenty of aero-guard around.
I noticed last night that somebody was trying to sell a Meade LX90 in the for sale section of this forum. I've had a look at the specs on the NET and they all seem quite good from an amateur point of view. Don't know if it's still for sale though.
P.S the GT4 on "special" was $1599.
Regards KB

Dobman (Simon) · #9 01-01-2006, 01:57 PM

I bought my 1st scope 8 months ago (300mm dob) which obviously does not have goto and I have learnt so much about the nite sky because I have to do the searching not some computer chip. Ive got Starry nite starter(basic) on my pc and I use this to plan what I'm going to look at, I then print off a sky view and head outside. This alone makes me more familar with the constellations and other DSO's and then searching for the object is all part of the experience. I get a real sense of achievment when I find what i'm looking for. We often talk about the WOW factor in astronomy. I get a WOW when I actually find the object and a second WOW simply looking at it in the EP(Having a 300mm aperture helps!)
My opinion, FWIW is to go BIG ( or as big as you can afford) and forget the GOTO. Remember, the extra money you spend on a GOTO setup isnt going to make you see an object any better,just quicker, only a bigger lens/mirror can do that. And isnt that what observational astronomy is all about, the view in the EP? Hope this helps
Simon

acropolite (Phil) · #10 01-01-2006, 02:01 PM

Hi Truscott and welcome to IIS. I agree with the others, 8 inch is a good size to start with. The LX90 is an excellent starting point as would be the 8 inch Celestron. I believe anything bigger than an 8 inch would not fit your portability criteria. If you're travelling about the LX200 may be better as it has inbuilt GPS to set your current location, but the cost is much higher than the LX90 and it will be heavier. If you don't mind entering the co-ords manually the Lx90 in an equivalent size is identical optically.

Truscott · #11 01-01-2006, 02:30 PM

Can something like a 300mm Dob be used successfully with a camera as I feel that photos would be a must in this game? I thought the electric type go-to ones would produce the best platform for photography work.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #12 01-01-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truscott

Can something like a 300mm Dob be used successfully with a camera

Not really for long exposures of DSOs. Not without it at least being put on an equatorial platform, and even then its tricky. For astrophotography an Equatorial mount will always be the best option. You can do planetary imaging with them though, but again it is tricky without tracking

Quote:

I thought the electric type go-to ones would produce the best platform for photography work.

Yes you can effectively do photography with fork mounted GOTO meade and celestron scopes. You will however need a wedge to covert the fork mount into a pseudo equatorial mount.

acropolite (Phil) · #13 01-01-2006, 02:41 PM

Truscott wrote.

Quote:

Can something like a 300mm Dob be used successfully with a camera as I feel that photos would be a must in this game? I thought the electric type go-to ones would produce the best platform for photography work.

Aah, now you've opened up Pandoras Box. If astrophotography is one of your aims, then a decent OTA (an 8 inch SCT would be OK Still) and an equatorial mount (with tracking & GoTo) would be a better initial purchase. A 300mm Dob is not something that is easily transported in an aircraft. I have an LX90 now, but if I had the opportunity to go back and buy again I would probably go for a Celestron 9.25 and Losmandy G11 mount.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #14 01-01-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolite

I would probably go for a Celestron 9.25 and Losmandy G11 mount.

And now were talking big money.

Starkler (Geoff) · #15 01-01-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truscott

Can something like a 300mm Dob be used successfully with a camera as I feel that photos would be a must in this game? I thought the electric type go-to ones would produce the best platform for photography work.

I personally cringe everytime a raw beginner talks about astrophotography as a purchasing criteria in choosing their first scope

Its many orders of magnitude higher in cost and complexity to successfully do astrophotography as compared to visual observing. There is enough to learn in just finding ones way around the night sky and getting the most from a visual scope before delving into the complexities of imaging gear.

Seeing as you want something airplane transportable, the gt4 probably isnt a bad transportable solution, albeit an expensive one for the aperture you get.
How large a scope can you take with you ?

Truscott · #16 01-01-2006, 06:40 PM

Pretty much limited to 20 or so kgs of personal freight. Size is not such a major issue however, something that can be carried one handed would be ideal.

Thought it was a good idea to plan ahead and think of the future, what you may need and what you will need. I don't plan on getting into photo work straight away as I have a lot to learn about however, when I am ready I don't really want to go out and buy another telescope just for that.

acropolite (Phil) · #17 01-01-2006, 06:46 PM

Hmm, LX90 shipping weight (including tripod) is listed at 73 lbs that's 33KG, so an 8 inch SCT is probably going to be too heavy.

Truscott · #18 01-01-2006, 06:59 PM

Is the tripod a necessary piece of equipment? The GT4 can be used with or with out as it has rubber feet on the base. What would the tripod weigh on the LX90.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #19 01-01-2006, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truscott

when I am ready I don't really want to go out and buy another telescope just for that.

Hi Truscott!

May I offer a suggestion contrary to what you say in the quote above. I am thinking maybe 2 scopes.
If you work in such a dark place I believe it would be great to have a good GoTo and to leave it there instead of transporting it all the time. Then buy a cheap 8" Dob for viewing when you are at home. The 8" dobs are only about $399 I think. And they are pretty good optically.

1. No transporting back and forth.
2. An excellent scope at a dark sight
3. A dob at home to learn the sky

Mick (Michael) · #20 01-01-2006, 09:56 PM

Hello Truscott, unfortunately it's the wrong time of the year but the best option is to seek out your local astronomy club and have a look through a few different scopes this should make your choice easier. If you are interested I found the following link which for me says it all.

Exercise for the mind