Need something portable?

[andrew2008]

I'm looking for some advice as I am in two minds about what to get for a second, more portable scope. The 12" collapsible dob is a pain to get in the car with kids when traveling. So the plan is leave the dob at dark sky spot and travel every couple of months.

To give me something to use at home I'm looking at either another bit smaller dob or I could go 100-110mm refractor and get an alt/az mount to make it much more portable. I love the views through refractors but it will be quite expensive relative to the dob. Light gathering isn't really a concern as only 15-20mins from bris CBD only the brightest DSO's show much detail. An achromatic refractor would be cheaper than an ED but I'm not sure if the views will disappoint.

Dob, ED refractor or an achro? Any ideas.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

What do you hope to look at?

Moving down from the 12 inch will disappoint on DSO (in my opinion)...Planets, Moon, Double Stars will hold up fine with a refractor.

The Skywather ED scopes (I've got an 80 mm) are good value. I mount mine on the Alt/Az mount available at Bintel (likely available other places too).

Depending on focal length, you may also need some additional eyepieces to get the magnification that you will want in the new scope.

[dannat (Daniel)]

a long focal length achro refractor should hold up ok eg 100mm f9 or even 120mm (though they are getting big/heavy at this size)

[andrew2008]

Viewing will be mostly planets,moon, some doubles and brighter DSO's like clusters. Being only 15mins from Brisbanes CBD and the Port of Brisbane area light pollution is very bad. Especially the skies between north east through to west. Would a 100ED F9 scope be better than the ED80's for this type of viewing?

Bintel have the Skyview Alt Az and Alt AZ 2. How would they compare to the Skywatcher Sky "T" mount?

[dannat (Daniel)]

the 100mm f9 would show more than the ed80 - there would be a little colur on high cntrast objects like moon & jupiter but at f9 it should be OK.
something smaller is a maksutov cassegrain or mak for short -also chmidt cass or SCT - a 4-5 inch would be ok, & still see more than the ed80 -these scopes have mirrors & show no false colour - but more check on collimation is needed - though because they have a folded light path they are considerable smaller, lighter & you can get away with a smaller mount

as for the mounts on the bintel site the skyview II & az3 should be ok for visual use - if you want rock solid will need to pay a little more - its a trade off between stability & cost

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Hi Andrew,

Daniel & Scott have given some sound advise. I'll take a different tack.

Mate, are you handy with tools? If so, maybe you'd like to change your dob into something even MORE portable:

http://www.synrgistic.com/astro/telescopes/traveler.htm

Or maybe something a little more extravagant, also by Greg Babcock:

http://synrgistic.com/astro/24inch.htm

I've included a couple of pics of my 10" too. The focuser board fits inside the rocker box. Since these pics where taken, I've changed the 1.25" helical focuser for a 2" helical one without changing anything to the woodwork. Very compact, very smooth to use as it still obeys the principals of good dob design.

All of this only to inspire if you don't mind throwing a hammer & drill around, .