Give a helping hand for a keen amateur...

Mr. Subatomic · #1 09-01-2007, 07:06 PM

Howdy ho to all those curious enough to look up at night,

I have been interested in astronomy since I could remember and last year was given my very firsttelescope. I use 'given' literally as this telescope was a freebie. My uncle who had gotton it for christmas never layed a finger on it and it was sitting out in the cold, rotting away on the verandah. That's where I came in and gave it a home. The only problem, it was one of those cheap department/electronic store telescopes. Either way, it was something that gave me my first practical stepping stone into astronomy, and I am now ready to purchase a new telescope.

After tireless research (hours on the internet and dozens of pages of reviews) I have narrowed my choice down to two telescopes: The Skywatcher 8" Dobsonian and the 8" Dobsonian made by Guan Sheng Optical. So far,there is an 80% chance that I will purchase the GSO model because of its added features, i.e. a cooling fan, alluminium tube, crayford focusser and teflon base (tell me more features if you no of any). The SkyWatcher has a larger finderscope and is about $$50 cheaper, but it doesn't have a cooling fan OR crayford focusser. Because of this, I am pretty set on buying the GSO 8" Dobsonian.

What I have come here for is to seek experienced advise from amateur astronomers passionate about the hobby - such as yourselves - on whether I should stick with the GSO model. I would buy the GSO from Andrew's communications for $499, or if worse comes to worse, spend $50 more for the identical Bintel branded telescope from the shop in Sydney. However when it ocmes down to it, the aesthetics of the Bintel 8" Dobsonian don't really appeal to me (not a very nice grey-silver and a big BINTEL sticker, the colours soooooooo clash! Oh and one mor thing: I have read the whole forum about the GSO dob which lead into a heated discussion about the service of Bintel vs. Andrew's, helped me out a bit.

If in the now unlikely circumstance I choose to buy the SkyWatcher, I would make the purchase from the online My AstroShop Store for $425, not including about $20 delivery.

So if anyone has any ideas, reviews, comments or reccomendations to make about the two telescopes and which one I should choose, be my guest.

I would greatly appreciate it, and you would be helping out a teenage boy (me) undertake a big step in achieving one of his dreams to be a professional astronomer or highly experienced amateur.

I thank you greatly again,

Happy Star Hunting,

Mt. Subatomic.

iceman (Mike) · #2 09-01-2007, 08:32 PM

Hi there

Congrats on doing all of that research, you've taken a big first step.

Apart from getting to a viewing night of a club or start party near you, I don't think there's much else I can add.

Really, there isn't much difference between the skywatcher from MAS, or the bintel branded GSO or the GSO from Andrews.

MAS and Bintel provide great service and great advice - they are and have been amateur astronomers. I'd choose one of those 2.

to the forum! Keep us updated!

rmcpb (Rob) · #3 09-01-2007, 08:49 PM

Welcome to IIS Mr Sub Man.

As for the scope decision you have answered it for yourself with your research. The crayford focuser is the big swinger for me toward the GS scope. As for the Andrews vs Bintel debate I will leave that to you and what you value any necessary backup to be worth.

Great job on the research

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #4 09-01-2007, 08:54 PM

Hi Subatomic,
welcome to IIS.
I bought my 10"GSO dob from Andrews Communication, no problems whatsoever. It's a fantastic scope.
Looking at their website, it seems that the 8" is black now instead of grey.

acropolite (Phil) · #5 09-01-2007, 08:56 PM

Hi and welcoms to IIS Mischa, an 8 inch dob is an excellent choice, all of the dealers mentioned are good to deal with, it really comes down to what's on offer and how much value you put on pre delivery service. The scope from Bintel will come checked and collimated, Lee Andrews usually throws in some additional freebies and the Skywatcher from MAS although being of a slightly lower spec is a nice white colour and will probably have a better standard of finish. Personally I would choose one of the GSO dobs for the fan and crayford.

Mr. Subatomic · #6 09-01-2007, 09:50 PM

WOW! Thankyou for all of your replies, I didn't think I would get such abundant and strong support in so little time. THANKYOU!

:thum bsup:

You are just the type of keen, enthusiastic amateur astronomers that I needed to talk to and you've made me feel quite welcome here at ISS.

Happy Star Hunting,

Mr. Subatomic

Deeno · #7 09-01-2007, 10:32 PM

Hey Subatomic (Great name)

Like you I was also looking at 8’ Dobs but ended up with the limited edition 10” GSO Dob from Andrews (first scope) that came in a very professional white finish. Mainly because I want to fit a 10:1 crayford fine focuser later (rack and pinion will do for the time being). If you are handy, a 12 volt computer fan is not expensive ($17) and not difficult to rig to a 9 volt battery and seems to work just fine. The azimuth mount seemed a little stiff and was annoying the hell out of me so Mike S (Iceman) modifications with sliders for chairs on hardwood floors with the addition of some graphite powder worked wonders.

Good luck with whatever you choose and enjoy.

iceman (Mike) · #8 10-01-2007, 08:03 AM

Hey Mischa, can you make it up to IISAC2007 next weekend? You'll love it up there.. over a hundred keen amateurs just like yourself!

ving (David) · #9 10-01-2007, 09:24 AM

hiya Mischa,

I own the very same 8" dob that you are considering

great little scope. it will show yuo heaps of stuff.
I purchased mine from andrews communications and recieved great service... but at the end of teh day between the various telescope supliers its six of one and 1/2 a dozen of teh other. they are all good and they all have the occasional bad moment too. I'd just go for the best offer.

Mr. Subatomic · #10 10-01-2007, 10:21 AM

Howdy ho!

I was just wondering if anyone could send me images, prefferable planets and deep sky objects, taken through 8" Dobsonian telescopes. It would really help me get an idea of what I can expect when I purchase one.

THANKS A LOT,

ving (David) · #11 10-01-2007, 10:32 AM

here ya go.... just with a lpi camera, nothin special...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4..._dob/jupi1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../jupiter31.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...tachment-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...tachment-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...dob/jewel2.jpg

plus if you look in the solar system pics forum for my posts you will see plenty more, and some better than these

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...highlight=ving
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...highlight=ving

iceman (Mike) · #12 10-01-2007, 10:36 AM

Mr Sub, just be aware that images sometimes look nothing like what you see through the eyepiece, visually.

Astrophotography captures much more faint detail than what you can see through the eyepiece, and you get colours that you don't see through the eyepiece. They are also processed to sharpen them, which again makes it different than what you see through the eyepiece.

If you want to know what various objects look like through an 8" dob, get to a star party or club viewing night near you and take a look through the various scopes.

Mr. Subatomic · #13 10-01-2007, 10:44 AM

Thanks a lot guys!

And don't worry, I understand the difference between images straight through an eyepiece and images that have undergone hours of photoshop enhancement. I won't get too ahead of myself

, not until i take up astrophotography that is!

ving (David) · #14 10-01-2007, 10:44 AM

oh yeah, and what mike said... but i think you'll be happy with what a 8" shows you regardless

styleman333 · #15 10-01-2007, 07:25 PM

Hiya there Mr Sub
Welcome to this great site . Many many experts and amateurs that will go out of their way to help out . I bought the 8" Dob Premium GSO from andrews just before xmas and it rocks ! Wow even though ive had maybe two of three hours viewing cos of the bloody clouds i must say what i have seen has blown me away.
The Dob has had no probs at all , easy to set up and if u search a few of the sites in here they will give u advice on what extras u need and what modifications u can do to make the dob smoother. And of course get the skycharts, the books Southern sky guide, and Astronomy 2007 , a good set of binoculars and you'll be set .Theres tons and tons of information on this site so if or should i say when your scope arrives and the cloud cover sets in for a few weeks , youll have pleabty of reading to do.
Now if these bloody clouds will just &%$# off ................

Have fun , good luck

Mr. Subatomic · #16 10-01-2007, 08:13 PM

Thanks a lot Styleman!

It was great to hear from someone who has the EXACT telescope that I am about to buy. I'm only a teenager though and am a bit short on money so my dad let me sell some old furniture on eBay that was sitting around in the attic.

Hopefully, I will have the telescope bought, set up and ready by the end of the month, the GSO PREMIUM 8" Dob from Andrew's that is, just like yours.

Oh and you must live in Sydney as well! We've had clouds every night non-stop. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS SUMMER! Oh well, that's climate change for you! One day its sunny, the next its cloudy and rainy, kinda reminds me of my sister's mood swings when she was doing her HSC!