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20-07-2005, 01:53 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toowoon Bay
Posts: 12
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Another Newby after a telescope.
Hey Guys,
Found this site think its great with heaps of info and large forum community.
Ive been interested in Astronomy for a few years but finally feel its time to invest in a new telescope. Dont really want to spend more than a grand and would prefer a goto system (Ive never bought a telescope before cause I know id get bored/frustrated trying to find stuff).
Any suggestions for a good starter, thought of looking at ETX models, anyone know about their quality. I want to look at everything - first obviously, the moon, planets, sun, and then deep sky stuff. Id also later look into connecting to a laptop and learn about astrophotography.
So in otherwords, I want the best i can get with my limited budget, and later buy more equipment based on this telescope.
Cheers.
Last edited by Supa Acsum; 20-07-2005 at 01:54 PM.
Reason: typos
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20-07-2005, 02:47 PM
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~Dust bunny breeder~
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The town of campbells
Posts: 12,359
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hi and welcome aboard 
what did you find us with google?
anyhow, i know little about goto but there are plenty here who do so sit tight and wait... i am sure there'll be sum1 along soon 
you could try calling bintel as they stock goto scopes.
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20-07-2005, 03:06 PM
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Planet photographer
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bundaberg
Posts: 8,819
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Welcome....First, we need to know your budget.
Sorry, just spotted it. Not more than a grand.
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20-07-2005, 03:28 PM
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Planet photographer
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bundaberg
Posts: 8,819
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How can you get bored finding stuff? To me, goto is boring! The thrill of finding stuff yourself is a pretty good feeling. If I just punched in some coordinates into a telescope to find an object, I think I would have been bored years ago lol. This is just my personal opinion though. If it were me, knowing what I know now, I would get the scope with the biggest aperture according to your budget...forget goto. You can get a 12" reflector on a dob for about the grand mark...But then I see you wanna get into photography as well. Usually an Equatorial mount is best for that, although you CAN motorize a dob for photography....at a cost.
Perhaps David Pretorious could advise you further, being in roughly the same predicament/circumstance as you at the moment. Your going to get a flood of varied comments shortly, I'd say lol.
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20-07-2005, 05:17 PM
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Planetary neb & glob nut
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 879
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I agree with John and I think the GOTO will get old very fast unless you are an avid astrophotographer. Part of the thrill I find with astronomy is star hopping. Sometimes you even stumble on better objects than the ones you set out to observe  IMHO the best you can do for a grand is one of them GSO 12" dobs with no bells and whistles...just plain and simple raw aperture to pull in all those ancient photon's !!!!!!!!!!!
Darren
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20-07-2005, 05:37 PM
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6EQUJ5
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 3,663
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As someone who owns an ETX and really likes it..my recommendation for a first scope-get an 8 inch or larger Dob!
the views through an ETX are just not satisfying enough especially from a suburban location. You need aperture.
Now for a second, travel scope...thats when an ETX is worth thinking of. I'd put the other budget GoTo telescopes in the same category.
However, if its astrophotography you are after you may need to consider rethinking your budget.
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20-07-2005, 05:53 PM
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Planet photographer
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bundaberg
Posts: 8,819
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After my experience of owning an 8" newt....After looking through it for a couple of weeks, I realized I wanted to go bigger straight away! Aperture fever! Now Iv'e got that bigger aperture (12.5") & I must say, I dont feel the need to go bigger. It satisfied me.
I agree seeker....minimum size 8" for satisfactory viewing.
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20-07-2005, 08:19 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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Part I
Welcome,
I have just got my telescope plan authorized by the chief of finance.
This is what i showed her given i had a $1100 odd tax refund to play with
Initial purchase ie tomorrow as soon as Andrews is open
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 463pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=617 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 116pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5489" width=154><COL style="WIDTH: 221pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 10467" width=294><COL style="WIDTH: 22pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1052" width=30><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><COL style="WIDTH: 56pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2673" width=75><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 116pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=154 height=18>Supplier</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 221pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=294>Partno</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 22pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=30>Qty</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=64 x:str="Price">Price </TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 56pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=75></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Andrews Communication</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Guan Sheng GS-880-BK7-CRF + freight</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="774" x:fmla="=699+75">$774.00 </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="774" x:fmla="=D2">$ 774.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Andrews Communication</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">9mm eye piece</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="0">$ - </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="774" x:fmla="=D3+E2">$ 774.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Andrews Communication</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">15mm eye piece</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="0">$ - </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="774" x:fmla="=D4+E3">$ 774.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Andrews Communication</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">20mm eye piece</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="0">$ - </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="774" x:fmla="=D5+E4">$ 774.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Andrews Communication</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">25mm eye piece</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="0">$ - </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="774" x:fmla="=D6+E5">$ 774.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Andrews Communication</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Cheshire site tube</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="29">$ 29.00 </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="803" x:fmla="=D7+E6">$ 803.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Andrews Communication</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Outstanding 2" 80 [degrees] 30mm f.l. eyepiece.</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="149">$149.00 </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="952" x:fmla="=D8+E7">$ 952.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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20-07-2005, 08:22 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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Part II
Next I will order my toucam for photography, as i have a little left over I am ordering this tomorrow
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 463pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=617 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 116pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5489" width=154><COL style="WIDTH: 221pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 10467" width=294><COL style="WIDTH: 22pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1052" width=30><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><COL style="WIDTH: 56pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2673" width=75><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 116pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=154 height=18>Supplier</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 221pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=294>Partno</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 22pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=30>Qty</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=64 x:str="Price">Price </TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 56pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=75></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" height=18>Telescopes - Astronomy</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8">Tuocam + freight</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="157">$157.00 </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="1109">$1,109.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" height=18>Telescopes - Astronomy</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8">Long exposure mod for toucam</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="140">$140.00 </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="1249">$1,249.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" height=18>Telescopes - Astronomy</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8">5m usb cable for toucam</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="24">$ 24.00 </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="1273">$1,273.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" height=18>unsure</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8">adapter for toucam to telescope</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8"></TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="1273">$1,273.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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20-07-2005, 08:23 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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Part III, one to go
And finally after a few months of savings:
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 463pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=617 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 116pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5489" width=154><COL style="WIDTH: 221pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 10467" width=294><COL style="WIDTH: 22pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1052" width=30><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><COL style="WIDTH: 56pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2673" width=75><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 116pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=154 height=18>Supplier</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 221pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=294>Partno</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 22pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=30>Qty</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=64 x:str="Price">Price </TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 56pt; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" width=75></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" height=18>Telescopes - Astronomy</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8">Baader filter for toucam</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="80">$ 80.00 </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="1353">$1,353.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.2pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.2pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" height=18>Bintel</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8">Orion Barlow Shorty-Plus 2x (1.25") + freight</TD><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num>1</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="145">$145.00 </TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #ece9d8" x:num="1498">$1,498.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The superwide, filter, barlow and webcam are all extras to the basic unit ie $803 is the bare minimum I would recommend spending.
This 10" dob comes with crayford focuser, bk7 glass, but no fan. There is a cheaper model 10" dob, but all the guys and girls here recommend going the extra.
I was seriously looking at the 12" which you can buy for $1099 (with crayford, bk7, fan) but you add $95 freight to tassie and then those extras i have listed here and it is all starting to get closer to $2000, not $1000.
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20-07-2005, 08:24 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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Finally part IV
I chose Andrews Communications for the scope, (check recent beginner forum for recent discussion on Bintel and Andrews). Both are great, just servicing different markets. I will use the likes of bintels for better quality eyepieces down the track. The guy at Bintels was bubbling as he described what it is like to look through a 9mm Nagler superwide. He reckons when you can look at the galaxies up close and nice and wide, then you have crossed the line and start kicking the wife out of bed and sleeping with your scope!
Hope this helps. I have found looking at the signature of what guys have, seems to say to me that with at least a 10" dob, you can't go too far wrong.
Hope you have as great a time, as i have had
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20-07-2005, 08:57 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: South Australia
Posts: 205
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Hmmm, have just aquired a 9mm Nagler for my 12" dob, so looks like my ever faithfull dog is going to be happy with the extra time I will be spending with him.
Looks like you have done your research and am purchasing wisely. Enough goodies to keep you enthused as well as giving you variety as you search for the many objects on offer to view.
I purchased my scope from Bintel and cannot complain. However their instructions were out of date and apart from that during the purchase process you really had to prod them for information.
I thought the toucams came with the adapter to make them fit into your existing 1.25 ep.
Good thing with the dobs is that they allow you to get in to the hobby at grass roots level, at a reasonable price, with a scope offering excellent views and can be relatively easily upgadable with an array of equipment to enhance ones viewing expectations.
Enjoy your new purchase.
Good luck
Ken M
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20-07-2005, 09:08 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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thanks ken, i will work my way up to a 9mm nagler one day. Having just got this purchase past to the keeper, I can already see the wheels clicking in my wife's pretty head on what i have to do to repay her for letting me buy the gear. i think they say, "It is only the depth that varies!"
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20-07-2005, 09:12 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 9,021
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The others have summed it up a grand and goto simply don't mix. If your budget is only $1K go for a dob as you'll have to spent 3to 5x that amount to get an equivalent aperture. I wouldn't agree with Darren's statements regarding go-to. A goto will allow you to quickly find objects that may otherwise go unseen and allow you to quickly learn the sky.
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21-07-2005, 07:58 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toowoon Bay
Posts: 12
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Thanks for the response guys. After reading, I may have to change my mind and go for the dob after all, Ill just have to be more patient and learn the sky in a bit more detail.
Thanks for all the info DP, keep me posted how you go when you receive the equipment. I wasnt sure what you meant by Toucam. Judging that your buying a usb, it connects to your pc. How does it work witht the pc?
Anymore opinions would be welcome.
I can tell already that this forum rocks.
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21-07-2005, 08:05 AM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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Hi SA,  to the forum!
How did you hear about us?
There's a tonne of info about the GSO dobs on this forum, there's been many a purchase of these in the last 6-12 months (through recommendations here) and there hasn't been an unhappy customer yet. For the cost, they're unbeatable value for money.. big aperture for under $1k.
The ToUcam is a webcam, it can be used for plantery and lunar imaging. It connects to a laptop/PC and records video through the telescope (you use it in place of an eyepiece). The telescope acts like a large telephoto lens. Processing of the resulting video then let's you extract the best frames in moments of good seeing to produce the final image.
If you're interested in imaging, you should read the article I wrote, Astrophotography with a dob. Whether you plan to do imaging with a dob or not (it is difficult and time consuming!), it contains some useful info to get you started.
If you're on a budget of $1k, the dob is definitely the best option for large aperture. If you want something smaller and portable with goto, then the ETX is the best option.
Oh btw, where abouts do you live?
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21-07-2005, 08:49 AM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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[QUOTE=Supa Acsum]Thanks for all the info DP, keep me posted how you go when you receive the equipment. I wasnt sure what you meant by Toucam. Judging that your buying a usb, it connects to your pc. How does it work witht the pc?
QUOTE]
Pleasure, I have just faxed Andrews the order for the telescope, cheshire site tube and ultra wide. The ultrawide is a small gamble as there is mixed opinion on what you can get. Some say let them cool down and they work fine. I will be getting back to the forum with my results for the ultra wides.
As mike has explained, the toucam is a webcam that you link to your computer. The modification for $140 lets you take a long exposure or to lots of individual shots. Individual shots for dobs, long exposure for telescopes with equatorial mounts. I am planning to try and link my telescope thru the toucam to my laptop through the wireless adsl to my web servers and then can broadcast to the internet. ambitious, but boy will it be fun to share with the guys on the forum.
My second project like so many other dob guys is to try and motorize the dob (both movement and focusing) to be able to "goto". My feeling is that I will have to buy Mick Pinners equatorial Mount after giving up in disgust and asimov can say "you youngsters, I told you so!"
Will keep you updated
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21-07-2005, 08:59 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toowoon Bay
Posts: 12
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I heard about the site after reading a reply by iceman in an ebay forum (me thinks). I just clicked on the link.
Im at Toowoon Bay, I've notice quite a few Central Coast people here, including you. I also read an old thread about a viewing night you have up at Mangrove Mountain. Any plans for another soon. Id love to come and check out your systems and find out more before committing myself to a purchase. I really dont know what Im talking about, but im slowly becoming more informed due to you guys.
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21-07-2005, 09:05 AM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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Wow another from the central coast!? Why didn't you say so!
You're more than welcome to come around to my house (i'm at Wyoming) and check out my dob, probably should wait for the full moon to disappear though  ausastronomer is closer to you, he's at Berkeley/Killarney vale.
We go up to Kulnura (Paintball Place) every new moon weekend, so the next one will be in 2 weeks. You're more than welcome to come up and join us!
Quote:
The modification for $140 lets you take a long exposure or to lots of individual shots.
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David, that's not entirely accurate. By default, the ToUcam lets you take lots of individual shots, ie: 5 frames/s, 10 frames/s etc. The long exposure mod is only useful if you have tracking, and will let you take long exposures (eg: 2 minutes) as you track an object. This is used for DSO photography.
In it's default mode, it's only useful for planets/moon/sun.
I'm sure the mod has a switch to allow you to change between one mode and the other.
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21-07-2005, 11:28 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Young, NSW
Posts: 34
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I disagree with the Dob purists. Be very suspicious of anyone who thinks one type of scope is the only type of scope and rubbishes others. They're all good; all types of telescopes are a valid choice. You can still find objects manually with a goto scope as I have done on quite few occasions. I use atlases (Uranometria 2000), Burnham's etc and preplan my observing nights. I get a real buzz out of hitting the books beforehand and reading superlative descriptive works like Burnham's. I even own a descriptive astro book called The Midnight Sky published in the late 1800s which is gorgeous and has a ton of engravings of Greenwich Observatory and other scopes of the day. There are many ways to enjoy astronomy and you don't actually need a particular type of telecope to learn the sky. I've been using binos/atlases for many years and learned the sky well before I ever bought a telescope. A friend of mine in SA build a dob and it was brilliant but for my needs at this point a GOTO was perfect.
$1000 does limit you but that doesn't mean GOTO is boring.
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