What telescope to choose as an amateur.

[js2275]

Hi, I have just started getting back into astronomy. I received a Tasco Galaxee when I was a kid and have now started using it again. I have been mainly looking at the moon as it is not powerful enough to view any planets in detail. I am looking into purchasing a new telescope to both observe and take photos through. I have a budget of about $1500. What would be the best telescope I could get in that price range that would allow me to see planets, galaxies and nebulas etc.
Also any thoughts or reviews on the SkyWatcher Black Diamond 10" Collapsible Dobsonian?
Cheers.

[niko]

A dobsonian is a great choice and the collapsible version makes it a bit easier to transport.

Visual and photography are really 2 separate beasts in my opinion requiring different set ups.

Having said that you'll be able to do some afocal work with a dob (holding the camera up to the eyepiece) and you can get pretty good results of the moon.

Spend $500-$600 on the scope and maybe splash out on a good eyepiece

niko

[js2275]

Originally Posted by niko

A dobsonian is a great choice and the collapsible version makes it a bit easier to transport.

Visual and photography are really 2 separate beasts in my opinion requiring different set ups.

Having said that you'll be able to do some afocal work with a dob (holding the camera up to the eyepiece) and you can get pretty good results of the moon.

Spend $500-$600 on the scope and maybe splash out on a good eyepiece

niko

Thanks for the input Niko. I think I will be on the more visual side of things. How much would a good eyepiece be for a 10" dob?

[niko]

the sky's the limit really.

the eyepieces that come with the dob will do you for now. save the cash and visit a club night to look through other eyepieces before you decide.

I made a few dud purchases early on thinking if I spent a few 100 $s I'd get something okay but I was never really happy.

Have my eye on a 17mm (can't remember brand) that I looked through at a club night but it was $800!!!!

You'll have hours of fun with a dob straight out of the box till you shop around

niko

[Hzadbhat (Brandon)]

I've got the Black diamond, and I love it!
But I don't take photo's. When I start to get into that, I'll be getting a new scope and mount. You want to be able to track for photography.
My research has shown the goto dob isn't all it's reviews say. That's if you're putting a camera on.
You can get the collapsable and have years of fun.
I'm keeping the dob as a visual scope and later this year or maybe early next, I'll buy a dedicated photo rig.
If you're sure photography is where you want to be, then 'goto', otherwise, you will not regret your decision to dob.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by Hzadbhat

I've got the Black diamond, and I love it!
But I don't take photo's. When I start to get into that, I'll be getting a new scope and mount. You want to be able to track for photography.
My research has shown the goto dob isn't all it's reviews say. That's if you're putting a camera on.
You can get the collapsable and have years of fun.
I'm keeping the dob as a visual scope and later this year or maybe early next, I'll buy a dedicated photo rig.
If you're sure photography is where you want to be, then 'goto', otherwise, you will not regret your decision to dob.

Brandon is only partly correct when he says that you need to be able to track to image. Tracking is the act of keeping an object within the field, and go to dobs if they are setup properly do a good job of this. The issue with imaging is that 2 further steps are required. Firstly for long exposure images, the axis of rotation must be aligned with the pole which requires an equatorial mount and a dob is a simple Alt Az mount. Secondly, as well as tracking, the mount will need guiding. Even the best made mounts will have residual errors that need to be corrected continuously during long exposures, usually by tracking a star with and auto guider mounted off axis or an a second guide scope.

Dobs can be used to take short exposures of bright objects but that is about it.

Malcolm

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Hi JS2275,
I dived in with both feet and a credit card when I first started in Astronomy.
Several thousand beer-vouchers later, I came to the conclusion that an 8" Newt on an Alt-Az mount (powered, guided or not) was the ideal set-up for starting out.
The 8" size is very easy to handle and the alt-Az mount equally easy to manouver.
You will be able to see 99% of anything worth seeing and the (generally) low cost of this set-up means you'll be able to sink some cash into some quality eyepieces, which will make a bigger difference than you might think.
Once you've put in some time on this rig, and have some idea of what you want to observe most, then you can get something more up market.
Maybe one of those super-duper guided dobs (they ARE the bees-knees for visual IMHO) or SCTs or what have you.
Just my $.02 but I doubt you'd be disappointed!
ATB,
Peter