My Recommended Beginner's Packages

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Originally Posted by Blakout

Thanks Chris , should I go the 12.5 or the 17 ? or dosnt it matter ?

Cheers

Depends on your scope's focal length, mine is 1000mm and considering it came with a 25mm and a 10mm eyepiece, then I would personally go with a 17mm as 12.5 is a bit too close to the 10 to make it worthwhile....

For magnification calculations, my 10mm gives 100x mag. (1000/10) so therefore my 25mm gives 40x and if I got a 17mm, it would give 58x.

To get in the middle of the 100x and the 40x, you would need to buy a 14mm eyepiece which would give approximately 70x magnification.

So, 17mm is not a bad choice for a 1000mm focal length scope like mine. although, I do have a couple of 13mm EP's one being my Baader Hyperion 13mm which does give me 76x so I pretty much have things covered....

Get the one that fits the best into what you have already, simply use the FL divided by EP calculation to work out the magnification factor that sits between any eyepieces you already have.

Cheers

Chris

[Blakout (Neil)]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

Depends on your scope's focal length, mine is 1000mm and considering it came with a 25mm and a 10mm eyepiece, then I would personally go with a 17mm as 12.5 is a bit too close to the 10 to make it worthwhile....

For magnification calculations, my 10mm gives 100x mag. (1000/10) so therefore my 25mm gives 40x and if I got a 17mm, it would give 58x.

To get in the middle of the 100x and the 40x, you would need to buy a 14mm eyepiece which would give approximately 70x magnification.

So, 17mm is not a bad choice for a 1000mm focal length scope like mine. although, I do have a couple of 13mm EP's one being my Baader Hyperion 13mm which does give me 76x so I pretty much have things covered....

Get the one that fits the best into what you have already, simply use the FL divided by EP calculation to work out the magnification factor that sits between any eyepieces you already have.

Cheers

Chris

This is great chris appreciate the help

I think the focal length is 1200 so (1200/17) 70.5x add 2x barlow for 140 x , is that right ? Are there any cons ( apart from being more expensive ) going with a super wide EP ?

Cheers

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Yes Neil,

Those calculations are correct.

Some super wide EP's suffer from coma around the edges whereby the stars look smudged and develop tails.

Generally, you get what you pay for. A cheap super wide will probably be cheap performance, OK in the middle third (like a bulls eye) but rubbish around the edge. If you want super crisp stars right to the edge and massive wide field of view, then the ETHOS range from Televue are the way to go (no doubt there are other brands) but the trouble is, they cost more than some cheap telescopes (upwards of $600-900 EACH!!!)

Your best bet is to go for a 52 degrees Field of View (FOV) or a 68 deg FOV ED type eyepiece which are sub $60 depending on the brand. I have a few plossls, my Hyperion (second hand for $100), my ED 12.5mm - 68 deg and the first eyepiece I use when I unpack the scope, my 2" barrell 68 degree "wide field" Andrews brand 32mm, (very bad coma) and my Pentax XF 8.5mm ($230) which I use when I want some nice crisp close ups of planets like Jupiter without any false colour from barlows or powermates.

Its surprising just how satisfying my Skywatcher plossl's are.....considering they came with the scope. They perform quite well and the difference, whilst noticeable by me, is not something that can really justify the loading of $200 to buy say the Pentax, for a beginner.

I went a little "accessories crazy" early on, of which I am now cured, so trust me when I say a plossl is good value for money at this stage and well worth a look. Stay away from exotics and "super wides" until you can look through some in YOUR scope when at a star party or club event as only then you will be able to gauge whether the eyepiece of the future is worth it in your scope...

Hope this helps save you from sliding down the wallet busting path I almost fell down.

Cheers

Chris

[Blakout (Neil)]

Thankes for the reply again Chris

Looks like Im going for the 15mm GSO Super View Plossle and a GSO ED x2 barlow as andrews comm is phasing the skywatcher EPs out , he also says the GSOs are better quality than the skywatchers .

cheers
Neil

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Cool Neil, they will suit your scope nicely,

Enjoy!

Glad to be of service....

Cheers

Chris

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Jeeps

I use a dedicated hand trolley for my 10" Skywatcher. I think i paid about $30 from Repco. I went to clark rubber, bought some strips of foam and fixed it to the trolley all over the place so as to not scratch the scope. I do not strap the scope to the trolley as the Skywatcher comes with 2 big knobs/handles to raise and lower the trusses of the dob. If you look at this picture you can kind of see the knobs. They're just below and to the left of the focuser:


http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/p...Trolley001.jpg


To tip the trolley back/up to move the scope, on both sides I put my forefingers on the little knobs and ease the scope back so it's flush against the trolley then put my thumbs behind the side rail of the trolley and pull the whole lot back. Once it's back and sittng on it's wheels in a balanced position, i put one hand on the top rail to control the trolley and keep one hand on the knob/side rail to keep the scope flush against the trolley. Using this method i go up and down my stair no problems and the scope 'falls into' the trolley and stays there.

I would suggest that you keep the tyres pumped up a little bit but not firm, this takes some shock out of the trolley. If they are pumped up firm the trolley will bounce and shock the scope to no end... and you'll HAVE to collimate

The quality of the Skywatcher black diamond dobs is superb. I would even go as far to say they're a premium scope.

cheers

great idea Sam i need one of those ASAP i cant carry the 12inch around by myself and hubby will be starting harvest soon so he wont be around for a few weeks, i would hate to see a nice clear night wasted all because i cant get Johnny out of the house arhhhhhhhh

[Jen]

Oh and another thing that should go on a noobies list is to download Stellarium i think its a great program and it has helped me find my way through the night sky many times I am hopeless with a planisphere

http://www.stellarium.org/

[Blakout (Neil)]

Id like to add 20 cans of mosquito repellent to your list , looking at the moon tonight through my 8in DOB tonight for the first time I must have been Bitten 100 times lol .

Originally Posted by Jen

Oh and another thing that should go on a noobies list is to download Stellarium i think its a great program and it has helped me find my way through the night sky many times I am hopeless with a planisphere

http://www.stellarium.org/

THX Jen ! Downloading now

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Blakout

Id like to add 20 cans of mosquito repellent to your list , looking at the moon tonight through my 8in DOB tonight for the first time I must have been Bitten 100 times lol .

that happened to me on my first night out with the scope too once bitten twice shy so they say i went shopping the next day with aeroguard on the top of the list
PS: Careful you dont spray it around near the scope though

[Blakout (Neil)]

Originally Posted by Jen

that happened to me on my first night out with the scope too once bitten twice shy so they say i went shopping the next day with aeroguard on the top of the list
PS: Careful you dont spray it around near the scope though

Will do Thx for the tip

[mprenzler (Michael)]

Hi,

Just wanted to bump this old thread in case some other Newbie benefits from it. Thanks a lot Chris, this answered so many questions I had!

Cheers,

Michael