Hello all.
This is my first time on this forum so be gentle please.
I am an aussie who is currently living in the uk. I have a 200mm newt on eq5. due to visa problems i'll be returning home for a few months and would like to buy a travel scope for my stay. funds are tightish ($100-$150) so i know my choices are limited. i'll be living in wollongong and was wondering if anyone could tell me of any astro shops nearby or a good online dealer. to be honest it's 10 yrs since i've been back in oz so i don't even know if my budget is even realistic. any help would be greatly appreciated as i would love to see some southern skies.
thanks in advance
Scott
Hi Scott , and have a good trip , for your $100-150 you wont get much , have you looked at a pair of bino's ? Andrews Communations has good binos up to 80mm in your price range ( google them ) , that might be a better option ?
Brian.
i have a celestron 127 powerseeker newtonian on a germain eq mount with slow motion controls( even chuck in a couple possils) you can have for $150 plus postage. pm me if you want it.
Hi Scott , and have a good trip , for your $100-150 you wont get much , have you looked at a pair of bino's ? Andrews Communations has good binos up to 80mm in your price range ( google them ) , that might be a better option ?
Brian.
I'd second that!
A good pair of binos with a sturdy photo tripod and adapter is the way to go, given your limited budget.
Bo
Hello all.
This is my first time on this forum so be gentle please.
I am an aussie who is currently living in the uk. I have a 200mm newt on eq5. due to visa problems i'll be returning home for a few months and would like to buy a travel scope for my stay. funds are tightish ($100-$150) so i know my choices are limited. i'll be living in wollongong and was wondering if anyone could tell me of any astro shops nearby or a good online dealer. to be honest it's 10 yrs since i've been back in oz so i don't even know if my budget is even realistic. any help would be greatly appreciated as i would love to see some southern skies.
thanks in advance
Scott
How mobile are you? Car? You should be able to pick up a 5" 130mm tabletop Dobsonian off eBay for $150. Skywatcher do a heritage model, its retractable, exteremely compact and the aperture is sufficient enough to give you nice views with the right eyepiece. Easy to resell as well.
Firstly let me thank you all for your time and advice. I realise bins would be the best option but due to a drunken accident in my youth holding anything still for more than a few minutes is difficult if not impossible.
John, the skywatcher dobs are pretty much what i had in mind. I realise the drop in aperture from an 8" is significant but then again the aussie skies compared to the light pollution we have to suffer in the uk will go a long way in making up for that. also a small dob might help get my son off his xbox and out in the garden (fat chance).
once again thanks everyone for your help. much appreciated.
Hi Scott , and have a good trip , for your $100-150 you wont get much , have you looked at a pair of bino's ? Andrews Communations has good binos up to 80mm in your price range ( google them ) 
, that might be a better option ? 
