Recommendations for a beginner telescope

[astr0]

Hi all,
I have just started looking at getting a telescope, and have so far decided a dobsonion mounted telescope is properly going to be the best for a first time beginner

I live on the gold coast so will be using it in light polluted.skies but will also take it away with need when I go camping out bush where there is non or very minimal light pollution


At the moment I am lookint at a $500 limit but am open minded and am willing to look at spending more

So basically I know nothing and relying on the knowledge and.experience of you guys to help guide me to the most suited telescope and accessories need to get the most fun and enjoyment

Thanks
Astr0

[Poita (Peter)]

How strong/fit are you and how big is yr car?

A dob is great if visual is your thing.

Bigger is better, but if bigger means you end up not taking it or not setting it up often, then it isn't better any more...

There are plenty of IIS'ers on the Gold Coast. I'd recommend getting a hands on with a big dob and see if it is really what you want. Everyone here is pretty helpful, I'm sure some locals will chime in

[niko]

Given your budget and desire to take it camping I reckon you couldn't go past an 8" dob - easier enough to move around on your own, tube will lie on the backseat (cradle takes up a seat on its own) and the views will make you happy for years

[astr0]

Thanks niko for the advice
And peter
I am fairly strong / fit and I have a Ute so size is not a drama lol, but definitely want something that is fairly easy to setup and to dismantle amd that will give.me a fantastic view of the stars, (some ) galaxies amd other planets
So if I was to get a 8" dob any accessories or anything else I should know or look at getting ?

[niko]

A ute is perfect for an 8" - had one myself for years (both ute and 8")

it will come with a couple of eyepieces - 25mm and a 10mm or 15mm or similar.

The better the eyepiece the better the view but as these can be really expensive better to wait, learn the sky and try and check out some that others own before taking the plunge. The eyepieces you get will give you stunning views of the moon, jupiter, saturn and DSOs like Orion nebula, jewel box, eta carina etc.

So, buy a red torch and star map or other night sky guide (the 2013 Australian Astronomy for $25 is good) and maybe a membership to a local astro club

niko

[astr0]

Thanks Niko, Sounds like an awesome way for me to start,
Also is a red torch just a torch with a red lens ? ?
and with dob telescopes does collapsible and non collapsible make any difference ?
is there any difference with brands or are they all the same
(ie. skywatcher, Saxon, Ozscope or GSO )
If there is a difference which one of them is better ?

[Poita (Peter)]

If you have a ute, then I'd be leaning towards a 12" or largerDob.
No real extra time to setup, and the 12" lets you see a lot more than an 8".

[astr0]

I am currently looking at getting a (gso) 10" dob which comes with a Mercury Support Systems two speed focuser upgrade and an 8x50 finder
That any good ?

[Varangian (John)]

Originally Posted by astr0

I am currently looking at getting a (gso) 10" dob which comes with a Mercury Support Systems two speed focuser upgrade and an 8x50 finder
That any good ?

Yes, this is exactly what I would go for. A 10" Dob is in your price range and it is much more mobile than a 12" Dob and will allow you to see more than an 8". The focuser on the GSOs are smooth and allow micro focusing, the finder is also a right angle so you won't put your neck out! You'll get 4 plossl eyepieces (6, 9, 15 and 25mm) which will take you a long way. Clear skies.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

I have a GSO 10" and it's nice enough. The 10" is basically the same length as the 8" (due to the shorter f-ratio) though fatter but collects >50% more light (the actual ratio is 100:64). It can't beat my 6" refractor on planets or the moon but it eats the refractor on DSOs.

The base will come as a flat pack. I recommend painting all the cut ends where you can see bare particle-board before assembly. I used two coats of watered down PVA wood glue followed by two coats of outdoor paint. After assembly I ran a bead of silastic around all the joins. The base is now really solid and will stand years of dew and perhaps even a bit of rain (though I've never been caught yet - fingers crossed). I bought my 16" second hand and this wasn't done. As a result it is starting to degrade and I'll have to make a new base in the next few years.

[simmo]

Hello astr0 and welcome.

I just recently got into astronomy and purchased a 10" dob. So far nearly every night I have been blown away by the views. It's also quite challenging hunting dso's. The planets and the orion neb will stun you first time. If you can get one second hand then go for it you won't be dissapointed. Try it out though before you buy it. My local astroshop has a try before you buy night every thursday and maybe a shop in brizzie will to.
A couple of points (if you do buy dob scope): - if you're going to sit down take an adjustable chair (i'm using an office chair at the moment) or if your standing take a milk crate or something like cause your back will love you for it. I know you will probably thinking about other gadgets but this was the first thing recommended to me in my post and now with a little time under the belt I have definitely understood why.
Free software that's cool is 'Stellarium' and for charts I'm liking 'Cartes du Ciel'. You can print off charts for the night but it takes a little toying around to get used to. It even has asteroids listed which I think is cool as well as being free to download.
Don't forget mozzie repellant if you have them around it sucks if they get bad and probably purchase some lens cleaner as your plossl eyepieces that come with most scopes new mean you have to get close at high mags. My wife took one view with her long eyelashes and that was it for the night on that eyepiece. Camera shops usually have a good range and my eyepiece has never looked better now.
The reason I put this stuff down is that I have had to use them straight away and they are things that you might factor in. Luckily so far most of it has been cheap or free.

Good luck
Simmo

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by simmo

A couple of points (if you do buy dob scope): - if you're going to sit down take an adjustable chair (i'm using an office chair at the moment) or if your standing take a milk crate or something like cause your back will love you for it. I know you will probably thinking about other gadgets but this was the first thing recommended to me in my post and now with a little time under the belt I have definitely understood why.
Good luck
Simmo

Absolutely!! I have the Bintel adjustable chair and love it. Perhaps get by with something else for a while but as soon as the budget allows get the chair. It's amazing the difference comfort makes to viewing pleasure - and the amount of detail you will see. In a similar vein, once the weather starts to cool down take care to stay warm. Things looks so much better when you can feel your feet and your ears aren't about to drop off.

[naskies (Dave)]

Since you're also thinking of astrophotography... you may want to consider something like a Skywatcher Flex-Tube where you can adjust the distance between the primary and secondary mirrors.

Solid tube Dobs often don't have enough "inward" focus travel for cameras, without the use of extenders. Taking shots of the entire Sun and/or Moon are a great way to get started with astrophotography, and it's much easier if the whole object fits into the one frame.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

I have a GSO 10" and it's nice enough. The 10" is basically the same length as the 8" (due to the shorter f-ratio) though fatter but collects >50% more light (the actual ratio is 100:64). It can't beat my 6" refractor on planets or the moon but it eats the refractor on DSOs.

Hi David,

If your 6" refractor is outdoing you're 10" dob on the moon and planets, I think something isn't quite right with the 10" dob.

I think one of the following issues may be at play:-

1) miscollimation.
2) thermal cooling and stability issues.
3) an astigmatic secondary mirror which can be easily fixed.
4) a dud primary mirror, which isn't so easily fixed.

I have two 10" dobs, one is a 10"/F5 with a very good GSO mirror (the secondary was astigmatic when I got the scope) and the other is a 10"/F5.3 SDM with a Mark Suchting mirror. There isn't a 6" refractor on the planet which will outdoor either telescope as a lunar/planetary instrument.

Cheers,
John B

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by astr0

I have just started looking at getting a telescope, and have so far decided a dobsonion mounted telescope is properly going to be the best for a first time beginner

Great choice. Clearly the best way to go for someone who wants a visual telescope as opposed to an imaging instrument

Originally Posted by astr0

At the moment I am lookint at a $500 limit but am open minded and am willing to look at spending more

I think a 10" is a better choice than an 8" if storage and transport aren't a major concern. The 10" is the same length as the 8" but a bit heavier with a larger footprint. The 10" is still easily handled by one adult. As David said the 10" collects 50% more light than the 8" and this is a very worthwhile and noticeable gain, particularly if you are observing under anything less than pristine black skies. In a 10" scope most of the bigger brighter globular clusters are bright and sparkling and resolve nicely. In an 8" scope they can be somewhat lacklustre. An 8" scope is the largest of the small telescopes, a 10" scope is the smallest of the large telescopes and the aperture at which DSO viewing starts to happen on most targets. There is a lifetime of viewing with a 10" telescope. If you went with an 8" you would want something bigger in a very short time.

$400 will get you a solid tube 8" GSO dob from Andrews and $600 will get you a solid tube 10" GSO dob from Andrews. These work well and generally have very good optics for mass produced telescopes

If you can stretch the budget I would look at the 10" Collapsible tube dob from Skywatcher.

http://www.ozscopes.com.au/dobsonian...e-10-inch.html

It's $849 and if you hunt around you can probably get it for a bit less than this.

Cheers,
John B

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Here you go, one is listed in the classifieds and just had a price drop to $550 . A great deal on a 2mth old scope with quite a few handy extra accesories like the Telrad and laser collimator

Pick it up in Brisbane, it has your name all over it

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=99860

Cheers,
John B

[Tamtarn]

I agree with John that's a great deal for $550
Barb

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

+ one on that .
Brian.

Originally Posted by Tamtarn

I agree with John that's a great deal for $550
Barb

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Hi John , I to have a 150mm f/8 Saxon with a fitted Chromocor as well as a nice 10 inch f/10 newt and on the moon and planets these two are basically identical . A lot depends on the given night .
Have you ever looked thru a good 6 inch frac ? they are the best up to a given size ( 8-12 inch Joe blogs reflector , not the multy $1000's hand made babies like you have , nice ) and thats not just the views , cool down , set up/down ease of use and lots of other factors come into it .
Brian.

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

Hi David,

If your 6" refractor is outdoing you're 10" dob on the moon and planets, I think something isn't quite right with the 10" dob.

I think one of the following issues may be at play:-

1) miscollimation.
2) thermal cooling and stability issues.
3) an astigmatic secondary mirror which can be easily fixed.
4) a dud primary mirror, which isn't so easily fixed.

I have two 10" dobs, one is a 10"/F5 with a very good GSO mirror (the secondary was astigmatic when I got the scope) and the other is a 10"/F5.3 SDM with a Mark Suchting mirror. There isn't a 6" refractor on the planet which will outdoor either telescope as a lunar/planetary instrument.

Cheers,
John B

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by brian nordstrom

Have you ever looked thru a good 6 inch frac ?

Brian.

Hi Brian,

Some of the best on the planet in fact. Astrophysics EDF 155/F7, Astrophysics EDF 160/F7.5, Takahashi TOA 150/F7.3, Takahashi FS 152/F8

The Tak FS152 is a flourite doublet and not quite to the standard of the other 3 which are triplets, but it's still a very fine telescope in every sense of the word.

The views in the 6" refractors are aesthetically nicer and for want of a better term "cleaner" than the views in a 10" newtonian, but they cannot match the larger telescope for resolvable detail, when conditions are favourable, seeing is good and the newtonian properly cooled and collimated. The view in the newtonian is a little bit "rougher" than the views in the refractors, due to the effects of diffraction, but it has more detail to offer, if you are prepared to spend the time on the image. That is simple physics.

Cheers,
John B