Newt, Dob, Refractor...$700...Astrophotography . What to choose? First time observer.

[ngcles]

Hi Geist & All,

As someone has already commented, before you outlay the cash get yourself along to an astronomy club in your area and met the people there.

Go to one of their field nights and look through as many different 'scopes as you can. I'll lay London to a brick at such a night, there will be at least one (probably more) 'scope(s) similar to what you are contemplating.

The 8-10" newtonian/dobsonian you are considering, from where I'm sitting seems like a good choice. But, it is best (if you can) to test drive before you buy so you will have a solid idea of how your choice will perform --and as an added bonus, you can ask heaps of questions of the owners who actually use the telescope you are thinking of buying.

Best,

Les D

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Originally Posted by erick

My 8" fits neatly into my Lancer. The OTA sits nicely at the rear of the boot nearest the tailgate and the base sits on the back seat. I can get lots more stuff (eyepiece cases, containers with batteries, binocular cases, clothes, food, charts, computer, chairs, table, blankets....) into the boot and the back seat and have room for a front seat passenger as well. I can even keep my tool boxes and various junk in the boot.

Strangely, the OTA does not fit as well into the boot of the Ford Futura? There is a well in the boot compartment and the OTA doesn't fit neatly into it. I reckon you'll do fine with your Astra. I understand that if you drive to Bintel Melbourne, they will let you try a demo model for size - on the basis that if you drop it, it's yours and payment is due!

Cheers
Eric

What about room for the beer, cheese and wine Eric? Need room for that too.

The collapsible 12 inch SW dob is looking very nice to me Geist, NGCLes' review of its older brother the SW980 in the recent AS&T helped me get the drool factor back for the big Skywatcher's so I am planning on one of these babies as soon as the financial controller (wife) looks the other way and I can snag some money to purchase one.

You will get great use out of the Bintel BT202, AlexK13 has one I have looked through and it is a very nice scope that gives great DSO views.

Chris

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

What about room for the beer, cheese and wine Eric? Need room for that too.

Yep! Though in my case it's a flask of coffee, a flask of juice, apples and muesli bars!