Need some help!! - Page 2

jmb · #21 24-10-2009, 12:59 PM

thanks David and Adam, appreciate your help
1) What did you find hard about the dob? Was it purely the size?
it was a great telescope, the size was the problem for me. i realise the advantages of a DOB,
something on a mount folds up...i realise there is time involved in setting it up and my idea of a grab and go, is something light, compact, and can be put in a cupboard. i dont want a telescope to be the main feature of my small unit.

2) what do you really want to view? moon? planets? nebulae? galaxies?
moon, planets, orion, pleides, and explore the constellations.
3) will you occasionally take the scope/mount out in a car to a darker night sky, away from the city lights, etc?
i hope so.

4) how much are you prepared to spend?
my budget has increased since researching this on the internet
$500

hope that helps
thanks

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #22 24-10-2009, 03:14 PM

OK, you're going to limit yourself, and what you can see with both a small budget, and also your personal requirements on a small/portable scope etc. You still should be able to view all of the objects that you've mentioned - fainter stuff will be either very difficult or impossible though. Some suggestions:

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=7046

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6327

These are both on German equatorial mounts, which aren't quite as easy to use as an alta azimuth mount, but are easier to track objects in (along the RA, or right ascension path).

A similar scope, but with an alta azimuth mount might be this one:

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=8351

The last one will be the easiest to set up and dismantle, with the least parts. I think it would probably best suit your needs, at least given what you've told us in your posts so far. It won't see as much as your 6" dob, let's make that clear.

BTW, I'm not affiliated with Bintel - I simply used links to items that they sell as it was easiest for me. I would however suggest calling Bintel and speaking to Mike or Don and having a good chat with them. Both are extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and they give good ole fashioned honest advice imho.

Dave

PS If you can stretch the budget, I'd recommend this item:

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=8338

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #23 24-10-2009, 03:19 PM

Oh, and I see you already have a pair of binoculars. Those, with your eyes are 2 of the best things to observe the heavens with. Use them!

For books, I'd recommend:

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6018

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6826

Possibly this one as well:

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6066

That should do for starters. If you don't want to buy some star chart books like above, I can give you links to free PDF charts that you can download and print out yourself.

Dave

jmb · #24 24-10-2009, 03:27 PM

thanks for that info Dave, i have sent you a pm

jmb · #25 24-10-2009, 03:46 PM

Southern Sky Guide , Heaven's Above, exploring the moon, 2009 australian sky guide, and few others.
the Bright Star Atlas 2000.0 you suggested looks good, i will check it out at the library.
i also have stellarus software
i visit skymaps.com fairly regularly

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #26 24-10-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmb

Southern Sky Guide , Heaven's Above, exploring the moon, 2009 australian sky guide, and few others.
the Bright Star Atlas 2000.0 you suggested looks good, i will check it out at the library.
i also have stellarus software
i visit skymaps.com fairly regularly

What you've got sounds good, should hold you in good stead. I have replied to your PMs. :-)

Dave

dannat (Daniel) · #27 24-10-2009, 05:41 PM

i had a mak - albeit an intes which is more expensive but it performed very well..the celestron is not as good..it will not show colour compared to the refractor - is more portbale & packs away in a smaller space.
the refractor is supposed to have better contrast, will have less cool down.
In your case i would probably choose the mak..however if you want to use it to look at ground targets, you may consider a spotting scope..but at 80mm you will have to give up light gathering power

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #28 25-10-2009, 06:21 PM

i was thinking about what you have and what you want to do, this is my idea if space is your problem. get a binocular mount for a few hundred and slap your binos onto them they will beat pretty much anything that you can afford for what you want.

Don't think that we are trying to tell you that your making a mistake by not using the dob, its just a little hard to comprehend sometimes taking such a big step back, but you have to do what you have to do!

A bino mount will allow you to keep them steady and still while you look at your stars, and large open clusters, being zoomed out this will be the best thing. If after a while you want more aperature or better quality you can always get a bigger/better pair of binos untill you are ready to move up to a proper telescope.

The reason why i say this is that at the zoom size binos you have 2 eyes will always work better than one at such a small aperature and there will be nothing that you can get for that kind of price range in my opinion that will be "pleasing" and make you go wow. after all whats the fun in going oh yeah there it is. to foster your love for the hobby you want to have the oh wow thats amazing!

The best thing with a setup like this is you can whip it into the car and drive out to where ever drop it down and start looking with the same kind of controls as you would a dobsonian.
The other thing you could do if your handy witha few tools, or know somebody who is is get them to make you a "hot shoe" with a bracket to hold your binos (virtually making it a bino mount but you can swap it in and out with a normal cam) my friend made one for a grand total of a few dollars. sure its crude and not really nice but it works.!

Hope this helps you save your money and get the best bang for the situation you are in!

jmb · #29 25-10-2009, 07:39 PM

thanks Brendan for your help.
i have actually been thinking that might be a good route, thanks for the nudge. what you said makes perfect sense.
thanks again
janine

jmb · #30 26-10-2009, 10:30 PM

well i am a bit scared to come back to the forum for help...
well i chickened out of the ebay scope, got cold feet about spending the money on something i cant see physically, it being 8 years old, and then of course the postage was a bit of a killer....really think if i was going to spend around $600+ then it would be more sensible to buy the bd 127mak from York ($650 and a few decent eps, 6 yr warranty and after sales service)
i found this locally, at least not too far.
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/produc...sp?id=MAS-066A

York also have a 90Mak for $339 which sounds good
Saxon M10014EQ3 Maksutov Cassegrain
http://www.ozscopes.com.au/cassegrain-telescope-saxon-m10014eq3.html $395 + free colour filter set
this one seems good to me, a bit bigger than the 90mm, not sure how significant that is? Plus the free filter set.

AOE100M 100mm x 1400mm Maksutov Cassegrain telescope. Comes complete with EQ7 German equatorial mount mount and aluminium field tripod, 8 x 21 finderscope, two good quality 1.25" plossl eyepieces and 90degree diagonal mirror. ALSO $399 seems to be a good setup

is the vixen the best option/good value? anyone have experience with any of these?

cheers
janine

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #31 26-10-2009, 11:57 PM

I would say the Vixen is probably the best optically, but it's hard to be sure. Remember though, it's OTA only. You'll need a mount for this.

Dave

jmb · #32 27-10-2009, 12:54 AM

thanks Dave, i was thinking probably the Vixen as well. i know it is OTA only. i am wondering how it would compare with the SAxon.
then have to decide if i should make the leap to the 127
cheers
janine

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #33 27-10-2009, 09:07 AM

I'd say the Vixen would be noticeably better. No way of telling though without real star testing.

Dave

casstony · #34 27-10-2009, 09:15 AM

Another option from Andrews Communications is the new Bosma 80mm f/6 achromatic refractor - gets good reviews overseas:

Beta RE 80mm x 500mm refractor includes tube rings, strong camera tripod, 10mm and 25mm Plossl eyepieces, 5x24 erecting finderscope, 45° prism, Moon filter, objective lens solar filter and carry case.
$349.00

Xmas season pricing appears to be in effect though, since this set-up cost $US198.

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #35 27-10-2009, 01:24 PM

im going to bow out of this one now as you still are contradicting yourself, your whole point of selling your dob was the physical size of it, do you realize the physical size of a 100mm/127mm refractor would almost be as big as the 6" dob... actually it will be bigger because you need a mount, and unless your going to spend 3-400 on the tripod alone + the cost of the refractor the thing will be nigh on useless as it will wobble around like you wouldn't belive, and getting aim with it will be a laborious mission!

So unless your prepared to have the unit in your flat standing loud and proud ide suggest you sticking with a bino mount...

Good luck with your decision.

jmb · #36 27-10-2009, 07:49 PM

Just to put your mind at rest brendan, it is my understanding that a mount, although not as compact as i would prefer, will fold up and can at least be put in a cupboard. The dob base was not able to be folded up/dismounted and therefore, for me at least, harder to store away.
I will actually bow out now, thanks to those who offered constructive assistance to me, and to the others who have basically ridiculed my decision to sell the dob, well not all decisions need to be explained in lengthy details, and even you were a beginner at some time...
I appreciate the help from most on this forum,