Blitz's questions - Page 2

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #21 20-01-2005, 11:57 PM

How much difference would there be if I only got the 6" GSO ? I realise the aperture size is of great importance when selecting a telescope, but is the 6" too small for good DSO viewing?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #22 20-01-2005, 11:57 PM

Pleased to help.

It gets better.

Wait till you meet the rest of the gang!

and our Mighty Leader "Ice"

You'll be a Professor of Astronomy in no time.

rumples riot · #23 21-01-2005, 12:19 AM

Yes 6" is a little undersized. Go for the 8 or as I recommended else where a 10". Good luck with your decision.

Starkler (Geoff) · #24 21-01-2005, 12:28 AM

You cant go wrong with the 8" gso dob.

It is quite simply the bargain scope in Australia right now.
You get good optics on a sturdy mount which are the two most important things.

There is room for improvement in the mechanics of the base, but the fixes are cheap and simple for anyone to do

If you can swing a few hundred extra, consider the 10 inch.
I would only buy the 12inch if you never have to transport it as the tube is longer than most cars are wide.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #25 21-01-2005, 12:29 AM

I agree with Paul,

10" would be great but the best price I know of is $799.

Might be worth considering if you can find the extra $400

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #26 21-01-2005, 12:30 AM

Or for the same price, buy two 8" and set them up as giant Binocs.

Not as silly as it sounds. Not too hard either!!

janoskiss (Steve H) · #27 21-01-2005, 12:59 AM

Everyone,

Please, would you leave Lee alone. He's busy enough as it is and doesn't need any more distractions until he sends me my new 8" GS Dob. I'm still out in the back yard struggling to see things with my cheap (& crappy) DSE 4.5" (it was clear earlier but clouds moved in now

).

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #28 21-01-2005, 01:11 AM

lol

janoskiss (Steve H) · #29 21-01-2005, 01:39 AM

BTW. Are you serious about the twin 8" binos being easy to set up?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #30 21-01-2005, 01:50 AM

With a bit of fiddling, yes it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Got to have imagination and be a bit handy with tools.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #31 21-01-2005, 01:59 AM

If I was to get two of these dobs, I reckon the focal lengths of the main mirrors would not match precisely enough. How would you handle that challenge?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #32 21-01-2005, 02:08 AM

You have to do a lot of lining up, mathematics, use of diagonals etc.

Some of the others (when they come back on line) have knowledge of the ways it is done properly.

Got some clever people in here.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #33 21-01-2005, 02:11 AM

OK, for now I'm just curious, cos I reckon I'll be v. happy with just one of the dobs, when it gets here.

iceman (Mike) · #34 21-01-2005, 06:26 AM

Hey Blitzwing,

to the forums!

How did you hear about us?

As others have said, for your budget and for your needs, you can't go past the 8" dob. It's really a great starters scope and will last you a long time.

They're easy to setup, easy to move, and great for beginners.

They are also very adaptable with lots of modifications that you can do to them as starkler eluded to. They're also great because a lot of people have them and there's literally tonnes of information available about them and what modifications you can do. Some of them you'll find on the main site here, IceInSpace, that I've done to my 10" GSO Dob..

Also while it's mostly true that if you want to do astrophotography you shouldn't get a dob, it doesn't mean that you can't do astrophotography with a dob. Check out my Images page - all of my photos are taken with my 10" dob, either with a webcam or a digicam. So it can be done, it just requires patience and practise.

As starkler and others have said, if you live in dark skies already and won't need to transport it much, the 12" would be best for the aperture, a 10" fits in a car and is on the limit of 1-person portability, but an 8" is good too, and don't feel that you have to spend more just because we say so.

You'll find that in this hobby, people on forums are always very good at spending other people's money

If you get your scope from Bintel or Andrews (really the only 2 choices), make sure you mention that the guys at IceInSpace referred you.. not that it'll get you any extra discount but we've referred a lot of people there lately and one day it might help us out

Good luck and keep us posted, hope to see you back here regularly.

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #35 21-01-2005, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iceman
Hey Blitzwing, to the forums!
How did you hear about us?

As others have said, for your budget and for your needs, you can't go past the 8" dob. It's really a great starters scope and will last you a long time.

They're easy to setup, easy to move, and great for beginners.

They are also very adaptable with lots of modifications that you can do to them as starkler eluded to. They're also great because a lot of people have them and there's literally tonnes of information available about them and what modifications you can do. Some of them you'll find on the main site here, IceInSpace, that I've done to my 10" GSO Dob..

Also while it's mostly true that if you want to do astrophotography you shouldn't get a dob, it doesn't mean that you can't do astrophotography with a dob. Check out my Images page - all of my photos are taken with my 10" dob, either with a webcam or a digicam. So it can be done, it just requires patience and practise.

As starkler and others have said, if you live in dark skies already and won't need to transport it much, the 12" would be best for the aperture, a 10" fits in a car and is on the limit of 1-person portability, but an 8" is good too, and don't feel that you have to spend more just because we say so.
You'll find that in this hobby, people on forums are always very good at spending other people's money

If you get your scope from Bintel or Andrews (really the only 2 choices), make sure you mention that the guys at IceInSpace referred you.. not that it'll get you any extra discount but we've referred a lot of people there lately and one day it might help us out

Good luck and keep us posted, hope to see you back here regularly.

Thanks Iceman!

I heard about you guys in the AstronomyOnline.com.au forums, and decided to take a peek. Glad I did.

I rang Lee this morning and ordered an 8" GSO dob. He said he'd post it today for me. I mentioned you guys gave me the advice. I did note the interesting bit he told me about Celestron's being made in the same factory or something yet costing twice as much.. But of course I had to make myself late to work to order it so early in the morning so I didn't have much time to chat :/

Anyway, I'm now looking forward to the arrival of my new scope, probably Tuesday I estimate.

iceman (Mike) · #36 21-01-2005, 09:44 AM

Excellent work, you won't be disappointed.

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #37 21-01-2005, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iceman
Excellent work, you won't be disappointed.

Was just looking over your images. Very neat. I note no pics of Mars?

rumples riot · #38 21-01-2005, 10:16 AM

Not visible yet, but when it does come there will be a flurry of pics.

iceman (Mike) · #39 21-01-2005, 10:35 AM

Thanks, and yeh as RR said Mars is not quite high enough yet. In February it'll start getting higher and i'll be certainly taking some shots then.
I'm disappointed I missed the 2003 opposition though - I wasn't much into astronomy at that stage and didn't have a telescope.

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #40 21-01-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iceman
Thanks, and yeh as RR said Mars is not quite high enough yet. In February it'll start getting higher and i'll be certainly taking some shots then.
I'm disappointed I missed the 2003 opposition though - I wasn't much into astronomy at that stage and didn't have a telescope.

Kewl, looks like I'm just in time to catch it!

I remember the opposition happening and kicking myself that I hadn't actually gone through with getting a scope last time I thought about it. I actually stood outside my mates place at about 2am and we were looking up at this red dot going "yep, it's bright... and red...".