New scope options

[Damienandwendy (Damien)]

I have had a 80mm f5 achro on an alt/az mount and a 150mm f6.6 newt on a motorised EQ3 mount for about 2 years now. These scopes and mounts have given me a good intro to the night sky but I am now after something a little better/bigger.

I have approx $3000 to spend and I am looking at options for a new scope/mount - possibly two I have the possibility of a getting a second hand HEQ5pro in the very near future so the $3000 is for new options on top of that.

Options that I looking at from my own research so far:
1. a small GOTO mount for the refractor so the kids can more easily find things.
2. a MAK or similarly smaller in length scope for the HEQ5 - the current newt would be ok its just a bit large to throw in the back of the car with a few mounts and camping gear.
3. 100mm APO refractor for the HEQ5.
4. I won't rule out a decent dob but due to size it would probably be mainly for home which has a bit of light pollution - maybe a collapsible ?

The main use for any new purchase will be visual but I am beginning to dabble in astrophotography and also looking at having a CCD attached for outreach nights so a larger group can see what you're looking at.

I don't really want to spend $3000 on a single scope, I am mainly looking for something better than what I have that gives some extra versatility to my viewing activities.

Thank you for reading

[Kunama]

25 views and nobody has mentioned a 10" Dob yet ?????

Although my own experience with Dobs is limited at best, I would think to fill your requirements you will need 2 scopes, perhaps a 10" collapsible dob for the visuals and an 80mm-100mm ED refractor on the HEQ5Pro for goto operations and AP.

You could set up the dob with encoders and the Argo Navis Digital Setting Computer and still get under your budget.
Buying used equipment here has saved me thousands of $$$$ and so far I have had no nasty surprises with any purchases.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

or the 120mm APO saxon , with GOTO Celestron mount ?
Man that's a scope .
Tax time ?
Brian.

[Damienandwendy (Damien)]

Hi Matt,

Yep a 10" Dob is definitely an option. I think I would have to go collapsible to keep the size down a bit and a Skywatcher 10" is around the $800 which seems quite reasonable.

And thanks Brian,

120mm ED might be stretching the budget and I haven't found a price for the OTA by itself but I am guessing around the $1800 mark. I think the Skywatcher ones are about $2200 so a $400 saving for a similar beastie sounds good. Not tax time though. Wifey has decreed that tax refunds are going into the house. I am offloading some free shares and wifey says I can spend the lot if I want

I have also been thinking about the 8" GSO RC astrographs, a few short reviews I have read suggest they are quite reasonable for the money at around $800.



cheers

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Hey Damion , the ED120 is all you will need to buy for many years . PM the seller.
If my 127mm Istar was not such a great performer , that 120 would be mine .
Frak's Rule .
Brian.

Originally Posted by Damienandwendy

Hi Matt,

Yep a 10" Dob is definitely an option. I think I would have to go collapsible to keep the size down a bit and a Skywatcher 10" is around the $800 which seems quite reasonable.

And thanks Brian,

120mm ED might be stretching the budget and I haven't found a price for the OTA by itself but I am guessing around the $1800 mark. I think the Skywatcher ones are about $2200 so a $400 saving for a similar beastie sounds good.

I have also been thinking about the 8" GSO RC astrographs, a few short reviews I have read suggest they are quite reasonable for the money at around $800.

cheers

[Kunama]

Damien the GSO RC8 would be quite nice, another option would be a secondhand Vixen R200SS 8"F4, I must say I found it an excellent scope for visual, it is beautifully made and could be used on a HEQ5Pro. The only real issue with Newtonians on equatorial mounts is that the eyepiece ends up in all sorts of weird positions so a bit awkward for visual. I found that loosening the tube rings a little allowed me to rotate the tube to a better position without affecting anything else.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Refractor thread this .one ... old mate .
Damian , if you like exquisite optics , The 120mm ED 120 on that excellent mount is the buy of the week .
Brian.

[Profiler (Profiler)]

Originally Posted by brian nordstrom

Refractor thread this .one ... old mate .
Damian , if you like exquisite optics , The 120mm ED 120 on that excellent mount is the buy of the week .
Brian.

+1

Bang for buck ED120 is a great buy

[Damienandwendy (Damien)]

I am definitely not keen to go for a newt again on an equatorial mount.
So that narrows things down a bit I have PM'd Andrew and will see if he is interested in splitting mount and scope.

cheers

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

10" Goto Skywatcher collapsable mount. Spend the last $1k on some nice accessories or eyepieces. It will render all the other scopes mentioned for visual observation... pointless. It goes deeper, it gives brighter views, surprisingly compact - easily fits into a small car, gives great planetary views thanks to its resolution, and tracks them.
In Sydney it can see as deep as mag 9 Globs, maybe mag 10 depending on conditions. Thanks to goto you wont even have trouble finding them.
Buy an app for your smart phone to find objects, like Sky Safari Pro and you will see more of the night sky then you have ever seen before.
It really comes into its own when you pack it up and take it to a dark sky.

[Damienandwendy (Damien)]

I am definitely looking at a 10" collapsible dob - not sure if the budget will stretch to the goto version. It will really depend on if I am able to grab the HEQ5pro and a 100-120mm ED for a good price.
And I still want a little goto mount for the little frac so the kids can have a more enjoyable time finding things.

Thanks for the input

[Damienandwendy (Damien)]

Over the last day or so I am really leaning towards the 10" GOTO Dob. The GOTO light bucket, compared to what I have, is very attractive.

I am also looking at a secondhand C6 OTA and while that may not be any major improvement over the 6" newt - the more compact size of the scope may be a winner. Still not sure if I should use that as a potential beginners AP scope or if I should get an ED80 or similar.

More things to think about

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Damien,
If you want to start out in astrophotography remember all the bits and pieces you'll need - camera, telescope, mount, guider etc
An ED80 (with or without a flatner) would be good, but it's only f7.5...
The faster the lens/ scope the better.....but then they get expensive....

[Damienandwendy (Damien)]

Hi Ken,

Only just looked at the price on a new field flatner .... yep lots of cash required for imaging. There is an Atik Titan in the classifieds that should be just right to start out with. I think I am still only wanting to stick my toes in the water and see if I have the patience/time/etc to go further.


Cheers

Damien