8" DOB What will I see?

hickny (Peter) · #1 22-06-2007, 07:15 PM

I have an 8" DOB and have been able to view...Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and Omega Centauri, Alpha1 and 2 Centauri and varoius clusters of stars in and around the Southern Cross. Is my telescope capable of seeing the Messier Objects and Galaxies?

matt · #2 22-06-2007, 07:36 PM

Yes. The Messier objects most definitely.

Galaxies are more of a challenge but you will still be able to view many.

Galaxy viewing is an acquired skill. The more you do it, the better you will get at 'seeing' detail.

acropolite (Phil) · #3 22-06-2007, 07:40 PM

Your 8 inch dob will see galaxies nicely, although the darker the site the better. I have an 8 inch SCT and can see many galaxies, despite moderate light pollution to the east, your dob should perform at least as well.

CoombellKid · #4 22-06-2007, 07:49 PM

I use an 8" reflector and have nabbed 100 messiers objects from my location,
the rest are too low in the north for me to nab. I've nabbed galaxies down to
14th mag probably not like you would see in larger apertures but still able to
be nabbed. You should try the Virgo cluster of GX's. I nabbed 65 GX's in one
sitting in that area. I also live under nice dark skies. An 8" reflector can keep
you going for a life time, it's up to you. However good ep's help too, and I do
hunger for more aperture. I've just been pay my dues so to speak while aquiring
premium ep's.

regards,CS

ving (David) · #5 22-06-2007, 07:50 PM

you will see heaps.... dont ecpect that which you see in pictures tho. what you are looking 4 is grey smudges nfor galaxies and more detail in most nebulas. happy hunting

CoombellKid · #6 22-06-2007, 09:01 PM

Oh yeah, if you look down the end of it you'll see a reflection of your mug... Hic!

sorry beer is kicking in

regards,CS

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #7 22-06-2007, 09:15 PM

At out SVAA club nights I put the 12" dob on Galaxies and then those using 8' dobs look at the same galaxies. They always see them. And Eric (Erick) brings his 8" and we compare views of Galaxies and they aren't very much different. But all this is done from a very dark site. But many can still be seen in an 8" dob with slight light pollution. Very hard from any site with the Moon glowing though.

CoombellKid · #8 22-06-2007, 09:20 PM

Which is the reason when I up the aperture from my 8" it'll be a 16"+ as I
dont see allot of diffrence from my 8" that I see in most 12's

regards,CS

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 22-06-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoombellKid

Which is the reason when I up the aperture from my 8" it'll be a 16"+ as I
dont see allot of diffrence from my 8" that I see in most 12's

regards,CS

Rob, in dark skies the difference is only small, but in the cities it is a big difference. For you and me, and others in dark sky sites, a jump from 8" to 12" isn't dramatic. But the city guys notice the diff.

Clear Skies · #10 23-06-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hickny

I have an 8" DOB and have been able to view...Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and Omega Centauri, Alpha1 and 2 Centauri and varoius clusters of stars in and around the Southern Cross. Is my telescope capable of seeing the Messier Objects and Galaxies?

I am new to Astronomy and have just started out with a pair of binoculars. I was wondering how detailed you can see something like Saturn through a scope.
Can you see the rings and other planets around it in detail.

I have never looked through a scope and was just wondering what level of detail I can expect if I do eventually upgrade.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #11 23-06-2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoombellKid

Which is the reason when I up the aperture from my 8" it'll be a 16"+ as I
dont see allot of diffrence from my 8" that I see in most 12's

regards,CS

Ow, don't say that, I bought a 12" Dob just to see more than the 8" i had bought beforehand.

Now I've got to buy a 16" ?

GeoffW1

bkm2304 (Richard Brown) · #12 23-06-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon man

I am new to Astronomy and have just started out with a pair of binoculars. I was wondering how detailed you can see something like Saturn through a scope.
Can you see the rings and other planets around it in detail.

I have never looked through a scope and was just wondering what level of detail I can expect if I do eventually upgrade.

Hi Moon Man,

There are a few people on this forum from your neck of the woods with telescopes. Perhaps you could hook up with them on a viewing night and be amazed at what is out there. With modern scopes and eyepieces, not to mention those who dabble in the dark arts of astrophotography, it is truly amazing what can be seen from your backyard. Not only the rings around saturn but detail of divisions, bands of clouds on the planet itself, galaxies, nebulae, clusters etc etc. You simply must get a look through a moderate sized scope and see for yourself!

Richard

erick (Eric) · #13 23-06-2007, 10:56 PM

Yes moon man, what you see through a telescope is a whole different game to what you see through binoculars. Firstly, most scopes (say 6" or 8" reflector and above) will gather more light so you see more of fainter things. Secondly, binoculars won't go much more than, say 30x magnification. Telescopes typically start above that - say 40x magnification up into the hundreds. So yes, you can see more detail and resolve things better. Depending what you want to do and see, you might choose binoculars or you might choose a telescope. When you have a telescope, don't be surprised if you spend much more time with it than with the binoculars.

There's a few Launceston folks on the site. I'm sure you might be able to meet up and look through a telescope at some stage.

glenc (Glen) · #14 24-06-2007, 06:08 AM

You can see all of these 95 objects and heaps more. See #22 at
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=18551

CoombellKid · #15 24-06-2007, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffW1

Ow, don't say that, I bought a 12" Dob just to see more than the 8" i had bought beforehand.

Now I've got to buy a 16" ?

GeoffW1

Geoff,

No you dont have to buy a 16"... well it's really up to you. I've had my 8" for
4 maybe 5 years now. Over that time I have had the chance to observe
through quite a few scopes ranging from 60mm refractors to 30" reflectors.
To me the suttle differences in objects seen through a 12" as opposed to an
8" that buying a 12" really isn't going to be a big wow factor. This isn't
to discredit a 12" in any way. The jump to 16" will suit me better.

regards,CS

CoombellKid · #16 24-06-2007, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Rob, in dark skies the difference is only small, but in the cities it is a big difference. For you and me, and others in dark sky sites, a jump from 8" to 12" isn't dramatic. But the city guys notice the diff.

I've never had the chance to observe from a city or urban area, although
I did look up at the night sky from my sisters place in Sydney recently and
thought boy I'm glad I live in the bush

regards,CS

Dennis G · #17 24-06-2007, 01:20 PM

Reading the replies to Peter's request for the viewing with an 8inch dob, I was taken by Ken's remarks - Snake Valley Astro Socs. I'm a newcomer with an 8 inch self made dob and have had reasonable success imaging with a Toucam - see my pic submitted Saturday June 23. Finding objects to view was my downfall untill I added the laser pointer and illuminated the finder scope. I had contemplated a larger mirror 10 or 12 inch which would give me better pictures, but having read Ken's reply I now realise I have a terrific telescope. Thanks Ken. Do watch out for tiger snakes when out and about viewing, they are nocturnal! Dennis G

Clear Skies · #18 24-06-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkm2304

Hi Moon Man,

There are a few people on this forum from your neck of the woods with telescopes. Perhaps you could hook up with them on a viewing night and be amazed at what is out there. With modern scopes and eyepieces, not to mention those who dabble in the dark arts of astrophotography, it is truly amazing what can be seen from your backyard. Not only the rings around saturn but detail of divisions, bands of clouds on the planet itself, galaxies, nebulae, clusters etc etc. You simply must get a look through a moderate sized scope and see for yourself!

Richard

Thanks for giving things a little perspective BKM. I am doing a course at Adult Education is a few weeks so hopefully I will get a peek then. I am enjoying finding my way around the sky with the binos but I think I will get bored with that in a short time and will want to step up to a telescope.