Saying Hi - First Post!!

[Dez]

Hi all

I thought it’s about time I posted after already spending many hours sifting through new and old posts here! I have for a long time, most of my life really, had a strong interest in astronomy and have for many years planned to buy that ‘dream’ telescope I saw so often in the Astronomy magazines. After discovering IceInSpace a couple of months ago (read an article in the Central Coast Express Advocate), reading many posts, looking at all the great photos members have taken, as well as noting how relatively affordable telescopes are nowadays, I’ve decided to - ‘just do it’ - and get back into it in a much more active way! While that may sound simple and straight forward, I have over the past couple of months needed to groom the wife into understanding the need, value and benefits of owning a decent telescope… Believe me, not an easy task, but I gotta say it went well enough, to the point that I have received provisional permission to start looking!! Time to now start considering the options….

I have only owned one telescope before, a 60x700mm refractor from memory. I’m guessing many are familiar with how much of the universe these babies open up! So needless to say, my experience with this has been very average. My main interests at the moment are DSO’s but will definitely want to explore everything closer to home too. I would also like to get into astrophotography in the not too distant future, think I need to take things in small steps though, so thinking visual observing to start with.

As for equipment, while that dream telescope I’ve mention earlier was always a 12” LX200, I think that may be a bit of overkill at the moment and not realistic for many reasons! Looking around and reading as much as possible, I am thinking GSO/BinTel Dob would be a good start, either 10” or 12”. I have a few questions around this but may start another post in the equipment section as I guessing this would be more appropriate.

Anyway, just thought I’d say G’day and let people know of my appreciation for all the info being shared on this amazingly informative site/forum. I’ll definitely have plenty of questions to ask and hopefully may be able to contribute to others not too far in the future!

And keep those astro pics coming too….

Cheers
Dez

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Welcome to IIS Dez

Can't go wrong with either of the scopes mentioned, both are extremely great value and good solid performers.

Keep looking up......

[toetoe (Peter)]

Hiya Dez
Welcome to IIS, sounds good that you have the "provisional permission to start looking". Keep the questions coming, a lot of good help is in here.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

G'day and Dez.

It sounds like you have already given this some thought and I agree with you that a dob to start with really is the way to go. That way at a later date when you do decide if imaging is for you, you can mount it on an EQ6 mount and start the slippery slope of astrophotography poverty.

As for what size dob there are a couple of things to think about; the 10" would be suitable to mount on an EQ6 with a (light) guidescope for imaging (pushing it a bit though), the 12" would be really pushing the limit. The standard newt rings for a 10" scope will not fit a 10" dob (a GSO/Bintel dob has a larger diameter) so you will need to get some made up. A dob won't come to focus with many cameras used for imaging so you may have to make a few "minor" modifications to the tube and mirror placement eventually.

The LX200 is a great scope but you will need to put it on a wedge to image with it and it is not a light scope to be lifting up and down onto a wedge. Alternatively you could get a 12" (or 10") tube only and mount it on an EQ6 (pushing it) or a Losmandy G11 or similar (still very weighty for the mount). The Celestron range of OTAs are lighter than the Meades which is another consideration. Imaging at these long focal lengths (even with a focal reducer) if very challenging.

How about this for an option. Get the 10" dob now, then later on down the track get an EQ6 and an Orion ED80 refractor (or similar) and image through that for a while. Once you have the hang of that you can then look at mounting the 10 onto the EQ6.

Anyway there are a couple of options or you.

[ving (David)]

g'day des, welcome aboard the choo choo express!

toot toot!

(yes, i am a little strange at times. i have had lots of sugar today! )

[leon]

Ya got that right Ving....

Leon

[ving (David)]

run out of sugar now...

a 10" ro12"er should last you ages des. make sure you get some charts, a red light and a comfy seat to go with it

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Welcome Dez, if you're looking at 10" Dob where you would use the OTA (the tube) later for imaging on an EQ mount, I'd recommend Saxon or Skywatcher Dobs over the GSOs. The Saxon/SW 10" OTA is more rigid, has a better finish, the mirror is much better supported, collimation is easier and less frequently required, and the mirror is pyrex which has lower thermal expansion coefficient. Scope is made in China but the mirror is made in the US, at least it was when I bought mine - check with supplier.

I've owned 3 mass produced dobs: 8" GSO, 12" GSO and the 10" Saxon. Though they are all good scopes, of the three the Saxon by far produces the clearest, sharpest, highest contrast images. The difference is not nitpickingly minute - it's quite outstanding. So I've become a big fan of the Saxon 10". Puts smile on my face every time I use it.

Now like I try to say every time I bring this up: it could well be that I got lucky and ended up with an exceptionally well figured mirror so that my scope would not be representative of a typical sample. But even if that's the case, the Saxon/SW OTA's better suitability for EQ mounting still remains.

[manny]

Welcome Dez
Try and get your wife interested in astronomy and then hopefully she will understand your needs and allow you to purchase what you need.
Otherwise use subliminal messages while she sleeps lol.

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Welcome Des
I'm just getting back into astronomy after a few years break too, and loving every moment of it.
I went with a 6" newtonian and an EQ5 mount, but I want to get into imaging right away, so seemed like the way to go. The dobs mentioned will give you great views, have looked through a few at astro weekends.
Get the lady wife interested, cuts down the resistance, worked for me

[Dez]

Thanks everyone for the welcome!

Already heaps of thoughts and ideas to consider coming through… You guy’s don’t muck around hey!! Looks like no point starting a new post to discuss possible scopes as already a lot of info given here, so may as well just carry on…

Good to hear there is general agreement I’m on the right track at the moment with 10” to 12” Dob, as I was thinking to eventually invest in a mount with the option of using the OTA I get now. I guess what I want to try to clarify firstly is… either the 10” or 12”….??? But thanks Janoskiss, I now need to consider what make too!!! I hadn’t really thought of the Orion, as looking on a few dealers’ websites, they do appear more pricy than the GSO’s. Not too worried about that as long as the cost is justified with real improved quality. I haven’t seen a lot of discussion related to Orion so any thoughts on the pros and cons of GSO vs Orion would be well received. Also, does Orion make a 12”??

But back to the question of size. I understand the theoretical benefits of increased aperture and want to get the best results for both visual observing and then later, photography. I realise nothing in life is simple, but as Paul says, stability on mounts is something I’m conscious of too. I guess there’s no point having large aperture if it destabilises the mount, but don’t want to reduce the size of the scope and then reduce the number of objects able to be observed/imaged.. Also, which mount…? Been looking at both the EQ6 Skyscan and the Losmandy range… While I guess the G11 would be the preferred option, it definitely will lighten the wallet quite a bit.. Now that would take a lot of subliminal messages to get passed by the accountant Manny!!!

Also, just to keep thing from looking too easy, there is the issue of transport? The 10” seems a lot more portable than the 12”, but again, I don’t want to sacrifice aperture for short bursts of inconvenience. Has anyone with say a 12” GSO had issues travelling in say a commodore sedan with this?

I tell you, as I’m writing this, a lot of other questions are coming to mind too… Don’t want to wear out my welcome too early so might hold back on few of those for the moment! So I’m not too worried about the mount at the moment as I feel it’ll be better to focus on visual observing for the moment. Even if I need to change/add equipment in the future, I’m sure I’ll get a better idea as I get more involved.

By the way Ving, I had a quick look on the Bintel websites product range for that sugar you’ve been taking, and couldn’t find it anywhere… Maybe you could share who your stockist is??? Seems like good stuff!!! Toot toot! Also, had a look at your website, great pics mate and I like your scope set up too. Definitely similar to what I have in mind for the future

Thanks again everyone

Dez – Just one question away from the next one!!

[manny]

Dez
Have you considered a 12" Lightbridge gives you portability witthout sacrificing aperture. Great scope by the way Imo


manny

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I hope you are a big burley bloke Des cos lifting a 12" dob onto an eq6 would be no easy task.

[Ric]

Hi Dez and welcome to IIS, I hope you have a great time here. I know you will.

Cheers

[Stevo69]

Hi Dez, Welcome! I can't give you much advice on which scope to buy as there are many dozens of members who can offer lots of good advice. IIS is an incredibly friendly and helpful forum with lots of people willing to help to the very end, so don't be afraid to ask questions.
Good luck.

Hoo roo,
Steve

[norm]

Hi Dez and welcome to the forum.

I have a VT commodore sedan and I reckon you'd be pushing to shove a 12" dob in there. At best a 10", but that will either have to lay flat on the back seats or lying at an angle at the front passenger seat with it reclined.

The 12" lightbridge could be worth considering.

[Dez]

Thanks again for all the welcomes!!

Reading back on 1ponders' suggested option of the ED80 plus EQ6 gets me thinking... this sounds like it could be a great option!! So thanks for this... I haven't really considered the option of 2 telescopes, one for photography and one for visual observing. What this really tells me is, I've got a lot to learn!! I am not familiar with the capabilities of the ED80 type refractors so will need to research this (and ask more questions in IIS!), but this sounds much more sensible than trying balance an enormous tube on three sticks... I guess although the ED80 has smaller aperture, you may just need to increase the length of the exposure(s) or number of frames to layer, to achieve a similar result compared to a larger apature scope??? As I said, a lot to learn in this area, so I will start reading/researching equipment, options techniques etc and maybe just focus on a good visual observing telescope for now.

Manny and Norm, I have thought about the 12" Lightbridge. Looks like a very good option, just haven't heard many people giving feedback on these scopes, 12" in particular I mean. Portability is a definite advantage with the LB I guess, but I'm a little concerned with the collimation, consistency with set up etc. I dropped into Bintel the other day and had a look at the 10" and 16" as they had these on display. They look great, but generally I'm always concerned with the more moving parts etc lends itself to more chance of wear over time and difficulty with optical alignment. Maybe this isn't the case, but I'd guess it's reasonably important to have everything pretty dead on? The solid tube to me just seems more stable, but definately interested in hearing how the LB's are performing for people. Not to mention an approx extra $600 for the LB. Not that great a concern, but definately a consideration (that's almost the cost of an ED80 OTA!!!).

Lots to consider!!

Cheers
Dez

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Dez, do an advanced search for ED80 in the Deep Space forum. You will find hundreds of images taken with the ED80 and DSLRs

[Dez]

Cheers mate, will do

[astronut (John)]

"Manny and Norm, I have thought about the 12" Lightbridge. Looks like a very good option, just haven't heard many people giving feedback on these scopes, 12" in particular I mean. Portability is a definite advantage with the LB I guess, but I'm a little concerned with the collimation, consistency with set up etc. I dropped into Bintel the other day and had a look at the 10" and 16" as they had these on display. They look great, but generally I'm always concerned with the more moving parts etc lends itself to more chance of wear over time and difficulty with optical alignment. Maybe this isn't the case, but I'd guess it's reasonably important to have everything pretty dead on? The solid tube to me just seems more stable, but definately interested in hearing how the LB's are performing for people. Not to mention an approx extra $600 for the LB. Not that great a concern, but definately a consideration (that's almost the cost of an ED80 OTA!!!)."

Hi Dez,
to IIS. I've been a LB (12") owner for 18 months now and I am very happy with the design and performance.
The main advantage of this type of scope is the ability to be broken down into a small package for travel.
I have a Ford Laser and I'm able to carry the scope and the other million pieces of equipment I've accumulated over time.
Collimation is not an issue as many think, once set up (couple of minutes) it only takes 1 minute to make the adjustments.
"Stability, Rigidity, Strength etc"? You won't have a problem with any of these.
If you have further questions, please ask!!!