Getting back in after a long long time.

[Shihan]

(bit of a long post and my first post here, so HI! everyone. )

About 20 years ago in my early teens i expressed an interest in astronomy and given my rather fickle nature back then (specially for anything that didn't resemble a computer) my parents bought me a (cheap) tasco refractor (the dimensions of which i've forgotten). Despite its many short comings i spent a good 3 years with that scope and got quite alot of enjoyment out of it (looking back, im supprised it survived its encounter with me without so much as a scratch).

After 3 years i'd grown well beyond that scope and decided to get a new one. I remember it being another refractor and that it had an equatorial mount, but not much else. I spent perhaps another 2 years with that and towards the end of my interest got into a bit of astro photography. Which led to my next hobby - photography (which is what i've spent the best part of the last 15 years following).

Sadly though, the lust for photography has died down quite alot in the last year or 2.

However, some months ago a friend of mine returned home from visiting his parents (in the USA) and brought with him a celestron nexstar slt (130 i think) and after having a brief play with it was thoroughly impressed (sky align and goto were very impressive features). My interest to get back in was thoroughly poked. Somehow i managed to resist the urge to hurt my credit card on one of those and have spent the last couple of months just reading and getting back in touch with the hobby (with only binoculars/spotting scope).

After much deliberation i decided to steer clear of the nexstar SLT. I eventually came to the conclusion that i'd be paying 500$ for the mount and $300 for the scope, plus im still reasonably in-touch with finding objects in the night sky so go-to and align aren't really that important when it comes down to it (i'd rather spend the cash on the optics i think). It also appears near impossible to upgrade the tube as you grow.

Im not even remotely interested in astro photography, so that really is not a requirement. I'd love to get a 8" or 10" dob, but i live in the middle of Sydney and i know portability for something that large will probably drive me round the bend. However, i am interested in staying in the deep space area and think perhaps i'm best to go with a reflector of some description.

All that has led me to believe perhaps the sky-watcher 150 or 130 are perhaps my best options for getting back to it (im assuming i'll still be fine with an equatorial mount).

What do people think? are there other 'scopes in that area that might serve me better? Am i on the right track for a decent scope? General advice?

Thanks In Advance all!

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Shihan! to IceInSpace, and congrats for getting back into astronomy. It's a great hobby.

If astrophotography is not an interest anymore, then a large aperture reflector is definitely your best bet. An 8" or 10" dob is perfect. They are quite portable even though they're not particularly small. You can stick them on a trolley for wheeling in and out of the house or put some handles on it for shuffling it around the yard. That size will also fit in almost any car you can try and put it in.

The larger aperture of the 8" or 10" (as opposed to the 4.5" or 6") will show you many many more faint objects in the sky, and will actually help with your light polluted backyard. And when you actually do decide to travel with it (to star parties or local observing nights) at darker skies, you'll really enjoy the larger aperture.

For finding things with the dob, you can use star charts and planispheres, manual or digital setting circles. These can all be added on later, but you'll need something to show you what to point at.

Is tracking or goto really important for you? For simple deep space observing which is mostly done at moderate power, tracking isn't really an issue - especially if you're not planning to do photography with it. For that reason, a dob base is perfect. I'm not a huge fan of newt's on EQ mounts for visual observing. The eyepiece gets in all sorts of weird positions and you need to rotate the tube in the rings to get it back to a comfortable position.
For simple visual observing, you can't go past a dob base. If you want GOTO, then an EQ mount is good, but DSC's like Argo Navis do just as good a (actually, a better) job of helping you find the objects. The only difference is, you push the scope to point at it, rather than the mount pointing at it for you.

btw what's your budget?

I'd also recommend getting to a local astronomy club or viewing night and have a look at, and through, some of the different types of scopes. Where abouts in Sydney are you?

There's going to be a viewing night on the Central Coast tomorrow night (we have them monthly) which is significantly darker than Sydney and a lot of fun with friendly people. You're welcome to come along.

Keep asking questions!

btw, your username "Shihan" - is that a karate reference?

[Shihan]

The biggest problem i have with the Dob is really getting it from the car to the house (live on the top/side of a hill), the path between the two is not that long but its steep and narrow. On the plus side, being on the side of the hill i have a 220 degree view north-west-south to the horizon uninterrupted! But i'd assumed I wouldn't be seeing much thru sydney's night sky anyways.

I was born on the central coast actually! My parents still live up near mannering park - which used to be all bush and is now getting surrounded by housing estate. Last time i drove the back way thru wyong and behind toukley i couldnt believe how much that's changed. But that was were I did alot of my observing when i was a young'n.

Im pretty sure goto isnt all that important to me, i've been using cartes du ciel to find my around the sky the last couple of weeks and some things are still mostly familiar.

The budget is unspecified at the moment, but the price i've been seeing for 10" dobs is probably hitting the top end of what i'd like to spend.

Shihan was a nick name i got given in japan by a couple of smart-***** up in Sapporo a number of years ago when i was working there. Wasn't in reference to my (lack of) Karate skill tho (dont think i'd ever have the dedication for getting anywhere near a 4th dan)!

[GrahamL]

welcome .. I lug my 10 " around a bit while its not extremely heavy it is a little awkward (15 kgs)..guess it depends how often you plan to travel with it ..while you new scope will have a fairly decent finder
consider one of these
http://www.backyard-astro.com/equipm...ad/telrad.html
A very handy little accessery.

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Hi Shihan,

You are in a good position to start up again I reckon. You have some experience, and are aware of the limitations of a light-polluted sky.

I live in Sydney myself, and have found my 300mm Dob to be good in overcoming this, with the aid of a few filters (UHC and OIII). It is a very cost effective way to go, and I bought mine second hand right here in IIS.

However that size Dob is markedly difficult to transport (you look like a burglar stealing a water heater), and so if you can find a good 250mm Dob on the for-sale forum, go that way.

Don't spend heaps on EPs at first, especially 15mm and up, as Plossls give very good value for money in that range. A quality EP in about 8mm or so is especially worthwhile however, since Plossls aren't so good there. Say a Baader Hyperion or Vixen LVW or Orion Stratus for example. Then get a shorty 2X Barlow to extend it (not Meade though, ugh, will I get sued for that?). Televue.

In the course of time, you will look to push the capabilities of the scope, and I would suggest you consider an Argo Navis system, it is magic.

Whatever, you have landed in the right zone.

Cheers

Cheers