Hi all,
I have just acquired myself a SW collapsible 8” dob and it has seen first light. This is my first serious look back into the hobby since we toyed with making our own scopes (with spherical primary mirrors) as undergraduates.
Anyway, I am quite pleased with the first few nights observing. With just the kit out of the box I've been able to see:
Mars (no surprises there)
split Alpha Centauri
LMC
47 Tucanae
M4
NGC 4755, 6025, 6397, 6752
More than we ever manged years go!
So hello and thanks to all for the helpful reading I have been doing.
Darren, you are off to a good start. Only some astronomical number more to go .
Good way to start with an 8". Big enough to be useful, small enough to be easily managed. Stick with the kit gear for a few months till you get used to your sky and scope setup before you get the 'buy' bug. Ask questions, anyone here will offer good advice as you seem to have already found.
Keep us posted.
Darren, you are off to a good start. Only some astronomical number more to go 
.
