I need telescope advice!

Question

I am looking at a first telescope (for an adult interested in astronomy) something for some planet viewing, as well as the odd Messier object or few. I was originally looking at reflectors/refractors or the funky little Meade ETX goto scopes. Now I have seen Dobsonians, they seem to be much mroe reasonable priced..like this one

http://www.telescopeplanet.co.uk/ViewProdDetails.asp?prod_code=PON07H000018

Does anyone have any experience of using these...how big is this likely to be? (hard to tell, is it put in the back seat of a car and take out to a field size...or install in an observatory kind of size) is it just adjust and view and go? easy to use?..better for deep sky or planetary viewing...any help would be much appreciated. (ie, if you dont know, dont answer, please)

Answer 1

The short answer is no, i haven't used this model.  It doesn't seem to be common in Michigan.  But is looks alot like the Orion xt6i.  It even has the same focal length and comes with the same eyepieces.  Maybe it's a rebranded Orion.  The Orion has a metal tube painted a dark color.  It's probably a very good scope.

My reflector has a 1200 mm focal length also, and it fits across the back seat of any car.  It can also go into my car's trunk (boot?) and with 1/3rd of the rear seat folded down, it fits.  The base then can fit on the top of the folded down seat.  The result is that i can drive and have two passengers and the scope in my car.

My own scope is an Orion xt10i.  It looks something like the Skywatcher, but is 10" (254 mm) in diameter instead of 6" (150 mm).  This gives it a more light for dim objects.  It was the largest scope that fits in my car in my budget at the time.  But a 6" scope is still first class.  It will be lighter than my 10". The xt10i has a 25 lb base and a 27 lb OTA (Optical Tube Assembly).  I can go from noticing that it's clear to set up and 2 star aligned in under 3 minutes even in the dark.  If i don't feel like doing even that, then it's time for bed.

But it also has a computer that helps me find objects.  I joined a local astronomy club.  They have loaner scopes.  I borrowed a 10" scope like this that did not have a computer aid.  I spent half an hour looking for a galaxy - and failed.  Then spent another half hour looking for another galaxy - and failed.  In both cases, i found the field stars, but the galaxy itself was too dim for my sky conditions.  The light pollution at my house is as bad as it gets anywhere on Earth.  And this time does not include research for what galaxies would be up, and what the field stars should look like, and how to star hop to the area.  I concluded that this would not sustain me in the hobby.

But with a computer, i can see ten objects an hour that i've never seen before.  Every clear hour.  And this is limited by how long i look at the objects.  For double stars, i do less examination.  And including taking notes, i can see 20 an hour.

Here are the 3 P's for picking a telescope.  Price, Performance, and Portability.  Price and portability can be show stoppers.  Price less so, since you may be able to wait until you have more cash. But a scope that doesn't fit in your car is stuck where ever it ends up.  That leaves performance.  For deep space, what you need is as much light gathering as possible.  In your budget, that points to a reflector.

The push-to computer also comes under the category of performance.  In in very short time, i found that very few galaxies can be seen from my heavily light polluted back yard.  And, an oxygen 3 filter lets me see most nebulae. But Orion suggests that you need at least an 8 inch (200 mm) scope for their Oxygen 3 filter.  There's a Lumicon filter that lets in more light, and i've used one on a 4 inch (120 mm) scope.

Back to my scope.  The tube length is 48".  It fits across the back seat of any car.  I had a $1000 budget, so the $800 scope fit.  I bought an oxygen 3 filter (about $89) at the same time.  I might have bought the 12" scope, but the tube is 8" longer, and doesn't fit in my car.  I might have gone with a truss dob with a larger mirror, but at the time, it was over my budget, and there was no computer available.

Did i mention you should check out local astronomy clubs? The $800 i spent would buy me 26 years of membership.  And they have an observatory with a 12.5" scope on a tracking mount.  And, they have a 22" scope.  I can use all this stuff with someone who can tell me how, and pretty much any time i want (which here in Michigan is about 2 days a month, due to clouds). The last link might get you to a local club.

Best of luck, and clear skies.

<edit>

Binoculars.  Most people do say that you want big aperture binoculars.  I carry 8x21 binoculars.  They're 100 grams (3.5 oz), and fit in my pocket.  They're very sturdy - they've already withstood 10 years of abuse.  So i have them with me most of the time.  Since they're so light, i find i can hand hold them for much longer.  And 8x is easier to hold steady than 10x.  I also own 8x42 binoculars, but basically never bring them out. Well, my finder scope is 9x50 (monocular), and i have used it for wide field of view objects (like the coat hanger).

Answer 2

I am not familiar with that particular brand of telescope, but a 6 inch should fit in most cars unless you have one of those tiny subcompact 3 wheel things.   This mount (Dobsonion) is the easiest to use for first timers.  You basically just push the scope to the spot you want.  

There are several different kinds of telescopes and all of them have some excellent features. Refractors and Reflectors, plus Schmidt-Cassegrain, APO refractors and more. There are also several mounts to chose from and the mounts are just as important as the scope is. All of the different scopes and mounts have some features that some people like and do not like.

There is no one scope that is "better" than another except for the junk scopes out there which are all just a waste of money. Never, ever buy from Walmart, Costco, Target, or any other discount store like that. Junk scopes are flooded into the market from those stores. You will be buying nothing but bad optics and plastic.

______________________________________...

http://oriontelescopes.com/

Orion is the very best for value and for customer service too. I have 2 of their scopes and I will only buy from them from now on.

The Orion site has some excellent diagrams and explanations of all types of scopes and mounts.

Things to consider are size--can the user lift and transport the scope to the viewing site easily? If not, then it will gather dust in a closet. Can the viewer reach all the k***s and buttons? I have a long tube large manual refractor and it is very dificult for me to reach the k***s when I am pointed to Zenith. I am not a tall person.

Take your time in making your decision.

I would like to suggest that you join a local astronomy club or astronomical society BEFORE you spend your money on a scope. There are many different kinds of scopes and what is perfect for one person is not perfect for another. Everyone has their own set of eyeballs and no two are the same. If you join a club, you can attend a few of their star parties and try out members scopes to see what works best for YOU, before you buy a scope. The members can also help you when you get your scope and show you how to get the most out of your new scope as well as to help teach you where the treasures in the sky are located. Hint: they will be especially helpful if you take cookies to star parties. Most clubs have loaner scopes and extensive libraries that you can gather more information from too.

Some people will suggest that you purchase binnoculars. Not a bad idea but dont buy anything less than 10x50 and you must have a tripod too or you will not be happy with your astronomical views because they will be too shakey from your movements. Personally, I prefer a scope to binos because if binoculars are not aligned properly at the factory, then you get double images and distortions that cant be fixed.

But when you buy go Orion and you wont be disappointed. Don't try to learn everything all at once or you will be overwhelmed and discouraged. Patience is the key to Astronomy.

You will also need a good star chart program.

http://www.stellarium.org/

This is great freeware that you can download. Just tell it where you are and it will tell you what you see.

I wish you all the best. Enjoy

Answer 3

With a dobsonian mounted telescope, you get more aperture for the money instead of spending it electronics and tripods. I started with a 10" dobsonian and have not regretted it. I actually had to learn the sky instead of punching in numbers on a keypad. Though some nights that would be nice, but now I know my night sky. Orion Telesopes offers a very nice 6" beginner telescope. Check  it out here. http://www.telescope.com/control/product... Sky and telescope magazine just rated this one very well.

The skywatcher scope you were asking about would fit into your car. My 10" dia dobsonian tube fits in my trunk and the base fits in the back seat.

I agree with the idea of searching for an astronomy club in your area and going to their public night events. If it is anything like the club I belong to theyu would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about telescopes and you'll also be able to see what other styles are available.