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Dylan Gladstone
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 955
Loc: Connecticut, USA
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Now that I'm using the scope more (finally!) and I have a darker site, I'm trying to decide what the next move is.
I'm really growing tired of manually tracking since I tend to use high powers often. One of my favorite things to do is gaze at the moon and planets at the highest power I can go before the image degrades, and constantly tweaking the position is getting old fast. And the "set the planet to the edge of the field of view then watch it drift across" method keeps the object out of the best part of the eyepiece most of the time.
The inexpensive solution is put motors on the scope.
But my time outside is usually very limited, so I'm thinking more and more about some sort of computer crutch, like a push-to, or go-to.
So then I could just add the Intelliscope to the SkyView Pro.
BUT, as much as I like the Mak, now that I can actually see some dark, I'm wishing I had a scope with a wider field of view and more light gathering power.
So...I've been eying the NexStar scopes. If I got the 6" or 8" SCT I'd have tracking, computer crutch, and light gathering covered, and (probably) a greater field of view. The dovetail is compatible with my current scope (which I have no plans to get rid of), and I'd have a much lighter rig to drag around the yard and transport in the car. Of course this is a far more expensive solution to the problem.
And I'm worried that the slightly "softer" views in the SCT might disappoint and I'd end up paying $1400 mostly for a mount for my Mak and still be wanting a bigger scope.
The SkyView Pro is a very stable mount, but it's heavy and cumbersome and I have no plans to get into astrophotography in the near (or distant) future, so I'm not sure I want to start investing hundreds of dollars in it, but a few hundred dollars is a lot less than over a grand for the NexStar 8, (and I almost forgot $100 for the power tank if I want to stray from the yard).
What to do, what to do...
I had a feeling this would happen. I'd get comfortable enough with the first scope to learn just what I want out of astronomy then the serious wallet draining would begin. 
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Orion SkyView Pro 127mm Maksutov
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amys
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/06
Posts: 1771
Loc: Groton, CT
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Dylan:
Have you considered the new iOptron mini-Tower - the alt/az go-to mount? It costs about $800 and can handle 25 lbs. In fact, you can load 2 scopes on it. So you could put your Mak on one side and a nice ED80 on the other for the wider fields. You'd get a lot more flexibility with that than you would with a NexStar mount.
I think it would be a lot easier to set up, too.
Just a suggestion . . .
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Amy
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Dylan Gladstone
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 955
Loc: Connecticut, USA
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Actually I have been considering the iOptron. I saw one at NEAF and it looked really nice. I've read one report (over in the mounts forum) and it seemed very positive.
The ED80 would give me the wide field of view, but I'd still be lacking in photon gathering power...
The ideal scope is a cluster of scopes.
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Orion SkyView Pro 127mm Maksutov
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doug76
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 2652
Loc: SE Louisiana
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The C6 SCT OTA can be obtained from Highpoint Scientific for $399. Heck of a bargain. Of course, with the new iOptron mount that makes it $1100, and you could buy the 6SE for $999, 8SE for $1399. And a 5SE would give you no more light gathering, but it would give a wider field and the GOTO mount, at $799. Decisions, decisions. 
Doug
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Doug
The Truckstop Astronomer
Meade 12" Lightbridge/Dob Driver II
Celestron C6 SCT
Celestron C6R/Moonlight focuser
Celestron XLT150
Astro-Tech AT80EDT
TOWA 60/700 (under construction)
Celestron CG5-ASGT, CG-4
Celestron Nexstar SE (large)
Meade SWA 34mm
Televue Panoptic 24mm
Pentax XW 10mm, 7mm
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Astro-Tech AT66ED
Celestron Nexstar SE (small)
Televue Plossl 32mm
Smart Astronomy Solar System 14.5mm
BO/TMB Planetary 9mm, 7mm, 5mm, 4mm, 3.2mm, 2.5mm
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llanitedave
Humble Megalomaniac
Reged: 09/26/05
Posts: 10497
Loc: Amargosa Valley, NV, USA
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How about a bigger dob on an equatorial platform? You'd still have to locate the objects yourself, but at least you could then track effortlessly.
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"S.O.E." (Sauron's Other Eye) 16" Royce conical mirror: A permanent work in progress.
10" Homebuilt dob, old Coulter mirror
Next Project: The "Eye of Sauron" Observatory!
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amys
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/06
Posts: 1771
Loc: Groton, CT
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Well, depending, depending . . . You could get the mini-Tower and buy a used C9.25 -- that would give you alot more aperture in a light enough package for that mount.
I'm now a fan of mounts that allow you to use a wide variety of OTAs depending on conditions, targets etc. I've been toying with the idea of finding a used Vixen RS200 -- 8" reflector, only 12 pounds, for nice wide field views. My Sphinx would handle that scope easily.
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Amy
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Mike B
Starstruck
Reged: 04/06/05
Posts: 4464
Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA
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Hi Dylan-
I, too, have the SVP mount- and really like it! Its a very durable & stable mount (we're talkin' the 1-1/2" stainless-steel legs, not the older aluminum-legg'd versions), so i'd hate to see you part with it. To make mine more functional, i squeaked out the coin for a SINGLE axis drive- RA for tracking- dec motions are easily enough accomplished with the slo-mo hand knob. Configured thusly, it typically carries my 6" F8 Newt, and does so wonderfully! It *might* go as far as carrying an 8" F5 Newt OTA- but with Newtonians its the LENGTH more than the *weight* that stresses the mount's damping times.
Also enjoying occasional rides on my SVP is a small APO refractor- yeah, its overkill on the mount... but it works! And the single-axis tracking means i can "set it", then walk away to view in the Dob for modest periods, and "forget it"... the view will still be (mostly  ) there when i return. Works really well for group-viewing sessions!
Quote:
...and buy a used C9.25
I think that's good advice. Was considering it myself- to the point that i actually went into Orion's store (i live nearby) & TRIED their 9.25" SCT on their SVP, AND loaded it up with my BVer & heavy EPs! Wanted to see if the SVP would be serviceable with that load, if the vibe damping time was doable. Long story short, it was pushed pretty severely  ... BUT... when i added my anti-vibe pads under the SVP's tripod feet, damping times from a firm *rap* on the tube settled in about half the time- that is, about *two* seconds... "passable" for most folks' visual use.
An 8" SCT OTA riding on the SVP would be a wee bit more stable... but if it were me, i'd push for the 9.25"! 
Yet i knew where i was headed in the long run, and am now "there"; I picked up a *used* 15" Starsplitter Dob to assuage my aperture fever... and its working marvelously! My symptoms are fully under control- something i KNEW a 9.25" SCT would not accomplish! So i never bothered to go there, ultimately.
But as Amy has stated, a mount that has the flexibility to carry any of several scopes is a very good thing! You've already got that in the SVP. Yeah, its a bit to carry- but it goes in one piece... the second load is the scope, and yer done! Wanna know how many trips into the house i do fer the 15" Dob?  ...yet i love each & every one of 'em, for the views they provide! 
The 5" Mak you've got is not fully utilizing the SVP... so i'm betting you'll eventually sell it off. My vote would be to do so for funding Orion's 7" Mak! That oughta eat planets fer dinner! And at a paltry 16-pounds will sit very nicely on the SVP.  That, or else i'd skip over the 12# 8" SCT & gopher the 9-1/4"... at 20-lbs its right on the edge of the mount's capacity.
Then, if that don't fix-the-fever... get a 12" Dob, eventually, to back-up the CAT on the SVP. And if that ultimately needs tracking, you can invest in a "platform" mount for it.
 mike b
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Just for giggles- Next time when the money comes out the ATM, scream "I Won!, I Won!"
* * 15" F4.55 Starsplitter Dob * *
 Pacheco State Park
 Fremont Peak
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Midnight Dan
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 622
Loc: Brockport, NY
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I don't think you'll be unhappy with the views from the NexStar 8SE at all. From your description of what you want, I think it would be a great choice. One of its advantages are its light weight which makes it, in my opinion, about the biggest grab-n-go you can get.
If you're looking for a more stable mount (although heavier & more expensive), the CPC line is good to look at as well. The CPC 800 will be the same OTA as the NexStar but with a higher precision mount and GoTo system, much beefier tripod, and greater load capacity for those heavy eyepieces, cameras, whatever.
If you're looking for more of a difference in the views between your current scope and the new one, the CPC 9.25 would get you there. But again more weight, more money.
-Dan
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Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO on Astroview mount (EQ3)
Eyepieces: Celestron 40mm, 25mm, Baader Hyperion 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Other: Telrad, 2x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller
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Bowmoreman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 2992
Loc: Bolton, MA
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IMO, the best overall bang for the buck to get aperture, tracking, wide fields, and easy to carry/setup is:
XT10i on a Round Table Platform EQ platform... Especially given the low pricing on XT10i's right now...
The COL finds things for ya, the RTP tracks em... easy 3 trips setup... No single piece weighs over 26#...
You're looking at around $1300-1400 new in total...
clear enough skies
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Dave
Ustream
YLive
XT10i, RTP, CGE, R200CF, TMB80SS
31T5, 22T4, 13Ethos, 8Ethos, TV 3-6 Zoom; Paracorr
MallincamColorHyperPlus,SBIG STV&237A;CanonRebel Xti
WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO #90)
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smokin oakum
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/24/07
Posts: 1426
Loc: Wilmington, NC
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Quote:
IMO, the best overall bang for the buck to get aperture, tracking, wide fields, and easy to carry/setup is:
XT10i on a Round Table Platform EQ platform... Especially given the low pricing on XT10i's right now...
The COL finds things for ya, the RTP tracks em... easy 3 trips setup... No single piece weighs over 26#...
You're looking at around $1300-1400 new in total...
clear enough skies
I'll second Daves advice, and add that if you can squeeze out a few extra duckets for the 12XTi, I'd go that way.
Neil
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Broadcasting live views of the night sky @
Sparkcast
C11 CGE / Hyperstar
MallinCam Hyper Plus Color
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
MoonLite Focuser
Round Table Platform
12" Parralax rings
Cape Fear Astronomy Club
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Dylan Gladstone
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 955
Loc: Connecticut, USA
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The CPC and Dob on a tracking table isn't really the solution for me. I want a mount (or mount / scope) solution that lets me use my Mak with tracking and go-to as well.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a CPC and a big tracking dob, but my Mak wouldn't work on either of those mounts.
The NexStar solution appeals to me because I can easily swap the SCT and Mak, and it's a very portable setup.
But, the "Get a DOB!" call here is starting to sink in. I'm also considering getting tracking and push-to for my SkyView pro and a 8 or 10" widefield dob to go with it. I could hunt targets with the SkyView pro and do some deep space with the dob. There are really no shortages of options in this hobby, even when you're trying to stay within a semi-reasonable budget. Push-To on the SkyView pro suddenly became very affordable ($80 marked down from $250!). Add in the cost of dual axis tracking ($130) and you have a very reasonable upgrade. A lot cheaper than going for a Go-To system, and no $100 power tank needed.
While I'm mulling this over I picked up a copy of Phil Harrington's "Star Watch". Maybe I can use my obsolete 41 year old brain as a makeshift Push-To computer for a while until I decide what I want...
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Orion SkyView Pro 127mm Maksutov
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Mike B
Starstruck
Reged: 04/06/05
Posts: 4464
Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA
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Quote:
Push-To on the SkyView pro suddenly became very affordable ($80 marked down from $250!).
Dylan-
Hey, nice catch! I'd looked at that before for my own SVP but just couldn't seem to pull the $250 trigger. I VERY much appreciate the heads-up... i think i've discovered my next scope project!
BTW, mounting the single-axis drive on the SVP was fairly straight-forward, and took less than an hour IIRC. The Dual-axis might take longer, but i can't imagine it's be too difficult. And ya might just snag a discount on the drive's price thru their "clearance" section?
I think you're on a real good path here... you'll be getting the most that your current mount can offer, and for relatively little investment!
 mike b
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Just for giggles- Next time when the money comes out the ATM, scream "I Won!, I Won!"
* * 15" F4.55 Starsplitter Dob * *
Pacheco State Park
Fremont Peak
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doug76
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 2652
Loc: SE Louisiana
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PM sent, hope it's helpful.
Doug
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