eddie21
newbie
Reged: 11/28/12
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Advice for a beginner first purchase
#5547116 - 11/30/12 12:30 PM
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Hello Everybody! for a long time ago I wanted to jump into astronomy, I already did naked eye and had fun with binoculars! I went through a couple of books already and I think its time to get some equipment. I live in a mountain that has a nice dark sky, my budget is 2 K for the whole thing (of course would be nice to keep it lower), I would really appreciate your wize advice in order to help me make the most of it. I have a clear statement about what I want:
- Is going to be used 99% of the time at home, so I dont mind if its huge and heavy.
- not interested in AP
- with Go-To, I think it makes life easier
- looking for a long lasting equipment if possible one lifetime purchase.
- I want to see the planets but I am more interested in nebulas and galaxies as delightful as it can be
so I have few questions:
#1. What do you think would be the best telescope for me? or should i keep saving? I did my research of course which is below, all of them 2 inch focuser, but I would appreciate the expert advice! am sure there are better options that I am not considering yet.
for an 8 inch apperture I thought about: (29x-300x)
- Orion SkyQuest XT8g ($900) F.length:1200mm F/5.9 sec mirror: 23%-5.0% Finderscope:EZfinderII(toy)
- Celestron C8-NGT ($1019) F.Length:1000mm F/4.9 sec mirror: 28%-7.5% Finderscope:9x50
or does it worth to investment in a 10 inches an get: both cost $1300 36x-300x
- Celestron C10-NGT F.Length:1200mm F/4.7 sec mirror: 23%-5.2% Finderscope:9x50
- Orion SkyQuest XT10g F.length 1200mm F/4.7 sec mirror: 25%-6.0% Finderscope:EZfinderII(toy)
#2. Optics: now here comes the tough part, Help! I dont need glasses, in a practical use, how does it worth a big FOV? what is the delightful difference between a 68 and a 82 degree?
#3. 2x barlow or not barlow? multiplies the amount of eyepieces but i read lots about degradation too unless its a very high quality. I am unsure about it, i would appreciate advice as that would change the eyepieces selected below.
#4 which eyepieces, in which brands and in which fov? I would preffer to go for high quality but I wont buy televue (remember I have a budget! it seems others are pretty close so i would preffer those) which set 6,12,25? 9,17,41? 7,13,26?
#5 the coma thing: in practical terms, how nasty is that? is there a not so expensive coma corrector? is that really necesary?
#6 besides a collimation tool (I would appreciate advice on that too) is there anything else I am missing?
Thanks in advance!
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panhard
It's All Good
Reged: 01/20/08
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: eddie21]
#5547134 - 11/30/12 12:42 PM
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An 8" means that you can use less expensive eyepieces. With a 10" the eyepieces have to be of better quality. Collimation on an 8" is more forgiving than a 10".
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csrlice12
Postmaster
Reged: 05/22/12
Loc: Denver, CO
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: panhard]
#5547152 - 11/30/12 12:49 PM
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You definitely won't need a paracorr for the 8", and can get along without one on a 10", at 12" and above, you will need one if the coma bothers you...
For collimation--get the Howie Glatter Laser and tublug...you'll never need another collimater then.
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howard929
Member
Reged: 01/02/11
Loc: Low End of High Ground
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: eddie21]
#5547155 - 11/30/12 12:51 PM
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Realize i'm completely dob-centric.
Buy a XT10i, loads of people survive any coma they produce w/o a paracoor.
ES 82 eyepieces because they are that good.
A GSO 2" 2x Barlow.
Glatter 2" Laser and TuBlug for collimation.
A nice observing chair so you can be comfortable while observing.
The book Turn Left At Orion which will show you what's out there to see.
Start off as small as you care to, feed as needed.
And Welcome to Cloudy Nights.
Edited by howard929 (11/30/12 12:53 PM)
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panhard
It's All Good
Reged: 01/20/08
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: howard929]
#5547162 - 11/30/12 12:53 PM
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That is a great wish list possibly Santa can help out.
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howard929
Member
Reged: 01/02/11
Loc: Low End of High Ground
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: panhard]
#5547186 - 11/30/12 01:03 PM
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I just ran the numbers.
XT10i, $800.
Chair, maybe $180.
2" Glatter tools, off the top of my head, $250?
The book and 3 ES 82's, another $350.
The barlow, $55
That's $1635 with a 2k budget. Not too bad I'd think though a nice finder EP would push it closer to the limit. And possibly some filters?
Edited by howard929 (11/30/12 01:06 PM)
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JohnMurphyRN
sage
Reged: 09/09/12
Loc: Near St Louis
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: howard929]
#5547208 - 11/30/12 01:12 PM
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Quote:
I just ran the numbers.
XT10i, $800.
Chair, maybe $180.
2" Glatter tools, off the top of my head, $250?
The book and 3 ES 82's, another $350.
The barlow, $55
That's $1635 with a 2k budget. Not too bad I'd think though a nice finder EP would push it closer to the limit. And possibly some filters?
Used XT12i, less than $600.....
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killdabuddha
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/26/11
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: panhard]
#5547221 - 11/30/12 01:24 PM
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For $2k I'd go for primary quality, and two 82 degree EPs--ES 31mm and their 11mm, with a 1.5x Siebert Barlow or the 1.6x Antares to enjoy the OMVA (Optimum Magnified Visual Angle for DSOs) magnification progression seamlessly and well-situated for most seein conditions. You can always opt later for the luxury of a big EP (+6 to 7mm exit pupil low power wide field for ideal dark sky conditions) and a high power EP (+300x and down to .5mm exit pupil for ideal transparency/seein and dark sky conditions). Most times we use the 24mm (4mm exit pupil) and 11mm and Barlow, and we're light-polluted. If you're not, and cuz of yer primary size, go with the 31mm. Even a 2x Barlow is still a good progression. Barlows are pretty good these days, so I wouldn't sweat it. We thought when we started out that we'd never Barlow, til we looked into them. (LOL No pun intended.) And if I had to choose one, it'd be the 8" f/8 we wanna make next, from one of the makers/opticians, or from an old Cave...It can be done or found used cuz with the go-to and Paracorr that you can forgo, thanks to the WF 82 EPs and the faster primary, the $$ is better spent in the optical surfaces/chain. Just goin by what Zambuto is supposed to have said, that "The magic begins at f/8." (We're probably gonna go with f/6 tho, for the car scope.)
http://www.rfroyce.com/stand_mirrors.htm
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MikeBOKC
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/10/10
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: killdabuddha]
#5547323 - 11/30/12 02:30 PM
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I think the Orion go to 10 inch Dob would be ideal for you -- excellent aperture which would really shine under darker skies, go to and tracking convenience, no huge collimation challenges. The Explore Scientific eyepiece recommendation is a good one -- 11 and 24 perhaps, or 11 and 30 with a Barlow. Power tank, chair, red flashlight, maybe a planisphere and you are good to go for years for about $1600.
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kfiscus
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/09/12
Loc: Albert Lea, MN, USA
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: MikeBOKC]
#5547598 - 11/30/12 06:03 PM
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Sky & Telescope Pocket Atlas
At least a 10" dob. You'll never regret this.
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Mike4242
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/02/11
Loc: Memphis, TN
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: kfiscus]
#5547817 - 11/30/12 08:28 PM
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I agree with the others, you can't go wrong with the Orion XT10g and ES 82 degree eyepieces. My 24mm ES 82 is by far my most used eyepiece.
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Billytk
sage
Reged: 04/22/12
Loc: Orlando, Fl.
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: Mike4242]
#5547898 - 11/30/12 09:16 PM
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The XTG models are very good. I love mine.
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Erik30
member
Reged: 10/16/12
Loc: Cottage Grove, MN
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: Mike4242]
#5547919 - 11/30/12 09:31 PM
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My 10"dob (non goto) and my 20mm Nagler T2... Wow!! all I'm saying..
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TexasRed
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/17/11
Loc: East Texas
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: Erik30]
#5548060 - 11/30/12 11:45 PM
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I love my XT12g. I have to leave my glasses on, so most of the ES 82 eyepieces aren't for me. I settled on the Baader Hyperions instead, but you don't need to.
I'd go with a 2" GSO 2x Barlow, which can also be used as a 1.5X for maximum eyepiece versatility. (Choose your focal lengths carefully, and you'll get the equivalent of 9 out of only 3 eyepieces.)
A Cheshire/sighttube combo is all you really need for collimation.
The Orion Ultrablock Narrowband filter is the one you'll use most often and be least willing to give up.
Let's see, you'll also want a good adjustable observing chair, mosquito repellant in summer and warm clothes in winter and a planisphere. Turn Left at Orion, Nightwatch, and Star Watch are all good guides you'll enjoy using.
Have we gone a little over your $2K budget now? Well, you knew you would eventually, and the good news is that you don't have to buy it all at once right away. Just don't skimp on the telescope, and enjoy adding the accessories one at a time as you go.
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eddie21
newbie
Reged: 11/28/12
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: Erik30]
#5548104 - 12/01/12 12:15 AM
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Thank you very much for your advice guys!
I already have a nice chair, a flash light, a power tank, turn left at orion and few other books including an atlas.
I'll go for an Orion 10 inch (or 12 if bargain), 10i or 10g? How tough is to point manually an object in the sky?
And definitely, I am going to buy 82 ES with a nice Barlow and the collimation tool, thank you for making this easy!
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SeattleScott
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/14/11
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: eddie21]
#5548183 - 12/01/12 01:44 AM
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The act of pointing with a Dob (if you are referring to goto versus push to) is pretty easy unless the object is near zenith (straight up). For objects high in the sky I could see goto being an advantage, otherwise it doesn't matter much. However, the goto will also have tracking, which will keep objects in view rather than the Earth's rotation causing them to eventually drift out of view. The 10g is a heavier scope because of those motors, but it sounds like you are not too concerned about weight.
Personally I went with the ES 82 24mm instead of the 30mm for my 10" reflector since I prefer eyepieces I can lift with one hand. Also provides a darker background sky, which is helpful if there is light pollution where you live.
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eddie21
newbie
Reged: 11/28/12
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: SeattleScott]
#5549468 - 12/01/12 10:16 PM
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Thank you scott! And everybody for such amazing advice 
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bandhunter
super member
Reged: 12/01/09
Loc: North Carolina
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: eddie21]
#5550140 - 12/02/12 11:03 AM
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I would go with the biggest dob for your budget if size is not a concern. Don't overlook "push to" Dobs. The setup alignment is a EASY! No noise, less weight, will put you on your observing target accurately with easy to understand arrows that tell you where to move the scope. If you are not interested in AP then not having tracking shouldn't be a big deal. I'll admit it would be nice for sketching. My point, is that if you are just considering a goto scope because you want help in finding objects, due to time constraints or light pollution you would be better off with a "push to" dob. Just my .02.
Daniel
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newtoskies
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/15/12
Loc: SE Ma.
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: bandhunter]
#5550224 - 12/02/12 11:59 AM
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The standard 10 from Zhumell and Apertura ( same scope) are cheaper than the Orion. If your going with the inteli or full go-to then only Orion.
With the budget you first posted you can get one hell of a Dob. The Orion catalog lists the XT12g goto as $1700.
Very easy to 'point-to' with a Dob manually. Yes at Zenith you can't really do much. I did find that moving the scope to a different area, my case was about 20 feet move the target away from Zenith enough to be able to aim the scope to find the target. In this case M31 was directly at zenith and I was trrying to show a friend M31. By moving the scope the 20 feet I was able to get some movement enough to find M31.
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panhard
It's All Good
Reged: 01/20/08
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
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Re: Advice for a beginner first purchase
[Re: Billytk]
#5550239 - 12/02/12 12:11 PM
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The XTG models are very good. I love mine.
+1
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