10 replies to this topic

[idk my name]

I am beginner I never had telescope I am going to buy apertural ad8 and I have two questions.can I see deep sky objects with it? can I get better telescope for 500$? I can add 100$ for accessories and if you know good filter or eyepiece let me know.

[DHEB]

I am beginner I never had telescope I am going to buy apertural ad8 and I have two questions.can I see deep sky objects with it? can I get better telescope for 500$? I can add 100$ for accessories and if you know good filter or eyepiece let me know.

Welcome! I believe that's a very good telescope to start with. Yes, you can observe many deep sky objects with that scope. But depending on how light polluted your place is you may or may not see many of them clearly. If light pollution is severe you may not even detect many them of at all, but that is not a fault of the instrument. For accessories, may be 100 usd is a bit tight. You will have to prioritize, for example focusing a choosing a good finder or a middle range eyepiece. Good luck!

Edited by DHEB, 15 May 2020 - 11:20 AM.

[stevenrjanssens]

Pretty sure an 8 inch dob is the best scope you can buy for <$500, and the AD8 (made by GSO) is one of the best commercial 8 inch dobs out there and it comes with a lot of useful accessories. You'll be able to see thousands of deep sky objects with it, especially at a dark site.

 

As for accessories, it'll come with a right angle correct image finder scope, but I would recommend getting a Telrad to go along with it as one of your first accessories for finding that first star for star hopping. Under dark enough skies, you can actually just match the Telrad rings to naked eye stars around your target and skip the finder scope altogether. Sky Safari Plus on your phone is something else I cannot recommend enough, you can overlay FOVs corresponding to all your eyepieces and telescope combinations and set the limit on stars to match your conditions. You'll then have everything you need to star hop, other than practice.

 

As for eyepieces, we're getting a bit tight on the $100 budget, but I haven't heard a bad thing about the Astro-Tech Paradigms given their cost ($60 each). I haven't used them myself however. For deep sky you'll likely want the 12mm or 15mm eyepiece first as this will give you a 2ish mm exit pupil, and perhaps the 15mm since this will give you a bit of space between it and the 9mm that comes with the AD8.

Edited by stevenrjanssens, 15 May 2020 - 05:16 AM.

[idk my name]

I can go to dark site will I see many details?

[Barlowbill]

One must be realistic when it comes to "details" on any object.  With an 8" scope you will be able to view a lot of objects but don't think you will see what astrophotographers capture.  It doesn't work that way.  Not even close.  You will pick up slight colors in the Orion Nebula and colors are easily seen on Jupiter.  Galaxies will be more of a smudge.  "Details" comes with viewing experience.  The more you study your views, the better you will see details.  There are YouTube videos with folks capturing views with various size scopes.  You can get a realistic view of what you can expect to see.  As far as accessories, you really need collimation equipment.  If your scope is way off on collimation, you will never get the full benefit from the 8".

Paradigm eyepieces are a good, inexpensive way to go.  Again, if the scope isn't collimated, the best eyepieces out there will not help.  Collimation doesn't have to be perfect but the better it is the better your views.  Read everything you can about this hobby here on CN and don't forget to buy new equipment from our sponsor, Astronomics.  Best of luck

[aeajr]

I am beginner I never had telescope I am going to buy apertural ad8 and I have two questions.can I see deep sky objects with it? can I get better telescope for 500$? I can add 100$ for accessories and if you know good filter or eyepiece let me know.

Yes you will be able to see a LOT of DSOs with that scope.  The darker the location you view from the more DSOs you will see and the better they will look.   I have the AD12, big brother to yours, and am very happy with it.

 

Better?  Well that is very subjective.  I think you have made a very good choice based on price/performance in terms of aperture and the accessories that are included.

 

Over time you will spend more on accessories than you did on the telescope, but this can be a gradual expense.  Eyepieces will be the thing you will likely keep adding as they enhance what you see and how you see it.   

 

 

Accessories to add to your Telescope
https://telescopicwa...ls-accessories/

 

 

Understanding Telescope Eyepieces- There are recommendations, based on budget,
but the meat of the article is about understanding the considerations and specifications
to know when selecting eyepieces.
https://telescopicwa...cope-eyepieces/

 

 

Understanding and using a Barlow Lens
https://telescopicwatch.com/?s=barlow

 

 

How to Use a Telescope:  First Time User’s Guide
https://telescopicwa...ope-user-guide/

 

 

 

I can go to dark site will I see many details?

You will see more detail.  I don't know how to define many details.

 

Light Pollution
https://telescopicwa...ight-pollution/

Edited by aeajr, 15 May 2020 - 09:15 AM.

[mg07]

I have ordered the AD8 as well as it seems like by far the best value amongst the commercial 8" dobs. I'm a beginner too but based on what I've seen people say elsewhere I have also bought a Telrad to go with it (will mount it somewhere next to the RACI) and I've ordered two very cheap but supposedly passable high power eyepieces, the SVBONY red line 68 in 6mm and 9mm. Those are only like $30/piece new. Next purchase will probably be a medium power 14 or 15mm eyepiece, maybe the paradigms as someone else mentioned. And then I'm hoping not to spend anything for awhile! 

[rowdy388]

An AD8 is a great first scope. I use a Z8, which is identical, as my travel and outreach scope.

 

A 12mm Paradigm and a Telrad together cost about $100.  That's what I recommend if you 

already have some form of chart. SkySafari has some simpler versions that cost little or nothing

and is a great resource. You will need something to sit on but a folding chair or even a wood box 

that you can turn around for different heights works good. A box is great to hold your extra stuff

as well!

 

Just a note: if you get a Telrad and find that dew is a constant problem, Don at eyepiecesetc.com 

sells an AstroSytem dew shield for $15 that works great.

Edited by rowdy388, 15 May 2020 - 09:50 AM.

[idk my name]

thank you guys you all helped me a lot 

[aeajr]

Just keep asking questions.

 

I added a Telrad to my Apertura too.

 

I did a modification to the base/mount of my AD12 to add an azimuth scale.  I use it in conjunction with an angle gauge to find targets. It works quite well in my light polluted environment.  The discussion is about how this works.  The specifics of my mod to the AD12 appears around post 139. 

 

 

Using an angle gauge to help find targets
https://www.cloudyni...y/#entry8120838

 

Printable Setting circles
https://www.cloudyni...ntable circles

Edited by aeajr, 15 May 2020 - 11:49 AM.

[jjbag]

Welcome! I believe that's a very good telescope to start with. Yes, you can observe many deep sky objects with that scope. But depending on how light polluted your place is you may or may not see many of them clearly. If light pollution is severe you may not even detect many them of at all, but that is not a fault of the instrument. For accessories, may be 100 usd is a bit tight. You will have to prioritize, for example focusing a choosing a good finder or a middle range eyepiece. Good luck!

I'll add my 2 cents.. with the accessories. get a 2x barlow that gives you 2 eyepieces for the price of 1. a 30mm eyepiece turns into a 15mm when in a barlow, a 20mm eyepiece turns into a 10mm.. if you see where i'm going...   so that will help you stretch your  budget. 

 

Also check the "classified" here you can probably get some decent second hand eyepieces for a good price.