16 replies to this topic

[Red Brick]

I don’t have words to describe my first view other than wow. The views from light polluted suburbia was beyond comprehension. In a 25mm Plossl included Jupiter was crisp edge to edge I discerned color in its banding amazed at the realization that the universe was in color and not shades of grey as in my four-inch scope. I spent the night scanning the skies and the review of once patches of fuzz in the sky with my smaller scope are now defined by galaxies and nebulas. I now had a better understanding of the word zillions. I can only imagine the viewing away from city lights.

Click here to view the article

[Kim2010]

I don’t have words to describe my first view other than wow. The views from light polluted suburbia was beyond comprehension. In a 25mm Plossl included Jupiter was crisp edge to edge I discerned color in its banding amazed at the realization that the universe was in color and not shades of grey as in my four-inch scope. I spent the night scanning the skies and the review of once patches of fuzz in the sky with my smaller scope are now defined by galaxies and nebulas. I now had a better understanding of the word zillions. I can only imagine the viewing away from city lights.

Click here to view the article

Hmm.. I always see brown/orange in Jupiters bands and GRS even with the 4" Mak and 4" Apo in the city. Maybe our perception of colors are different?

[gstrumol]

Hmm.. I always see brown/orange in Jupiters bands and GRS even with the 4" Mak and 4" Apo in the city. Maybe our perception of colors are different?

Go easy on him Kim! 

 

My first scope as an adult was an Astroscan (I won it as a prize) and I thought the moon in it was so cool. But then I got a C8 and I remember I had the same WOW reaction when I trained it on the moon. We can all recall our sense of amazement when we see something like Jupiter, Saturn, or the Hercules cluster for the first time with a powerful scope.

 

Enjoy your new time machine!

 

Gary

[Agatha]

Ed...(Red Brick),  

 

I thoroughly enjoyed your review of this telescope.  Even though it is not your first scope, this one seems to be a very welcome surprise.  What a nice gift.   Zillions.   :-)

 

Linda

[Neanderthal]

Congrats on the great scope - you are off to the races.    I don't think ANY Dob's mount/base is ever truly completed as it comes from a factory - they are a blank canvas begging to be customized to every user's liking. Fortunately, that's easy to do.

[monolithic]

The upgrade to a big Dob from a small scope, especially if you've been using the small scope for a long time, is just something else. I've used the phrase "blows it out of the water" many times to describe my 10" Dob vs my 90mm Astromaster.

[Bob Campbell]

A very enjoyable article, thanks for sharing.

 

Seems like you avoided the dreaded new scope clouds....bravo!

 

It's really heart-warming that no matter where we are in our life's journey there are still awe-inspiring moments.

 

Thank you very much,

 

Bob

[Jon_Doh]

What a nice gift!  I hope you have many cloudless nights of excellent seeing to enjoy exploring the universe.

[pgrunwald]

I don’t believe you.  NO ONE gets clear skies the first night with a new telescope!

 

 

 

Seriously, congratulations and enjoy!

 

Clear skies,

P.

[BoldAxis1967]

This scope is on sale now:  reduced by $227.

 

Seems like a great deal.

 

L.

[Bob51]

The one nice thing about this scope is it comes with tube rings and a large altitude bearing. The tube rings make it easy to mount it on an equatorial mount. Congratulations on receiving the perfect gift. 

[SouthWestAstro]

Congrats on such a nice gift and on such an excellent review.

 

You evidently won the jackpot in the marriage stakes !

[Red Brick]

Every night I am out I gather a new appreciation for awesome. There are objects I have only dreamt of seeing but now actually see in all their wonder. I am now seeking an equatorial mount so I may mount my camera for some guided shots. I learn a lot from the reviews and opinions here. Learning what more experienced astronomers are using and gazing at. I now have to create an agenda before I go out on a nightly adventure as I want to scan the skies for everything. I spend so much time scanning the skies I forget what my primary objective in what I was going to view.

[justfred]

Nice write-up. You captured the way a new larger scope makes you feel. The 8” is portable and capable - two qualities of a scope that will get a lot of use. Congrats!

[Jay120]

I've got the 10" version. I'm really happy with it. While it's not perfect, it's more than sufficient. I'm using mine for astrophotography and have been getting great results.

 

No coma corrector, this was its "First Light", 2 hours of narrowband (HA and OII). Didn't expect to turn into an imaging session but there wasn't a lot to fiddle with. 

 

 

Edited by Jay120, 21 February 2023 - 12:40 AM.

[Jay120]

Oh, and I  had clear skies the day it arrived. Yes, that actually happened. I had just enough time to get it on the mount after it was delivered before it got dark. I thought for sure there was kind of rule that said you had to deal with cloudy skies for a week before trying out a new scope. 

[Craven]

Hmm.. I always see brown/orange in Jupiters bands and GRS even with the 4" Mak and 4" Apo in the city. Maybe our perception of colors are different?

Gee, that's good to know.