29 replies to this topic

[JOEinCO]

The best power supply option I've found for an SE mount is to put a Talentcell battery on-board. Velcro is your friend! 

 

Here's my SE with the Talentcell (ignore the yellow X's, those are for another use of the battery). The 6000 mAh version will run the scope for about 8-10 hours of observing. An 11,000 mAh one will run it all weekend. And no cord wrap or cables to avoid in the dark.  

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[LordP666]

If someone sold you $3200 worth of gear in connection with the Nexstar 8SE, even if new, you probably got taken. It goes new for less than 2K and that includes every accessory you'd need for visual observing and some you don't.   Also, to get the optimal performance out of an 8" scope of that type you need to let it acclimate to temperature extremes but in most normal observing conditions you don't need to worry about it all that much.

 

Touching on a few others' comments:

 

A 4" APO, as one suggested, with mount and tripod and everything you'd need (and want)  with  such a scope will set you back 2-3 times what the 8SE costs. Might be worth it but you should know that.  

 

Carefully review what the Seestar is and isn't before you buy one. In my mind, it is NOT a telescope but a camera rig that uses live stacking (combining multiple images) and related gear to show you the resulting images. I don't believe you can see live images with it and you can't change eyepieces, and I don't think you can do straight visual observing with it.

 

Contrary to what one commenter said, not ALL telescopes require alignment etc. Manual alt-az mounts that just move horizontally and vertically do not.  On the other hand, if you have a computerized telescope, you'll have to align it even if you only using the tracking function and not the go-to function.

 

My overall sense is that if you are primarily interested in the moon and don't want to learn to use the 8Se, and don't want to spend 2-3 thousand dollars on your rig, you should consider a 3-4 inch achromatic refractor on an alt-az mount with a decent eyepiece.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Tim

 

Um, I actually bought some stuff that didn't come with the telescope.

 

These lenses among other stuff.

 

Explore Scientific 62° Series 5.5mm Waterproof Eyepiece - $149

Explore Scientific 68° Series 24mm Eyepiece - $269

Explore Scientific 68° Series 40mm Waterproof Eyepiece - $519
 

[jupiter122]

Um, I actually bought some stuff that didn't come with the telescope.

 

These lenses among other stuff.

 

Explore Scientific 62° Series 5.5mm Waterproof Eyepiece - $149

Explore Scientific 68° Series 24mm Eyepiece - $269

Explore Scientific 68° Series 40mm Waterproof Eyepiece - $519
 

What country are you in?  Maybe the $3200 you mentioned was not in US $ as I assumed.

[dnrmilspec]

Um, I actually bought some stuff that didn't come with the telescope.

 

These lenses among other stuff.

 

Explore Scientific 62° Series 5.5mm Waterproof Eyepiece - $149

Explore Scientific 68° Series 24mm Eyepiece - $269

Explore Scientific 68° Series 40mm Waterproof Eyepiece - $519
 

OK,  Let's back up for a moment.

 

You started this thread on the 24th of October.  So you have had about three weeks of considering your scope and hopefully trying to use it.  How is that going?  Have you made any progress?  What have you seen?  Have your tried the goto functions of your scope?

 

The selection of eyepieces you have above are very nice.  You will use the 40 and 24 far more than the 5.5.  Until you have the goto/tracking functioning the 5.5 will frustrate you.  With your scope it gives about 360X which is a magnification you may be able to use only on the rarest of occasions and then on the moon and planets, maybe.  So set it aside as a curiosity for the time being.  The other two will serve you fine. 

 

Where are you located?  It is likely that help is nearby.

 

An 8" SCT is a wonderful telescope with which to start.  A great many here have done just that.  So what progress have you made?

[doyers017]

Slow and stead just keep fiddling with the kit, and you will learn how to use it better.