Hello everyone,
Apologies in advance if (and it’s probably the case) this question has already been asked many times, it's sometimes difficult to search for the word “planetary” on a forum with so many years of history.
I’m not a beginner astronomer, but not highly experienced either. I've been lucky enough to enjoy my ES 12" at some events and outings over the past four years, it’s been an absolute visual treat.
The only downside is that, living in the inner suburbs of Paris, those outings are difficult and rare.
I want to be able to do astronomy almost all year round. I’m well aware that, given my location, I’ll be limited to the Moon, the planets, and the Sun, but that’s already quite good. What matters now is being able to observe as often and as easily as possible.
In a few months, I’ll be moving into a high-up apartment with a beautiful south-facing balcony (not a large one, 1.2 meters length). I want to take advantage of these next few months to save money and treat myself to a new instrument dedicated to planetary observation. Can you help me find the right one?
Here are my criteria:
Budget: $4000 excluding eyepieces (I already own a few)
Use: Visual only: Moon and planets, possibly the Sun if possible. If it supports astrophotography then great, otherwise nevermind, I mostly want to do visual.
Mount: Equatorial for comfort, and possibly motorized for even more convenience
Maintenance: Low. I enjoy making some adjustments, but I’m not particularly handy
My budget is flexible. I really want to treat myself with this purchase and ensure I can enjoy observing from my balcony for years to come. I’ve been saving up for some time already. I mentioned €4000 to show that I’m willing to invest in quality equipment. Owning a fancy car isn’t my thing, what excites me is having an awesome telescope.
Thank you all! I’m open to any constructive feedback if I’m off track.