Yea. I agree. Currently my thoughts are is to just go for the Sky-Watcher Evostar 90 (AZ3) as recommended and then later if I really get into it to go second hand for the more expensive gear.
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How about - https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-skyliner-250px-dobsonian-telescope.html
10” dob is very good scope.
Soldato
Dobs are great, but they do have a few drawbacks for the newcomer, collimating, thermals etc. Easily overcome granted, but requires a bit of a learning curve. Plus size, it might not be ideal if you are limited on space (I had to discount one as I had to be able to store my telescope on a shelf). But you do get a great big mirror for low costs.
But a refractor is pretty much setup, point, go and requires little maintenance. Depends on how much TNA thinks they might like the hobby, a Dobsonian does offer a more cost effective upgrade path, you have the aperture already there, you can just buy the different focusers, eyepieces etc.
But a refractor is pretty much setup, point, go and requires little maintenance. Depends on how much TNA thinks they might like the hobby, a Dobsonian does offer a more cost effective upgrade path, you have the aperture already there, you can just buy the different focusers, eyepieces etc.
I completely agree. The best scopes are the ones you actually use. My 14” dob is compact and can be setup in 10 mins. I have a much larger dob, but a ladder is required to use it. I would love a large frac but my smaller dob gives excellent planetary views.
Soldato
I’m at the point now I need to get rid of the mount that came with my 8SE. I want to upgrade to a good 2” diagonal so I can get a good bino viewer and the mount just cannae take it capn’
Need something beefier, and toying with the idea of a heq5
Need something beefier, and toying with the idea of a heq5
Soldato
Jupiter and Saturn looked impressive tonight. Didn't think I could see them from the Garden, but went out around 10 and realised I had a good view to the Sout East so quickly put the scope up. Had a look at Neowise as well, but was better view through the binoculars due to the size of it.
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THe other thing thats always reccomended is to go along to your local astronomy club on one of their nights and have a look through some scopes to get some idea of what you can see.
Where approx. in Manchester are you - I'm in Tameside on the east side and can't see Neowise from the garden due to light pollution, but can with my camera with a few seconds exposure.
a friend actually drove out to higher ground in the early hours and was still unable to see...
Soldato
I’m about 30 miles north of Manchester, should probably change that now, its a pretty dark rural area thankfully. Was able to see it with the naked eye just about at around 11pm and was great in the binos. The core in the telescope was impressive also, but you lose the overall view of the tail due to fov.
Yeah, I think I will consider it for my 2nd scope if I end up really getting into it. Want to see how often I use a cheaper one you suggested.
How does the Skywatcher Explorer 130 eq2 compare to the Skywatcher Evostar 90 az3?
Looks like for the extra £27 you get a lot more. Or am I missing something?
It gathers a lot more light and can keep track of the planets movement once you find it. Is there something that makes the Evostar better?
Soldato
The explorer is a reflector telescope, the evostar is a refractor. The explorer comes with a motor also, but you then ideally need to learn how to roughly polar align then the motor can track to the rotation of the earth. Not hard, but takes a little extra time, rather than plop down the evostar, swing to your target, and view.
Refractors use lenses, a few of them, it’s more expensive to manufacture lenses to a good quality. So more expensive typically or lower quality, small apertures, but generally they are use and forget, you don’t need to do much with them, don’t need to collimate them, at least basically. That’s why you seemingly get less for the money. Reflectors come with their own drawbacks, lenses create chromatic aberration, which can cause image degradation.
The reflectors use mirrors, they are easier and cheaper to produce so you can get bigger mirrors at the equivalent cost reflector basically. So more light gathering for cheaper. But because it relies on bouncing light off a primary mirror, onto a secondary mirror and into the focuses/eyepiece, they have to be calibrated, called collimation for best results.
https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/how-to-align-your-newtonian-reflector-telescope/
And thermally, you are relying on light coming through an atmosphere, then into your telescope, viewing quality can be degraded by the air in the reflector, currents, different temperatures etc. Which refractors don’t suffer from as they are sealed. Again, basically you can go into lens sag, thermal expansion etc, etc, but talking basics
I’d have to agree with above, if you had a local astronomy group nearby? Or a store? It can often be easier to figure out how you would get on with the different options.
Yea I can more clearly see now why Skywatcher Evostar 90 az3 was recommended. It does make sense to go with a refractor first if like me one is a beginner and unsure if it is something that will develop into a hobby or not. Right now I am leaning towards the Evostar. But will do some more reading and also watch the second hand market a little bit more before taking the plungeThe explorer is a reflector telescope, the evostar is a refractor. The explorer comes with a motor also, but you then ideally need to learn how to roughly polar align then the motor can track to the rotation of the earth. Not hard, but takes a little extra time, rather than plop down the evostar, swing to your target, and view.
Refractors use lenses, a few of them, it’s more expensive to manufacture lenses to a good quality. So more expensive typically or lower quality, small apertures, but generally they are use and forget, you don’t need to do much with them, don’t need to collimate them, at least basically. That’s why you seemingly get less for the money. Reflectors come with their own drawbacks, lenses create chromatic aberration, which can cause image degradation.
The reflectors use mirrors, they are easier and cheaper to produce so you can get bigger mirrors at the equivalent cost reflector basically. So more light gathering for cheaper. But because it relies on bouncing light off a primary mirror, onto a secondary mirror and into the focuses/eyepiece, they have to be calibrated, called collimation for best results.
https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/how-to-align-your-newtonian-reflector-telescope/
And thermally, you are relying on light coming through an atmosphere, then into your telescope, viewing quality can be degraded by the air in the reflector, currents, different temperatures etc. Which refractors don’t suffer from as they are sealed. Again, basically you can go into lens sag, thermal expansion etc, etc, but talking basics
I’d have to agree with above, if you had a local astronomy group nearby? Or a store? It can often be easier to figure out how you would get on with the different options.
Thanks again guys, you have been very helpful.
Ah ok - sounds a good spot for astronomy!
I've got the glow of Manchester and all the suburbs so pretty shocking here.
I've looked on the light pollution maps and our area is completely red so about as bad as it gets.
But you can see planets and stars relatively well, and even get a semi decent shot of star clusters etc.
Best view I've ever seen though was in Egypt about 12 years ago, had a ride out into the desert on an excursion, I've never seen anything like it since.
Haha, yea it isI saw the 130eq on Gumtree for £25. Saying that Edinburgh is a fair distance from you
If you guys do spot something cheap like that give me a shout
That is some serious trek right there. But one can see it as an opportunity for a nice long road trip I suppose. If I was more experienced in what I was buying I would consider taking long trip also.There are bargains to be had
Haha. NiceNot many decent scopes come up for sale up here. They are all down south
Is the deals mainly on Gumtree? I am not a fan of it, seems like a lot more scammers on there. Any good deals on eBay?