[Chaos-l] introduction, equipment request

[Mark South]

Michael, I highly recommend the Orion SkyQuest XT 6" Dobsonian as a  
beginner scope.   I own one myself and it has been a wonderful  
scope.   I think the current price is around $249.  By default you  
get 2 eyepieces!  (wide-field and narrow-field).  The current deal is  
a free laser collimator (to align the scope) and a starmap.   I  
bought my scope from Big Bang Astronomy because I want to support our  
local dealer.  (Speak with Kendall, the owner).   Other  
considerations:  Zhummel or Celestron 6" Dobsonians   
(www.telescopes.com).

Click on:
   http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp? 
itemID=238462&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=3&iSubCat=334&iProductID=238462

Reasons to buy this scope include the following:
1) As a musician, you can full understand that buying a really,  
really low quality instrument will detract from learning how to use  
the instrument.  In the same way, buying a cheap department store  
scope will end up in the closet!  The Orion XT's are very good  
quality scope for the price.
2) A 6" scope is easy to "grab-n-go".  Very minimal setup time... no  
hard-to-use inaccurate go-to computers.  (any scope less than $1000  
that has computer go-to is really bad.  spend your cash on the mirror  
not bad tripods and go-tos).
3) Look at this scope as a long-term scope.  If you decide later to  
buy a scope of larger aperture-- 10", 12" and up you will still have  
this scope as your small scope.  I currently own a larger scope, but  
guess which scope I use MOST of the time?   The Skyquest 6" scope---  
because it's so easy to use.
4) It has a f/8 f-stop. (Let me get techie on ya).   What this means  
basically is that it's a nice balance between a wide-field of view  
and a narrow field of view.  For example, the 5" ETX scopes are f/ 
15.  So every eyepiece will really magnify highly-- kinda like  
looking through a port-hole.  This is not bad if you want to stick to  
planets, but not good for other views of deep sky objects.  On the  
other extreme are small scopes with f/4.  This has great wide-field  
views, but tough to magnify the object.   So the bottom line, I'm  
getting at here is that f/8 is a nice balance for a 6" scope.

Used equipment:  Do not buy used from e-bay, but only from a good  
website such as "Astromart"   Personally, I think it's a hassle to  
buy a used 6" scope  on-line.  I would rather pick up a new one, but  
that's me.

Accessories:
Always save extra cash for accessories:
Urgent Essentials:
1) Telrad -- makes finding objects a cinch
2) "Turn Left @ Orion"  or a good Star map (sky and telescope's  
Pocket Sky Atlas)
http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundred-Telescope/dp/0521781906/ 
ref=sr_1_1/102-0200149-1147310?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181910432&sr=8-1

Non-urgent non-essentials for later to consider:
1) Better eyepieces
2) Telrad dew shield (from astrosystems.biz)
2) Teflon pad kit from Astrosystems.biz to make the motions  
smoother.  (the only negative for this scope is that the motions are  
rather sticky)
3) Bar-lowed Collimator laser for the ultimate accuracy.
4) A padded case http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/ 
detailmain.jsp?itemID=408&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=408

Stuff to learn:
1) Learn to Collimate your scope.  Read the directions cover-to-cover.
2) Learn to use the Telrad for easy targets and Star-hop for more  
difficult objects    http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/ 
visualobserving/Map_at_the_Telescope.html

Also check out the CHAOS information on getting started with Astronomy
http://www.rtpnet.org/chaos/RA/startingRight.html

Hope this helps!
Mark South


On Jun 14, 2007, at 11:20 PM, Michael Hrivnak wrote:

> Greetings from a newbie.  I want to get into amateur astronomy, and I
> intend to be at the Morehead Planetarium observation session on  
> Saturday
> night.  I'm moving back to the Triangle to play with the NC  
> Symphony, I
> love science and math, and I think it's high time that I learned more
> about astronomy.
>
> Now I need a telescope.  I've been reading buying guides, etc., and I
> think I want a good reflector in the 6-8" range.  How easy is it to  
> find
> some decent used equipment?  I'm thinking to spend maybe a few hundred
> dollars.  I've checked websites of a couple of local shops (big bang,
> oceanside), but there is nothing used that fits my parameters.   
> Advice?
> Suggestions?  Where should I look?  Should I forget about used  
> equipment
> and just buy new?
>
> I'm sure that I'll learn a lot more about what equipment I want by  
> going
> to some local observation sessions and going to some retailers.  In  
> the
> mean time, I invite your advice for a novice's first purchase in the
> Triangle.
>
> Thanks a lot,
> Michael
> _______________________________________________
> Chaos-l mailing list
> Chaos-l at rtpnet.org
> http://rtpnet.org/mailman/listinfo/chaos-l

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