[Chaos-l] telescope recommendations

[Ned Light]

Hi Jeff,

Maybe a little more information about what you want to see through your new
scope could help us.  Also, do you currently have any gear like a mount?
Long focal length 'scopes like the one you mention are great for splitting
double stars and looking at the planets, but leave a little to be desired
when it comes to seeing some of the fainter objects in the night sky.  Part
of this is aperture as Robert and Mark pointed out.  Part of it is also the
long focal length leads to relatively small fields of view through the eye
piece, so you might have trouble framing the nebulae or even galaxy you want
to see.

You can certainly get larger apertures for under $1k, especially if you are
willing to go without any form of computer guidance.  Just looking at the
Orion web site and you can see a couple 8 and 10" dobs under your price
range, as well as an 8" newt on an EQ mount (non motorized).  You could also
look at the Astronomics, OPT and High Point Scientific web sites.  The down
side to any reflector set up is that you will need to familiarize yourself
with collimation.  For some this is easy, for others it is not.  The problem
for me personally is that when I see a distorted image, I cannot pin down
the reason.  Is it bad seeing, dew on the optics (this I can usually
discover), tube currents in the telescope, optics not cooled enough or
mis-collimation?  In the end, I added a 4" refractor to compliment my 8"
reflector. I admit, the refractor comes out more often and is the only one I
port with me when I go to the mountains. I do still dream of owning a place
with dark skies and a 16" or bigger dob though.

Ned

On Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 12:43 PM, Jeff Wright <jwright at cs.duke.edu> wrote:

>
> I am thinking of buying a new starter scope, something in the $1000 or less
> range, that I can also use as a decent portable scope at dark sites. I have
> found a few Maksutov models in the 5" range that look fine. I am leaning
> toward a Meade or Celestron, just because of previous experience with them,
> but am open to other suggestions.
>
> Anyone have any experience they can share? Thoughts on 5" scopes in
> general? I have considered going with an 8", but of course, now we are
> talking $2000.
>
> BTW, I don't mind manual polar-alignment either.
>
> Also, any recommended dealers/web-sites? I am familiar with ORION, but
> don't have experience buying from anyone else.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jeff
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