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Post by mckinstry on Jan 1, 2009 19:37:59 GMT
Hello, Recently I've been hooked on watching the sky, especially when the Moon, Venus and Jupiter were all aligned. So I've researched around and decided that a Dobsonian would be the best choice for me. Decided to pay a little extra for the 200 rather than the 150. Expect it to last me a long time so don't mind investing extra. The model I'm looking at is on Pulsar Optical, its a SKYLINER-200 203mm (8") f/1200 Parabolic Dobsonian www.pulsar-optical.co.uk/prod/telescopes/sky-watcher/dobsonians/skyliner-200.htmlI'm relatively new to all this so I'm wondering if anyone has experience buying Dobsonians and knows the best place to buy from, best package offered etc. I'm also not too hot on all the little technical differences between each model so I guess I'm really asking for a second opinion on the package deal and if anyone has any preference where to buy from. I'm aware that I'll probably want to buy a 4mm EP or good quality barlow lens maybe at a later date for real detail on planets. Any help offered I appreciate, I am busting to get some real detailed views of the moon and daring to hope of even viewing the moons of Jupiter or the rings of Saturn! PS I benefited a lot from previous posts on the forum offering 1st telescope advice Thanx Tim
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Post by stevie on Jan 1, 2009 20:45:15 GMT
Hi Tim, and welcome to the forum. Have a read at this recent post for info on the Skyliner. You will need to add a few more posts in order to get the discount. eaas.proboards31.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=3011I wouldn't be in too big a rush to get a 4mm eyepiece, there probably will be few occasions when you will get a chance to use it, due to the generally poor skies we have here. A good quality 2X barlow used with the 10mm eyepiece supplied with the skyliner would give you the equivalent of a 5mm eyepiece anyway. Check out the TAL 2x barlow on the First Light Optics website.
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Post by nemesis on Jan 1, 2009 20:49:37 GMT
A good choice of scope! There's at least one of us who has that scope, and I've had a go at using it, and it's an excellent model. It's portable too, so you can take it out easily...and hopefully join us on one of our sessions! Don't worry too much about a 4mm eyepiece...that'd give you a x300...and you'll rarely get conditions here that'll let you use that to its best extent. Think about x150 top, so an 8mm would do that job, although a 10 mm will be a better all-rounder, at x120 you'll see most of what you're after. As for buying it, a lot of us recommend First Light Optics. They give great service, very fast, and they'y're selling that model even slightly cheaper than the one you've posted here. www.firstlightoptics.com/products.php?cat=31Keep us informed of what you're doing,a nd Happy New Year!
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Post by mckinstry on Jan 2, 2009 13:00:47 GMT
Thank you both for the very quick replies. Gave me the confidence to confirm my order. Should be on its way soon from First light Optics, money well spent. Now nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs till it arrives, oh and revise a little for collage exams
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Post by nemesis on Jan 2, 2009 14:19:15 GMT
Good luck with them..... Come up and meet us on Monday night if you can!
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Post by stevie on Jan 2, 2009 17:51:38 GMT
Very best of luck with the scope Tim, I hope they send you some clear skies with it.
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Post by mckinstry on Jan 3, 2009 15:40:05 GMT
Thank you for the invite nemesis but I'll probably be doing an all nighter to finish coursework and revise. Deadlines and exam on Tuesday and Wednesday. I hope you have a good night, I'd be interested in checking out a meeting when I have more free time. Especially if theres sticky buns
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Post by nemesis on Jan 3, 2009 16:52:37 GMT
This is a one-off for the sticky buns, Tim...normally it's a Spartan diet of tea and biscuits for everyone! However, sorry you can't make it, but we've all been there with exams, doing newsletters etc........all-nighters aren't that infrequent with me. Are you at Queens or UUJ or what, and what course are you doing?
Eamonn
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Post by mckinstry on Jan 4, 2009 18:44:47 GMT
Studying interactive multimedia design at Jordanstown. Good little course and only a year and a half to go.
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Post by mia on Jan 4, 2009 22:11:30 GMT
Hi Tim and welcome to the forum.
The guys have given you great advice, I can't add much else to it except you'll probably need a collimator.
Nothing will ruin your nights viewing more than a badly collimated scope. I was afraid of collimating my Dob when I started but now, it's as easy as getting Raspberry Ruffles of Stevie. ;D
I know we seem to harp on about First Light Optics but Steve and James (Maccers) are great guys. I ordered a more expensive laser collimator from FLO and Steve actually recommended a cheaper laser one and it arrived two days later.
If you do manage to join us at a session soon, feel free to use any of my EP's so you can see what suits, but the 10mm & 25mm supplied should be enough for the time being.
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Post by mckinstry on Jan 5, 2009 15:30:17 GMT
Ok I looked up a couple of rather long winded and confusing guides to collimating and after several minutes of head melting I came to the conclusion that laser collimator's greatly simplify matters so i ordered one off the FLO website. Also ordered the x2 barlow lens Stevie recommended.
Thanx for the advice
Tim
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Post by nemesis on Jan 5, 2009 16:53:46 GMT
Mia should have mentioned that it was a laser collimator you needed, and that's exactly what you ordered. Collimating's a piece of cake once you've seen how it's done, and you'll absolutely need one. If you can't figure it out I'll show you how to do it. A minute or two each session will have your telescope in best condition.
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Post by irishbloke on Jan 8, 2009 23:15:14 GMT
Tim, I've borrowed a dob and am loving it. I am 100% sold. You could say I've come over to the Dobs-side. I managed a look at the moon at 250x which was a bit too much. 166x worked really well with a moon and apolarizing filter on! Had fun showing a neighbour and some random wee lads andromeda, orion's nebula, betelguese (the red gaint in orion) and a couple of doubles. Oh yeah and managed the tail end of Venus. Seen it's phase but it was very low at that point. You are going to love that scope. Brian
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Post by mckinstry on Jan 8, 2009 23:45:08 GMT
Awesome, I have never looked through a proper telescope from a dark sky spot so I really can't wait. Only a Tasco for the moon and Venus once and despite all its bad press I got some great sights, even with bad light pollution! (need a steady hand for Tasco stands). Thanx for building my anticipation Brian Hope you buy yours soon. Tim
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Post by mckinstry on Jan 16, 2009 22:14:36 GMT
Good news, the Dob finally arrived! I was wondering if I should have gone for the 10" but then I saw the size of my 8", its massive compared to how big I thought it would be! Considering its my first telescope anything bigger would be a bit daunting. Was funny seeing my dads face as we picked it up, family couldn't believe the size of it. I'm still not sure how to collimate the mirrors though I have a rough idea, don't want to go messing with screws too much just yet. I have also read that a new laser collimator may be misaligned in the focuser causing even worse collimation!!! I popped it in the eyepiece anyway and the laser dot was just off center of the primary mirror. Took the telescope outside to test the focus (or the out of focus symmetry) on a star and I think its just a tad off though the stars looked pretty sharp when focused from my heavily light polluted area. The new telescope looks awesome! Its easy to set up and move from place to place and very smooth aiming at parts of the sky. I'm delighted I decided to buy it ;D Once I sus the collimation I'll be driving to the closest dark sky spot to see what this baby can do Thanx for all the help and advice so far! Tim
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