Returning Hobbyist needs suggestions

[graywmj5]

HI All,

I will be retiring in a year, moving west, and getting back into the hobby. I have a 10" reflector that is several years old. I am thinking of a new scope and mount. My budget would be in the $5k range. I was hoping to get suggestions on the best setup for DSO's that would be within my budget. I have most of the accessories stored away, so that shouldn't be additional cost.

Thanks in advance,

Bill

[Lady Fraktor]

Hello and welcome to the forums Bill
The 10" should still do a fine job, are you looking at a larger telescope or different style?

[Bigzmey]

$5K should buy you a nice setup. 10" reflector is quite capable scope. What are you looking for in a new rig?

[graywmj5]

Thinks for the replies. The 10" has always been a little tough to handle and I was thinking that a refractor might be overall easier to handle , assuming I could maintain or improve the imaging.

Thanks, Bill

[JayTee]

If you are thinking of starting long exposure deep-sky object AP, forget the 10" scope. Way too big for beginning this area of AP. Your $5K will buy you a primo set up that will start you right and will give you years of service. You'll want to get a very, very, good mount. This is where most of your money should be spent. Next, you'll need a small refractor 80-102mm preferably an APO objective. Lastly a decent camera. Remember, big aperture is NOT needed for this area of AP.
Mount = 2.5 - 3.0K
OTA = .7 - 1.2K
camera = 1.0 - 2.0K

There you have it, that's all you need to start taking excellent images. Oh, plus a lot (and I mean a lot) of new knowledge, a tremendous amount of patience and an even larger amount of perseverance!

Cheers,
JT

PS, if you also want to tackle planetary AP then that changes the whole equation because that area of AP has a whole different set of equipment requirements! Let us know. jt

[graywmj5]

Thanks so much for your reply, JayTee !

When I was living in Tennessee, I built a small observatory shed and had the 10" mounted on the Atlas EQ-G. I never felt like the mount suited the scope, and while I got some decent shots, it was never a great experience.
A new mount was high on my list, and if you have specific recommendations, I would appreciate them. I have a decent camera, but could also upgrade that as well. (Canon 7d). My real interest is in DSO's, so I would be looking for the best scope for that. I was looking at the reviews on the 130MM ED? Something along that line? Again if you have specific recommendations, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Bill

[jrkirkham]

I'll toss a different take on this. I, too, am preparing for retirement. My target date is May 2021, so we are not too different. I have also been hampered by my current jobs and am looking forward to spending more time with my astronomy again. I, too, have a little nest egg saved up and must decide where to put it. I have a little more, but I have to prioritize, just in case I can't achieve all my goals.

My first priority is a small observatory. I am keeping the cost of it under $5K. Here is why. I've noticed the last few years that it gets harder and harder all the time to set up my scope and take it back down in the mornings. I set everything up, then wait for dark. Then I polar align and get ready to view my target for the night. Then the clouds roll in and I get frustrated and tear everything back down again. They say the best telescope is the one you use the most. I may be wrong, but I am guessing that if I can go out open the roof and use it I will use it a lot more after retirement.

[graywmj5]

Rob,

I built a small observatory that was really very cheap. Basically, I set six 4x4 posts and made and enclosure of metal sides with a hinged door. I built the roof of the same material on a heavy frame and put rollers on the sides of the frame.
I put tracks on the top of the 4x4's for the roof to roll on. Then I set 4 more 4x4 posts in a line behind the shed for the roof to roll back on. The shed worked great. If I did it again, I would set a pier in the center of the shed instead of using a tripod. I am sure you can find better concepts on the forum, but this was a cheap way to do it.

Bill

[yobbo89]

what kind of imaging ie wide field ? or close up, or somewhere inbetween? , fancy imaging planets ?

narrowband or rgb?

The celestron 8'' rasa is $2.6k here in the aus, plenty of room for a capable mount if you would like to go osc/dslr and wide field on a fast scope, a narrowband setup will work well too but it might go pass your budget.

[helicon]

Sounds like that within your budget you will have many options. Good luck with the eventual move out west.

[graywmj5]

yobbo,

I have been looking at the Celestron 8" RASA. I am leaning that direction. What would be the recommended setup? My focus will be DSO"s. Never was much into planetary shots, but did some from time to time. I will also probably have my 6" reflector or 10" available for secondary targets.

Thanks, Bill

[Shabadoo]

I was envisioning the simple roll off idea for my purposes. Then I realized it would have to be 3/4 of the way up the driveway. That's where I have to set up due to trees, a ridge and my house Blocking the view. Imagine driving around it to park the car, or pull out of the garage.
Silly me.

[graywmj5]

Jeff, I was in an empty field, and that worked out great. Even with that, I struggled with targets that were below the walls of the shed and also targets straight overhead. If I had it to do over, I would figure a way to make the sidewall in removable sections.

Bill