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Really been a long time since I’ve been here. I’ve entered the breeding part of my life and found myself with two kids during this time “away” from the night sky. Actually one of the boys is only 8 days old
So, during these crazy years, taking out the 8” dob has been a pain in neck. I have little time after putting everyone to bed so waiting for the mirrors to cool off and moving around the bulky scope after I’m done and have really low energy makes me use the scope much less than I’d like.
So I was thinking about selling the dob and getting a 100(ish)mm frac in its place.
I really like DSOs, specially open clusters, GCs and planetary nebulae. Would I have to give them up in this kind of scope? Would the quality of the observation go down to much compared to my dear old 8” dob?
Thanks and I hope these last couple of years have treated you all gently.
Cheers,
Allison
Telescope: Orion SkyQuest Xt8 Classic, red dot finder and Celestron 9x50 RACI.
Eps : 5mm CELESTRON X-CEL, 9mm CELESTRON X-CEL, 25mm CELESTRON X-CEL, 2x Barlow lens, DGM NPB nebula filter
10X50 Bino
Camera: ASI224MC
Messier: 30/110, AF.net S110: 78/110
I’d say you’ll just have a different kind of observing. There is no doubt that you’ll lose some resolution and light sucking ability. However, you’ll gain wide field of views, portability, and ease of use. I love my fast 102 mm achromatic and though I see some minor chromatic aberration on bright objects like the Moon and Venus, I made a 60 mm aperture mask that clears it up for me. I don’t see much detail in DSOs using just my eyes through the refractor, but I domsee rich star fields, a great many double and multiple star system (often with color), fine details of the Moon, and if a runner (satellite) passes in my field of view I can grasp the scope and easily track it. :-)
Steve Yates
Astro-Tech AT102ED, 102 mm, F/7, ED Achromatic Refractor Astro-Tech AT80ED, 80 mm, F/7, ED Achromatic Refractor Bresser AR102s, 102 mm, f/4.5, Achromatic Refractor
Explore Scientific Twilight I Alt/Az Mount
Bresser Nano Alt/Az Mount
I would not necessarily sell the DOB, but adding small frac makes perfect sense. As Steve says sessions with small scopes have a different feel, but I enjoy them as much as with large scopes. With 4" frac you will always find targets to look and will appreciate the ease of setup.
Keep the dob. Add the frac. Telescopes are like screwdrivers, different front end for different jobs. Globular cluster observation gets really nice starting at 8” IMO.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
I would also agree, add a refractor but keep the dobsonian as well.
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101) The only culture I have is from yogurt
Well, thanks for the wise advices. I think adding another telescope would do the charm indeed. Any recommendations for a 4” frac? Maybe something in an EQ mount to change things up a little?
Telescope: Orion SkyQuest Xt8 Classic, red dot finder and Celestron 9x50 RACI.
Eps : 5mm CELESTRON X-CEL, 9mm CELESTRON X-CEL, 25mm CELESTRON X-CEL, 2x Barlow lens, DGM NPB nebula filter
10X50 Bino
Camera: ASI224MC
Messier: 30/110, AF.net S110: 78/110
allisonribeiro wrote: ↑Thu Jan 20, 2022 11:10 am
Any recommendations for a 4” frac?
I have a 102mm ED on order, but I don't know if they ship outside the US. Reviews are good. I'm getting one to fill the gap between my 80mm and 120mm and try an ED scope.
Yes keep the Dobs and get a small sct. mak ,or refracror , it all depends on what you want to look at , but for me the 10 inch Dobs is the best for everything but not portability
Reflectors GSO 200 Dobs
Refractors None
SCT C5 on a SLT mount
Mak 150 Bosma on a EQ5
allisonribeiro wrote: ↑Thu Jan 20, 2022 11:10 am
Well, thanks for the wise advices. I think adding another telescope would do the charm indeed. Any recommendations for a 4” frac? Maybe something in an EQ mount to change things up a little?
Welcome back and that is a great profile image. I have a 150mm f/8 refractor which is super sharp some times 300 mag on the Moon. However, before galaxy season is in full swing I will be purchasing a 10" DOB to go deeper. I suggest a cooling fan for your DOB. Left click the image.
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101) The only culture I have is from yogurt
Do you have a online store where you shop? It will be easier for us to make suggestions based on what is available to you. Also, while EQ mount could be a fun (for some people ) to use, they tend to be heavier than AltAz mounts of similar payload. So, if you want grab and go I would look for AltAz mount or even higher capacity photo tripod with fluid head.
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101) The only culture I have is from yogurt
If it's for DSOs I'd recommend the 120ST. At f/5 it's quite a short scope and doesn't weigh much (sits very steady on a skywatcher Az4 with steel legs). Cool down time is short. The focuser is only single speed and could be a lot better but it's sufficient for DSOs.
I don't recommend an EQ mount if you want something quick and easy to take out! I have an EQ5 from when I had my 8" SCT - that thing is pretty heavy with the counterweight on.
It would depend on the size of mount, do you have a link to it?
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101) The only culture I have is from yogurt
Check to see if the diagonal can be removed so you can use a better quality one.
Some of these older refractors you could not remove them and they are not the best.
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101) The only culture I have is from yogurt