Hi guys! I am brand new to astronomy and to this forum, and I was hoping I could get some advice. I posted these questions on the old forum, but I know a lot of the members have moved here, so I hope it is okay if I post it here too!
So I recently purchased a Celestron Nexstar 130 SLT, and others have pointed out that I might appreciate a different telescope. From the research I had done, it seemed like a good choice for my price range because of the decent-sized
aperture and the motorized mount, but I might have jumped the gun. I have had it for a week, and other than the overwhelming shaking of the mount, it is pretty cool to be able to see a bit of Jupiter, its 4 moons, and Saturn, and to get some really cool pictures of the moon on my iPhone. I can
barely make out the great red spot, but I cannot make out the Cassini division on Saturn's rings. I think I might have made out a
messier, but I wasn't 100% sure (it looked like a smudge on the glass). I would like to do more with a telescope, if it is possible!
I live in Orange County,
CA, where there is a lot of light pollution (it is like an 8 or 9 on the
Bortle scale, if I am to understand that correctly). I do not know if this is possible where I am located, but I would like to be able to view Saturn and Jupiter in as much detail as possible, and I would also like to see some
DSO without driving 2 hours to the nearest dark sky. Also, I would especially like to have the option to learn astrophotography when I get more experienced and can afford a decent camera, which seems impossible with my super shaky 130 SLT.
My price range is between $500 - $550, but I think I can shill out a bit more if you guys think it is worth it. I got a few responses on the other forum suggesting I look into getting an Orion Dobsonian 8" or 10" (Orion skywatcher 8", Skyquest XT8I, and Skywatcher 10"). Those seem really cool. Others suggested 120 refractors (Orion Omni XLT 120) with an equatorial mount.
So, here are some questions--
Would it even be worth it to shill out $650 for a dobsonian with an 8" or 10"
aperture and a
GoTO mount in the area that I am in? It is not that I am not willing to drive the 2 hours for dark skies, I just want something that I can use in my backyard and see some cool stuff and maybe take some pictures.
With what I want to do in mind (Planets,
DSOs, astrophotography eventually), do you guys have an opinion on what would be the better option for me in my area? What advantages would a
dob give me over a refractor, or vice versa? I know these questions are probably answered somewhere, but I do not know what information applies to only dark skies and what doesn't, and sometimes I even see conflicting information (likely due to personal preference).
I read that having the motorized
GoTo mount is super helpful for heavy light polluted areas. Is that true? I am willing to forgo it if the extra cost is too high, especially if it will cost me the ability to do astrophotography later on.
I am sure the different scopes do different things, and I am probably asking for too much for my area. I also understand that astrophotography is extremely complicated, but I am totally willing to learn. I feel as though astrophotography would allow me to get the most out of a telescope. If I have the ability to take some cool pictures to show off to family and friends, I will have a reason to take my telescope out most nights, you know what I mean?
So, should I focus on getting a telescope that is dedicated to astrophotography, even though it might take me a while to learn? Or should I buy something that will give me the best views? I know that has a lot to do with personal choice, but is it even worth it in my area to pursue astrophotography?
I know this is a lot (hopefully not too much). This is a large investment for me. I am really excited about astronomy, especially after the taste I have had this last week, so I want to make sure I get the absolute best thing I can get for me.
I totally appreciate everyone's time and energy, and thank you in advance if you respond to this. I have a lot to learn and am excited to learn from you guys. I am looking forward to exploring the universe with you all!