LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON A Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope

lemme takalook

Several months ago I thought I could afford a telescope and researched them. The Orion dobsonian telescopes are the best bang for the buck telescopes. Just make sure you have a clear understanding of what you'll be able to see before purchasing it.

[link to www.google.com]


I kinda like these. I have
an old Coulter Donsonion F 4.5. with a
Telrad finder
Tirion Sky Atlas 2000.0,
redlight flashlight.
Several Meade Ultra wide angle lenses 12.7mm 9.6mm and 4.8mm


Try a University Optics 70 Degree field 38 mm eyepiece as your main eyepiece. I have several eyepieces that are equivalent but are no longer manufactured.

GL

The scope itself is less than half the cost. Telrad finder, Star chart, flash light and the most expensive are good eyepieces. Also that 8" is a little slow and won't give up the super wide field that you want with a manual telescope.

I love the fast scope with widest angle biggest eyepiece possible. It's like a porthole in space.

That's a great beginner scope at a good price. You'll want at least a couple of good eyepieces, something around 25mm and something around 12 or so, and maybe one little smaller like an 8 or 9.

Check out the Explore Scientific 82 degree sealed eyepieces, they're still on sale for $99 at Woodland Hills I believe. Good eyepieces make a HUGE difference in the quality of the experience and the ones that come with scopes are generally pretty crummy.

It's a little overwhelming at first, read [link to www.cloudynights.com] in the beginners section, it will get you up to speed.

Tulsa?

Page astronut.

Awesome thanks for the reply

sorry I really appreciate your reply but I don't think I am understanding properly. Are you saying its a good scope but I should upgrade the eyepiece?

Thanks

great advice. One of the things I would like to do is take some pics of the moon, do you think this would do the trick? I imagine I would need to buy a special fitting, I have a fuji h20s

Appreciate you taking the time to answer. It looks like I am going to grab it tonight as I found a used one locally for 275.00 so judging by everyones response it doesn't sound like I can go wrong

Cheers.

I never really got involved in Astrophotography

[link to www.telescopes.com]

I bought one of these telescopes and it is so awsome.
I highly recommend

I think he's just saying that he likes low magnification, wide field eyepieces. The scope only comes with one eyepiece, a 25mm, which means magnification of 48x. This is a reasonably low power, semi wide angle eyepiece. (Magnification is focal length of scope 1200mm divided by FL of eyepiece 25mm = 48x)
For viewing planets and galaxies you will want more magnification than this, so you will need other eyepieces of shorter focal lengths. E.g. something like a 12mm and for high power a 6mm. For wider views consider maybe a 40mm.
Try to get as good a quality eyepieces as you can afford.
Read reviews on scope sites to get some ideas of what's good.

I bought a 9mm with my scope and it came with a 25mm.This morning I could see Jupiter and the bands on it.Four moons as well.
I can't wait for a 2" eyepiece.
Its crazy what you can see with this telescope even in the lit up city sky.