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although i agree with the 10" dob a s a good choice...there are a few things : - Alt/az movement can be jerky (stiction) : replace the alt with proper bearings, replace the az circle with a bearing, use teflon pads. - Flock the inside of the OTA, blacken the back of the prim.mirror. blacken edges of sec.mirror - replace all sec adjustment knobs (bob's knobs), and the spring, also replace the 3 prim.springs (heavier load) - blacken the inside of the focuser, replace the bearings - add a setting circle between base and rotating plate for easy Az degrees - add an inclinometer to the OTA for easy Alt degrees (helps hugely in finding objects) - add a red dot/reticle/Telrad finder for large FOV - get rid of the pesky finder scope and get a 'Right side up' finderscope, also save's your neck a lot of pain - add some cheap book lights, and paint them red - DIY motorize your focuser!!!!!...cant stress enough how this will help you 1000 fold getting rid of shaky images - add a at least two bubble levels to the rotating base, trust me.....just do it - get a proper centralizer for your focuser, not hose cheap Antares self centering adapters but a Glatter Paralyzer - get a proper Focal Extender!!! not only will it cut down on your eyepiece collection but it will improve your FOV - make a 'clip on' fan for the back of your primary, if you add a potentiometer you can easily adjust the speeds - make a dew cap out of a black foam exercise mat , your neighbours will think you bought a cannon, plus it keeps the dew away And lastly: subsctibe to Cloudynights (www.cloudynights.com) there is no better source of helpful people.. Yea,...it's a lot of work...but thats what having a dob is all about...modifications! I did it, without any knowledge....so you can do it too
Got into hobby four months ago. Bought a First Light 10" Dobsonian. Weighed 61 pounds. I am elderly and feeble. Could not drag it into the back yard. Gave it to a friend. Now have a Sky Watcher AZ GTi mount and a Bresser 102/460 refractor. Total weight 15 pounds. Much better for me.
Took the smaller 8" / 200mm as beginner scope 4 years ago and i still love it. With some more budget i would've taken the 10", i think it fits the perfect aperture/incumbrace spot. Still really satisfied by the images i get, a lot more than expected
Thank you Elena, I do astrophotography and I like your videos but most important is that my 9 years old daughter loves astronomy and your videos are inspiring her to get more into it!. And talking about dobsonians I am picking up one 10" explore scientific today!!! Keep up the great work Elena.
I love my Coulter 10” dob I brought used many years ago. I have a whole bunch of different eyepieces. My favorite with this scope is my 24mm televue panoptic eyepiece. The views are spectacular. Love the simplicity of a dob and the light gathering. Thank for sharing Helena!
Is it possible to see anything deep space or no ? whats the point of spending 700 dollars to just view the moon , i dont get that part , someone explain
@@Revelation13-8 oh you can most definitely see deep space objects! With just my 8" dob, and rubbish B5 skies I can still see amazing clusters, nebula, galaxies and bizarre stars. I'm.not sure who told you these things were only for the moon, but they were hugely mistaken. Having a photon of light travel over 500 million years from the Hercules Cluster and land in just my eye still sends a shiver of awe through my soul! And this is why - as stunning as astrophotography is - there will always be a place for good old visual :) Clear skies and best wishes my friend.
Before the post covid price jumps, the 8"f6 dob at under $400 was the best beginner telescopes. Now that prices have practically doubled, it leans more to the 6"f8 dob. And in the old days it was an equatorial 6"f8 newtonian. 10" scopes are more intermediate class, and since they tend to be f4.5, 4.7 and 5, they require a coma corrector and premium eyepieces to be sharp to the edge
Hi Helena, I have a 10” GSO Dobsonian telescope and they are very good for visuals, you can for photos but you have to be very patient, a hug, love and greetings from Chile
Great video! Small Dobsonians (i.e., Orion Starblasts) are now being loaned out to folks for free of charge. I liked the intro with all the types of moons!
I bought the 10 inch do Skywatcher scope and about 7 years ago, I paid about 550 dollars but I had to drive 3 hours to Seattle to get it since there's no telescope stores near me. It's a great scope, especially starting out. I did buy a bunch of new lenses, better quality then the three it came with. I definitely recommend this scope if anyone wants a great starter scope when starting out.
Thanks Helena! 2 years ago your videos helped me get my first telescope - the skywatcher 200P dob - for visual astronomy. I couldnt afford the 10" at the time but I regret not waiting and getting it from the start because now I really want to upgrade!
Hi again, Cardnim. Don't regret that too much. What you gain in light gathering is a trade off against portability. My 8" dob fit easily in to my car and still allowed room for all the other gear (camping?) I wanted to bring. A 10-12" dob wouldn't have. Also, gas for the car was cheaper than a bigger scope. :-) I eventually, "gave in to the dark side" and started doing astrophotography.
@@McTaSs Cheers McTass! That actually makes me feel a bit better. I thought I had made a big blunder, but I suppose I can think of it like its sparked off a hugely awe inspiring and enjoyable new hobby, one which I now feel like investing more money in to. Thanks mate, and clear skies to you!
@@tomwall8403 Thats so true. Just a few weeks ago, I travelled with my scope for the first time. I could only get to a B4 sky, but the difference was pretty noticeable. I think I also got one of those "wobble free" nights too, and ended up finding a few Messier items that had eluded me from the garden. :) I still want more though! ....Hmmm. I wonder if the Mrs would allow a 24" observatory.... #inmydreams
Good video, I bought an 8" Stella Lyra Dobsonian as my first telescope. It's a beast. The 10 will be even beefier! I enquired on the skywaycher, but it was out of stock. I think they're the same just rebranded. The Lyra came with a spotter scope too. I've been meaning to get in the car and travel out to the country where there is less light pollution. I was taken back by how quickly you're off target when on high magnification due to the earth's rotation 🌎 Edit: I bought from FLO and it arrived the next day, to the opposite end of the country! Crazy fast delivery. I bought a Celestron Barlow Lens and some other eyepieces from Ebay. For roughly half of the retail price. Saved quite a bit.
i love astro so much like its so calming and just amazing, i used to have no interest in the sky and photography but i started watching astro vids and it really got me interested in how beautiful our universe really is and the best part about it is that you dont have to make the image true colours you can mess with it and make it exaclty how whomever wants so theres so much vary in photos from everyone because everyone has a different style and its just so perfect. Theres nothing better then going out at night and staring upo and just staring at the beautful stars and imaging just whats beyond what we cannot see, so far i have pics of orion nebua, lagoon nebula + very faint triffid and core of milky way. I use a nikon D5500 with my 3 lenses f.18 30mm / f3.5-4.5 18-70mm / f4.5-6.5 55-300mm, although i dont have the money to waste on a star tracker its still very fun
After nearly 60 years of experience with a number of scopes in different sizes, my choice for beginner would be a 6 inch F8 Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount. A 6 inch F8 is much easier to collimate accurately. And probably, if it’s a commercially made mirror. a more accurately made one. A generation ago when I started in amateur astronomy, it was the standard instrument of most amateur astronomers. And for good reason!
I own a 8" and I can confirm it's a huge telescope and defenedly not for beginners. 10 and 8 inch are both very big telescope and a true challenge to carry around. I recommend the 6 inch or lower because they are great for beginners. My 8 inch dobsonian is the 2nd telescope I bought.
I got into amateur astronomy as an early teen back in the 80's😂 and I am still not used to people qualifying a 10-inch reflector as a "beginner-scope"😵💫. For just over £100 you can get a really decent altazimuth 60mm refractor that requires 0 collimation, and is super portable. I wouldn't recommend anyone to begin with a 10 inch Dob ... but perhaps I am just getting old🤣
A very nice video. When you think about it a scope like this is not for a person just starting out. This scope for the person who has used the binos and a star map and has learned what astronomy is and loves it. Maybe after you had that scope that you learned to hate. Abnd your now ready for a true scope. Think of getting one scope you can fly with or getting 3 or 4 that never work for you. This scope in an 8 or 10 inch is a true scope that you can use for a lifetime, and wont let you down. Remember a scope needs a dark sky too. Watch more videos to learn what size is right for you...
Great job! If you have dark skies, using a Dob is a fun way to learn the night sky. I was able to observe all of the Messier objects that way (8") when I started. Keep up the good work, Helena!🌠🌠🌠
Tom, I'm a bit new to all of this and my viewing is through an 8" dob under Bortle 5 skies. By your comment, do you mean that my dob is more affected by light pollution than some other telescope types when viewing DSO?
@@Cardnim Hi Cardnim. Oh no. For visual, bigger is better. We share the same Bortle rating and mirror size. My experience with working through the Messier list was that I could locate everything from my yard EXCEPT some of the Virgo Cluster galaxies. M98 was a real stinker ! :-) For those, I needed to go to a dark desert site. I found that open and globular clusters were pretty easy from a B5-6 sky. Galaxies and nebula really benefited from a darker sky. Hope this helps.
@@tomwall8403 It helps loads Tom, thanks so much. Ive had to rely on forums and YT videos for my "knowledge" and Id trade it all for a few hours with an experienced astronomer I could ask questions to! So your answer is very much appreciated. If I can push my luck even further and add a follow up question - if its mainly about aperture size for visual, then what is the advantage of very expensive telescopes? eg. If I think of buying 3 telescopes, all roughly the same aperature, the cost differences are HUGE, but I struggle to see the added benefit if it really is all about aperture. Skywatcher Dob 300P = £1100, Celestron C11 XLT (OTA) = £2750, Celestron Edge HD 11" = £4200! Sorry for what Im sure is a silly question!
@@Cardnim Hi Cardnim. I'm happy to help. IF you are only interested in doing visual work, a large dob just can't be beat. The optics are much less expensive to manufacture. IF, on the other hand, you think you'll ever want to do astrophotography, other scope options come into play. An 8-12" dob offers stunning visual views. An 8" is pretty easy to toss in the car and get to dark skies. Anything larger is more challenging. Reasonably accurate target finding can be achieved with setting circles. I was able to find most targets with a 25mm eyepiece. IF, you want to make the jump to photography, small refractors are hard to beat. The cost difference between two isn't too much. (8" dob, about $600???; small refractors + camera + mount, about $1500???; large dob, about $1,000???) It is possible to run a smaller dob an a modest goto mount and do astrophotography with a DSLR camera. This can save you a great deal of money, if, you already have a DSLR. I'll attach a YT link that might be helpful. Please feel free to PM me at tomwall1953@comcast.net Good Luck! Tom ua-cam.com/video/6-m92hM12sY/v-deo.html
I would say a 10" is not a beginners scope, dobs In the 10" range are very bulky and long tube, which you bang into doorways, etc taking them back In side, and out. A beginner want's something they can carry out in one hit, not make 2 trips. I recommend nothing larger than a 6" to start with as it can be carried easily in one go and light. A 10" dob is not a very light scope, and for a beginner may become bothersome to take out. A beginner needs a scope, that's light and not making a couple of trips to setup. The quicker a beginner can setup the more likely, he or she will continue with this hobby. In summer maybe fine, but winter will test anyone, so the faster the setup and take down the better. I would say a 10" is great if your decide to continue and get real keen, else it could put you off. And this is from someone who owns a 10" dob, very bulky and the reason I went with a Celestron 9.25". Tube much easier to handle. I find a dob just to bulky and it's collecting dust. The best telescope is the one you use the most. I disagree a 10" dob for a beginner and that's coming from a dob owner
@@cpdudeyt correct, there is also the weight factor. There is a big weight difference between an 8 and 10", so tube lenght and weight are more of a problem
hmm, i think to hook someone with the stars, you need a scope which has three qualities: 1. ease of use (check) 2. Rewarding quality, so you actually see something, and not blurry smudges (check) 2. easy to carry up some stairs andlout onto a balcony (nope). I think a SW150P is the better choice... and it does not rip a huge hole into your purse, if you're not sure if you like the hobby.
Absolutely agree. It's not that heavy with less than 13kgs(w/ accessories), but the size might be an issue here and doesn't help with ease of use. If you are starting out, you really want something that's simple and quick to set up, it shouldn't be annoying to Transport and setup your heavy scope etc
Thank you Miss Helena! I enjoy your astro equipment vids. I purchased my first smart phone a couple of weeks ago. I got this phone because it can be used to drive the Sky Watcher EQ6 R pro mount. I'll be on the lookout for your next vid.
I just bought the Skywatcher 10. Great views so far! I am considering caster wheels with locks on them to ease in moving it around. Also I will be adding two lift handles to the base. New sub. To avoid mirror toggling due to 90⁰ tap add a rubber spacer or a cushion between the scope and base.
Hi Helena. Thanks for this video; it was nicely detailed and has given me some food for thought. I currently have a very old (23 yr old) 4” Newtonian reflector telescope (Helios 1141EQ1, I think). It’s been really good over the years, but the lack of accuracy is maddening, so I’m currently saving for something better. I hadn’t thought of a Dobsonian until now, but I may well look into it more. I’ve recently bought a Tridaptor phone mount, so I would be using my mobile phone for images until I can get to grips with it all and may be save for something a bit more photography friendly down the line (scope, as well as camera). Keep up the good work. All the best, Chris.
Because of this video, I bought one yesterday from High Point Scientific. 30 bucks per month financing....gotta love it. I call that a credit builder lol. I bought a 80eq as my first scope and regret it so I had to make up for my mistake lol. Thanks for the advice! Keep smiling, it's infectious.
It’s high weight of 32 kg will definitely be a problem is you have to move it and it also needs collimation which will also be a problem for a beginner.
Hi, You are wrong in focal length. The focal length of most telescopes ends up in a focus point that is slightly outside the opening of the telescope. So if you take your primary mirror out of the telescope and hold it at waist level and attach a flashlight to a chair about 3 - 4 meters away from your primary mirror so that its reflection falls on a wall, you will notice that the reflection will come to focus at a distance which is called the focal length of the telescope. This distance is not the distance from your primary mirror to your secondary mirror. It's more than that. This distance is where the tip of the cone of light is located which creates the perfect image. In your case, if your telescope has a focal length of 1200mm, then you should be exactly 1.2 meters away from the wall to see a crisp image of the light coming from the flashlight. This is supposedly what the manufacturer of the telescope says should happen. In many cases, this is not exactly 1200mm, its a +/- 5-15 mm, sometimes more. The reason for this is that some mirrors have imperfections during the manufacturing process and their curvature does not exactly come out the way it's supposed to. As a result, the focal length changes. The secondary mirror in a Dobsonian is placed to intercept the cone of light usually about 18-22 cm before the focal length mark is reached (ie behind the focal point). This 18-20 cm remainder of the light gets shifted upwards towards the focuser tube, at which point somewhere in there the image gets focused and goes through the eyepiece where it is shown perfectly. You need to know your exact focal length so that you can adjust your secondary mirror better for collimation purposes, which results in a crisper image. Best of luck and good wishes to you.
I'm a beginner in that I don't have a telescope yet. But I see and hear all the numbers. And the comments don't seem to come from beginners like me. I hear refractor and 4", then 10" reflector. If 10" is good, why not a 10" refractor? Newbies don't know these things. I'm curious to know how much mag power one needs to clearly see the rings of Saturn or the red spot on Jupiter.. Or even if you can see the ice cap on Mars. And do planets or the moon run out of your eyepiece before anybody else can change places with you and see. Not said, but I'm guessing the barlow darkens the picture a little ? If so, isn't there a minimum aperture before the contrast makes your image look like a dark spot? I've heard high power shakes a lot if your mount isn't stable as a rock (expensive?) or perhaps a dob is stable by nature? Sample planet pictures would be most helpful.... for example, here is Jupiter on a 10" dob at 120x versus a 4" refractor looking at the same thing. Or here is a galaxy at 56x with a 6" dob vs the same galaxy with a 3" refractor. In other words, we don't know what the numbers mean yet.
Are you strictly talking about observing or photography as well? I don't know much about the photography aspect but I can help if you just want to observe.
4" or 10" is the size of the lens or mirror. Larger sizes have brighter images. Think of a funnel for your eye. At the small end, refractors tend do easier and trouble free. As they get larger, refractors gain weight faster because the lens gets thicker as well as larger. A 10" refractor is a huge beast you might find at a university observatory.
A Dobsonian is an inexpensive way to get a larger telescope on a stable platform. I agree with some other comments that a 6" or 8" Dob is more of a beginner size than a 10". But once set up, a 10" or even a 12" Dob is nearly as easy to aim and track with as a much smaller telescope. If you put the same telescope om a standard motorized mount for photography (German Equitorial) you would have a much heavier and more expensive rig.
🌿🌿 ALIGNMENT - Helena, please please make slow. detailed video how to Brightest star Align Sky Watcher 250 equpped with SynScan To Go automation. I tried it few times following included instruction and could not succeed. My location is central Poland - 52:00N - 20:37E Michael, sky watching enthusiast 🌻🌻 I made initial setup - entered location, time zone (1), daylight saving setting (yes), each time I enter current date and time, Then the system suggests Capella a brightest star - I point the scope on the brightest visible star located +/- directly on the south direction at 22-23 hour time - is it Capella ???? I am novice sky observer.
I choose a skywatcher 120/600 as first scope and a 10" dob as second. Regardless of the various others that followed I'm still using them nearly every time. I'd add a good wide field ocular is the second best investment. (I've bought a TV ethos 21mm quite early on and it's still the most used part of my gear).
Who ever thought that one day even astro stuff would be sold through videos. Some years ago I thought my hobby will probably remain a niche but look were we are now..
I'm scared of collimation - I don't like fiddling with things and I don't like to have to buy tools and painstakingly set things... could you make a collimation video about this specific telescope?
250 Dob is one of the best bang for your bucks. But dobs are big et can be heavy (SW 250 weighs 12kg & 1,2m tall, rockerbox 15kg & diameter of 540mm ,and can't be folded). Be warned ! Best telescope is the one you use regularly !
Eyepiece FL div by Telescope F ratio max human dilated pupil is 7mm and 1mm to .5mm is about the extreme for higher power things like double stars and moon and planet detail. Have fun view. Well done my Sister your doing a great job here.
I was amazed by the heavens from a very early age, but I was so put off by the mediocre (bad!) views I got from my small toy-telescope that it almost killed my dreams. In 2002 I bought my first 'real' telescope - a 10" GSO dobson and looking back I don't think I could've have made a better choice! That 10" have given me so much joy and many great experiences. It is also very user-friendly, something that cannot be ignored. My advice would be something like this.. If you really want a (first) telescope then buy as big of a telescope as you can afford. If you want a refractor then a 4" f10 would be an excellent choice. A real workhorse that may be everything you need. It will need a big-ish mount, something like a EQ5 or a AZ-4. For grab'n go a ST80 on a Pronto mount is great. A big dobson? A 12" will go deep and show a lot, but it's BIG and a bit cumbersome to move around. So for me.. if the choice is between 8" and 10" dobsons then go for the 10". It really has that wow-factor and I agree with Helena.. it is the perfect beginner telescope! 20 years down the line I may have too many telescopes.. 😇
I got the 10" StellaLyra from First Light Optics. And yes the views are definitely lit, vs my app guided Celestron 102 DX Refractor which does the job too. But different uses ofcourse. I would have opted for the 12" version for more light gathering capability but unfortunately it was not in stock at the time. As for the negative comments below. Yes a 10" is expensive and yes there are the 6" and 8" alternative but the 10" is another level atleast for me. And can be heavy for some. And the light gathering is better than the 6 and 8 inch. With handles installed, the OTA is easy to handle. But if you think about the equivalent of a 10" dob vs a 10" mak and sct Yes the latter mak or sct is also more portable than a dob but they are also much more expensive. Which makes a dob a good alternative. All that light gathering capability without the heavy heavy price. Albeit it being big and heavy for some. But there are ways to fix that.
It was a little frustrating to watch this video as i wish you'd talk more about the telescope itself, the quality of deep sky objects when viewing through the telescope, what additional mods you need to be able to actually track and view them, etc. First half of the video is just about what to look for in a telescope when we already have a telescope at hand, could've been atleast shortened
Hi Clarence, thank you for your comment. I made this video for those folks in mind who haven’t purchased a telescope yet, to take them through all of the important specs that are necessary to consider and understand when you are new to astronomy. I’ll make more videos in the future on how to use individual scopes but this was more of an intro for those wanting to start from scratch with the purchasing process.
Watching your video from 1 year ago wondering if you advanced on the application of photographing through your phone? What's the possibility of more information about the eyepiece, Plus adding additional filters for contrast for planetary observation. Hopefully you respond to this just acquired a telescope not as prominent as yours .
Helena! I need your help! Just bought a 10" dob and want some good eyepieces for it. Can you do a video on that? With some differences in purpose (dso/planets) and prices? Would be great!
Hi. I've been thinking about a dobsonian goto and wondered what your opinion is for astrophotography? Fae that guy doon the road. Getting different information. Thanks
I am new to this field. But I have been studying astrology. I want to buy my first brand new telescope. I am interested in Dobsonian telescope. The person whom I'm buying the telescope from has given me two options . Meade flexible Dobsonian 10 inches (726$) or 12 inches(1050$) or SkyWatcher flexible Dobsonian 10 inches (750$) You are a very professional person so could you please advice me on which is the better telescope. Very Kind.
Hello I'm looking at purchasing the Sky watcher classic 200 8" as I cannot afford to go up to the 250 10". I know you recommend getting eye pieces, if you could only get 1 or 2, what would you say are the most important sizes please?
I mostly use a 10mm or 25mm eyepiece coupled with a 3x Barlow Lens 👌👌 Having this combo allows mags of 48x, 120x, 144x & 360x 💪 That means you'll be able to see the full lunar disk and magnify the lunar surface in immaculate detail. You can also expect to see great detail in the planets too, all by using ONLY that set of 3 pieces. Genuinely hope this helps you out, if it isn't too late already ❤ I noticed you had no reply for sooo long
Wrong , 10inch is 10x less used then 8 inch , and 10 inch does not collect all that much more light , about 27% more , not a lot . But it weight is almost double hence those who have it just pull it out of the garage , and even that for some time and then they leave it to collect dust . 8 inch can do all that 10 inch can do , they have same focal length so magnifying power is the same , biggest FOV is also the same . Basically all you get is 25% more light , but you gain double the weight almost . So the best one is actually 8 inch . Everything after that is a permanent setup . SO i can put my 8 inch in my car and go to mountain , but i cant put 10 inch one , and even if i could it would become rather cumbersome very fast . There is nothing 10 inch can do , that 8 inch cant do . NOTHING ! So why pull 2 8 inch scopes around , when you can one. And another point is that you can not use bigger then 25mm EP , i have a 40mm EP , i cant use it , i see the barrel of the scope . Only refractors can handle 40mm EP , even those that have 1.25inch focusers , simple 80mm cheapest scope achromat , will offer wonderful views , you wont see purple fringing because its low power , so its going to act like an APO , that is amazing , 40mm EP and 80mm or 100mm Achromat on simple Camera tripod is the best beginner setup , can not be beaten . After that comes Dob , and not 10inch , 6 or 8 inch , if you go above that there is no point until 12inch or 14inch , but by then its a permanent setup , its not going anywhere anytime soon . So you are basically a noob , you did not know things i said here .
Short answer, no. When observing at night, your eyes become dark-adapted, and you are using your eyes' "rod" cells, which are not good at seeing color. So for most nebulae and galaxies, you see them in grayscale, or "black & white." Comets, which may appear green in photographs, will also only appear gray, even in large Dobs. However, the Orion Nebula is a special case. It is bright enough that a large Dob may allow you to see some purples, but usually it appears blue-green. Again, this is because of your eyes' night-vision. On the other hand, stars are bright enough to trigger your "cone" cells, and they will show color. Large Dobs are the best at showing colors of deep-red carbon stars and colorful double stars like Albireo (blue and yellow pair). Star colors are seen even in small refractors, but a 10-inch Dob will make the colors of stars much more pleasing.
I do not think 250mm telescope is for beginners. It is pain to set up, price and a lot of people will get to the point this is not their hobby like they thought
I think it depends on the person Aaron. I got the 200P (8") version of this scope and that was my very first one. I loved it straight out of the box, and being impatient, I just built the stand, carried it out to the garden that night, plonked the tube in and looked up. No set up, no collimation, no plan.... and it was jaw dropping! I still remember the huge smile as I saw Saturn's rings with my own eyes! That was me hooked right there. I think one of the biggest problems nowadays is that astropohotography is so widespread, people thinking of buying a telescope see all these amazing nebula and galaxy images on YT or BBC or whatever, then go and spend hundreds on a scope, only to be hugely disappointed when they see a small patch of fuzz - "That's the majestic andromeda galaxy?!" So to avoid that, I now tell friends and family who ask about scopes, to go big and go dob :)
Hi Aaron, thank you for your comment! I think choosing a first scope all depends on someone's personal preference and what they feel most comfortable with. I myself only recommended this scope due to the positive experiences I've had with it while getting started in astronomy. The dob itself only comes in two parts, so it's not as difficult as say an astrophotography rig to setup but there are various smaller versions such as the table-top dobsonian series that are a lot more accessible to those who wouldn't be able to carry the 10'' around. Price is always going to be a varying factor for everyone as well - but I find that this one is generally a sweet spot when someone is properly wanting to learn visual astronomy and the night sky. Again though, there are many more accessible alternatives that are smaller, lighter and use apps to go to objects which may appeal to a more younger market. Hope this cleared up what I was saying in the video! Clear Skies, H
That's another great video from you, so thank you. I bought this exact 'scope last summer and used it to learn the summer stars and constellations. I've recently (as in 'once') tried to take photos with my DSLR camera attached to the 'scope, and Saturn came out, well, blurry. I think I'm missing something important with this. Like an eyepiece that attaches somewhere between 'scope and camera, or a camera lens. Do you have any ideas?
Your focusser can't go deep enough for the focus point of the DSLR to reach the focal plane of the telescope. DSLRs are thick and that thickness causes the problem as it's just impossible to reach focus in the default setup. This is the case with many Newtonians but there are ways around it. Easiest one is using a barlow. Other ways : get a low profile focuser or buy a kit to move your primary mirror forward in the tube (which raises the focal plane in the focuser).
Hi Simon, Benny has explained this wonderfully! When I viewed Saturn I attached a Barlow lens in between the camera and the scope to be able to reach focus. Given it’s not a tracking mount, though, the planets may appear quite blurry and seem out of focus due to manual shake. Good views are still possible in the right conditions! Hope this helps.
Hi there! Lucky imaging would be a challenge with a dob on the mount it comes with in the box as it's fully manually controlled and cannot track objects - even trying to follow an object yourself in the field of view at high focal lengths can be tough. However, if you purchase a dob like this one, some tube rings and an equatorial tracking mount it would be an absolute light bucket for lucky imaging :)
Consensus is that best beginner scope are either 6" or 8" Newtonian. Simply because a 10" is to heavy and because the tube will have a tendency to tip forward depending on what you put in the focuser. Most beginners will eventually want to go to a setup with an EQ mount and either an SCT, Maksutov or a refractor scope. Especially when astrophotography starts making sense. 10" are known to be cheap second hand for a reason.
A telescope choice starts with mecanical components: mount and focuser. This needs to have good quality. Weight/size is next, I live in an appartment and had a 10inch newtonian for a while - was a bad idea. Get the biggest apperture with the longest focal length that covers the previous aspects and the budget. Get f6 f-ratio telescope of above. For someone starting, probably a good reference is: refractors up to 102mm, reflectors from 114mm upwards. Avoid expensive APOs for visual, that's only for the bragging rights (astrophotography).
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although i agree with the 10" dob a s a good choice...there are a few things :
- Alt/az movement can be jerky (stiction) : replace the alt with proper bearings, replace the az circle with a bearing, use teflon pads.
- Flock the inside of the OTA, blacken the back of the prim.mirror. blacken edges of sec.mirror
- replace all sec adjustment knobs (bob's knobs), and the spring, also replace the 3 prim.springs (heavier load)
- blacken the inside of the focuser, replace the bearings
- add a setting circle between base and rotating plate for easy Az degrees
- add an inclinometer to the OTA for easy Alt degrees (helps hugely in finding objects)
- add a red dot/reticle/Telrad finder for large FOV
- get rid of the pesky finder scope and get a 'Right side up' finderscope, also save's your neck a lot of pain
- add some cheap book lights, and paint them red
- DIY motorize your focuser!!!!!...cant stress enough how this will help you 1000 fold getting rid of shaky images
- add a at least two bubble levels to the rotating base, trust me.....just do it
- get a proper centralizer for your focuser, not hose cheap Antares self centering adapters but a Glatter Paralyzer
- get a proper Focal Extender!!! not only will it cut down on your eyepiece collection but it will improve your FOV
- make a 'clip on' fan for the back of your primary, if you add a potentiometer you can easily adjust the speeds
- make a dew cap out of a black foam exercise mat , your neighbours will think you bought a cannon, plus it keeps the dew away
And lastly: subsctibe to Cloudynights (www.cloudynights.com) there is no better source of helpful people..
Yea,...it's a lot of work...but thats what having a dob is all about...modifications!
I did it, without any knowledge....so you can do it too
Reminder to watch this comment *
Got into hobby four months ago. Bought a First Light 10" Dobsonian. Weighed 61 pounds. I am elderly and feeble. Could not drag it into the back yard. Gave it to a friend.
Now have a Sky Watcher AZ GTi mount and a Bresser 102/460 refractor. Total weight 15 pounds. Much better for me.
Thanks mate !
Was considering buying one of these monsters.
You helped me finally come to my senses!
Took the smaller 8" / 200mm as beginner scope 4 years ago and i still love it. With some more budget i would've taken the 10", i think it fits the perfect aperture/incumbrace spot.
Still really satisfied by the images i get, a lot more than expected
Thank you Elena, I do astrophotography and I like your videos but most important is that my 9 years old daughter loves astronomy and your videos are inspiring her to get more into it!. And talking about dobsonians I am picking up one 10" explore scientific today!!!
Keep up the great work Elena.
I love my Coulter 10” dob I brought used many years ago. I have a whole bunch of different eyepieces. My favorite with this scope is my 24mm televue panoptic eyepiece. The views are spectacular. Love the simplicity of a dob and the light gathering. Thank for sharing Helena!
Is it possible to see anything deep space or no ? whats the point of spending 700 dollars to just view the moon , i dont get that part , someone explain
@@Revelation13-8 oh you can most definitely see deep space objects! With just my 8" dob, and rubbish B5 skies I can still see amazing clusters, nebula, galaxies and bizarre stars. I'm.not sure who told you these things were only for the moon, but they were hugely mistaken. Having a photon of light travel over 500 million years from the Hercules Cluster and land in just my eye still sends a shiver of awe through my soul!
And this is why - as stunning as astrophotography is - there will always be a place for good old visual :)
Clear skies and best wishes my friend.
I have a Coulter 10 inch also. I'll never part with it. Not very portable though!
Before the post covid price jumps, the 8"f6 dob at under $400 was the best beginner telescopes. Now that prices have practically doubled, it leans more to the 6"f8 dob.
And in the old days it was an equatorial 6"f8 newtonian.
10" scopes are more intermediate class, and since they tend to be f4.5, 4.7 and 5, they require a coma corrector and premium eyepieces to be sharp to the edge
Hi Helena, I have a 10” GSO Dobsonian telescope and they are very good for visuals, you can for photos but you have to be very patient, a hug, love and greetings from Chile
I am not a beginner but I really enjoyed watching this video! Very well presented. Thanks
Great video! Small Dobsonians (i.e., Orion Starblasts) are now being loaned out to folks for free of charge. I liked the intro with all the types of moons!
I bought the 10 inch do Skywatcher scope and about 7 years ago, I paid about 550 dollars but I had to drive 3 hours to Seattle to get it since there's no telescope stores near me. It's a great scope, especially starting out. I did buy a bunch of new lenses, better quality then the three it came with. I definitely recommend this scope if anyone wants a great starter scope when starting out.
Thanks Helena! 2 years ago your videos helped me get my first telescope - the skywatcher 200P dob - for visual astronomy. I couldnt afford the 10" at the time but I regret not waiting and getting it from the start because now I really want to upgrade!
Don't regret that, there's always a bigger dobson.
Take a 250 and after some time you will want the 300
Hi again, Cardnim. Don't regret that too much. What you gain in light gathering is a trade off against portability. My 8" dob fit easily in to my car and still allowed room for all the other gear (camping?) I wanted to bring. A 10-12" dob wouldn't have. Also, gas for the car was cheaper than a bigger scope. :-) I eventually, "gave in to the dark side" and started doing astrophotography.
@@McTaSs Cheers McTass! That actually makes me feel a bit better. I thought I had made a big blunder, but I suppose I can think of it like its sparked off a hugely awe inspiring and enjoyable new hobby, one which I now feel like investing more money in to. Thanks mate, and clear skies to you!
@@tomwall8403 Thats so true. Just a few weeks ago, I travelled with my scope for the first time. I could only get to a B4 sky, but the difference was pretty noticeable. I think I also got one of those "wobble free" nights too, and ended up finding a few Messier items that had eluded me from the garden. :)
I still want more though! ....Hmmm. I wonder if the Mrs would allow a 24" observatory.... #inmydreams
Good video, I bought an 8" Stella Lyra Dobsonian as my first telescope. It's a beast. The 10 will be even beefier! I enquired on the skywaycher, but it was out of stock. I think they're the same just rebranded. The Lyra came with a spotter scope too. I've been meaning to get in the car and travel out to the country where there is less light pollution. I was taken back by how quickly you're off target when on high magnification due to the earth's rotation 🌎
Edit: I bought from FLO and it arrived the next day, to the opposite end of the country! Crazy fast delivery. I bought a Celestron Barlow Lens and some other eyepieces from Ebay. For roughly half of the retail price. Saved quite a bit.
i love astro so much like its so calming and just amazing, i used to have no interest in the sky and photography but i started watching astro vids and it really got me interested in how beautiful our universe really is and the best part about it is that you dont have to make the image true colours you can mess with it and make it exaclty how whomever wants so theres so much vary in photos from everyone because everyone has a different style and its just so perfect. Theres nothing better then going out at night and staring upo and just staring at the beautful stars and imaging just whats beyond what we cannot see, so far i have pics of orion nebua, lagoon nebula + very faint triffid and core of milky way. I use a nikon D5500 with my 3 lenses f.18 30mm / f3.5-4.5 18-70mm / f4.5-6.5 55-300mm, although i dont have the money to waste on a star tracker its still very fun
After nearly 60 years of experience with a number of scopes in different sizes, my choice for beginner would be a 6 inch F8 Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount. A 6 inch F8 is much easier to collimate accurately. And probably, if it’s a commercially made mirror. a more accurately made one. A generation ago when I started in amateur astronomy, it was the standard instrument of most amateur astronomers. And for good reason!
Awesome video Helena! I have a 10'' dob, and it's great!
I own a 8" and I can confirm it's a huge telescope and defenedly not for beginners. 10 and 8 inch are both very big telescope and a true challenge to carry around. I recommend the 6 inch or lower because they are great for beginners. My 8 inch dobsonian is the 2nd telescope I bought.
I got into amateur astronomy as an early teen back in the 80's😂 and I am still not used to people qualifying a 10-inch reflector as a "beginner-scope"😵💫. For just over £100 you can get a really decent altazimuth 60mm refractor that requires 0 collimation, and is super portable. I wouldn't recommend anyone to begin with a 10 inch Dob ... but perhaps I am just getting old🤣
A very nice video. When you think about it a scope like this is not for a person just starting out. This scope for the person who has used the binos and a star map and has learned what astronomy is and loves it. Maybe after you had that scope that you learned to hate. Abnd your now ready for a true scope. Think of getting one scope you can fly with or getting 3 or 4 that never work for you. This scope in an 8 or 10 inch is a true scope that you can use for a lifetime, and wont let you down.
Remember a scope needs a dark sky too. Watch more videos to learn what size is right for you...
Great job! If you have dark skies, using a Dob is a fun way to learn the night sky. I was able to observe all of the Messier objects that way (8") when I started. Keep up the good work, Helena!🌠🌠🌠
Tom, I'm a bit new to all of this and my viewing is through an 8" dob under Bortle 5 skies.
By your comment, do you mean that my dob is more affected by light pollution than some other telescope types when viewing DSO?
@@Cardnim Hi Cardnim. Oh no. For visual, bigger is better. We share the same Bortle rating and mirror size. My experience with working through the Messier list was that I could locate everything from my yard EXCEPT some of the Virgo Cluster galaxies. M98 was a real stinker ! :-) For those, I needed to go to a dark desert site. I found that open and globular clusters were pretty easy from a B5-6 sky. Galaxies and nebula really benefited from a darker sky. Hope this helps.
@@tomwall8403 It helps loads Tom, thanks so much. Ive had to rely on forums and YT videos for my "knowledge" and Id trade it all for a few hours with an experienced astronomer I could ask questions to! So your answer is very much appreciated.
If I can push my luck even further and add a follow up question - if its mainly about aperture size for visual, then what is the advantage of very expensive telescopes? eg. If I think of buying 3 telescopes, all roughly the same aperature, the cost differences are HUGE, but I struggle to see the added benefit if it really is all about aperture. Skywatcher Dob 300P = £1100, Celestron C11 XLT (OTA) = £2750, Celestron Edge HD 11" = £4200!
Sorry for what Im sure is a silly question!
@@Cardnim Hi Cardnim. I'm happy to help.
IF you are only interested in doing visual work, a large dob just can't be beat. The optics are much less expensive to manufacture.
IF, on the other hand, you think you'll ever want to do astrophotography, other scope options come into play.
An 8-12" dob offers stunning visual views. An 8" is pretty easy to toss in the car and get to dark skies. Anything larger is more challenging. Reasonably accurate target finding can be achieved with setting circles. I was able to find most targets with a 25mm eyepiece.
IF, you want to make the jump to photography, small refractors are hard to beat. The cost difference between two isn't too much. (8" dob, about $600???; small refractors + camera + mount, about $1500???; large dob, about $1,000???)
It is possible to run a smaller dob an a modest goto mount and do astrophotography with a DSLR camera. This can save you a great deal of money, if, you already have a DSLR. I'll attach a YT link that might be helpful.
Please feel free to PM me at tomwall1953@comcast.net
Good Luck!
Tom
ua-cam.com/video/6-m92hM12sY/v-deo.html
Great job...nice and simple....and I think you're correct.
I would say a 10" is not a beginners scope, dobs In the 10" range are very bulky and long tube, which you bang into doorways, etc taking them back In side, and out.
A beginner want's something they can carry out in one hit, not make 2 trips. I recommend nothing larger than a 6" to start with as it can be carried easily in one go and light. A 10" dob is not a very light scope, and for a beginner may become bothersome to take out.
A beginner needs a scope, that's light and not making a couple of trips to setup.
The quicker a beginner can setup the more likely, he or she will continue with this hobby.
In summer maybe fine, but winter will test anyone, so the faster the setup and take down the better.
I would say a 10" is great if your decide to continue and get real keen, else it could put you off.
And this is from someone who owns a 10" dob, very bulky and the reason I went with a Celestron 9.25". Tube much easier to handle. I find a dob just to bulky and it's collecting dust.
The best telescope is the one you use the most. I disagree a 10" dob for a beginner and that's coming from a dob owner
I have an 8 inch dobsonian and I can confirm even the 8 inch is very big so 6 inch is better for begginers
@@cpdudeyt correct, there is also the weight factor. There is a big weight difference between an 8 and 10", so tube lenght and weight are more of a problem
Really useful summary of telescope specifications. Cheers.
hmm, i think to hook someone with the stars, you need a scope which has three qualities: 1. ease of use (check) 2. Rewarding quality, so you actually see something, and not blurry smudges (check) 2. easy to carry up some stairs andlout onto a balcony (nope). I think a SW150P is the better choice... and it does not rip a huge hole into your purse, if you're not sure if you like the hobby.
Its not that heavy.
Absolutely agree. It's not that heavy with less than 13kgs(w/ accessories), but the size might be an issue here and doesn't help with ease of use.
If you are starting out, you really want something that's simple and quick to set up, it shouldn't be annoying to Transport and setup your heavy scope etc
This is a great video! Keep up the good work on this kind of stuff. Super informative and presented in a very relaxed way.
Thank you Miss Helena! I enjoy your astro equipment vids. I purchased my first smart phone a couple of weeks ago. I got this phone because it can be used to drive the Sky Watcher EQ6 R pro mount. I'll be on the lookout for your next vid.
This is the one I started with.
Amazing to see the night sky with.
Excellent presentation skills !
I bought the stellalyra 8 inch dob from flo.it’s quality with right angled finder a mirror fan and quality eyepieces. Great purchase!
I just bought the Skywatcher 10. Great views so far! I am considering caster wheels with locks on them to ease in moving it around. Also I will be adding two lift handles to the base.
New sub.
To avoid mirror toggling due to 90⁰ tap add a rubber spacer or a cushion between the scope and base.
Hi Helena. Thanks for this video; it was nicely detailed and has given me some food for thought. I currently have a very old (23 yr old) 4” Newtonian reflector telescope (Helios 1141EQ1, I think). It’s been really good over the years, but the lack of accuracy is maddening, so I’m currently saving for something better. I hadn’t thought of a Dobsonian until now, but I may well look into it more. I’ve recently bought a Tridaptor phone mount, so I would be using my mobile phone for images until I can get to grips with it all and may be save for something a bit more photography friendly down the line (scope, as well as camera).
Keep up the good work. All the best, Chris.
Portability is very important, the easier it is to use, the more you’re likely to use it.
Hope you are doing well Helena. Thanks for feeding our curiosity.
Because of this video, I bought one yesterday from High Point Scientific. 30 bucks per month financing....gotta love it. I call that a credit builder lol. I bought a 80eq as my first scope and regret it so I had to make up for my mistake lol. Thanks for the advice! Keep smiling, it's infectious.
Thank you so much Douglas! I would apologise...but you are going to have so much fun with that scope :D!
It’s high weight of 32 kg will definitely be a problem is you have to move it and it also needs collimation which will also be a problem for a beginner.
Hello Helena fellow astronomer!
Greetings to Scotlandddddddd
Hi,
You are wrong in focal length. The focal length of most telescopes ends up in a focus point that is slightly outside the opening of the telescope. So if you take your primary mirror out of the telescope and hold it at waist level and attach a flashlight to a chair about 3 - 4 meters away from your primary mirror so that its reflection falls on a wall, you will notice that the reflection will come to focus at a distance which is called the focal length of the telescope.
This distance is not the distance from your primary mirror to your secondary mirror. It's more than that. This distance is where the tip of the cone of light is located which creates the perfect image. In your case, if your telescope has a focal length of 1200mm, then you should be exactly 1.2 meters away from the wall to see a crisp image of the light coming from the flashlight. This is supposedly what the manufacturer of the telescope says should happen. In many cases, this is not exactly 1200mm, its a +/- 5-15 mm, sometimes more. The reason for this is that some mirrors have imperfections during the manufacturing process and their curvature does not exactly come out the way it's supposed to. As a result, the focal length changes.
The secondary mirror in a Dobsonian is placed to intercept the cone of light usually about 18-22 cm before the focal length mark is reached (ie behind the focal point). This 18-20 cm remainder of the light gets shifted upwards towards the focuser tube, at which point somewhere in there the image gets focused and goes through the eyepiece where it is shown perfectly.
You need to know your exact focal length so that you can adjust your secondary mirror better for collimation purposes, which results in a crisper image.
Best of luck and good wishes to you.
I'm a beginner in that I don't have a telescope yet. But I see and hear all the numbers. And the comments don't seem to come from beginners like me. I hear refractor and 4", then 10" reflector. If 10" is good, why not a 10" refractor? Newbies don't know these things. I'm curious to know how much mag power one needs to clearly see the rings of Saturn or the red spot on Jupiter.. Or even if you can see the ice cap on Mars. And do planets or the moon run out of your eyepiece before anybody else can change places with you and see. Not said, but I'm guessing the barlow darkens the picture a little ? If so, isn't there a minimum aperture before the contrast makes your image look like a dark spot? I've heard high power shakes a lot if your mount isn't stable as a rock (expensive?) or perhaps a dob is stable by nature? Sample planet pictures would be most helpful.... for example, here is Jupiter on a 10" dob at 120x versus a 4" refractor looking at the same thing. Or here is a galaxy at 56x with a 6" dob vs the same galaxy with a 3" refractor. In other words, we don't know what the numbers mean yet.
Are you strictly talking about observing or photography as well? I don't know much about the photography aspect but I can help if you just want to observe.
4" or 10" is the size of the lens or mirror. Larger sizes have brighter images. Think of a funnel for your eye. At the small end, refractors tend do easier and trouble free. As they get larger, refractors gain weight faster because the lens gets thicker as well as larger. A 10" refractor is a huge beast you might find at a university observatory.
A Dobsonian is an inexpensive way to get a larger telescope on a stable platform. I agree with some other comments that a 6" or 8" Dob is more of a beginner size than a 10". But once set up, a 10" or even a 12" Dob is nearly as easy to aim and track with as a much smaller telescope. If you put the same telescope om a standard motorized mount for photography (German Equitorial) you would have a much heavier and more expensive rig.
🌿🌿 ALIGNMENT - Helena, please please make slow. detailed video how to Brightest star Align Sky Watcher 250 equpped with SynScan To Go automation. I tried it few times following included instruction and could not succeed.
My location is central Poland - 52:00N - 20:37E
Michael, sky watching enthusiast 🌻🌻
I made initial setup - entered location, time zone (1), daylight saving setting (yes), each time I enter current date and time,
Then the system suggests Capella a brightest star - I point the scope on the brightest visible star located +/- directly on the south direction at 22-23 hour time - is it Capella ????
I am novice sky observer.
I choose a skywatcher 120/600 as first scope and a 10" dob as second. Regardless of the various others that followed I'm still using them nearly every time.
I'd add a good wide field ocular is the second best investment. (I've bought a TV ethos 21mm quite early on and it's still the most used part of my gear).
Who ever thought that one day even astro stuff would be sold through videos. Some years ago I thought my hobby will probably remain a niche but look were we are now..
Clicked on this to get some advice on finding stars and boom! Found one, you! You’re awesome! Excellent info and presentation. Thanks
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for the kind words.
I'm scared of collimation - I don't like fiddling with things and I don't like to have to buy tools and painstakingly set things... could you make a collimation video about this specific telescope?
Very useful information. Thanks Helena greetings from Norway!
Glad it was helpful Kristoffer!
250 Dob is one of the best bang for your bucks. But dobs are big et can be heavy (SW 250 weighs 12kg & 1,2m tall, rockerbox 15kg & diameter of 540mm ,and can't be folded). Be warned ! Best telescope is the one you use regularly !
I came here after seeing you on Astro Biscuit’s channel. Subscribed 😀
Eyepiece FL div by Telescope F ratio
max human dilated pupil is 7mm
and 1mm to .5mm is about the extreme for higher power things like double stars and moon and planet detail.
Have fun view.
Well done my Sister your doing a great job here.
Donsonians are the BEST and most economical scopes in the case of aparture
Thank you for the video! I really want to get a visual rig as well.
I was amazed by the heavens from a very early age, but I was so put off by the mediocre (bad!) views I got from my small toy-telescope that it almost killed my dreams. In 2002 I bought my first 'real' telescope - a 10" GSO dobson and looking back I don't think I could've have made a better choice! That 10" have given me so much joy and many great experiences. It is also very user-friendly, something that cannot be ignored.
My advice would be something like this.. If you really want a (first) telescope then buy as big of a telescope as you can afford. If you want a refractor then a 4" f10 would be an excellent choice. A real workhorse that may be everything you need. It will need a big-ish mount, something like a EQ5 or a AZ-4. For grab'n go a ST80 on a Pronto mount is great.
A big dobson? A 12" will go deep and show a lot, but it's BIG and a bit cumbersome to move around. So for me.. if the choice is between 8" and 10" dobsons then go for the 10". It really has that wow-factor and I agree with Helena.. it is the perfect beginner telescope!
20 years down the line I may have too many telescopes.. 😇
Hi, Helena 👋. I have a question after you finish high school have you thought about what you want to do as a career?
Yes great starter scope lots of stars and planetary details.
I have it
Its really good but expensive 😅
I think you should discuss exit pupil
and it’s roll in visual astronomy
What about the 200p and 150p models? Are they "okay" for those on smaller budgets?
She’s beautiful.
Would you reccommend the X-Cel LX and Luminos series for a 10 inch dobsonian telescope or just the X-Cel LX series of eyepieces?
Keep up the great work!
Dobsonians are the very best scopes!
What’s the difference between all the other 10 inch dobsonian sky watcher seems a better price watch
I have a 6 inch skywatcher dob
I got the 10" StellaLyra from First Light Optics. And yes the views are definitely lit, vs my app guided Celestron 102 DX Refractor which does the job too. But different uses ofcourse.
I would have opted for the 12" version for more light gathering capability but unfortunately it was not in stock at the time.
As for the negative comments below.
Yes a 10" is expensive and yes there are the 6" and 8" alternative but the 10" is another level atleast for me. And can be heavy for some. And the light gathering is better than the 6 and 8 inch.
With handles installed, the OTA is easy to handle.
But if you think about the equivalent of a 10" dob vs a 10" mak and sct
Yes the latter mak or sct is also more portable than a dob but they are also much more expensive.
Which makes a dob a good alternative. All that light gathering capability without the heavy heavy price. Albeit it being big and heavy for some. But there are ways to fix that.
It was a little frustrating to watch this video as i wish you'd talk more about the telescope itself, the quality of deep sky objects when viewing through the telescope, what additional mods you need to be able to actually track and view them, etc. First half of the video is just about what to look for in a telescope when we already have a telescope at hand, could've been atleast shortened
Hi Clarence, thank you for your comment. I made this video for those folks in mind who haven’t purchased a telescope yet, to take them through all of the important specs that are necessary to consider and understand when you are new to astronomy. I’ll make more videos in the future on how to use individual scopes but this was more of an intro for those wanting to start from scratch with the purchasing process.
Dam girl you're a astro rockstar
Fantastic video!
Is there anything you could see nebulas?
Watching your video from 1 year ago wondering if you advanced on the application of photographing through your phone?
What's the possibility of more information about the eyepiece, Plus adding additional filters for contrast for planetary observation.
Hopefully you respond to this just acquired a telescope not as prominent as yours .
Helena! I need your help! Just bought a 10" dob and want some good eyepieces for it. Can you do a video on that? With some differences in purpose (dso/planets) and prices? Would be great!
Great video! Thank you Helena!
I’m thinking of buying one of these telescopes - do I also need to buy a laser collimator at the same time?
A barlow actually increases your focal length
Hai! I have a question, does the skywatcher turn yellow due to uv rays?
Great video
Thank you.
Há quanto tempo você faz astrofoto!
I wanna buy a dobsonian but I am still confused about how I am going to travel with that base? I can put the tube in a bag but what about the base?
Does a 2x 2inch Barlow lens like you mention mean you have to get 2 inch eyepieces. Thanks, Kev.
I would say a 8'" is best
Jamazing Helena 😎
Im gonna get one of these next week, where do you get those two extra eye pieces from that you mentioned ??
Hi. I've been thinking about a dobsonian goto and wondered what your opinion is for astrophotography? Fae that guy doon the road. Getting different information. Thanks
I am new to this field. But I have been studying astrology.
I want to buy my first brand new telescope. I am interested in Dobsonian telescope. The person whom I'm buying the telescope from has given me two options .
Meade flexible Dobsonian 10 inches (726$) or 12 inches(1050$)
or
SkyWatcher flexible Dobsonian 10 inches (750$)
You are a very professional person so could you please advice me on which is the better telescope.
Very Kind.
I’m still thinking whether to get the apertura or the skywatcher 10 inch dob. I don’t know which.
Get the sky watcher I have the 8 inch
Astronomy has never been prettier.
Hello
I'm looking at purchasing the Sky watcher classic 200 8" as I cannot afford to go up to the 250 10".
I know you recommend getting eye pieces, if you could only get 1 or 2, what would you say are the most important sizes please?
I mostly use a 10mm or 25mm eyepiece coupled with a 3x Barlow Lens 👌👌
Having this combo allows mags of 48x, 120x, 144x & 360x 💪
That means you'll be able to see the full lunar disk and magnify the lunar surface in immaculate detail. You can also expect to see great detail in the planets too, all by using ONLY that set of 3 pieces.
Genuinely hope this helps you out, if it isn't too late already ❤ I noticed you had no reply for sooo long
Wrong , 10inch is 10x less used then 8 inch , and 10 inch does not collect all that much more light , about 27% more , not a lot . But it weight is almost double hence those who have it just pull it out of the garage , and even that for some time and then they leave it to collect dust . 8 inch can do all that 10 inch can do , they have same focal length so magnifying power is the same , biggest FOV is also the same . Basically all you get is 25% more light , but you gain double the weight almost . So the best one is actually 8 inch . Everything after that is a permanent setup . SO i can put my 8 inch in my car and go to mountain , but i cant put 10 inch one , and even if i could it would become rather cumbersome very fast . There is nothing 10 inch can do , that 8 inch cant do . NOTHING !
So why pull 2 8 inch scopes around , when you can one.
And another point is that you can not use bigger then 25mm EP , i have a 40mm EP , i cant use it , i see the barrel of the scope . Only refractors can handle 40mm EP , even those that have 1.25inch focusers , simple 80mm cheapest scope achromat , will offer wonderful views , you wont see purple fringing because its low power , so its going to act like an APO , that is amazing , 40mm EP and 80mm or 100mm Achromat on simple Camera tripod is the best beginner setup , can not be beaten . After that comes Dob , and not 10inch , 6 or 8 inch , if you go above that there is no point until 12inch or 14inch , but by then its a permanent setup , its not going anywhere anytime soon .
So you are basically a noob , you did not know things i said here .
Parabolic lens ?
One question - can you see color with the 10" dob when just visually observing something like the Orion nebula for example?
Short answer, no. When observing at night, your eyes become dark-adapted, and you are using your eyes' "rod" cells, which are not good at seeing color. So for most nebulae and galaxies, you see them in grayscale, or "black & white." Comets, which may appear green in photographs, will also only appear gray, even in large Dobs. However, the Orion Nebula is a special case. It is bright enough that a large Dob may allow you to see some purples, but usually it appears blue-green. Again, this is because of your eyes' night-vision. On the other hand, stars are bright enough to trigger your "cone" cells, and they will show color. Large Dobs are the best at showing colors of deep-red carbon stars and colorful double stars like Albireo (blue and yellow pair). Star colors are seen even in small refractors, but a 10-inch Dob will make the colors of stars much more pleasing.
I do not think 250mm telescope is for beginners. It is pain to set up, price and a lot of people will get to the point this is not their hobby like they thought
I think it depends on the person Aaron. I got the 200P (8") version of this scope and that was my very first one. I loved it straight out of the box, and being impatient, I just built the stand, carried it out to the garden that night, plonked the tube in and looked up. No set up, no collimation, no plan.... and it was jaw dropping! I still remember the huge smile as I saw Saturn's rings with my own eyes! That was me hooked right there.
I think one of the biggest problems nowadays is that astropohotography is so widespread, people thinking of buying a telescope see all these amazing nebula and galaxy images on YT or BBC or whatever, then go and spend hundreds on a scope, only to be hugely disappointed when they see a small patch of fuzz - "That's the majestic andromeda galaxy?!"
So to avoid that, I now tell friends and family who ask about scopes, to go big and go dob :)
Hi Aaron, thank you for your comment! I think choosing a first scope all depends on someone's personal preference and what they feel most comfortable with. I myself only recommended this scope due to the positive experiences I've had with it while getting started in astronomy. The dob itself only comes in two parts, so it's not as difficult as say an astrophotography rig to setup but there are various smaller versions such as the table-top dobsonian series that are a lot more accessible to those who wouldn't be able to carry the 10'' around.
Price is always going to be a varying factor for everyone as well - but I find that this one is generally a sweet spot when someone is properly wanting to learn visual astronomy and the night sky. Again though, there are many more accessible alternatives that are smaller, lighter and use apps to go to objects which may appeal to a more younger market. Hope this cleared up what I was saying in the video! Clear Skies, H
You are just the prettiest girl! Great information, thank you!
That's another great video from you, so thank you. I bought this exact 'scope last summer and used it to learn the summer stars and constellations. I've recently (as in 'once') tried to take photos with my DSLR camera attached to the 'scope, and Saturn came out, well, blurry. I think I'm missing something important with this. Like an eyepiece that attaches somewhere between 'scope and camera, or a camera lens. Do you have any ideas?
Your focusser can't go deep enough for the focus point of the DSLR to reach the focal plane of the telescope. DSLRs are thick and that thickness causes the problem as it's just impossible to reach focus in the default setup. This is the case with many Newtonians but there are ways around it. Easiest one is using a barlow. Other ways : get a low profile focuser or buy a kit to move your primary mirror forward in the tube (which raises the focal plane in the focuser).
Hi Simon, Benny has explained this wonderfully! When I viewed Saturn I attached a Barlow lens in between the camera and the scope to be able to reach focus. Given it’s not a tracking mount, though, the planets may appear quite blurry and seem out of focus due to manual shake. Good views are still possible in the right conditions! Hope this helps.
How long have you owned this scope Helena?
Can it be moved about easily?
Or is it heavy?
Please guide
My 8 inch is almost as big and its a challenge to carry around but the views Are awesome
can you do lucky imaging with a Dobsonian using a good ccd camera. Would a driven wedge mount for Dobs. be any good for astro imaging.
Hi there! Lucky imaging would be a challenge with a dob on the mount it comes with in the box as it's fully manually controlled and cannot track objects - even trying to follow an object yourself in the field of view at high focal lengths can be tough. However, if you purchase a dob like this one, some tube rings and an equatorial tracking mount it would be an absolute light bucket for lucky imaging :)
@@HelenasAstrophotography Thank you for the information.
Sigh. Purchase Helena without ads. :/
I monetized my channel using this telescope with a smartphone mount 👀❤
❤️
Consensus is that best beginner scope are either 6" or 8" Newtonian. Simply because a 10" is to heavy and because the tube will have a tendency to tip forward depending on what you put in the focuser. Most beginners will eventually want to go to a setup with an EQ mount and either an SCT, Maksutov or a refractor scope. Especially when astrophotography starts making sense. 10" are known to be cheap second hand for a reason.
Would an 8 inch reflector with a 2000mm focal length be a good option, such as the Celestron Nexstar 8se?
That isn't a reflector, it's a Schmidt cassegrain
@@ulisessolis3182 It's still a reflector as it's not a refractor.
@@lordprotector3367 🤦♂️ ok. Following your own logic then either scope is the same , just purchase the cheapest. Bye
@@ulisessolis3182 Actually I bought the Celestron about a month ago on an Amazon sale. It's pretty good!
@@lordprotector3367 yea it's a nice scope, very portable. Congratulations
Refractors are too expensive.
A telescope choice starts with mecanical components: mount and focuser. This needs to have good quality.
Weight/size is next, I live in an appartment and had a 10inch newtonian for a while - was a bad idea.
Get the biggest apperture with the longest focal length that covers the previous aspects and the budget.
Get f6 f-ratio telescope of above.
For someone starting, probably a good reference is: refractors up to 102mm, reflectors from 114mm upwards.
Avoid expensive APOs for visual, that's only for the bragging rights (astrophotography).