Questions before buying a Dobsonian

dbaron · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Kentucky

Hi all, new here. Have enjoyed reading the various posts and decided to join.

I currently have a Celestron 114mm "FirstScope" reflector I bought used last year and a nice assortment of good eye pieces that I got as a kit this past X-mas. But the fever is now taking hold and I need to go bigger.

I have pretty much decided on a Dob since I want deep space even better. Yet I do have a budget and an 8 inch will most likely be the way to go for me.

My questions now being:

Currenty I see Saturn with a ring. I want to see RINGS. Will the 8 inch Dob do that for me? Will I be able to see bands on Jupiter?

I can now see Orion and some very faint greenish nebula clouds, With the 8 inch will I be able to see further into Orion? Below the big dipper in the current sky are supposed to be M51 and M52 galaxies? I now just maybe see faint spects of light, will the 8 inch make this better?

Thanks, David.

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5024

Hi

You're on the right track. Going to a larger scope lets you see fainter objects, therefore more objects and also lets you see more detail in those objects. An 8" scope will be a significant improvement over a 114mm scope.

Planets are less affected by light pollution than deep-sky objects. Division in the rings of Saturn and cloud belts will be no problem, assuming you have even fairly stable skies.

Brighter galaxies, such as M52, M81, M82 should be easy objects, though much will depend on how much light pollution you have. Even they can be a challenge with severely light polluted skies. I know, I deal with awful light pollution here in the Chicago suburbs.

Yes, you will see more detail and color in large nebulae and you might want to explore some nebula filters to get an even better view.

Detail in galaxies is always a relative thing. Never going to see much, compared to nebulae, but galaxies will appear larger in a bigger scope and have a more pronounced shape. The big plus is that you will see galaxies in an 8" that you would never see in a 114mm
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dbaron · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Kentucky

Wow, I appreciate the quick reply. Another question though, I am leaning towards a Celestron "StarHopper" dobsonian because I don't much care for the springs used with the Orion SkyQuest classics.

But... I am having real trouble finding a Celestron 8 StarHopper. Was this line discontinued? or maybe just out of stock everywhere? Can you suggest another quality maker for an 8 inch Dob if the Celestron is going to be an impossibility? My budget is about 400 dollars with shipping.

Thanks again, David.

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5024

Hi

Yes, sad to say, the Starhopper has been dropped by Celestron and no replacement as of yet. the only other Dob we carry is the Meade Lightbridge, which is going to be a bit more prciey due to its truss tube design. Nice Dob, though.
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Fax: 847-919-3003