Orion XT8G Purchase Advice Needed

[jump629shot]

Hi, I am looking for advice on the Orion Skyquest XT8G. I have yet to purchase it but it appeals to me not for the "finding ability" but more for the it's "tracking ability". I am getting ready to make a purchase but was really hoping a couple of you guys could do a quick check of my list to see that it's up to par. Do i need a case or are those unnecessary? Are there other finder scopes you guys would recommend? Are these eyepieces suitable for this scope? I've been doing a lot of research but figured this might be the best way of getting accurate answers.

I am currently thinking of purchasing:

-Orion XT8G Telescope
-Orion 9x50 Illuminated Right Angle Finder Scope (have heard bad reviews about the EZ Finder II)
-Orion Dynamo Pro 12 Ah Rechargeable 12V DC Power Station
-46"x13.5"x18.5" Orion Padded Telescope Case

And for eyepieces, I was considering purchasing:

-32mm Orion Q70 Wide-Field Telescope Eyepiece (for DSO's)
-Explore Scientific 11mm 82° 1.25" eyepiece
-6mm Agena 1.25" Enhanced Wide Angle Eyepiece (for Lunar/Planetary)

If anyone has any advice that would help me on my purchase it would be greatly appreciated! Additions/Subtractions or completely re-doing this list is fine with me. I am a newbie and can you use all of the help being offered!

[ChuckWalters]

Looks like a great start. You have a great scope picked out, covered the finder nicely, a power supply covered (although you could save some money and get a jump starter at Walmart) and a good case for travel. The Q70' s are awesome and the ES 82 is a wonderful EP. You have done some very good research!

[neal_mlc]

I would consider a larger mid-range EP instead of the 6mm, something more along the lines of a 18-20mm. You should also consider a Barlow as well. Just my 2 cents.

[OleCuss]

Not trying to sound like an echo, but I'd probably dump the Dynamo Pro and get a couple of jump starters from Wally World or off eBay. Yes, the Dynamo gives you two 12 volt ports, but if that one battery goes dead, neither one is going to work. But if you get two cheapies they'll likely be as reliable and if one goes down the other is still working. Plus, if you plan to power both your scope and a dew heater, the power to your scope will be a little cleaner if you are running your dew heater off a different battery. Cheaper, a little more redundancy - I like.

I'm not so sure I'd buy the bag. I know someone who has precisely that scope and he does have the bag and uses it.

But the OTA is pretty much identical to the OTA of my XT8 and I don't have one - partly because I keep it out in one of the rooms and ready to be taken outside immediately. So if I've got the OTA in a bag it will look worse and I won't be able to have the scope fully assembled, etc. For travel I just put it in the back seat and cradle it with a moving blanket or a jacket.

Not sure the bag is a good buy or a bad one. It depends on what you want.

I put a Orion EZ Finder Deluxe on my XT8. Probably not as good as the Telrad my friend put on his XT8g, but I'm pretty happy with it and the Telrad is kind of an ugly thing to have sitting on your scope when it is not stored out of the way. I'd probably be getting the Telrad rather than the RACI, but that is a preference rather than a recommendation. Probably a little easier to look into the RACI, however (technically you can get the right-angle for the Telrad and it should be as easy, but I don't really find it so). Again, it is a matter of preference.

Don't forget to get or make an observing chair, get a small table if you can, consider a groundcloth or carpeting (so you are a little less likely to lose or destroy your fine eyepieces when you drop them), and a dim headlamp or flashlight.

I think your 6mm is a good choice, but don't be disappointed if the seeing is just not up to your using that kind of power much of the time. But it is really nice to have it when your seeing is pretty good and you can use that kind of magnification. Again, I'd get the thing but not expect to be able to use it all the time. But then, you can get a decent Plossl or a nice Superview and do just fine on planetary targets - don't need wide angle for that.

And yes, that is a fine scope. A great combination of functionality. And if you don't want to use the GoTo you can use it unpowered just fine!

[jump629shot]

Hey guys, thanks a ton for the advice! I think I am going forgo the 6mm EP for now. It probably wont get too much use like OleCuss stated, and I can always pick it up later since it is only $40. I am looking for a cheaper power supply also in the form of a car starter/battery pack. One question I now have is how does everybody store their telescopes? Is it best to leave them set-up? How should I angle the OTA so that dust doesn't collect on the mirrors? Horizontal or vertical? Or should they be broken down and put away. This is what I was thinking about doing with the padded case.

[OleCuss]

For storage? It depends on what you want to do with it.

I leave my XT8 assembled and ready to go. The OTA has a cover to keep dust out of it and out of the mirrors. I can carry the scope outside and (at this time of year when there is essentially no cool down needed at sunset) I'm ready to go.

But if you are going to be storing it, then the bag makes sense as well. And at a minimum I'd put a light cloth over and around it to keep bugs and such off/out of it if you are leaving it in a garage or shed.

[oddbrain]

I bought the bag and use it all the time...

[aodrifty]

I would not buy a new finder, its a goto, you are only going to use it for alignment- but if you did- Telrad for star hopping if you ever lose power.
I have a storage bag also- I dont use it very much just during transporting to dark sky locations, I keep my dob assembled and ready to go out into my backyard.
Q70 32MM is what I also use and really enjoy it- It is more of my hunter/finder EP for DSO, once I find it, I switch to my Hyperion Zoom.
Good luck and enjoy,
Tim

[les_robot]

As I do most of my viewing, in the backyard, I keep mine set up and ready to go.. I have the dust cover on the end of the OTA and also keep the eyepiece cover on when the scope is not in use..

Clear Skies,

Les

[Human]

Eyepiece cases? NO! lol I am only saying that because I bought 2 different large "eyepiece" cases from walmart for $5 - $7 a piece. They are essentially the exact same things just much much cheaper. One was a padded handgun case and the other was a Pluck Foam case. Also, you can buy an AC adapter from orion for the telescope's power. If viewing in backyard just run an extension cord out there and plug er in.