What is the best Orion Telescope to get?

[blackhole1027]

The top 5 telescopes...

[powerwindows1985]

I have an xt 6 that I really like. It gives nice views of Jupiter and Saturn, as well as many deep space objects. I know that many Astronomy stores recomend this scope for begginers. It appears that orion is unveiling a new Dob so you may want to wait and see what the new one is.

[EVERYTHING]

[Registered users can see links. ] the website that i just typed in for you, is a GREAT website to find which are the top 5 telescopes for beginners, intermediates, and experts. You can also buy and find other things at this website too! By the way, just trying to help.

[EVERYTHING]

Originally Posted by powerwindows1985

I have an xt 6 that I really like. It gives nice views of Jupiter and Saturn, as well as many deep space objects. I know that many Astronomy stores recomend this scope for begginers. It appears that orion is unveiling a new Dob so you may want to wait and see what the new one is.

An XT6 is an example of one the top 5 telescopes for beginners!

[Michael Steen]

I have to 2nd Powerwindows on Orion. I have the XT10, and I couldn't be happier. The difference? You'll gather more light with the 10", and that should help you see DSOs a little better. If you're primarily interested in planets and the moon, though, go with the 6". The 10" is a beast to lug around.
Don't get me wrong, I ain't bringing it back! But it's not as quick to take out as the 6 or 8.

[Emmett]

I'm getting back into astronomy after a long lay-off. I've lain my groundwork by being a binocular observer for quite a while, but I'm now ready to make the leap (for a second time - the first 20 years ago) to a telescope. No matter how much research I do, and no matter how I juggle my objectives (DSO's mainly) the Orion SkyView Pro 8 keeps emerging as the scope of choice. One fear: Would it be too much BOTHER to handle by one man? I'd probably use it without its Go-To ability about half the time. But if it was such a bother, or such a physical challenge to set up, that I used it rarely, I'd be one unhappy, formerly married, never-to-be marvelous amateur stargazer. After all, resist it though we may, our wives rule it all!
Thanks for your help.

[Vinnie]

Hi Emmett,

Most importantly, welcome to the forum.

Hmm, weight. Well the 8" Newt OTA weighs about 16lbs, and the SVP mount about 25lbs. No, no big deal, you would just carry the mount and tripod assembly outside, then the OTA in a second trip. It only takes seconds to attach the two together. I regularly tote a 5" refractor and a Sirius mount around in the same way, and both weigh a bit more than you are looking at.

As far as "bother" to use, well as long as you set up with correct balance, no mount takes any effort to use at all.

Which leads me to saying that I feel that an 8" Newt on the SVP is marginally under mounted. Sure the SVP mount is rated to take 22lbs, and you are only loading it with 16, but you need to consider the bulk of the OTA in this case, which is about 4ft long and will offer significant wind resistance and overall leverage. I think that it will be unstable in any breeze, and take some time to settle.

For mine, I would prefer to see that OT on the Sirius mount option. Incidentally the Sirius weighs about 32lb. If that does seem too much, then you can cart the tripod, mount head, and OTA separately. Again it only takes a few seconds to assemble.

The other consideration is that using a Newt on a GEM does sometimes put the EP in a somewhat awkward position, which requires rotating the OT in its rings. I never found this to be a big deal, but some guys these days do make a big deal of it. If you do buy the thing and this becomes an issue, come back and I can give you some tips to make this easy.

[powerwindows1985]

Emmett:
I can't speak of the ease of use of this type of scope, but as to your wife (and mine conrolls the purse strings also) don't forget the 7th commandment of ameture astronomy: "Thou shalt not reveal to thy spouse the true cost of thy telescope collection; only the individual components, and that shall be done with great infrequency".

[Emmett]

Originally Posted by Emmett

I'm getting back into astronomy after a long lay-off. I've lain my groundwork by being a binocular observer for quite a while, but I'm now ready to make the leap (for a second time - the first 20 years ago) to a telescope. No matter how much research I do, and no matter how I juggle my objectives (DSO's mainly) the Orion SkyView Pro 8 keeps emerging as the scope of choice. One fear: Would it be too much BOTHER to handle by one man? I'd probably use it without its Go-To ability about half the time. But if it was such a bother, or such a physical challenge to set up, that I used it rarely, I'd be one unhappy, formerly married, never-to-be marvelous amateur stargazer. After all, resist it though we may, our wives rule it all!
Thanks for your help.

Vinnie --
Thanks for your reply regarding the ease-of-use of the SVP 8. You answered all my questions in that regard. But your comments on the under-mounting problem were even more important. I'd been concerned about that, but for some reason neglected to describe my concerns in my posting. Many thanks for reading my mind, and doing it so well. Even though I hold the SVP 8 in high regard, I think I'll calm down a bit, continue to love my binoculars, and wait until I'm ready to pop for the Sirius mount you mentioned, or something very much like it. Thanks again, and I hope you have a wonderful summer of observing -- and a Merry Christmas too.
-- Emmett

[Emmett]

Originally Posted by powerwindows1985

Emmett:
I can't speak of the ease of use of this type of scope, but as to your wife (and mine conrolls the purse strings also) don't forget the 7th commandment of ameture astronomy: "Thou shalt not reveal to thy spouse the true cost of thy telescope collection; only the individual components, and that shall be done with great infrequency".

PowerWindows1985 --
Thanks for the advice regarding the pursuit of peace and beauty in the night skies, while still preserving domestic tranquility. The Seventh Commandment was the first advice I heard when I got back into astronomy. As the UPS or FedEx truck disappears down the block, you have to seem unconcerned -- cool -- like any man in danger. "Oh these? They're just a few eyepieces I needed for the old telescope. No big deal. I think they're made by some outfit called Tele... something-or-other in New York, Chester, I think. Were we supposed to be anywhere tonight? What's for dinner? Never mind. I'll be in the garage for a while."
My best to the Dakotas. -- Emmett