Can't decide which SCT

Hello all,

I'm looking to purchase a goto SCT and have been looking at many options, portability vs aperture, meade vs celestron etc.. I can't seem to come to a final decision, I'm considering the CPC800 vs the 8" LX90GPS and or the CPC9.25 vs the 10"LX90GPS. Any recommendations?? I currently have a 10" Dob (Antares) which I use in my driveway the views are good and I am concerned if i go to an SCT less than 10" that i'll be missing something. The dob isn't as portable as i first thought but the images are very nice.

>>>Any recommendations?? I currently have a 10" Dob (Antares) which I use in my driveway the views are good and I am concerned if i go to an SCT less than 10" that i'll be missing something. The dob isn't as portable as i first thought but the images are very nice.
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About all I can suggest is finding a way to familiarize yourself with the SCTs in question. Go to a starparty of astroclub outing and look around.

In my experience, the setup of the DOB is significantly easier than the SCT. Portability, well, it really depends on what you mean by portability... The DOB OTA takes up more car space but when you get it all loaded, the difference is not much.

Optically, the main difference is in the focal length and maximum field of view. A 10 inch DOB is capable of a 2+ degree TFoV, it is not much more than half that for a 10 inch F/10 SCT. I have an 8 inch Meade SCT as well as a 10 inch Asian DOB. My experience suggests you are correct in being concerned about the images.

Jon

You seem to be having difficulty with the decision in part based on not wanting to lose the larger aperture of the Dob. That should not be a concern.

Dobs and SCT's have different jobs in life. You cannot compare them only on aperture. Yes, you get more aperture with your Dob, and will be able to see wider fields with more resolution, probably just a bit more contrasty. However that does not mean you cannot step down in aperture when you buy an SCT. Your SCT will get more inherent magnification, and could be used for astrophotography.

As for portability: I don't think you will be gaining all that much in portability overall. Yes, the Dob is probably larger. But when you throw in a Tripod and perhaps an equatorial wedge--you aren't saving all that much space in the truck. And setup is an important part of portability. It will take longer to set up the SCT.

In short--we cannot answer your question for you. Go to some star parties and help people set up, and do some viewing, and all that--and then make your choice.

Alex


Alex

I have the 9.25 on a G-11 goto mount and love it. My friend's hand figured 8" mirror DOB has better pin point stars, wider field and better contrast. When I looked in his homemade and pretty crude scope I was amazed.

Each has its own issues. One issue I'm starting to discover with goto is now that I'm learning the sky, I'm starting to become impatient waiting for the scope to move to a sky object when I already know where its at.

My vote is for Celestron though if you buy an SCT. I wouldn't get anything smaller than the 9.25.