New Scope Input please

Hi Folks,
I'm looking to purchase a new scope after the New Year, and will have $1-1.2k to spend. I'm looking in the 8" range. I think I've narrowed it down to a couple. I do want an EQ mount, so the Dobs are out, at least for now they are. I'm looking at the Celestron C8-N GT or the Orion SVP 8.
Any one have any experience with either or both of these? Both of these w/ GoTo can be had for just over $1k Any other scopes out there I should maybe look at? I think I prefer a Newtonian, but I don't have any experience w/ a Mak or SCT.
Thanks for any input you folks have.

Carl

Carl:

I think Mark has given you some good advice here. Reconsider a DOB in this size range.

My own herd of telescopes is reasonable large and includes a early Konus 8 inch F/5 Newtonian (Same as the Orion 8 inch) mounted on a CG-5 ASGT. The ASGT mount with it's 2 inch SS legs is reasonably sturdy and stable, I would choose it over the Orion for that reason alone.

I like the scope and it gives good views but it suffers as all larger Newtonians do because of the GEM. On a Gem the eyepiece position is always changing as you move about the sky looking at new targets. This means that you have to rotate the tube in the rings. There are various work-arounds but one needs "rotating rings" and they add both weight and significant cost. I have a pair I just bought but they weight about 8lbs, it maybe too much for the mount.

And even with rotating rings, the eyepiece position can be awkward and one is often straddling the counterweight or working around the tripod legs.

Optically, Mark's point about the advantages of F/6 over F/5 is a good one though personally I would recommend a 10 inch F/5 over the 8 inch F/6 DOB.

The dob is much easier to view through, the eyepiece position comfortable, particularly with a true asto-chair that allows you to adjust the seat height. The DOB is also more stable, easier to setup and more intuitive to use.

There are other options out there. Certainly the SCT is choice though I prefer the views through a Newtonian, the shorter focal length with the 2 inch focuser offers a significantly wider field of view, they cool more quickly and with the smaller central obstruction seem to give contrastier views.

The Dobsonian revolution started 30 years ago or more with the first commercially DOBs appearing about 25 years ago. The DOB really did revolutionize the Newtonian and transformed it's usefulness. Before the Dobsonian, an 6 or 8 inch was considered a Large scope and a 12.5 inch was considered an observatory scope. With the DOB, a 6 or 8 inch is considers small/medium and a 12 inch is a scope some first timers buy.

The reasons that made the Dob attractive back then are just as valid today as they were then with the added benefit that the EQ platform offers tracking is need be.

So, all that said... The 8 inch F/5 is a reasonable sized Newtonian to put on the CG-5 ASGT. It does give some wonderful views, it is still reasonably portable and it does track well. It cools reasonably well and offers enough aperture to give some wonderous views.

My suggestion is get a look at these various scopes in person. Either at a star party or since I see you are in th Seattle area, you can probably take a drive up to Anacortes and see these various scopes on their show room floor...

These are all good sized scopes so it is best to see just how big they are before diving in and spending the money...

Best to all

jon isaacs

Get the Celestron--the mounts are basically identical, but the Celestron flavor of the software is _considerably_ more advanced (and you can use NexRemote).

8)