Piecing together help

I ordered a Celestron 9.25 Advanced series(11046). It will not be in stock until the summer. I have been doing some research and was wondering if I should just piece together a telescope using the C9.25, an EQ6 Mount(comes with a steel tubed tripod), and a (not sure which one) Decent Go-To system. I am pretty darn new to this star gazing so please have patients.) First of all, are these parts that I mentioned above the basic building blocks that I would need to piece to gather my scope? Will I need any other parts to make the scope complete, I don’t want to miss anything? I would wait until summer for the whole scope from a dealer, but I am not so convinced that the mount coming with the telescope is much better than the ones on older 9.25 models(with the exception of a GO-TO system, looks just like the CG-5). The Eq6 seems to be reasonably priced compared to a Losmondy GM-8. Also if anyone knows of a decently low priced Go-To system that will just get the job done(nothing special) and go with the EQ-6, feel free to speak up. Plus, any other suggestions are welcomed.
Very cool web site BTW!
John

I don't know if you'll be able to find a "low priced" GoTo system for the EQ-6, but from everything I've seen it's an excellent mount. There are GoTo systems out there for it, but they're very (in my opinion) expensive. I don't know if there are any DSC's out for it, but that might be a viable, less expensive alternative should any be available.

In the case of the C925 you could probably save some money and get the HEQ-5. It will be plenty for visual observing and some poking around with photography and a hell of a lot better than the CG-5 (which is an EQ-4). It's very much the same as the EQ-6, just a little lighter duty.

I'd say that even the C8 is too much telescope for the CG-5. The advanced series scopes look like decent GoTo values, but they will probably do nothing more than frustrate intermediate-advanced observers. If this is a first or second scope and you're serious about the hobby you'll probably grow out of quickly.

Have you considered the NexStar 925 as a somewhat more expensive but far superior alternative? Overall it will cost more than the EQ-6 + 925, but about the same as or less than the EQ-6 + 925 + current aftermarket GoTo solution.

Hi John,

Why not just order the new Nexstar 9.25 GPS (around $2,700)or the new CGE 9.25 (around $4,000)? Both should be a very good value and due out later this year.

I have heard some good things about the Orion SkyView Pro which is supposed to handle easily and smoothly a 20lb OTA. Only about $300 but no GOTO (don't know about after-market).

I'm fairly new too (alas always lived in metro areas) but had so much fun recently with a 4" Genesis that I decided not to pursue GOTO. If in a single evening I can star-hop to find >20 objects I hadn't seen before, why bother with GOTO? Eventually, to track down more elusive objects or when I'm travelling to Southern skies, maybe.

Depending on where you are, you might have to invest in a Lymax air cooling system. Now, I don't have an SCT but recently considered getting one and that's what I heard.

Good luck,
-- William Chang, Saratoga CA