I am a new amateur and am finally ready to buy my first scope (well I will be in about two weeks).  I have been reading the forum here as well as other reviews of instruments that are suitable for beginners.  I am debating between the Orion XT8 (which has been getting stellar reviews everywhere I look) and the Celestron Nexstar 102 SLT.  I would normally, based on everything that I've read just opt for the Orion except that where I live is near the mountains (I actually work in Evergreen, a small mountain town about 30 minutes west of Denver) and as such would like to use the mountains as a good way to get away from light pollution and to get through some of the atmosphere (please correct me if my assumptions here are misguided).  As a result, I am thinking that the Orion may be too heavy and bulky to carry up a mountainside, especially in the dark.  Is the Celestron a good scope?  The reviews I have read seem to say so, although it seems most people that have bought it are at my (non existent) skill level.  I have to admit that I like the idea of a refracting scope, although I have no logical reason for it.  Anyways, any input and help would be greatly appreciated.

How far up the side of the mountain are you talking?  Lugging just about anything up the side of a mountain in the dark doesn't sound like a bit of fun to me.  You going to park at 8,000 feet and pack your equipment to 10,000 or 11,000 feet?  Either scope you choose has to be added into the weight of your equipment bag and any resource material(s) you may need.  Packing all that up the side of a mountain?....now that's dedication!

Do you have a spot picked out already?  After you lug all this stuff up there, is there a flat, or relatively flat place to set up?  I understand your situation and wishes, but there's not a high altitude rest area or parking lot that would fit your needs?

I know many of us have to do things to reach observational nirvana, but packing all this up a steep incline in thin air....  I'm not trying to be a you know what.  I just don't want your interest in your new hobby to wane because it's too hard to get set up.

Just a little reference info for the XT8 (classic).  The scope and base weigh a combined 44.5 pounds.  Although the scope and base can be carried as one unit, I wouldn't reccomend going up a mountain in the dark doing so.  I usually observe in my back yard, and I find it easier to carry them seperatly.  After you figure in eyepieces, charts and some sort of chair or stool, you'll be lugging at least 50 pounds. 

You're going to need some sort of grab and go scope.  Which usually means a small refractor.

 

You know, I think that I could find something that I can drive into that meets my desires.  Thanks for that.  I do a lot of backpacking during the summertime and may pick a specialty scope for that, but for now the Orion it is.  Thanks for pulling me back to Earth, as it were. :)

@Chuck81:  I have read that and yeah, was definitely a MAJOR concern.  I think  WannaB really put me back into a realistic mindset.  And yeah, I will be getting a grab and go before next camping season starts (I am too old for winter back country camping now).  Thank you!

 

Ok, I have one other question...Is the base at all adjustable in case I DO end up in a posistion that it needs levelled?  (If this is a stupid question please tell me so and if you would be so kind why).

 

Thanks again. 

No, the base on a dobson scope isn't adjustable.  However, the scope doesn't have to be perfectly level. (at least with the classic.  I'm not sure about the intelliscope version)  Any reasonably flat area will work.

 Cool! Thank you

I purchased the Celestron 102 slt about 2 months ago and I am very pleased with it.I would recommed purchasing the Celestron power tank battery to go with it since the double A batteries dodnt last long at all. The scope is not that heavy but with the battery included, Im not sure you can tote all that up to where you want to view. Happy viewing. Good luck. Just to mention, I have 30 x 80 and 16 x 70 binoculars and they are great. Plus they dont weight a lot.

 

Nice to meet you, Orion.  I put some thought into binoculars, but I am concerned about their performance because I am blind in one eye.  I am not certain how that would affect the performance of binoculars (if at all) but that has been my primary reason for overlooking them.  Any idea on that?

 Chassit - Another thing to keep in the back of your mind is the decreasing amounts of oxygen as your observing elevation increases. Generally, observing at above 6-8,000' above sea level is where the effects of low oxygen on the brain starts (eyesight in particular). Above 8,000', the gain in sky transparency (or reduced light pollution) is offset by the ability to detect faint objects due to the lack of oxygen. The higher you go, the more pronounced the effect.

  Yes, just one more glitch in the game of astronomical observing site locating.

  Besides, hauling all that equipment PLUS a bottle or two of oxygen would really put a damper on an otherwise good observing night.  Mr Q
 

Chassit:

I am concerned about their performance because I am blind in one eye.  I am not certain how that would affect the performance of binoculars (if at all) but that has been my primary reason for overlooking them.  Any idea on that?

Bummer!  Sorry to hear that, but at least you aren't letting that get in your way.  Kuddos to you!

I'm sure someone on here will give you a better opinion on this, but I agree with you.  A pair of binoculars would essentially become a monocular(telescope) for a person blind in one eye.

Not making light of your situation, but you have an advantage in one way over those of use with boths eyes operational.  You won't have the problem of having to close one eye, wear an eyepatch or possibly get eye strain while using your scope.(I pretty much believe there's a silver lining around every cloud.  Although sometimes hard to see, it's there)

Good Luck!!

 

I love binoculars but one major drawback is that there are many objects you can see with a good scope that you cant see with binoculars because of the low magnification. Hope this helps. I have thought of the orion 8 in dob myself and may get it if I can persuade my wife.

 First, let me say what a great forum this is.  I really appreciate the input.

 

Mr Q I did not know that about eyesight and altitude, I will definitely keep that in mind when I finally get to go out and look heheh.

 

WannaB, don't worry about making light of it, I do all of the time.  I knew there had to be a silver lining.

 

I might try to borrow some binoculars and see how well they work. I *think* I know someone with a pair, although I doubt they are best suited for this application.

 

 

 

10 x50 are a good pair to start with.They are quite a bit better than the 7 x50 for example.

 Awesome, I found a pair for about $20, should be arriving late this week :)

I would look for a 80mm refractor from a company like William Optics or a even a Celestron ED style scope on Astromart.com.   A small refractor with a portable mount like a bogan camera mount and tripod would be pretty portable.  It would be very useful for terestrial viewing as well. 

 Celestron ED on Astromart for $310

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=584257

WO Zenith Star for $310..00

In each case you would have to get a Alt/Az tripod/mount like or the bogan camera mount and tripod as I mentioned earlier.  I think you  would be far happier in the long haul.  Just my opion. 

 

Thanks Warf.  I am not familiar with those particular models but will read up on them.  The ad you linked to appeared to be a pretty decent deal... 

William Optics make excellent refractors... I own a Celestron NexStar 11 (SCT type scope) and it is awesome but it is big and there are some nights I just don't feel like lugging it out.  Thus I began shopping for a small grab-n-go size refractor that I could take with me when I travelled or when I wanted to go out just for a short night of viewing.  I purchased a william optics refractor and when I first started using it I mounted it on my camera tripod and that work good for quite some time.  Eventually I found myself using it far more than I thought I ever would so I purchased mounting rings, mount and a solid tripod that I use with it most of the time.  I say most of the time, because there are still times when I need it to be really mobile and I will use my bogan camera tripod and the standard L-mount bracket that came with the scope.  The craftsmenship of these scopes are excellent... they have great opitcs and very solid focusers.  I believe it is a scope you would keep even if you later decided to upgrade to a larger dob or SCT type scope (or perhaps even a larger refractor).  I mentioned the celestron simply because it too is using ED glass in its optcs and I have already read many good things about it.  I do feel that the William Optics scope is a better built scope from what I have read and from my own experience with the scope.

 I noticed that I didn't provide you a link to the William Optics scope for sale on AstroMart in my previous post:

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=584098

 PS.

If you are not familiar with AstroMart.com, it is a vendor sponsored forum and classifieds site where you can search for used astro gear.  I have bought and sold many items via astromart.  Not all of us can afford to buy new all of the time.