I'm a beginning astronomer and have been studying options for a telescope for the last week. I had almost committed to an 8" telescope for budget purposes but I ran across the 12" Skywatcher and I am looking no further. I was in New Zealand 3 years ago for a 2 week vacation. I would've visited Astronz but my interest peaked too late. By the way, New Zealand is awesome except for earthquakes. Any way, your video convinced me to buy the 300P and I am placing an order today. I had to have the go-to model because I'm too old to spend a lot of time figuring out where stars are in the sky. I live outside Fort Worth, Texas and the sky light is tolerable but I don't live too far from scale 2 on the bortle map. Thanks for the excellent instructions for an old man starting a new hobby. In 2024, the full eclipse passes over Dallas-Fort Worth and I can' wait.
I just purchased the dobsonian BT-152 telescope, set it up following the manual but didn't explain where the o-ring goes. Now I know why I'm out of focus. Thanks for that. Very helpful.
Good video. I think that the dobsons are the most powerful equipment and also the most economical because you save the mount, which is very expensive. an astronomical greeting from Spain.🥰🔭✨✨✨
Thank you for this OUTSTANDING Video , very very helpful ... SkyWatcher claims that his Dobsonians don't need Collimation ! is that true ? please ... Do i have to Collimate the Dobsonian once i assemble it out of the Box ? please
Great video! Thx. Hi hope you can help. I have a skywatcher 10 inch collapsible and a hotech laser collimator. I first adjusted the secondary so the laser disappears inside the donut in the center of the primary. Then center the primary so the laser dot is centered in the grid on the collimator. BUT when I then go back the laser dot reflecting on the primary mirror is no longer in the center of the dounut, it is on the edge of the donut. When I observed my airys disc seemed centered, but the scope stars just did not focus cleanly. Is there something I am doing wrong? Thx
I am new to this field. But I have been studying astronomy. I want to buy my first brand new telescope. I am interested in Dobsonian telescope. The person whom I'm buying the telescope from has given me two options . Meade flexible Dobsonian 10 inches (726$) or 12 inches(1050$) or SkyWatcher flexible Dobsonian 10 inches (750$) You are a very professional person so could you please advice me on which is the better telescope. Very Kind.
The bases are a little bulky but fairly easy to transport. It will depend on which size you get. The 12" bases are fairly large so may have to go on its side in your vehicle.
A laser collimator makes collimation easy. The a many videos on how to do this. Just seach 'collimating skywatcher dobsonian' Um colimador a laser facilita a colimação. Muitos vídeos sobre como fazer isso. Basta pesquisar 'colimando skywatcher dobsonian'.
Hi and thank you for the video ! I bought a second hand skywatcher flextube 254mm with Go to and motorisation, I’m wondering if I have to desactivate mortorisation when I wanna use it manually ? I feel a resistance when I move the telescope Thanks
Hi Maxime. I have only used the manual version the telescope not the GOTO version but take a look at the manual www.skywatcheraustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Dobsonian-Go-to-Synscan.pdf Pages 11 onwards explains the different operation modes and how to use it manually.
Hello! I have the same telescope and I've always had this doubt: have I to remove the white foam (about 5 mm tick) between the fix round base and the mobile round base? I have the feeling that it makes the telescope rotate badly but I have not found written anywhere that needs to be removed. Many thanks in advance!
Hello, I bought a Skywatcher Dobsonian 300mm GOTO (it will arrive in the week) everyone discourages it for photography, what is your experience? do you think it is still possible to do astrophotography with videos or single shots to be added with programs such as PIPP or Astrostakkert? Thanks for your advice Roberto
HI Roberto - You will be able to image objects that require short exposures such as the Moon and planets. the tracking and alignment will probably not accurate enough for long exposures. Any exposure longer than 15s will show field rotation.
Thanks man, I was thinking of getting one for Christmas, but as a person who haven’t owned one, I should have high expectations for something I don’t probably know how to use.
I presume you mean the O Ring in the finder? It should be preinstalled. If missing contact your supplier or you should be able to find a substitute at a hardware store
You pay over 1000 for a telescope and they send you a base made out of plywood, how long can this realistically last moving it around year after year? Why is it impossible to buy well engineered products anymore, all the manufacturers have dollar signs in their eyes
Ryan - the whole point of a dobsonian telescope is a simple base and that the money is invested into the optics. If used and looked after properly I have seen dobsonians last for decades.
@@AstronzNewZealand Not if you're loading it in and out of a car every weekend and carrying it to dark spots, it will eventually weaken due to the nature of plywood, there are much better hard plastics available which they could switch to, its just ridiculous that they send you these materials when this should be a well built 'life time' scope
4 years since you made this, just want to say thank you! so helpful
This video was so helpful. Seems so easy to setup, just within 15 minutes scope is installed and ready. 👍✌️
Thanks! Using the two spanners simultaneously was where I was stuck with the base.
Hee hee
I'm a beginning astronomer and have been studying options for a telescope for the last week. I had almost committed to an 8" telescope for budget purposes but I ran across the 12" Skywatcher and I am looking no further. I was in New Zealand 3 years ago for a 2 week vacation. I would've visited Astronz but my interest peaked too late. By the way, New Zealand is awesome except for earthquakes. Any way, your video convinced me to buy the 300P and I am placing an order today. I had to have the go-to model because I'm too old to spend a lot of time figuring out where stars are in the sky. I live outside Fort Worth, Texas and the sky light is tolerable but I don't live too far from scale 2 on the bortle map. Thanks for the excellent instructions for an old man starting a new hobby. In 2024, the full eclipse passes over Dallas-Fort Worth and I can' wait.
Hi Ronald,
We hope you enjoy you new telescope. You should have great fun with it. I hope to be in Texas for the eclipse in 2024.
Thank you for uploading this video. It helped me tremendously.
I just purchased the dobsonian BT-152 telescope, set it up following the manual but didn't explain where the o-ring goes. Now I know why I'm out of focus. Thanks for that. Very helpful.
That was a great demonstration thank you. I’m now going to buy one!
the video was very helpful. thank you for taking the time editing was done very well.
Really useful, made the set up a lot less confusing thank you
Good video. I think that the dobsons are the most powerful equipment and also the most economical because you save the mount, which is very expensive. an astronomical greeting from Spain.🥰🔭✨✨✨
Thank you!
Great explanation! Thanks
Thank you.
Thank you for this OUTSTANDING Video , very very helpful ... SkyWatcher claims that his Dobsonians don't need Collimation ! is that true ? please ... Do i have to Collimate the Dobsonian once i assemble it out of the Box ? please
Thank you
Thanks for putting this up. It confirmed i had followed the instructions correctly ;o)
- Steve Foster
Yeah but its so simple you dont need them !
Great video! Thx. Hi hope you can help. I have a skywatcher 10 inch collapsible and a hotech laser collimator. I first adjusted the secondary so the laser disappears inside the donut in the center of the primary. Then center the primary so the laser dot is centered in the grid on the collimator. BUT when I then go back the laser dot reflecting on the primary mirror is no longer in the center of the dounut, it is on the edge of the donut. When I observed my airys disc seemed centered, but the scope stars just did not focus cleanly. Is there something I am doing wrong? Thx
Thanks so much!
I am new to this field. But I have been studying astronomy.
I want to buy my first brand new telescope. I am interested in Dobsonian telescope. The person whom I'm buying the telescope from has given me two options .
Meade flexible Dobsonian 10 inches (726$) or 12 inches(1050$)
or
SkyWatcher flexible Dobsonian 10 inches (750$)
You are a very professional person so could you please advice me on which is the better telescope.
Very Kind.
Good job
Thanks for this video. Is the base easily transportable when mounted / installed, please?
The bases are a little bulky but fairly easy to transport. It will depend on which size you get. The 12" bases are fairly large so may have to go on its side in your vehicle.
How well does it keep collimation over the night of use. Does the top stay in place or shift?
Skywatcher claims it stays in collimation even when extending and collapsing the truss. Our testing has verified this.
Como faz a colimação desse modelo de telescópio?
A laser collimator makes collimation easy. The a many videos on how to do this. Just seach 'collimating skywatcher dobsonian'
Um colimador a laser facilita a colimação. Muitos vídeos sobre como fazer isso. Basta pesquisar 'colimando skywatcher dobsonian'.
Hi and thank you for the video ! I bought a second hand skywatcher flextube 254mm with Go to and motorisation, I’m wondering if I have to desactivate mortorisation when I wanna use it manually ? I feel a resistance when I move the telescope
Thanks
Hi Maxime.
I have only used the manual version the telescope not the GOTO version but take a look at the manual
www.skywatcheraustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Dobsonian-Go-to-Synscan.pdf
Pages 11 onwards explains the different operation modes and how to use it manually.
Mine don`t rotate as there are 3 pieces of plastic which rubs against the other surface what am i doing wrong ?
Hello! I have the same telescope and I've always had this doubt: have I to remove the white foam (about 5 mm tick) between the fix round base and the mobile round base? I have the feeling that it makes the telescope rotate badly but I have not found written anywhere that needs to be removed. Many thanks in advance!
If you mean the pads visible at 4:45 then no.
If it rotates badly then you have tighten the screw at 5:26 too much.
Hello,
I bought a Skywatcher Dobsonian 300mm GOTO (it will arrive in the week) everyone discourages it for photography, what is your experience? do you think it is still possible to do astrophotography with videos or single shots to be added with programs such as PIPP or Astrostakkert?
Thanks for your advice
Roberto
HI Roberto - You will be able to image objects that require short exposures such as the Moon and planets. the tracking and alignment will probably not accurate enough for long exposures. Any exposure longer than 15s will show field rotation.
What does extending the tube do?
Having the tube fully extended is required for normal operation on the collapsible telescopes. You only compact it down to make transportation easier.
is it possible to add a dslr camera adapter for astrophotography in this model?
It is physically possible but as the telescope is not tracking you are limited to doing very short exposures - i.e. the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn
Astronz New Zealand what i need for long exposures? Or which model?
@@userten4340 For long exposure imaging you will need an equatorial mounted telescope
How much does it cost
It depends on the size. Full range and prices are available at
astronz.nz/collections/telescopes/Dobsonian
Thanks man, I was thinking of getting one for Christmas, but as a person who haven’t owned one, I should have high expectations for something I don’t probably know how to use.
What if I didn’t get an O ring?
I presume you mean the O Ring in the finder? It should be preinstalled. If missing contact your supplier or you should be able to find a substitute at a hardware store
You pay over 1000 for a telescope and they send you a base made out of plywood, how long can this realistically last moving it around year after year? Why is it impossible to buy well engineered products anymore, all the manufacturers have dollar signs in their eyes
Ryan - the whole point of a dobsonian telescope is a simple base and that the money is invested into the optics. If used and looked after properly I have seen dobsonians last for decades.
@@AstronzNewZealand Not if you're loading it in and out of a car every weekend and carrying it to dark spots, it will eventually weaken due to the nature of plywood, there are much better hard plastics available which they could switch to, its just ridiculous that they send you these materials when this should be a well built 'life time' scope
oh come on its isnt hard and doessnt even need instructions. I made mine without looking at anything its so simple
gowd sake do you want a prize?