Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dobsonian Reflector?

[thebach]

Does anyone know if the Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dobsonian Reflector is a good scope with good optics? This scope is only around $550.00 and it's 10 inch. Thanks!

[imported_astro]

Hey there thebach:

I own an Orion XT10 in which I bought new about 3yrs ago. I never had any problems with it, the optics are great for a commercially made telecope.
Believe me, I read everything that I could find on all 10" dobsons, what I found was the it was a good bargain for the money. Good construction, mirror, and balances well even with heavy eyepieces. Yes there are other companies who makes 10" dobs, but I also found their service dept were polite, helpful and most of all willing to solve any problems you have with your scope! The eyepieces that came with the scope, as with any company are not the greatest, so save some money to buy some quality eyepieces, you will definitly see the difference, I'm using a Pentax 10.5mm and Televu Nagler 16mm also I got a 2" Antares 32mm. My wife and I are happy with this size of scope, it fits between the rear seat of the car (keep the half moon styrofoams that came with the shipping box to keep the scope in place in the back seat) the base fits inside the trunk. I also found the 10" is a good size, so you won't grow out of it too soon!

Well hope this helps,
Take care
Astro

[ve7adp]

Thanks for the info. I too am looking at this scope the Orion XT10. Meantime, I bought a 6" Orbitron OR9000s which I have to learn to use. Tried it once but didn't get much. Just a larger white image of the with no reolution or things to look at.
Tom

[DisinterestedThirdParty]

I think real question within the question is more like "do you have this telescope with the new encoders and the computer controls?"

[ebbixx]

Originally posted by DisinterestedThirdParty@Mar 2 2004, 11:51 AM
I think real question within the question is more like "do you have this telescope with the new encoders and the computer controls?"
Why is this the "real" question?

(Owner of Meade LX200 10" Schmidt-Cassegrain w/UHTC and Auto GoTo unit.)

There are advantages to all different kinds of instruments. For instance, because of the time needed for set-up, I am thinking of getting something more portable -- even though my original idea with this instrument was to have something at the higher end of my "willing to carry it" range.

I now find myself thinking in two directions, one a large dob., in the range of 20", let's say. And a smaller scope, preferably with a German equatorial mount for more impulsive uses.

I also recently purchased a 25 x 100mm pair of binoculars both for use in conjunction with the larger scope, and for those times (very frequent in NJ) when skies are iffy or I just don't have time to find a (relatively) dark sky site, run interference with the local cops (the best, nearby dark sky sites I've found so far all tend to be in public parks that are technically closed after dark. I've yet to have the police run me off, but almost every time I've set up the 10" one of the swings round to check out what I'm doing . . . since the ordinance was set up to prevent teenagers from using the parks as a drinking and drug hangout, and since I'm clearly no teenager, I'm guessing they figure that my presence will actually discourage kids from showing up in at least the park I'm using, leaving them more time to patrol the other parks and areas they regularly patrol after dark. Still, knowing that the parks are very well posted as being closed at dusk, they're well within their rights to run me off, so it has to be a really clear night for me to risk that possibility. I would ask for some sort of permit, but I'm guessing that would only create bureaucratic trouble, and possibly ruin the informal arrangement that seems to have grown up with time.)

As for encoders, I'm assuming you're talking about CCD cameras there. With a dobsonian my understanding is that the mount is basically a swivel arrangement. Most I'm aware of do not appear to have a clock drive of any sort to allow continuous tracking of objects, but I could be missing something there, not having seriously shopped for a dobsonian. Lack of equatorial mounting aside, a CCD will "work" with any scope -- but w/o an equatorial mount and precision guidance it will be very difficult to take long exposures of deep space objects.

Still, for direct observation, you can't beat the price advantage a dobsonian has over any other reflector. A newtonian is probably a best economy choice, if portability is not a concern. They can be eq. mounted and the price/diameter is far lower than SCTs and other fancy instruments. I also expect that, being mechanically simpler and having fewer parts there may be less potential trouble and need for service over the life of the scope. If I had a backyard observatory, or a place to build one a newtonian (as large as my budget could handle), mounted on a fixed pedestal and eq. mount would be my first choice.