Ok aside from some pretty healthy Binoculars mounted on a tripod, we have one of these
It's a 4.5 inch reflector on a dodgey equatorial mount. So my question is this...would it be better, as a beginner, to leave this on the mount it has, or try to build a small Dob mount for it?

I haven't really used this scope at all. It belongs to my girlfriends son, and he got bored with it real quick because he couldn't figure it out, so in the closet it went. So my other question is, what kind or detail can you pick out with a 4.5 reflector? Can you see saturns rings? Bands on Jupiter?

Weather permitting, I want to take it out this weekend, but so far that's looking grim.

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Eagle Eye Observatory

A 4.5 inch scope is large enough to see the things you mentioned. Depending on your sky quality, you can see quite a few of the Messier objects, if not in as much detail as you would see with a larger scope.

I actually have built a small Dob mount for scopes like that, although I noticed that the tube looks fairly short, so you would probably end up setting the Dob mount on something to raise it up.

If the current mount is all shaky and wobbly, you can try to beef it up, or you can get a more expensive mount, or you can build your own mount for it.

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"I'm as accurate as any psychic. And I'm a cartoon!" -- Squidward

"Arrrgh, the laws of physics be a harsh mistress!" -- Bender

Try it first to see how stable it is before you decide to change the mount.

Yes to both, especially if it's a decent mirror and properly collimated. Also Jupiter's Galilean moons (but you can also see those in 10x50 binocs). As for Saturn's moons, at least Titan, maybe a couple of others if seeing is good.

Nick

PS: what kind of eyepieces do you have?

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Nick Theodorakis

no idea on the eyepieces, I will check into it this weekend. I know they are the smaller eyepieces that come with the department-store telescope kits.

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The More I learn, The More Ignorant I Become

Eagle Eye Observatory

Sound relationship advice.

Considering Tasco's reputation, this is actually a pretty nice scope. The eyepieces aren't great, but they are 1.25'' as opposed to typical department store .965''. The mount is an EQ-1, which is good enough to hold a short 4.5'' tube. Basically the scope is a cheaper version of the Orion Starblast. The mount is probably fine, but if you find a problem with it, or it is too complicated to use, try either an Orion VersaGo, Astro-Tech Voyager, or a Vixen Porta Mount. I just noticed that Orion (www.telescope.com) introduced a new mount, the SkyView AZ. That should work, too. All of these are between $250 and $400, much more than the telescope cost originally. I can't think of any budget Altazimuth mounts.

If you do not find the mount on that telescope complicated, but you do find it unstable, the Orion EQ-2 is a step up from the included mount.

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You can't really tell the difference between drunken rambling and sober blogging.

well ultimately I am going to get an Orion XT10, but It's been a while since i have been out, so I will make do with these and the binos through the summer. I Don't remember the eyepieces being that big, but it has been a while since i have really looked at it. I am going to pick it up tomorrow, bring it home and check it out.

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The More I learn, The More Ignorant I Become

Eagle Eye Observatory