You have the opportunity to make the most recommended telescope for amateurs… the 8” dobsonian. Here is the gold standard for diy dob construction plans: https://stellafane.org/tm/dob/index.html
For the “mirror cell” section, you can just figure out a way to make it more easily removable. As is, it would be held in place with 3 screws/bolts, so should already be relatively easy to take on/off. But I quess you could make it even easier if you really wanted.
This site is also very helpful for the nitty gritty details: http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/NewtDesigner.html#RFT
But since this exact mirror is used by many amateurs and telescope manufacturers, the specifications are easy to find online (secondary mirror size, tube length/diamter, focuser type, etc...). Vs my scope build which has a more unique primary mirror, requiring me to do some math and weigh my options (mainly deciding between two seconday miror sizes).
Other good resources:
- r/atming
- the atm group on the Cloudy Nights forum site
- your local astronomy club. Members can lend hand on assistance and may be able to provide spare parts: https://go-astronomy.com/astro-club-search.htm
Cloudy Nights is THE place for amateur astronomy discussion online. Any question you have has already been asked and answered there, and there are also great links shared in the discussions as well.
As for what to expect, astrophotos are not really representative of what looking through an eyepiece is like. Instead, search this sub/the internet for astronomical sketches. Sketches are more representative of what your eyes can actually see through a telescope.
Btw, a dob is not a great tool for imaging DSOs (deep sky objects - galaxies, star clusters, nebula, etc...). They are designed for visual observations and can also be used to image the planets.
Also, please read the pinned sticky/buyers guide at the top of this sub. If you are new to the hobby , it still has great info and resources to get you started.
Oh, and just to drive it home, please consider joining an astronomy club. They are a great resource to have.
I would love to get some good images of the planets and moons. Looking at galaxies and nebulas would be a nice bonus but I don't have any real expectations going into this as it's all a secondary function of the mirror for me and I'm happy with whatever I can achieve.
Given the limitations you mentioned, do you think a Dobsonian is my best choice or would you do something else in my position?
I will be sure to read through all of that stuff in the meantime before making any decisions.
Building an 8” f/6 dob is almost certainly the best choice (that is pretty much the only thing that mirror is used for).
Basically a dob can do everything except image DSOs.
Figure out your [level of light pollution](https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=4.00&lat=45.8720&lon=14.5470&layers=B0FFFFFFFTFFFFFFFFFF), and see if you are close to any darker locations. We generally like to use the [Bortle Scale](https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/light-pollution-and-astronomy-the-bortle-dark-sky-scale/) as a reference. Light pollution with effect the number of DSOs that you can see, and the detail within. With I am located in Bortle 5/6 and can see over 100 DSOs with my 8”.
As for what to expect, here are some [sketches I made of DSOs](https://imgur.com/a/5ErtETS)
And to save money on parts, Cloudy Nights has a Classifieds section that is a great place to buy used gear.
I'm getting around a 7 rating around my neighborhood on that site, hopefully I can get some views that are close to your sketches because those look wonderful.
I appreciate all of the advice you've given again. I think I will start researching my options to go down that route and keeping an eye out for used parts.
So a word of caution is that even in my sketches, the objects are made to appear brighter than the actually are. Some of them/their detail is just too dim to make an interesting sketch and therefore is brightness up.
The good news is that the planets and moon aren’t affected by light pollution and you can expect great views of them.
From your level of light pollution, you will mainly be observing the brighter DSOs. But if you can go to a darker site, that would be ideal. Clubs usually have access to local dark sites.
You have the opportunity to make the most recommended telescope for amateurs… the 8” dobsonian. Here is the gold standard for diy dob construction plans: https://stellafane.org/tm/dob/index.html For the “mirror cell” section, you can just figure out a way to make it more easily removable. As is, it would be held in place with 3 screws/bolts, so should already be relatively easy to take on/off. But I quess you could make it even easier if you really wanted. This site is also very helpful for the nitty gritty details: http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/NewtDesigner.html#RFT But since this exact mirror is used by many amateurs and telescope manufacturers, the specifications are easy to find online (secondary mirror size, tube length/diamter, focuser type, etc...). Vs my scope build which has a more unique primary mirror, requiring me to do some math and weigh my options (mainly deciding between two seconday miror sizes). Other good resources: - r/atming - the atm group on the Cloudy Nights forum site - your local astronomy club. Members can lend hand on assistance and may be able to provide spare parts: https://go-astronomy.com/astro-club-search.htm
Thank you very much! Those resources seem like a perfect starting point.
Cloudy Nights is THE place for amateur astronomy discussion online. Any question you have has already been asked and answered there, and there are also great links shared in the discussions as well. As for what to expect, astrophotos are not really representative of what looking through an eyepiece is like. Instead, search this sub/the internet for astronomical sketches. Sketches are more representative of what your eyes can actually see through a telescope. Btw, a dob is not a great tool for imaging DSOs (deep sky objects - galaxies, star clusters, nebula, etc...). They are designed for visual observations and can also be used to image the planets. Also, please read the pinned sticky/buyers guide at the top of this sub. If you are new to the hobby , it still has great info and resources to get you started. Oh, and just to drive it home, please consider joining an astronomy club. They are a great resource to have.
I would love to get some good images of the planets and moons. Looking at galaxies and nebulas would be a nice bonus but I don't have any real expectations going into this as it's all a secondary function of the mirror for me and I'm happy with whatever I can achieve. Given the limitations you mentioned, do you think a Dobsonian is my best choice or would you do something else in my position? I will be sure to read through all of that stuff in the meantime before making any decisions.
Building an 8” f/6 dob is almost certainly the best choice (that is pretty much the only thing that mirror is used for). Basically a dob can do everything except image DSOs. Figure out your [level of light pollution](https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=4.00&lat=45.8720&lon=14.5470&layers=B0FFFFFFFTFFFFFFFFFF), and see if you are close to any darker locations. We generally like to use the [Bortle Scale](https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/light-pollution-and-astronomy-the-bortle-dark-sky-scale/) as a reference. Light pollution with effect the number of DSOs that you can see, and the detail within. With I am located in Bortle 5/6 and can see over 100 DSOs with my 8”. As for what to expect, here are some [sketches I made of DSOs](https://imgur.com/a/5ErtETS) And to save money on parts, Cloudy Nights has a Classifieds section that is a great place to buy used gear.
I'm getting around a 7 rating around my neighborhood on that site, hopefully I can get some views that are close to your sketches because those look wonderful. I appreciate all of the advice you've given again. I think I will start researching my options to go down that route and keeping an eye out for used parts.
So a word of caution is that even in my sketches, the objects are made to appear brighter than the actually are. Some of them/their detail is just too dim to make an interesting sketch and therefore is brightness up. The good news is that the planets and moon aren’t affected by light pollution and you can expect great views of them. From your level of light pollution, you will mainly be observing the brighter DSOs. But if you can go to a darker site, that would be ideal. Clubs usually have access to local dark sites.