Had an astrophotography guru tell me to ditch my refractor for a Newtonian

Joined a local astronomy club 4 months back. This old timer with a 20 inch Dob swore my 80mm refractor was garbage for deep sky. Followed his advice. Bought a used 8 inch Newtonian off CloudyNights for $200. First clear night I spent 3 hours fighting collimation issues. Couldn't get a sharp image to save my life. Next week I went back to the refractor and got the cleanest Andromeda shot I've ever taken. Who else has been steered wrong by "experts" in this hobby?

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabethtaylor24d ago

lol yeah the whole "bigger is better" thing in this hobby is such a trap sometimes. I've seen way too many new folks get talked into gear that's a nightmare to actually use just because some "expert" swore by it. It's rough when you spend money and a clear night on something that fights you instead of helping you take in the view.

hayden70924d ago

Man that's exactly what happened to me last summer with a 12 inch dob I could barely move around my yard.

phoenix33123d ago

Felt that hard @hayden709. I've noticed this pattern in a lot of hobbies, not just this one. People get sold on the idea of having the biggest or best thing, but nobody talks about what it actually takes to use it day to day. Like, I know a guy who bought a massive telescope he can't even get out of his garage without help. Same thing happens with kayaks or camping gear too. People buy the big fancy item, then it just collects dust because it's too much hassle to lug around. It's like we all need to remind ourselves that the best gear is the one you'll actually use.