Hi I'm new here and I'm also new to amateur astronomy. I'm a student in my late teens who just bought a telescope and is still left in the dark over a certain question...Should I get a 9x50 finderscope and scrap my 6x30 finderscope or is my money better spent elsewhere with eyepieces, filters, barlow lens etc. Currently my budget restricts me from buying the finderscope and accessories. Any advice would be greatly appreciated because I'm eager to purchase these accessories ASAP. Oh If it isn't the 9x50 finderscope, would you be able to make a list of necessary accessories for a beginner telescope user?

My telescope is an Celestron Omni XLT 150 6" Newtonian Reflector. 

The list of accessories which will make your observing sessions productive and enjoyable is a long one including charts, a planisphere, red flashlight to read charts, barlow, etc., but, in my mind for aid in finding objects there is nothing more handy than a Telrad unit (unmagnified) finder.  A 9 X 50 would be an improvement over the stock 6 X 30, but nothing will put you closer faster than a Telrad.

http://www.backyard-astro.com/equipment/accessories/telrad/telrad.html

Good luck.

If you are observing from decently dark skies than a Telrad type of finder will enhance your ability to find things astronomically.  If you are in an LP situation a 9x50 might be a better choice.  In either case the stock 6x30 is wholly inferior and needs replacing.

You got the scope so just add stuff as you can afford to and don't worry overmuch about the details.  My first scope was a 60mm refrator with a 5x24 finder!  Zachsdad is right though, half the battle is knowing where to look so get some of those books or free software and have a great time.

Enjoy the view,

L

If you don't want to shell out for both a 9x50 finder and a Telrad (or don't have room for both), a red dot reflex sight is less expensive and will work well in conjunction with a finder scope.

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=105-109-166-167-6550

Dave Mitsky

For me, 9 X 50 is the best choice because when I look at red dot finderscope, I just can see some bright stars. If you want to enchance your interest, 9X50 will not make you frustrated.

A 9 X 50 finder scope will certainly help with finding objects. On a 6" scope it is gonna take up some real estate though. It may also affect the scopes balance. Are you considering the Right Angle or straight through type of finder? The right angle type is better used in conjunction with a red dot finder or a Telrad, while the straight through type you can keep both eyes open and bring the finder view and your open eye view together.

JJ

Thanks for all the replies I wasn't expecting all this advice on such short notice! Well, it's a finderscope with a star-diagonal if that's what you mean by right angle. The telescope uses an equitorial mount with counterweights so I'm guessing balance shouldn't be an issue. I'm a bit confused and I need clarification, does the Telrad (zero mag) find objects that are not visible to the naked eye and binoculars or is it just an easier way to locate objects without having to find them through a finderscope first?

FurtherThanTooFar:

does the Telrad (zero mag) find objects that are not visible to the naked eye and binoculars or is it just an easier way to locate objects without having to find them through a finderscope first?

With a telrad or a red dot finder, you can only line up on visible stars.  There are charts available for the telrad that you can use to find dimmer objects by aligning to visible stars such as this one

http://www.utahskies.org/deepsky/messier/charts/m037.htm

The bulls eye you see on the chart are the rings on the telrad.  inner .5 degree circle, middlle 2 degrees circle and outer 4 degree circle. 

.  I use both the telrad and a right angle 9 X 50.

telrad is good if your using a star chart, if not, a red-dot is just fine to aim at any star and start from there, i just use red-dots because the 50mm finderscope is the real hunting tool, now i not sure how you observe or how your scope is set-up, but i use my left eye for observing, and on most newts a straight though finderscope is near impossible to use, so i need the RA because of this, i like correct image -CI, but thats really not necessary

DaveMitsky:

If you don't want to shell out for both a 9x50 finder and a Telrad (or don't have room for both), a red dot reflex sight is less expensive and will work well in conjunction with a finder scope.

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=105-109-166-167-6550

Dave Mitsky

This is what I do with my celestron 130eq. It came with a red dot finder. In my LP skies, I had a tough time finding things. I then added a finder, and I am finding things much faster. The red dot gets me in the general area and then I can use the finder to get me closer.

Dj

I have a 8x50 finder and it is always dewing up before my telrad, making it useless.  I would spend my money on Telrad (or other eyepieces, charts, binos, etc.).

I use the Telrad 100% of the time, and the 8x50 perhaps 5% of the time, afterwards on M31, M81/M82, Lagoon, Double cluster, Open Clusters, and globular clusters.

Not usefule for planetary nebulas nor other galaxies.

A Dew Zapper heating band will prevent finder scope dewing.  There are a number of other galaxies  directly visible through a 50mm finder scope at a dark site.  M27, M57, M97, and the Helix Nebula can also be seen.

Dave Mitsky

i just put the lens cap back on the finder for dew, it only takes a second

I use my Telrad finder 100% of the time, and my 9x50 finder <10% of the time.

I like the sky spot laminated charts that you can use with the telrad.  Even when the Telrad dews up you can still use the luminated circles in one eye and overlay stars with your other eye,

The 9x50 finder is the first thing to dew up and then it is worthless.  When it is not dewed up it is useful to find M42, M31, and bight open clusters and globular clusters.

Last night I did observe Mars in the same view with M44 beehive in my 9x50 finder which made a real nice view, plus M44 was easier to find in the finder vs. the telrad.  However within 5 minutes my finder eyepiece totally fogged/iced up, so I was forced to just use the telrad afterwards.

Plus before I just used the Telrad.  So I really just used the 9x50 finder on Mars and M44 last night.

faackanders2

Just a little tip here. If you don't have a dew control system, keep the finder caps handy in a coat pocket. Use the finder to find your object and then immediately cap the objective and eyepiece. Next time you need to use it uncap the lenses. Repeat as necessary.

Doc JJ

Oh wow, this thread is great!  I was looking for some suggestions on finder scopes because my Orion Classic 8" Dob came with an EZ Finder.  After two clear nights in the city I could really only hit a few bright objects like Mars and The Orion's Nebula, but with Terrence's book along with Turn Left at Orion I figured the city was my problem.

Boy was I wrong.

I took my scope out to the parents' house, which is about 35 minutes outside the city and pretty much country.  Better skies to say the least, though far from a dark site.  As soon as I used the EZ Finder the starts would vanish in the thing.  At the skies were far from dark enough to see any "rogue" starts in and around the constellations I was able to point at (facing away from the city), so I kept trying to approximate to no avail.  The EZ Finder was all but worthless with some LP, especially combined with my lack of skill. So with my inexperience I came up short on a worthwhile night, and starting looking into getting a finder scope and a detailed atlas.

So here come my questions.  I'm going to go ahead and replace the EZ Finder with a straight 9x50 Orion finder.  I think I'm also going to mount a Telrad as sort of the EZ Finder replacement, and get some Telrad friendly charts.  Will the Telrad fit directly onto my Orion oe will I need some adapters?

Thanks for the help already.  I haven't let my inability to find much yet get me down.  I've only had three clear nights so far where I live since I got my scope, and it only makes me hungry to get hunting!  I still haven't quite gotten keeping objects in my FOV with the Dob because I'm constantly turning the scope the wrong directions lol.

:P

invalid:

I think I'm also going to mount a Telrad as sort of the EZ Finder replacement, and get some Telrad friendly charts.  Will the Telrad fit directly onto my Orion oe will I need some adapters?

Yes.  The telrad mounts with doublesided tape.  I have mine mounted between my 9X50 and the focuser.  Others mount it to the right of the finder.  Either will work.

Telrad comes with a base and stick adhesive; pull off and stick on.

 If you are loking anywhere but north, you will always always track by moving the scope up and to the right dor South East (South west may be down and to the right).  Move the scope slowly to keep object in the center or near the middle.

 P.S.  Dob owners like wide field eyepieces (eXPLORE sCIENTIFIC, cELESTRON HAVE 82 DEG afov EYEPIECES FOR $99 DOLAR SALE NOW).