What can I see with the Explore Scientific 8-inch Dobsonian?
With its 208mm aperture you can expect to see the rings of Saturn, the cloud bands and Great Red Spot on Jupiter, the phases of Venus, and countless craters on the Moon. For deep-sky objects, it will show you bright globular clusters like M13, nebulae like the Orion Nebula (M42), and dozens of galaxies from a dark site.
How does the 8-inch Dobsonian perform on Jupiter and Saturn?
Using the included 10mm eyepiece and 2x Barlow lens for about 244x, you can see the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings on a night of good atmospheric seeing. On Jupiter, you will be able to track the Galilean moons and see its main belts and zones.
Is the Explore Scientific 8-inch Dobsonian portable enough for dark sky sites?
It breaks down into two parts, the 19 lbs 15.6 oz optical tube and the 18 lbs 11 oz base, each carried separately. The 1156mm (45.5-inch) tube length is the size to check against your vehicle.
What is the highest useful magnification for this 8-inch Dobsonian?
The rule of thumb is 2 times the aperture in millimeters, 416x for this telescope, though typical skies will not allow it. The included 10mm eyepiece with the 2x Barlow gives about 244x, for nights of steady air.
Can I use 2-inch eyepieces with this Explore Scientific telescope?
Yes. The 2-inch Crayford focuser takes 2-inch eyepieces, and the included 25mm 70-degree eyepiece is one. A 1.25-inch adapter is included for the 10mm Plossl and the Barlow.
How would this 8-inch Dobsonian handle a large target like the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)?
With the included 25mm 70-degree eyepiece at 49x, the true field is about 1.4 degrees (70 / 49), which frames the bright core and inner disk with M32 and M110 nearby. From a dark site a dust lane may show.
What is collimation and how often will I need to do it with this 8-inch Dobsonian?
Collimation is the process of aligning the telescope's mirrors. For a Newtonian telescope like this one, it's a normal part of maintenance. Rough handling knocks it out of collimation, so treat the telescope gently. Check it after transport; the manual walks through the steps.
Is the Explore Scientific 8-inch Dobsonian a good telescope for a beginner?
The Dobsonian mount is easy for astronomers of all skill levels to operate, and the accessories in the box (two eyepieces, a Barlow, a red-dot finder and a smartphone adapter) let you start observing right away.
Can I do astrophotography with the Explore Scientific 8-inch Dobsonian?
This telescope is designed primarily for visual observation. The manual Dobsonian mount does not track the stars, which is required for long-exposure photography of deep-sky objects. Explore Scientific includes a smartphone adapter to aid in simple astrophotography, such as short phone images of the Moon and bright planets.
Why should I start observing with the 25mm eyepiece instead of the 10mm?
Starting with the lower-power 25mm eyepiece (49x) gives you a much wider field of view. This makes it significantly easier to find and center your target. Once you have an object centered, you can then switch to the higher-power 10mm eyepiece (122x) to see more detail, without the frustration of trying to locate it in a narrow field of view.
