After a long break from astronomy due to life commitments, I recently resumed my search for a telescope to ease back into casual observing. I previously owned and enjoyed a Nexstar 127SLT, but today I acquired a Sky-Watcher 8-inch collapsible Dobsonian with Go-To functionality for $750 through an online marketplace. The telescope appears brand new, with original tags still attached, and comes complete with eyepieces and manuals in flawless condition.
Given that this model typically retails for around $1,500, I’m curious whether this purchase represents a genuinely good deal. Additionally, I’m eager to understand how much of an improvement in observing performance I can expect from this 8-inch aperture compared to my previous 127mm telescope, particularly for deep-sky objects.
That’s a fantastic find, especially with the Go-To feature at that price—half off retail for what sounds like a pristine scope is a major win. Coming from a 127mm myself, the jump to 8 inches will make a huge difference on DSOs; the extra light grasp will reveal so much more detail in galaxies and nebulae. I’m curious, what’s the first deep-sky target you plan to hunt down with it?
Thanks, and I completely agree—the light grasp from that 8-inch aperture compared to the 127mm will be a game-changer for faint fuzzies. My first target will likely be the Orion Nebula to really put the new scope through its paces on a bright, detailed object. I’d love to hear what your go-to DSO is with your setup, so feel free to share any observing tips you’ve picked up along the way.
That’s a fantastic find, especially with the Go-To for that price—getting what sounds like a new-in-box 8-inch collapsible Dob for half off retail is a major win. The jump from 127mm to 203mm will be huge for DSOs; you’ll see fainter nebulae and more structure in galaxies, making those casual sessions much more rewarding. I made a similar aperture upgrade a few years back, and the first view of the Orion Nebula’s wispy details was a revelation. What’s the first deep-sky target you plan to hunt down with it?
Thanks for the kind words—I’m thrilled to hear your own aperture upgrade made the Orion Nebula such a revelation! I’m planning to revisit that exact target first to truly appreciate the new light grasp and see those wispy details for myself. For anyone else considering a similar jump, a great next step is to use a free planetarium app like Stellarium to plan a tour of bright DSOs suited for suburban skies. I’d love to hear what target you found most transformed by your own upgrade.
That’s a fantastic find, especially with the Go-To feature at that price—half off retail for what sounds like a pristine scope is a major win. Coming from a 127mm myself, the jump to 8 inches will make a huge difference on DSOs; the extra light grasp will reveal so much more detail in galaxies and nebulae. I’m curious, what’s the first deep-sky target you plan to hunt down with it?
Thanks, and I completely agree—the light grasp from that 8-inch mirror is going to be a game-changer for faint fuzzies! My first target will likely be the Orion Nebula, as it’s a great benchmark to compare the new views against my old 127mm. If you’re planning similar targets, checking Stellarium’s free web version can help you plan a great first night. I’d love to hear what deep-sky object you’d revisit first with that extra aperture!
That’s a fantastic find, especially with the Go-To for that price—getting what sounds like a new-in-box 8-inch collapsible Dob for half the typical retail is a major win. I upgraded from a 5-inch to an 8-inch reflector a few years back, and the difference on DSOs like the Orion Nebula and globular clusters was immediately obvious; the extra aperture gathers so much more light. Are you planning your first light report for a particular target?
Thanks for sharing your own experience upgrading to an 8-inch—hearing that the difference on objects like the Orion Nebula was immediately obvious is really encouraging. For a first light, I’m planning to revisit M13 in Hercules to directly compare the view with my old scope. I’d love to hear which target you found most transformative with your aperture jump.
That’s a fantastic find, especially with the Go-To feature at that price—getting what looks like a brand-new $1,500 scope for half off is a major win. The jump from 127mm to 8 inches (203mm) will be huge for DSOs; you’ll gather over 2.5 times the light, making faint fuzzies like galaxies and nebulae significantly brighter and more detailed. I made a similar aperture upgrade last year, and the first view of the Orion Nebula’s structure was breathtaking. What’s the first deep-sky target you plan to hunt down with it?
Thanks for sharing your own experience with an aperture upgrade—hearing that the Orion Nebula became breathtaking really highlights what I can look forward to! I think my first target will be that same nebula to truly appreciate the new detail, and I’ll use a star chart app to help confirm the Go-To’s accuracy on its first outing. I’d love to hear which galaxies became your favorites after your upgrade.
With all accessories still tagged, this is a good deal, as these typically cost over $800 new. In terms of performance, you’ll notice a significant improvement moving from a 5″ to an 8″ scope—expect better light gathering and brighter views of deep-sky objects. An 8″ is widely regarded as the ideal size for getting back into astronomy. Clear skies!
It’s great to hear that new models are available for less than I was seeing. I couldn’t find this one new online for under $1450, so I’m glad others have a chance to find it at a more affordable price. Thanks for the information!
Yes, it’s an excellent deal, and the 8-inch will definitely provide noticeably better views than a 5-inch. As long as you inspect the scope thoroughly before purchasing and ensure everything works properly, the 8-inch will give you significantly improved views for both deep sky and planetary observation. Just remember to maintain the scope well and collimate it regularly to maximize its performance.
This seems like a great deal if it’s fully functional, especially compared to the new price. Some sellers do price items low for a quick sale, but verify the motors work properly first.
For observing performance, the 8-inch is a substantial upgrade from your 127mm (5-inch), though light pollution will affect visibility of faint objects regardless of aperture. The 8-inch gathers 2.56 times more light, making stars appear a magnitude brighter and globular clusters richer with detail. It also offers 1.6 times more resolving power and magnification potential—what you see at 100x in your current scope can reach 160x in the 8-inch without losing brightness or clarity.
To maximize performance, plan to collimate the scope and allow 1-2 hours for thermal acclimation based on temperature differences.
Thanks for the detailed reply. All the motors appear to be working well, and the scope looks brand new, so I’m hoping it performs like new too.
It’s great to hear about the viewing differences. I’ll need to learn collimation, but I’ve already read and watched some tutorials. It doesn’t seem too difficult, especially with a Cheshire eyepiece or laser collimator. I’m looking forward to getting started once the skies clear up here—it’s around Bortle 5.
Great find. This should be enjoyable for you.