Recommendations for a portable 'scope

I'm about to come into a bit of money, and I'm looking for a recommendation for a portable 'scope. By portable, I mean that it should pretty much be transportable on a pushbike (though not necessarily comfortably so). I would also like computer control, and the possibility of astrophotography (i.e. equatorial mount).

The Celestron Nexstar 8i looks like a good choice, for instance - very light, GOTO computer control, and can take an equatorial wedge.

Any other recommendations?

Thanks,
Chris.

I hope you've a trailer for that pushbike. Especially if you're looking for an 8" cass and equatorial mount. I don't think this is possible.

If it's push bike material your looking for then maybe something similar to what I use might just about barely be loaded on your bike. Look at the Celestron Nexstar 102SLT - this has been called a grab and go scope in some reviews. Though if you also want to do astrophotography (long exposure) then this may not be the job. You'd be better off with a sturdy equatorial GOTO mount, and these are not light when you add in counterweights etc. I think you might need to re-think the pushbike. If it was only for visual use then there are plenty of options but the astrophotography puts some constraints on your mount and your budget.

By portable, I mean that it should pretty much be transportable on a pushbike (though not necessarily comfortably so).
The Celestron Nexstar 8i looks like a good choice, for instance - very light, GOTO computer control, and can take an equatorial wedge
Chris.

I think you are dreaming there Chris if you want to carry around an 8" SCT in a basket on a bike. :lol:
I'd be thinking more in the line of an ETX, there nice, light and small and are optically quite good (90mm and up).

100 out of 100 for enthusiasm, but you wouldn't want to come off that bike in an accident.

I think you are dreaming there Chris if you want to carry around an 8" SCT in a basket on a bike.

I was thinking more about carrying it on my back, strapping it to whatever I could. Or even something that would be manageable on public transport or in a taxi...

I'm also thinking about my trips abroad - the more portable and lighter the scope the better.

Thanks for the ideas.

Chris.

Even at that, litteraly carring around an 8" SCT is no mean feat.
I carried a 4" refractor over to Turkey for the eclipse, and I was near the limits of my patience given tripods and other bags I carried over.
I think a six inch scope would be my feasible max for a trip abroad.

I think you are dreaming there Chris if you want to carry around an 8" SCT in a basket on a bike.

I was thinking more about carrying it on my back, strapping it to whatever I could. Or even something that would be manageable on public transport or in a taxi...

I'm also thinking about my trips abroad - the more portable and lighter the scope the better.

Thanks for the ideas.

Chris.

One issue to consider is that strapping a 8" sct to your back means that you will have to compromise on protecting the sct. Just one accident will, to all intents, totaly write off the scope.

Something smaller with better protection would be better, but even a 102mm scope will be very bulky in a protective travel case.

Maybe you should look at a 80mm class scope? They tend to be very compact and thus transportable.

Later,

Jed.