I started observing in 1993 with binoculars and a 60mm refractor. In 1998, I got my first seasonal job at the age of 14 to afford my first "serious" telescope, the XT6's predecessor, the "Deep Space Explorer" 6" dobsonian. A bit more crude than the XT6 mechanically, but had optics figured at Discovery optics in California by Terry Ostahowski, now widely recognized as a master mirror maker. Other telescopes, including larger dobsonians, have come and gone from my life. I have a small arsenal of telescopes now, but that (now heavily modified and improved) 6" dobsonian is still my "daily driver" telescope. It's sharper than any other telescope I've ever owned, and I'll never part with it. Optically, it's as perfect as any telescope I've ever observed with and I routinely split double stars at the theoretical limit of what a 6" scope can resolve. Currently doing the Herschel 400 with it. A good 6" f/8 dobsonian can be a true forever scope and you will NEVER run out of things to look at with one. I've been using mine for 23 years and I still see something new every time I have it out. They're also a great platform for learning how to improve and modify telescopes as well.

I love the simplicity of the Dobsonian. A testament to this simplicity is the fact that many models haven’t changed in the last 15 years from manufacturers. It still the same products they are selling since there are no electronics that become outdated. In a digital age, there is something very appealing about that.

This is a great review and you answered a lot of questions for me as i'm looking at a 6' dobsonian as the apartment I live in I cannot see directly up but have views to the upper horizon in the east and north.

Thanks for the video, great help 👍In the process of picking my first scope, I initially began looking at refractors, but the more I research the more I'm convinced that a 6inch or 8inch dobsonian is the way to go in terms of performance/price and I'll probably never need to upgrade. The only issue is space to store it, but I'm sure I'll find somewhere to keep it.

Just received 3 of your books: 50 things on moon, 50 objects …telescope and 110 objects… all in french 😊 très heureux. They will be good guide. Thanks

thank you! friend just passed one of these along to us, looking forward to checking it out!

For any telescope, if you choose an eyepiece with focal length (in mm) equal to the f/ ratio, you will get a comfortably high magnitude equal to the telescope diameter (in mm). For example, for the 6” f/8, an 8 mm eyepiece gives 150x. Add a 2x Barlow and you get 300x, which is the maximum usable magnification for that telescope.

This was a wonderful and extremely helpful video!

i think im going to save up for this telescope, thanks for telling us about it !

I bought the Skywatcher version of that scope in order to defork it and put the OTA on a GEM mount. I got it for planets. The 6 inch skywatcher version can accept 2 inch eyepieces and has a 16% secondary obstruction.

Wish I had money

Hello loved the video. Nice video! 🙂

Heading to buy one of these for $160 Can't wait!

Dobs for the win

...and third here! Nice video btw. Looking forward to get your new book

just got this one tonight

My experience with that double aperture power rule is that at 300x my 150mm F5 Newtonian scope needs perfect seeing conditions. I seldom exceed 234x, sorry did I say seldom? It is Never at all after trying it in Bortle 2 skies, the resolution was somewhat lacking, found it best to back down a bit and drop the Barlow. This is after re-aluminizing my mirrors and refiguring them too and adding a Crayford focuser. That double aperture rule may work with refractors, but not so much with reflectors I'm thinking? Just my two cents.

I'm getting ready to buy my first telescope. I'm interested mainly ,for now, in viewing the Moon , Saturn, Jupiter, and maybe Andromeda. Please explain the main viewing differences between the two sizes.

Why do you heat hot water?

I've been thinking about buying a similar telescope but I'm discouraged seeing videos where it looks like all you can see (except for the moon) is just small dots which you can barely tell what it is. Is it like that while watching through the telescope or are they just so small while using a camera?

I want the SkyQuest XT8i.

Already had an 8 inch but I couldnt pass up the 6 when I saw it for 100 dollars

so which is better. Celestron omni 102 used at $150 or 8" dobsonian by Discovery (about 20 years old) for $250

I just found a used one for $250, thinking about pulling the trigger. I’ve only had 1 beginner telescope before and I’m looking to upgrade

Hello I'm looking to buy a new upgrade of my telescope but I'm not sure whether the orion skyquest xt6 is adequate for deep sky viewing

Do u think it is worth it buying xt8i over xt10 as a beginner?

Wow, you're from Nova Scotia!?! What a small world, I am as well! Your video is the first that came up while I was looking for a telescope as a saw a 4" Dobsonion for sale on Kijiji and wanted to learn More. I have been trying to get into "star gazing" for a while but I do not want to jump in to it spend all of the money and then realize that it's not something that I'll enjoy as much as I thought I would. The last couple of weeks I have been driving about an hour out of the city to look at the stars with less light pollution, and it is absolutely beautiful. Any possiblity (once you move back of course) that you would be willing to take myself and a friend out to show us what it is like and what to expect. We would pay you as well! I would just love to learn from someone with experience. Let me know where I can reach you to talk more! Thanks, Ashton 😊

glad to be second

I have a pretty big aperture myself. PS ...... I can see uranus !

Is there a release date for your new book?

i bought the same 6 inch orion in chennai after watching the video...............

Now the 6” is 460 at b&h:(

You wrong on the Orion skyQust its F5.9

Any chromatic aberration?

A new Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian is going for $549.

Now in 2022 you will pay $650 for a new 8" dob - that's inflation for ya

The Future is Looking up?.....or the past is Looking up😁

No matter which direction I turn in my search for the right telescope for me, it keeps leading back to you. So many speak to amateurs, but nobody is doing it as well as you. I would kill to get you on the phone so I could more quickly discuss my needs, ok my wants, against your advice. I posted in one of your more recent videos about Amazon prime that's on the horizon. I had my mind made up between two telescopes. I didn't like your answer but didn't discard it. Well, I've come around now and am trying to decide between two telescopes again, a 6" or an 8" dobsonian. Not that it doesn't matter, but let's keep price out of the consideration. I want to explore from my back patio, that has too much light and unobstructed views only east and north. Not even northeast due to two gigantic eucalyptus trees. But damnit I'm gonna try anyway. Further, I want to toss the telescope in the car and head to my local mountains and deserts occasionally. The 8" is only bigger in girth than the 6". I can lift either. And both would fit in the car. Am I correct in saying there are a couple of things that they kind of cheaped out on the 6" that are nicer on the 8"? I've seen images comparing the results between the 6" and 8" and the differences are minute. But let's be honest, stargazing is obsessing over the minutia. I can't believe I started this believing I'd dive in at about $200. I'm really looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Found a used one for $250…too high?

wow i bought the xt6 on amazon for $500😐

There like 500 dollars now 🥲

Das geld kann man sich sparen und was vernünftiges kaufen.Der Auszug taugt auch nichts.