[APML] Newbie advice

["Matthew Dulak" <matthew.dulak@vsl.com.au>]

Hi all,

    First to introduce myself. My name is Matthew Dulak and i'm based in Melbourne Australia. I'm new to astronomy and astrophotography but have been reading the emails in this group since the beginning of the year. I've been playing around with normal photography for a few years now  but am now interested in getting into the astro side of things (hence why i'm writing this).

I need to buy/build a telescope. I have been looking at building a newtonian reflector 10" f 4-6. I am undecided as to whether or not i should grind my own mirror. As far as the mount goes i'm still trying to work out whether to go for a dobsonian or equatorial (both would be home made). Either way i will be motorising them and setting them up for connection to a laptop.

 

Now am I barking up the right tree or should i be doing something completely different. Price is an issue. i would like to keep it as low as possible. I have access to a large range of engineering and woodworking machinery and a lot of patience.

 

Hope this is enough info for you guys to give me a hand. Please note. I am mainly interested in the photography and not so much visual observing.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Kind Regards

Matthew Dulak

Melbourne Australia