It's a bit hard to choose a scope for planets and deepsky.
#Ultra-portable rig for trekking in Yosemite backcountry?
dry cloud
Hi @nimble oasis , @wheat lotus is about right. You gotta choose. I would not advise you to get the 72ED for trekking. It can be bigger than you think. Also forget Planetary Imaging or any Deep field scopes for Trekking. Even the 76 Tak is still widefield. Also it depends a bit on your budget. I got several solutions you might find interesting.
For Trekking you wanna be light af. A small Tracker will do. I bet even a small Tripod will do.
For being light af and having a small Tracker you are already in the widerfield Domain. So in your place I would go 135mm - 250mm
There are several alternatives.
Rokinon /Samyan 135mm
Askar Lenses from FMA 135 up to the FRA300
Evoguide 50ED
As camera - your DSLR (?), or a dedicated astrocam (?) - if astrocam - then uncooled because power
[insert batter Dummy for DSLR and other power related stuff]
If you only track you won't need guide stuff and much control
[OR] you wanna hvae fancy electric goto scope and control then mb a stellarmate / asiair / Laptopn with NINA
Make sure via Stellarium or Telescopius astronomtools or whatnot, what targets you wanna shoot - and how the fov of Sensor+Scope suits your needs
I do not know the Yellowstone Climate but I bet you will need dew heater too.
Allr that's about my 40 Cents here
wheat lotus
His rig isn't bad. But considering ur going trekking?
A mount+ tripod+scope+camera+flatener
+battery
A bit much don't u think? Or if you can handle it why not.
dry cloud
Astrobiscuits rig is a 60. You were writing about getting the 72ED - that's a level more. More so - but that's none of my business - a Tak is jolly expensive. Well allright - Askars are too. 😄
Consider where Astrobiscuit wanted to go - it was Bahamas wasn't it? Tenerif? Forogt... Well it wasn't Trekking that's what I remember.
For going with car and staying in hotels - those sizes 60 to 70ish are well suited.
dry cloud
For planetary and lunar both choices (either Tak or 72ED) are bad but good for nebulae and widefield imaging. What was the mount astrobiscuit used? star adventurer gti or the simpler star adventurer (not sure iirc here but that one could only slew in RA...?)