Any telescope afficionados out there?

1/12/02 | me

[AngrySpud]

I have The Fever, aperature fever, that is. After ten years using a 4" refractor, I want a deep-sky scope. Problem is, I don't have a deep pocket. The Solution seems to be getting a Dobsonian-type telescope. I've found four suppliers of medium-aperature Dobs: Obsession, BlackKnight, StarMaster, and StarSplitter. Does anyone have first-hand experience with these companies? I'm leaning towards Obsession. Are there other manufacturers out there I should consider?

[Vinnie]

With my 20/600 vision

Under the circumstances I think you are making the right decision. I have thought about it also.

[IronJack]

I just got my son a 4" Newtonian for his birthday. I'm disappointed in the planetary reach; I've seen the rings of Saturn and Jupiter's moons, but only because I've got a good imagination. The moon, on the other hand, is incredible. I swear I could read Neil Armstrong's newspaper.

I'd like to do deep space stuff too, and maybe some photography, but I can't even get the clock drive to work properly!

[XBob]

since you are thinking about building a dome yourself, I am reminded of a project, I think at University of Florida, about 15 years ago, in which they were experimenting with cheap housing for the world. They came up with a simple, cheap thing - a large baloon, partially filled with air to create the dome shape, some sort of wire/mesh/rebar for structural support, and a 'shot-crete' type concrete, shot from a gun, like a swimming pool lining. But the 'shot-crete' used rice hulls for aggregate, and that made it very cheap and very light.

This is only from my memory, but I thought it was quite an interesting and unique solution for affordable housing, which happened to be in a dome shape.

Also, there are all kinds of plans to build fasceted dome homes from 2x4's etc, which should be easy to do.

[AngrySpud]

" ... maybe some photography ..."

I admire the perseverance and skill of good photogs, but wonder if I'd be up to it. Tracking for a 50-minute exposure isn't my cup o' tea.

[strela]

... makes scuba diving so much better

It would be nice to go diving with a standard mask. Mine has big prescription lenses epoxied onto the faceplate, and I have no side-to-side vision at all.

do not hesitate, get it done!

I'm definitely leaning that way. Now, if LASIX could cure color-blindness, I'd sell the house to get it done tomorrow.

[strela]

They came up with a simple, cheap thing - a large baloon, partially filled with air to create the dome shape ...

Hmmm ... maybe a surplus weather balloon and Fiberglas resin/cloth?

Hmmm indeed :)

[XBob]

sorry, I meant to put up this one:

[strela]

You have Freepmail.

As my father used to put it, I'm blind in one eye and can't see out the other ;)

[Joe Hadenuf]

Actually, for a beginner a rich-field scope is not a bad idea if he wants to take a good look around the night sky and see lots of stars in the field of view.

Agree. Or even wide field binocs on a mount. Lots of Comets and Asteroids are discovered that way.

[GreatHeart]

Many years ago, before I could afford my C8, I was forced to make due with a pair of binoculars for a couple of years. I have always since appreciated the time spent with them and would strongly recommend binoculars to the beginner.

There's an awful lot of good stuff up there that is accessible with binoculars, including most of the Messier catalog and the moons of Jupiter. Best of all, you'll really learn the sky and how to find things. Meanwhile, go to star parties and learn about how scopes are used. When your ready to buy one, you'll know for sure what you want.

Don't spend a lot. Try to find an inexpensive pair of 50x7's; 50x10's if that's all you can find. Get Tirion's Sky Atlas 2000 and you're set for quite awhile.

[XBob]

sorry, I meant to put up this one:

[Thinkin' Gal]

Timely thread! We've been wanting to get a telescope too. We have dark skies and could actually set up a telescope right on the front forch, with a perfect view of Orion for starters. We had our eyes on something like this one. Any comments?

If Nebulas and Galaxies Excite You, So Will This “Space-Efficient” Deep-Sky Scope!
Orion SkyView™ Deluxe 8 EQ Newtonian

The newest addition to our popular SkyView Deluxe series is a deep-sky lover’s delight. Designed with abundant aperture, a modest focal length, a conveniently brief tube, and a solid equatorial mount, the SVD 8 is causing a buzz among those who have been looking for a portable, affordable, equatorially mounted instrument that can really “go deep.” With as much light-grasp as an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain, and nearly as compact, the SVD 8 sells for several hundred dollars less, making it a very attractive value.

Optimized for Deep-Sky Observation
The combination of a 200mm aperture and relatively short, 800mm focal length makes this big SkyView a fast (f/4), wide-field system designed for deep-sky observation. Picturesque expanses of scattered clusters and nebular regions are its forte. If you have ever been tantalized by the diaphanous majesty of the Lagoon Nebula, or yearned for better clarity of the Rosette with its embedded cluster, or been intrigued by the twin splashes of the Double Cluster, you’re in for a treat. While this rich-field telescope excels on “faint fuzzies,” you won’t be disappointed by the crisp resolution it delivers on solar system subjects in a medium- or high-power eyepiece.

The SVD 8 uses a 200mm f/4 parabolic mirror meticulously ground and polished to meet the theoretical threshold for resolution. (As with any “fast” Newtonian, collimation is critical to achieving optimum images, but the procedure is easy with the SVD 8.) It collects 73% more light than a 6" mirror, so the step up in size yields noticeably better deep-sky performance. The elliptical flat secondary mirror is held in a fully adjustable three-vane “spider.”

Unusual Portability for an 8" Newt
The SVD 8 is “space-efficient” in more ways than one. While a typical 8"-class Newtonian might run 4-1/2' or 5' long, this one measures just 2' 5" end to end. Its reduced bulk and weight make it easier to transport to your favorite observing site, not to mention more space-efficient to store in the closet on cloudy nights. Another advantage is that it doesn’t require a behemoth of an equatorial mount to solidly support it: the SkyView Deluxe mount does the job admirably. The mount accommodates optional single- or dual-axis AccuTrack DC electronic drives for automatic star tracking and guiding, too.

The SkyView 8’s optical design and mount are optimized for visual applications. However, a camera body can be coupled to the focuser, with the addition of optional camera adapters.

The SVD 8 features a 1.25" aluminum rack-and-pinion focuser, lined with Teflon for extra-smooth motion. As with other SkyView Deluxe telescope models, the 8" comes with great accessories, including a 6x30 achromatic finder scope with aluminum, dual-ring bracket, Moon filter, and a pair of fully coated Orion Plossl eyepieces (1.25"): 25mm (32x) and 9mm (89x).

If the idea of a very portable rich-field telescope with space-penetrating aperture sounds like fun to you (it does to us!), then the SkyView Deluxe 8 EQ is your scope. Weighs 45 lbs. total. One-year limited warranty.

*NOTE: Only when ordered at same time as telescope.

Due to unprecedented demand, the AccuTrack elecronic drive will not be available until April 25, 2002. We will ship your telescope now, and ship the AccuTrack drive as soon as it becomes available. We will not charge your credit card for the AccuTrack drive until it ships.

http://www.telescope.com/cgi-bin/OrionTel.storefront/3c40ce33000237ea271ac0a80a650635/Product/View/A319

[tubebender]

Which is more important -- an observatory, or new carpet in the house?

Hmmmmm... son, seek help immediately.

[LibWhacker]

I bought an 8" mirror kit once. Still haven't gotten around to making the darn thing, though, lol. Some day I will. Ever think about amateur radio astronomy?

[tubebender]

Here is my luck, in November when that amazing meteor show as going on, I was on a boat way out in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Thailand, dark as you'd get on earth...and it was cloudy...damn...

Life is a beach...The view from my hot tub was obscured by a tall blonde.

[Joe Hadenuf]

An eight inch Newtonian reflector is a beautiful scope. If its your first scope it will work out great. If you think you are serious and can afford it, you may want to consider a computerized GOTO scope. With a GOTO like Meade offers, once you have it set up and aligned, they have data bases, you pick the object you want to observe and enter the coordinance into the database, and the telescope automatically goes to the object by itself. The telescope I currently have has a 64,000 object database, including all the planets etc.

Otherwise that 8inch reflector will be a great scope and you will learn the stars and constellations if you don't already know them.

Its a great hobby, and if you get into astrophotography, its truly incredible. Good luck.

[fish hawk]

Where was your tubebender? Never can find one when you need it. Aloha from Kihei Maui. PS You don't need a muffler in a hot tub.