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?

[fish hawk]

Kihei Maui, southwest side. The dry side of the island. Kaui is a pretty wet island, although everytime I've been over there it was good weather. Just lucky I guess. Don't count on a lot of clear skies though. It's not called the Garden Isle for nothing.

[tubebender]

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.

I work half a day Sat to earn the big bucks my kids pay me to stay out of their hair.

I'm outta here to watch the Raiders game.

[backhoe]

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

Neighbor, that's fine advice- I don't have time to even type coherently ( family bedtime ) but I was an amatuer astronomer years ago, and some of my best & happiest memories involved various binoculars ( 10 x 70, etc. ) and a very heavy revolving, reclining office chair in the back yard....

[RightWhale]

The mount looks too light. Especially the adjustable legs, but the rest of the equatorial mechanism, too. It won't stand still. Any breeze or if you hit the eyepiece with your eye and it's vibration city.

The telescope itself is probably just fine. If you intend to attach camera bodies and other devices to it, get something with a more massive mount.

[fish hawk]

Haiku rains all the time. Green and beautiful though. I came from N.Calif. and had my fill of rain so I live on the dry side of the island. Aloha

[UFO]

I read the first part of this thread and forwarded to my son, a degreed astonomer. This is his response. I hope it's not too late to be useful.

I only read the first few screens of replies. They are all right on. 15" is way too big. Besides, any object will be a passing blur in a Dobsonian that big. Useless unless you are a loner. My opinion is that ideal is a 5-6" schmidt cassegrain with a tracking motor (motors, if a-a mount). No bigger than an 8" unless you are a fanatic. The capabilities of a scope that size will keep any amateur busy forever, including photography.