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Main
Date: 02 Jul 2007 15:07:58
From: brucegooglegroups
Subject: Dob question
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I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
carry a lighter load for setup.
Any comments on the Intelliscope?
Clear Skies.
Bruce
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Date: 04 Jul 2007 00:59:54
From: Margo Schulter
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
brucegooglegroups <brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com > wrote:
> I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
Hi, Bruce, and as someone looking forward to first light with a
new 8" Dob, may I lend my encouragement and give a quick explanation
of how I decided on a specific scope?
What I'd recommend, if you're not in a position actually to try some
8" Dobs at a star party or possibly by borrowing such a scope (some
clubs will loan scopes to members), is checking out reviews on the
Web as well as maybe seeking people's opinions here -- as you're
doing.
My own choice of a Sky-Watcher 8" f/6 Dob (or more precisely, from
the information appearing on the scope, a metric 200mm rather than
8" or 203mm -- a bit of telescope trivia) was influenced by some
reports on the good optics, including a review by Terence Dickinson
in SkyNews. Also, as he reported and the specs stated, the optical
tube assembly (OTA) at around 8kg or 17.6 lbs seemed one of the
lightest commercial designs for this aperture. This doesn't, of
course, mean that other commercial scopes, let alone customized
ones, might not do better!
The focal ratio of f/6 appealed to me because it's rather fast, at
least by traditional standards (maybe more "middling" now), but
still a bit more forgiving of less-than-Nagler wide-angle eyepieces,
which I plan to use a lot in DSO sweeping and studying. Also, while
I'm mostly into the deep sky realm, I'm interested in planetary
observing too, where a bit slower optics might help. However, I
had fun viewing Jupiter and Saturn in some friends' LightBridge
12" f/5 scopes, and wouldn't want to imply that faster scopes would
exclude planetary observing.
One thing I should say that seems to me not really specific to this
scope, but more to 8" or 200mm Dobs generally: at least in an
apartment setting, the scope on its base is at once elegant,
impressive, and _large_. I knew the dimensions in theory when I
ordered, but having the reality tangibly at hand is another thing --
exciting, beckoning, and a bit daring.
> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
> carry a lighter load for setup.
As others have commented, this is indeed the usual technique. It's also
the recommended one: an 8" Dob has a degree of portability, but is
rather distinct from the usual image of a "grab and go" scope <grin >.
This last statement may be graphically illustrated the first time that
I and one or more friends take on the task of getting my Dob down (and
later up) two flights of apartment stairs in a building without an
elevator. For others, I hope, the route may be a bit easier.
> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
As a newbie, I might offer one philosophical comment. While personally
I very much like the idea of the starhopping style of the basic Dob,
and am a curious enough person to try it in an urban setting, I'd invite
people to try and use whatever proves practical and satisfying for them,
including a GoTo scope.
With binoculars from an urban site which I'd guess is somewhere around
limiting magnitude 3-4 on the basis of which stars I can or can't find
with the naked eye as compared with a chart showing magnitudes, mostly
I find a few bright stars like Antares and navigate from there mainly
by binocular star patterns or asterisms. With 7X50 binoculars, it's
lots of fun and feels very natural to me; the question is how I'll do
with a 2-degree field of view at 40X with the Dob. Also, I'm generally
dealing with a rather small portion of the sky during a given session,
making it easier to internalize star atlas maps.
However, I can totally understand someone preferring to automate the
search for an object as much as possible (as would also be done in
remote viewing with a digitally controlled telescope over the Web),
and concentrate on studying it at leisure. Rather than debating
which technique of finding the object is "better," maybe we might
best share our experiences of viewing the object and celebrate
each other's enjoyment.
I'm not specifically familiar with the Intelliscope, but maybe this
expresses one viewpoint on the "starhop or GoTo" question.
> Clear Skies.
> Bruce
>
Most appreciatively, with best wishes,
Margo
mschulter@calweb.com
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Date: 03 Jul 2007 17:00:47
From: Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
On Jul 2, 9:50 pm, "John Nichols" <b...@worldnet.att.net > wrote:
> "goodnigh" <goodni...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>
> news:CThii.3086$Od7.2351@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
>
>
> > "brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegro...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:1183414078.328662.240720@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> >>I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>
> >> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
> >> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
> >> carry a lighter load for setup.
>
> >> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
> >> Clear Skies.
> >> Bruce
>
> > Never owned a Dob but I am buying one
> > this year to take to a Yosemite star party.
> > Took a 5" goto Celestron StarSeeker last year and.....
> > This year I am taking a 10" Intelliscope.
> > No batteries, no computers and no setup.
> > Just point it and enjoy the view.
>
> > With all the computerized scopes available to
> > the amateur, star hopping is becoming a lost art.
>
> Not to start an argument, but I'd submit that light pollution has a lot more
> to do with star hopping being a lost art that goto telescopes. It's pretty
> hard to star hop when you can't _see_ what you're hopping from.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Amen. I purchased the first scope I've ever owned back in January
2001 -- and XT-8. I headed out for my back yard in a quiet, dark
small town ready to starhop all over the universe.
Forget it -- couldn't find half the waypoints.
After six months or so, went on vacation to a really dark area, took
the scope and it was a world of difference.
I'd love to starhop if I could find what I'm hopping to.
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Date: 03 Jul 2007 20:09:21
From:
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
On Jul 3, 8:20 am, "John Nichols" <b...@worldnet.att.net > wrote:
> "RMOLLISE" <rmoll...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1183471906.242197.303620@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>
> > On Jul 2, 8:50 pm, "John Nichols" <b...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> >> "goodnigh" <goodni...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:CThii.3086$Od7.2351@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> >> > "brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegro...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >> >news:1183414078.328662.240720@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> >> >>I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>
> >> >> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
> >> >> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
> >> >> carry a lighter load for setup.
>
> >> >> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
> >> >> Clear Skies.
> >> >> Bruce
>
> >> > Never owned a Dob but I am buying one
> >> > this year to take to a Yosemite star party.
> >> > Took a 5" goto Celestron StarSeeker last year and.....
> >> > This year I am taking a 10" Intelliscope.
> >> > No batteries, no computers and no setup.
> >> > Just point it and enjoy the view.
>
> >> > With all the computerized scopes available to
> >> > the amateur, star hopping is becoming a lost art.
>
> >> Not to start an argument, but I'd submit that light pollution has a lot
> >> more
> >> to do with star hopping being a lost art that goto telescopes. It's
> >> pretty
> >> hard to star hop when you can't _see_ what you're hopping from.- Hide
> >> quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > Amen. Around here, you can see the Virgo galaxies...if you can find
> > 'em...but there are no stars visible to the naked eye between Virgo's
> > arms. Yeah, you can run 'em down with a good finder...but even
> > then...go-to or DSCs make astronomy a lot more fun in the city.
>
> And this is why I intend to buy a goto when I have saved up enough for the
> type of SCT that I want. I am sick and tired of not being able to find
> things in a sky that is obscured by so much background light. I figure it
> this way, once I can see something, then I'll have better luck finding it
> again independently, plus I'll have the pleasure of actually seeing the
> object that I was interested in in the first place.
Well, I have pretty dark skies for suburbia (maybe hovering around 5.1
to 5.5, even though the Clear Sky Clock claims they hit 6.1) and still
wouldn't do without my digital setting circles (a Magellan 1 system
from Meade). This product makes all the difference between
frustration and satisfaction for me.
--Martin R. Howell
Moderated sci.astro.amateur
www.moderatedsciastroamateur.org
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Date: 03 Jul 2007 17:41:28
From: Dennis Woos
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
> Well, I have pretty dark skies for suburbia (maybe hovering around 5.1
> to 5.5, even though the Clear Sky Clock claims they hit 6.1) and still
> wouldn't do without my digital setting circles (a Magellan 1 system
> from Meade). This product makes all the difference between
> frustration and satisfaction for me.
>
>
> --Martin R. Howell
At public events, one of questions I am asked most often is some version of
"How did you find that?" or "How do I find that?" I would hate to have to
answer that I have no idea - ask the computer! To be truthful, it is more
often women who ask this (while the men are enamoured by the whirring motors
and blinking lights), and so is another reason why I enjoy female company.
Dennis
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| | | |
Date: 03 Jul 2007 22:53:40
From: goodnigh
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
"Dennis Woos" <dpwoos@gmavt.net > wrote in message
news:138lgkbfb24bnab@corp.supernews.com...
>> Well, I have pretty dark skies for suburbia (maybe hovering around 5.1
>> to 5.5, even though the Clear Sky Clock claims they hit 6.1) and still
>> wouldn't do without my digital setting circles (a Magellan 1 system
>> from Meade). This product makes all the difference between
>> frustration and satisfaction for me.
>>
>>
>> --Martin R. Howell
>
> At public events, one of questions I am asked most often is some version
> of "How did you find that?" or "How do I find that?" I would hate to have
> to answer that I have no idea - ask the computer! To be truthful, it is
> more often women who ask this (while the men are enamoured by the whirring
> motors and blinking lights), and so is another reason why I enjoy female
> company.
>
> Dennis
The goto I took to Yosemite last year was a disaster. There was this little
insignificant time zone issue. The problem being, the goto thought it
was in Denver. That made sense since M31 showed up right in my
crosshairs; one hour later.
I even used a GPS and punched in all the right numbers.
mike
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Date: 03 Jul 2007 19:31:55
From: Dennis Woos
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
> "Dennis Woos" <dpwoos@gmavt.net> wrote in message
> news:138lgkbfb24bnab@corp.supernews.com...
>>> Well, I have pretty dark skies for suburbia (maybe hovering around 5.1
>>> to 5.5, even though the Clear Sky Clock claims they hit 6.1) and still
>>> wouldn't do without my digital setting circles (a Magellan 1 system
>>> from Meade). This product makes all the difference between
>>> frustration and satisfaction for me.
>>>
>>>
>>> --Martin R. Howell
>>
>> At public events, one of questions I am asked most often is some version
>> of "How did you find that?" or "How do I find that?" I would hate to
>> have to answer that I have no idea - ask the computer! To be truthful,
>> it is more often women who ask this (while the men are enamoured by the
>> whirring motors and blinking lights), and so is another reason why I
>> enjoy female company.
>>
>> Dennis
>
> The goto I took to Yosemite last year was a disaster. There was this
> little
> insignificant time zone issue. The problem being, the goto thought it
> was in Denver. That made sense since M31 showed up right in my
> crosshairs; one hour later.
> I even used a GPS and punched in all the right numbers.
>
> mike
>
I wouldn't turn off to GoTo because it doesn't work - because it does work
when you understand how to operate it. That said, I have seen some folks
spend a good part of the night getting setup/aligned/etc when they could
have been observing, and then soon leave. I know folks who clearly bought
the wrong scope - way to complicated. I think the debate hinges on folk's
abilities, their equipment, the amount of light pollution, and what they are
after and what they enjoy. This last point is what causes me to have no
intereest in GoTo, i.e. much of my, my sons', and our friend's enjoyment
comes from learning the sky and finding stuff, so much so that even though I
know there are folks (e.g. they post here) who happily observe mostly with
GoTo, it still amazes me. No one in our club who regularly observes is
primarily a GoTo person, though there are a number of members who have
perfectly functioning GoTo scopes.
Dennis
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| | | | | |
Date: 04 Jul 2007 01:00:30
From: goodnigh
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
> I wouldn't turn off to GoTo because it doesn't work - because it does work
> when you understand how to operate it. That said, I have seen some folks
> spend a good part of the night getting setup/aligned/etc when they could
> have been observing, and then soon leave. I know folks who clearly bought
> the wrong scope - way to complicated. I think the debate hinges on folk's
> abilities, their equipment, the amount of light pollution, and what they
> are after and what they enjoy. This last point is what causes me to have
> no intereest in GoTo, i.e. much of my, my sons', and our friend's
> enjoyment comes from learning the sky and finding stuff, so much so that
> even though I know there are folks (e.g. they post here) who happily
> observe mostly with GoTo, it still amazes me. No one in our club who
> regularly observes is primarily a GoTo person, though there are a number
> of members who have perfectly functioning GoTo scopes.
>
> Dennis
I am not giving up to goto's. Still have two left after donating one to the
local astronomy club.
Just want to get a nice 10" Dob.
mike
|
| |
Date: 03 Jul 2007 14:11:46
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
On Jul 2, 8:50 pm, "John Nichols" <b...@worldnet.att.net > wrote:
> "goodnigh" <goodni...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>
> news:CThii.3086$Od7.2351@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
>
>
> > "brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegro...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:1183414078.328662.240720@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> >>I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>
> >> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
> >> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
> >> carry a lighter load for setup.
>
> >> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
> >> Clear Skies.
> >> Bruce
>
> > Never owned a Dob but I am buying one
> > this year to take to a Yosemite star party.
> > Took a 5" goto Celestron StarSeeker last year and.....
> > This year I am taking a 10" Intelliscope.
> > No batteries, no computers and no setup.
> > Just point it and enjoy the view.
>
> > With all the computerized scopes available to
> > the amateur, star hopping is becoming a lost art.
>
> Not to start an argument, but I'd submit that light pollution has a lot more
> to do with star hopping being a lost art that goto telescopes. It's pretty
> hard to star hop when you can't _see_ what you're hopping from.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Amen. Around here, you can see the Virgo galaxies...if you can find
'em...but there are no stars visible to the naked eye between Virgo's
arms. Yeah, you can run 'em down with a good finder...but even
then...go-to or DSCs make astronomy a lot more fun in the city.
Unk Rod
|
| | |
Date: 03 Jul 2007 15:20:13
From: John Nichols
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
"RMOLLISE" <rmollise@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:1183471906.242197.303620@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> On Jul 2, 8:50 pm, "John Nichols" <b...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>> "goodnigh" <goodni...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:CThii.3086$Od7.2351@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>>
>>
>>
>> > "brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegro...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> >news:1183414078.328662.240720@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>> >>I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>>
>> >> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
>> >> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
>> >> carry a lighter load for setup.
>>
>> >> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
>> >> Clear Skies.
>> >> Bruce
>>
>> > Never owned a Dob but I am buying one
>> > this year to take to a Yosemite star party.
>> > Took a 5" goto Celestron StarSeeker last year and.....
>> > This year I am taking a 10" Intelliscope.
>> > No batteries, no computers and no setup.
>> > Just point it and enjoy the view.
>>
>> > With all the computerized scopes available to
>> > the amateur, star hopping is becoming a lost art.
>>
>> Not to start an argument, but I'd submit that light pollution has a lot
>> more
>> to do with star hopping being a lost art that goto telescopes. It's
>> pretty
>> hard to star hop when you can't _see_ what you're hopping from.- Hide
>> quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Amen. Around here, you can see the Virgo galaxies...if you can find
> 'em...but there are no stars visible to the naked eye between Virgo's
> arms. Yeah, you can run 'em down with a good finder...but even
> then...go-to or DSCs make astronomy a lot more fun in the city.
>
And this is why I intend to buy a goto when I have saved up enough for the
type of SCT that I want. I am sick and tired of not being able to find
things in a sky that is obscured by so much background light. I figure it
this way, once I can see something, then I'll have better luck finding it
again independently, plus I'll have the pleasure of actually seeing the
object that I was interested in in the first place.
|
| |
Date: 03 Jul 2007 01:46:10
From: goodnigh
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
"brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:1183414078.328662.240720@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>
> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
> carry a lighter load for setup.
>
> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
> Clear Skies.
> Bruce
>
Never owned a Dob but I am buying one
this year to take to a Yosemite star party.
Took a 5" goto Celestron StarSeeker last year and.....
This year I am taking a 10" Intelliscope.
No batteries, no computers and no setup.
Just point it and enjoy the view.
With all the computerized scopes available to
the amateur, star hopping is becoming a lost art.
|
| | |
Date: 03 Jul 2007 01:50:27
From: John Nichols
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
"goodnigh" <goodnigh1@mindspring.com > wrote in message
news:CThii.3086$Od7.2351@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> "brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1183414078.328662.240720@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>>I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>>
>> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
>> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
>> carry a lighter load for setup.
>>
>> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
>> Clear Skies.
>> Bruce
>>
>
> Never owned a Dob but I am buying one
> this year to take to a Yosemite star party.
> Took a 5" goto Celestron StarSeeker last year and.....
> This year I am taking a 10" Intelliscope.
> No batteries, no computers and no setup.
> Just point it and enjoy the view.
>
> With all the computerized scopes available to
> the amateur, star hopping is becoming a lost art.
>
Not to start an argument, but I'd submit that light pollution has a lot more
to do with star hopping being a lost art that goto telescopes. It's pretty
hard to star hop when you can't _see_ what you're hopping from.
|
| | | |
Date: 03 Jul 2007 22:09:35
From: goodnigh
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
"John Nichols" <bejay@worldnet.att.net > wrote in message
news:DXhii.265088$p47.214822@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "goodnigh" <goodnigh1@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:CThii.3086$Od7.2351@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> "brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1183414078.328662.240720@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>>>I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>>>
>>> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
>>> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
>>> carry a lighter load for setup.
>>>
>>> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
>>> Clear Skies.
>>> Bruce
>>>
>>
>> Never owned a Dob but I am buying one
>> this year to take to a Yosemite star party.
>> Took a 5" goto Celestron StarSeeker last year and.....
>> This year I am taking a 10" Intelliscope.
>> No batteries, no computers and no setup.
>> Just point it and enjoy the view.
>>
>> With all the computerized scopes available to
>> the amateur, star hopping is becoming a lost art.
>>
> Not to start an argument, but I'd submit that light pollution has a lot
> more to do with star hopping being a lost art that goto telescopes. It's
> pretty hard to star hop when you can't _see_ what you're hopping from.
How do you align a goto if you can't see any stars?
|
| | | | |
Date: 04 Jul 2007 11:37:13
From: John Nichols
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
"goodnigh" <goodnigh1@mindspring.com > wrote in message
news:zOzii.3280$Od7.2890@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> "John Nichols" <bejay@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:DXhii.265088$p47.214822@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>>
>> "goodnigh" <goodnigh1@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>> news:CThii.3086$Od7.2351@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>>> "brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:1183414078.328662.240720@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>>>>I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>>>>
>>>> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
>>>> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
>>>> carry a lighter load for setup.
>>>>
>>>> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
>>>> Clear Skies.
>>>> Bruce
>>>>
>>>
>>> Never owned a Dob but I am buying one
>>> this year to take to a Yosemite star party.
>>> Took a 5" goto Celestron StarSeeker last year and.....
>>> This year I am taking a 10" Intelliscope.
>>> No batteries, no computers and no setup.
>>> Just point it and enjoy the view.
>>>
>>> With all the computerized scopes available to
>>> the amateur, star hopping is becoming a lost art.
>>>
>> Not to start an argument, but I'd submit that light pollution has a lot
>> more to do with star hopping being a lost art that goto telescopes. It's
>> pretty hard to star hop when you can't _see_ what you're hopping from.
>
> How do you align a goto if you can't see any stars?
>
>
I did not say I cannot see _any_ stars, just ones that are obscured by light
pollution.
That said, goto systems use at least two methods for allignment that I am
aware of: One is Celestron's method where you point at _any_ three bright
stars, and the computer alligns the scope for you. Another is GPS. I
imagine that there are others.
|
| | | | | |
Date: 04 Jul 2007 13:02:00
From: goodnigh
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
>> How do you align a goto if you can't see any stars?
>>
>>
>
> I did not say I cannot see _any_ stars, just ones that are obscured by
> light pollution.
>
> That said, goto systems use at least two methods for allignment that I am
> aware of: One is Celestron's method where you point at _any_ three bright
> stars, and the computer alligns the scope for you. Another is GPS. I
> imagine that there are others.
The objects you use to align the scope don't have to be stars and you don't
necessarily need three of them. I just did an alignment using only the moon
and 1 hour later it is still in the field of view. This is a $300 scope.
It does help if the objects are as far apart as possible. I don't think a
GPS
alone will align the scope, just saves a few steps. But I could be wrong.
It would be nice to use a GPS to lock time and location, then use a compass
to tell the scope what direction it was pointing. After that, the optical
encoders
would do an automatic alignment. That would be sweet and probably not too
difficult to achieve. You would still need to enter the isogonic variation
for
your location.
|
| |
Date: 02 Jul 2007 17:18:43
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Dob question
|
On Jul 2, 5:07 pm, brucegooglegroups <brucegooglegro...@hotmail.com >
wrote:
> I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>
> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
> carry a lighter load for setup.
>
> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
> Clear Skies.
> Bruce
Comments? Don't. ;-)
Seriously, if all you want to do is look, an 8-inch Dobbie ain't a bad
choice. The Intelliscope isn't exactly an Obsession, but it's fine.
Yes, in fact most people separate mount and tube. The only downcheck
I've given 'em is that I've thought the aziumuth motion was just a wee
bit too hard. They may have fixed that by now, though, and if not, it
would be easy enough to tune up.
Unk Rod
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Date: 03 Jul 2007 02:40:53
From: mitch
Subject: Re: Dob question
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picture this...a monster truck show featuring dobs...
07 pm, brucegooglegroups <brucegooglegro...@hotmail.com >
> wrote:
>> I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>>
>> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
>> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
>> carry a lighter load for setup.
>>
>> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
>> Clear Skies.
>> Bruce
>
> Comments? Don't. ;-)
>
> Seriously, if all you want to do is look, an 8-inch Dobbie ain't a bad
> choice. The Intelliscope isn't exactly an Obsession, but it's fine.
> Yes, in fact most people separate mount and tube. The only downcheck
> I've given 'em is that I've thought the aziumuth motion was just a wee
> bit too hard. They may have fixed that by now, though, and if not, it
> would be easy enough to tune up.
>
> Unk Rod
>
>
>
>
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Date: 02 Jul 2007 16:13:39
From: Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names
Subject: Re: Dob question
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On Jul 2, 6:07 pm, brucegooglegroups <brucegooglegro...@hotmail.com >
wrote:
> I am thinking of buying a 8 inch Dob. Recommendations?
>
> Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
> first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
> carry a lighter load for setup.
>
> Any comments on the Intelliscope?
> Clear Skies.
> Bruce
You will be pleased with the Orion XT-8 Intelliscope.
Remember -- you do not have to use the Intelliscope -- the XT-8
operates like a "normal" Dob -- if you want to use the Intelliscope,
plug in the Intelliscope computer and use it -- otherwise, just use
the scope.
The Intelliscope does not "drive" the scope the same way a GO-TO
scope's motors drive it. Instead, you set up the scope with the tube
vertical then you find two alignment stars -- center the first star,
hit ENTER, center the second star, hit ENTER, the scope is now aligned
-- then, you call up whatever you want to see -- for example, call up
M31 -- and the Intelliscope tells you to push the tube right/left, up/
down then it indicates when you are pointed at the selected object.
You do not want to leave the base outside -- it's particle board with
a laminate coating but it soon would disintegrate from exposure to
rain.
It's a simple matter to carry the base, plunk it on the ground, go
back and get the tube.
I have an XT-12 Intelliscope -- it's one BIG SUCKER -- I had an XT-8
and plan to get another one -- it's easier to handle than the XT-12.
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Date: 02 Jul 2007 18:05:33
From: William Hamblen
Subject: Re: Dob question
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On Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:07:58 -0700, brucegooglegroups
<brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com > wrote:
>Also, is it practical to bring the Dob outside by carrying the mount
>first, then the tube? Weight is an issue for me, and I would prefer to
>carry a lighter load for setup.
That's how you do it: put the mount in a convenient spot, then put the
tube on the mount.
Bud
--
The night is just the shadow of the Earth.
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