I'm a happy dob devotee, BUT, it sure would be nice to get my wife to view some stuff side by side with me. She does have some interest but limited patience, especially in the cold. In other words, she likes looking AT stuff (the more visually obvious stuff...nebula, planets and the like) as opposed to looking FOR stuff, which I actually enjoy.
So, I thought I could pick up a Celestron 60 or 80 GT (1st question: is this the SAME mount for 60 or 80 or is the 80 beefier). Then for really cheap, she could point and view and at least get 20 minutes of fun before getting too cold (wimp!) and running back inside. I know the OTA is super beginnery but it might benefit from my better EPs, and also, I have a future OTA upgrade path idea (below) that is REALLY the reason I am considering this now.
Also, if I put a telrad on it, we could quickly match up the telrad on the bigger dob and compare views instantly. Of course, I like hopping/searching on my own, but it takes me a lot longer (to put it mildly) than 2 seconds, and I would just do that when alone not with someone waiting (ie. getting there is half the fun for me, but not with someone waiting to see something!)
Also (deciding factor alert), I could, down the road, mount a DECENT refractor on it, could I not???
Borg? TV 102 or 76 APO? I'm aware of people doing this with these cheaper gotos, and mounting good optics, I just don't know how happy they are or what the maximum is? So in other words, it wouldn't be garbage after a few years, even if my wife loses interest, because it might have a secret, selfish use as a portable goto with decent refractor down the road? thoughts on this last one especially valued!
TomL
So, I thought I could pick up a Celestron 60 or 80 GT (1st question: is this the SAME mount for 60 or 80 or is the 80 beefier). Then for really cheap, she could point and view and at least get 20 minutes of fun before getting too cold (wimp!) and running back inside. I know the OTA is super beginnery but it might benefit from my better EPs, and also, I have a future OTA upgrade path idea (below) that is REALLY the reason I am considering this now.
Also, if I put a telrad on it, we could quickly match up the telrad on the bigger dob and compare views instantly. Of course, I like hopping/searching on my own, but it takes me a lot longer (to put it mildly) than 2 seconds, and I would just do that when alone not with someone waiting (ie. getting there is half the fun for me, but not with someone waiting to see something!)
Also (deciding factor alert), I could, down the road, mount a DECENT refractor on it, could I not???
Borg? TV 102 or 76 APO? I'm aware of people doing this with these cheaper gotos, and mounting good optics, I just don't know how happy they are or what the maximum is? So in other words, it wouldn't be garbage after a few years, even if my wife loses interest, because it might have a secret, selfish use as a portable goto with decent refractor down the road? thoughts on this last one especially valued!
TomL
