Dob v. SCT Part I

I recently found a new Dob enthusiast's description of why he switched to a Dob from a 10" SCT:
"Drag out the tripod, set it up.
* Level and turn tripod to point north with a compass
* Manhandle OTA onto tripod, fish screws out of pocket in dark, drop screws, cuss, sweat, finally get it onto tripod and relatively stable.
* Try batteries. They're dead. AGAIN.
* Find a power source.
* Now find an extension cord.
* Hook up the laptop.
* Find another extension cord.
* Finally remove dust cover.
* Fish around in the dark for the power switch.
* At this point, the wife's gone inside for bed.
* Get it turned on, adjust contrast on paddle.
* Unlock, turn, relock, swing, relock some more, tighten, aim.
* Search for a star in the database that I recognize. (*scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll scroll)
* Wait for the scope to jerkily slew it's way over to nowhere near the star.
* Try to line it up in the finderscope, using the keypad. In the dark.
* Try to line it up in the eyepiece, using the keypad. In the dark.
* Center it in the eyepiece. Phew. Only TWO left.
* Repeat for 3 minutes on each additional star, if I can find them.
(Go in and get more coffee. It's going to be a long night of beautiful viewing!)
* Finally, I ca-CRAP! I tripped over the extension cord!!!!
* Start over.

A goto dob is no different.

Ralph Junius

GoTo computerized is good for the first year or so. Teaches you where your targets are at. After that, you strap a green laser pointer to your finder scope mount and just GO TO the target without the $%^&*##@ computer if you feel like it. Of course, you still align the GEM mount for proper tracking of targets. Messing with a Dob or Alt Az mount constantly to stay on target is no thrill either.

The green laser pointer is a good teaching tool. After finding your target with the GoTo computer and centering it in the EP, you turn on your green laser pointer and stand back and study where the target sits in the star field. After you memorize the positions, you just slew over to targets at top speed with the hand controller or release the locks and just swing to targets almost instantly with help of the laser pointer. Way better than a Dob.

Howard Nielsen said:

I recently found a new Dob enthusiast's description of why he switched to a Dob from a 10" SCT:t cover.

Your new dob friend sounds like a real dolt. For his sake, I hope his new scope doesn't require a laddeer.

Jim in Texas