Same old new dob

Hello all, Sorry to bring this thread back up about my Zhumell but I just had to talk about this to someone. From about 2:20am to 4:30am I had a blast that took my mind completely off getting a 16" lightbridge, well almost. I finally got a good spot in my yard although not as dark as I would like and resolved M13. My goodness, I could'nt believe how beautiful it was. I spent an hour and a half looking at, I'd try my 25mm W.O. 2" eyepiece which was great and then I tried the eyepiece I bought from Larry which is the Orion Ultrascan 12mm 78 degree FOV that also has the name as the poor man Nagler, sure is owned by right person. Then I used it with my barlow and it completely filled the ep. I could'nt stop playing with different EP's, I would say at leat 8 or 10 different EP's were used. I had'nt this much fun since I'd gotten this dob. By the time I was done and I had to make myself stop I noticed an old friend, Jupiter. The 4 moons were almost in a straight line and very bright. Although I saw the bands I did'nt see the red spot. I played around with Jupiter for about a half hour before my back decided it could'nt stand it anymore. I've been in traction before and it reminded me that I not in my twenties any longer. So to have a fun project I'm gonna build me a chair sort of like the cats perch and save that money for something else. Before I finally went in I had to look one more time at M13. Then I put everything away and collapsed in the bed. Sorry to talk so long but I thought my 12" dob did what I was looking for in the first place. Clear Skies, Darrell

Hi Darrell,
My most important observing accessory is my observing chair. You can see more when you are relaxed and comfortable at the eyepiece. My last time out to a dark sky location I forgot it and while the sky was very clear and pretty transparent for Michigan, my back would only let me observe for a couple of hours. :S Definitely make one if you can.
Cheers,

Darrell,
I NEVER go out without my chair anymore. It's one of the best investments you'll ever make.
Larry

Hey Darrell,
Isn't it amazing how much you see when you slow down and look? It is not always how big the scope but how big the interest is in using it.
I have two chairs, a Stardust and a Cat's Perch and I love them both. I use the Cat's perch with the 14.5" scope mostly and the Stardust with the 10" and the refractors. The reason for using one over the other is height at zenith and the grab and go nature of the Stardust chair. It is smaller and quicker to set up for me, but I do take the Cat's Perch apart each time.

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Here is a cheap, easy and quick to build design that you might be interested in. I use it with a variety of scopes but primarily with my 13" 4.5.

You can see more about it here:

http://users.indytel.com/~rnabholz/stool/

Good luck with the project.

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Yeah, I recall clearly the near-orgasmic experience when I first looked through a 12.5" I had built. Must have been about 18 years ago. Mount Pinos. April. DARK sky. M13 with a Meade 14mm ultrawide. Breathtaking. I then developed a serious case of aperture fever that culminated in a 20" f/5.5 dob. Ah, to be young again!!