Which Telescope(s) Is/Are Keepers?

Relax; this is not another "What is the best telescope." Close maybe, but different.

The reason for this post is I have too many scopes/too much money invested (some will argue this is impossible). So my thinking is I should pare down some. So here is the type of observing I do and what I have:

Observing: planets, globulars, nebulae, but not alot of galaxy stuff. Most of my observing is done from my yard where the sky suffers from a lot of light pollution (skies are at best mag 4 to 4.5 IMO. Occassionally I go to a dark site with probably mag 5 skies. Some of the scopes below are big, but transportation is not an issue.

Now for the scopes (and my pros and cons on each):
1. 20" f/6 Dob with Pegasus mirror; the mirror is quantifiably top notch
Pros: this one has the aperture, very good for planets,
globs, etc plus good for deep sky if I want to do that
Cons: set-up, climbing up and down the ladder, no
tracking
2. C14
Pros: very decent optics (primary was replaced about
three years ago), tracking, good all around scope with
the focal length for planets and enough aperture for
everything else
Cons: no serious cons IMO
3. 8" f/12 D&G refractor on a MI250 mount
Pros: reasonably easy to set up, decent scope overall
Cons: images are not as crisp and contrasty as I thought
they would be, there is a touch of color on bright
objects, focuser is a bit stiff
4. Tak FS102 on a SP mount
Pros: this is the first Tak I have owned, and wow, what
great images -- crisp, contrasty, just so nice.
Cons: only four inches of aperture

I would appreciate your thoughts on these scopes . I know most people have a bias to certain types of scopes some of my friends are big Dob fans, some are SCT fans, etc., and their opinion will most likely favor their bias. That's not a problem -- I would like to hear your thoughts.

Maybe I keep two and sell two. Mayybe I sell the D&G and put the C14 OTA on the MI250 to improve tracking, etc. Or maybe I sell most everything and get a 6" TMB APO! Or put the Dob on a platform (and buy a 10" ladder)

While I am a bit tired of the big Dob scene -- the ladder, set-up, collimation, move the ladder again -- I'm concerned I will miss the aperture if I sell it. So fire away with your opinions.

Lastly, I think I have some pictures of the Dob on my hard drive if that would be helpful.

(Apologies for the lengthiness of this :^(

Chuck Taney

Sounds like you already have a solution. Sell the D&G and 20" Dob to lose the ladder nosebleeds and C14 redundancy. Then leverage the MI250 for OTA flexibility. Always keep a good 4" apo around; it will fit in a casket!

Chuck, I'm a big dob fan but even I wouldn't want a 20" f/6 dob. Ok, this is what I would do. Hear me out because I think it's the best solution. Sell the 20" dob, the C14 and the 8" D&G. Then buy an 18" Obsession(with a Torus mirror). The 18" Obsession is f/4.5, and the ep height at the zenith is about 6'5". Basically all you need is a footstool, and that is only if you are observing at zenith. The 18" will give you the aperture you need, and keep you close to the ground. Of course it's a faster scope, I don't know if that matters to you or not.

Obsession also now sells complete GOTO systems for their scopes. On the 18", the ServoCAT Goto drive system installed along with the Argo Navis digital setting circles installed cost a total of $2500.

So basically your setup will be an 18" Obsession(with complete GOTO and tracking capability) and the FS102. If you can swing it, maybe also sell the FS102 and get a 5" TMB APO instead. Just suggestions.

You say you might miss aperture but hate the ladder? Sell the 20-inch and step down to a 14.5 to 18 inch dob with a nice EQ platform. Perhaps you can get both with the sale of the 20-inch.

Sell the C14 OTA and the 102mm Apo and get a larger Apo to mount on your MI-250.

Money left? Pick up a real quick-look scope: 76mm to 85mm and an upswing or similar mount.

I can't imagine an astronomical craving a large, tracking dob, a larger premium apo refractor and a quick look apo couldn't satisfy, unless you require the perfect imaging rig or GOTO on everything.

Indubitably Chuck, remove the FS102 from your list (i.e., it's a keeper). It's quick to setup, deploy and cooldown (and of course the nice image you mentioned) ;-).

Ron B[ee]