Wanted: New productPosted By William Chang |
Well, 6" f/4.5 could be made carry-on even with a solid tube (very carefully), but any longer it would be a problem. I'm eyeing my Meade SN6 f/5 -- about 6" too long (and the focal plane already sticks out 6.5" from the tube). Had it been f/4 like the others in the series it would have been short enough. If you don't mind 40% central obstruction or vignetting, you might move up the mirror in a commonly available 6" f/5, and eat up the extra in focus with a suitable correct-image prism/mirrors of some sort (or a binoviewer).
A retractible/telescoping OTA would be neat, but someone needs to come up with a design that's inexpensive to manufacture. I agree it shouldn't be that hard -- mainly finding some kind of tube that's 7"ID, and another kind of tube that's 7"OD (you know what I mean; if anyone has an idea please holler).
You can buy the truss carbon fiber 8" Uti for under $3K. Looks to me like a better option than the PortaBall or TelePort for exactly this reason -- airline portability. Perhaps Infinity Telescopes can sell a down-scale one for $1K?
Most people who voted with their wallet, bought a C8 or similar. With a Reducer/Corrector and 2" diagonal/EPs, the FOV isn't half bad (still not RFT).
As for how big a Dob can fit airline carry-on 9x14x22, well the answer might surprise you (it surprised me). What do you think?
Finally, one more idea: fold a 6" refractor. If you think about it, there's no CO issue so the tube can be short (bi-fold, like a newt) or shorter (tri-fold). The bi-fold design has the advantage of having most of the weight concentrated at the top end, where it attaches to the alt-az mount/tripod. The tri-fold design behaves like an unobstructed Cat (which it is), except for color -- not that important for a wide-field scope. Good flats are not cheap, but still well within the $1K budget, especially for the bi-fold.
As for a Dob mount, the company that makes the Compact Precision Telescope (CPT) also makes a mount that folds completely flat.
-- William
A retractible/telescoping OTA would be neat, but someone needs to come up with a design that's inexpensive to manufacture. I agree it shouldn't be that hard -- mainly finding some kind of tube that's 7"ID, and another kind of tube that's 7"OD (you know what I mean; if anyone has an idea please holler).
You can buy the truss carbon fiber 8" Uti for under $3K. Looks to me like a better option than the PortaBall or TelePort for exactly this reason -- airline portability. Perhaps Infinity Telescopes can sell a down-scale one for $1K?
Most people who voted with their wallet, bought a C8 or similar. With a Reducer/Corrector and 2" diagonal/EPs, the FOV isn't half bad (still not RFT).
As for how big a Dob can fit airline carry-on 9x14x22, well the answer might surprise you (it surprised me). What do you think?
Finally, one more idea: fold a 6" refractor. If you think about it, there's no CO issue so the tube can be short (bi-fold, like a newt) or shorter (tri-fold). The bi-fold design has the advantage of having most of the weight concentrated at the top end, where it attaches to the alt-az mount/tripod. The tri-fold design behaves like an unobstructed Cat (which it is), except for color -- not that important for a wide-field scope. Good flats are not cheap, but still well within the $1K budget, especially for the bi-fold.
As for a Dob mount, the company that makes the Compact Precision Telescope (CPT) also makes a mount that folds completely flat.
-- William
