Posts Made By: Bill Meyers

larry thaxton said:

For years I tried various scopes looking for two or three - one could not do it all - scopes to cover the "perfect" planetary, travel/DSO and grab-and-go scopes. Looks like I have them, actually too many of them:

Planetary: TMB 175, Tak FS-152 and Royce Dall-Kirkham 10" F/20

Travel/DSO: 12.5" Portaball

G&G: Tak FC-78 on Vixen Great Polaris (soon to be an FC-100)

Now I have to cut back a little as I have more than I need and while I enjoy them all, can not use each enough to justify having them sitting around. It would be interesting to know who else has "arrived" and why?

I find the jpastrocraft.com "sweet sixteen" just about ideal for me. Seated observing in all positions, easily removable mirror for transport, integral wheels, Wessling mirror, modest weight of the heaviest component are the biggest factors of importance to me.
Others may have very different priorities.
Bill Meyers

Ivan Ong said:

Hi, Any recommendations for hand built truss dobs made in the US? I know Obsession, but any more similar manufacturers in the 12"-15" area with reasonable delivery times? I am not considering Orion or Meade at the moment.

Thanks
Ivan

jpastrocraft.com sweet sixteen. 16 inch f/4. Integral wheels, seated observing even at zenith, top quality components. Wessling or Lockwood mirror

Starmaster 14 inch f/4 or 16.5 inch f/3.7 Zambuto or Lockwood mirror. Seated observing in all positions.

Bill

john raymond said:

Please tell me about this scope.
Thanks
John

John,
I have owned the f/4.55 version for six years. It is a wonderful scope. Superb Zambuto mirror. Easy to set up and take down, or you can just transport it in two pieces, as another poster has decribed. I have not found any cooldown problems. I do find the scope moves from the object when I remove a heavy eyepiece but I find it immediately by zeroing the Sky Commander readings. SC is very helpful in urban skies.
I highly recommend this scope. Geoff Garehy on Yahoo Talking Telescopes group has one and loves it.
Bill Meyers

Jon Isaacs said:

Anyone else noticed how that number of ads increases right up to the full moon and then decreases until the new moon. A day or so ago the ad count was up to about 970 and now it already down to about 930.

I have watched this for a while...

Of course it could be that the full moon currently coincides with the end of the month so people are selling because they are out of cash and need it for the coming months bills or they are buying because they have extra spending money left...

Of course it could be that most Astromarters are werewolves and only buy at night.

Jon

Jon,
I don't know about you, but I am currently rereading one of my favorite books, Herman Hesse's "Steppenwolf."
Bill Meyers