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Posts Made By: Dave budlong

February 26, 2006 11:12 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

What type of telescope?

Posted By Dave budlong
I would consider getting the Otion 8" intelliscope, we take our 8" with us in the car camping. I can actually get the 12" Orion Intelliscope into the car. As far as flying with it that would be tough, but for everything else you said, it fits the bill.

March 2, 2006 05:15 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

What magnification do you use the most?

Posted By Dave budlong
If I am looking for things in the sky I have always tried to use 50X or 60X, some objects flat out require more than that to locate, but it works for alot of things.

March 4, 2006 02:05 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

collimate reflector by eye ?????

Posted By Dave budlong
Here is a great walk through for exactly that.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.scagell/collimate.html

March 6, 2006 05:42 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

primary and secondary scratches

Posted By Dave budlong
Ditto what Alex said, quit looking at them and they are out of sight out of mind. They really have a super minor affect on your scope, like non-measurable affect.

March 7, 2006 01:49 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Need Advice

Posted By Dave budlong
I think the starhopper is a great scope, I personally own 2 Orion Dobs, but I would not hesitate to buy a Celestron. 10" apeture is a great long term sized scope to own, you will be completely overwhelmed with the apeture difference. I mean that in a good way too.

March 8, 2006 02:29 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

10" or 12" Intelliscope?

Posted By Dave budlong
I ponied up the extra dough for the 12", already had a 10" I made and I wanted more aperture. the Orion has satiated my hunger for light(for now). Its really up to you, the 10" is easier to get around with, but the 12 is going to give you a little more of everything your looking for in a scope under the sky.

March 9, 2006 12:02 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Filters

Posted By Dave budlong
All of those are LPR's (Light Pollution Reduction) filters. It is just another term for them, as well as bandwidth filters, or narrow band filters. All they do is block some transmission and allow others.

March 9, 2006 02:37 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

"Quantum" step telescope apertures?

Posted By Dave budlong
I have owned over the last 5 years, the 4.5", the 8", the 10", and the 12" and while I have never owned a 6" I would agree that you pretty much hit the nail on the head with increment steps that a person might want to take, except that I think you may have forgotten 36" scope in there. 8)

March 9, 2006 11:00 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

How do you do it?

Posted By Dave budlong
It was all brought home to me a few years ago by a friend who told me a story he had read. We were both into astronomy, he was an Attorney and I am just your average working guy, but the basic idea of the story was that Astronomy is cheaper than Fishing. Heres why, look at most of the people that you know that like to fish, they will have $1000 to $3000 tied up in rods, reels, lures bait and other items, after fishing for a while they get a boat. First boat only gets a guy for a couple of thousand, but then they get a better boat for 10k, then more specialized rods and reels, pretty soon your next door neighbor has $25,000 to $40,000 wrapped in what is just a hobby, and he still has to get the boat licensed and a fishing license and the trailer licensed every year adding another couple hundred or so to the bill. Sure they get fresh fish, but its about $700 bucks a pound. I just buy my fish at the store and use the savings for Astronomy. grin

March 12, 2006 03:24 PM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

Meade 10" Starfinder Dob locally available? ~$200

Posted By Dave budlong
If it has been taken care of it is worth 200 or maybe a little more up to 325 or so. Also the EP's and if it has any upgrades would push up the value, of course crudded mirror or bashed tube would push it down. Check the rocker box too, if it has been messed up and motions are poor or worse you have to consider that you will need to build a new one.

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