Posts Made By: Tom Hole

Hung,

Both are great dobs. Discovery is great about substituting stuff, where Orion is a package deal. Although the Orion package is good. I would consider the Hands on Optics 8XL over the Orion. It has a better finder (8x50 vs 6x30), includes a barlow and a laser collimator for $449 delivered (XT8 is $449 + shipping). The Orion comes with a filter set, but that would not be as useful as a barlow and laser. Gary at HOO is a great guy and will work with you to get you what you need.

Be aware of the longer tube length of the Discovery f/7 (57"). If that fits in your mode of transport, I think f/7 is a great option.

Tough call. But, be assured that any of these scopes are great value and will give you lots of pleasureable viewing. There is great support from all 3 vendors. THere are also yahoo groups for both telescopes where many folks can offer great advise, both now when you are trying to decide which to get and later, once you have a telescope.

If it were me, I'd get the 8XL from Gary at Hands on Optics. Great package at a great price.

Tom

I was curious about the 9mm Expanse as well based on a cloudy nights review. I have an Orion XT10 f/4.7 10" dob. At first, I really thought this was a winner. But I grew to hate the constant blackouts. I replaced it with a Pentax XL 10.5mm. The Expanse is sitting here on my desk waiting for a new owner.

Tom

I was thinking of getting the 2" knobs for my XT10. I measured it and it looks like it would fit, especially if the design of the knob takes it fully outside the focuser body. I assume you have the 1/ 1/2" brass knobs. Do you think the 2" ones would work with the XT10?

Thanks,

TOm

Laser for secondary, barlowed laser for primary.

Sphing!

Clear skies,

Tom

I talked to Gary at HOO about the Proxima for my XT10 f/4.7 and he did not recommend it. Give Gary a call. He is an honest guy and I don't think he would steer you wrong. And I would bet that if you didn't like it, he would take it back.

I bought a Univeristy Konig II 2" 32mm and don't care much for it. It has seagulls starting about 70% on out, and it gets really bad about 90% out. Might not annoy you, but it annoys me. Works fine for a finder ep, but not for a wide field pleasure viewing ep (for me and my scope).

Clear skies,

Tom

I recommend the 10' dob. Although portability might be an issue, you just can't beat 10' of aperture

Clear skies,

Tom "I'm wasting Herb's bandwidth" Hole

John,

I got to see a 14.1" in person at the Mason Dixon Star Party. I got to talk for a while with Ed and he showed me the 18" he had made for himself. He is a fantastic fellow and sure seems to know his stuff.

The 14.1" was an amazing piece of work. How he gets it so compact is beyond me. Not much bigger than my XT10, overall, and not as heavy. The nifty detachment for the upper cage was fantastic. The workmanship was impeccable. I had to leave because he started telling me about a 16" he could build me with a 72" ep height.

I think Ed is providing a fantastic scope at a great price. He seemed like a great American and when it comes time for me to get a bigger dob, he will get my $$$.

Clear skies,

Tom

Cam,

Boy, maybe this thread will turn into another "which is better, an SCT or Newtonian or APO" or maybe the hallowed "how seeing effects collimation in larger reflectors more than smaller ones".

Here is what I do:

1. How often do you NEED to check collimation: Once a night before you start observing. Unless you have pulled one of the triggers mentioned later. THen check it again, or not.

2. How long does it take? Takes me < 1 minute. Took me 2 days the first time. As you get better, it gets quicker. I use the barlowed laser method to align the primary and that is very quick and extremely accurate. Always check collimation with a star test (nice round, concentric diffraction rings) because this is the only real way to tell if you are collimated. I have never had to make a tweak after using the barlowed laser collimation.

3. How well do they hold collimation? My XT10 holds very well. The secondary never needs tweaking (but I tweak it anyway. I fix alot of things that aren't broken) and the primary will need 1/16 turn after a long car ride. Triggers are bumping, moving the telescope or you just feel like it (that's just me. I'll sometimes check collimation in the middle of a tracking run on Jupiter just to make sure I'm getting the best I possibly can. Not normal, but makes me feel good).

That's it. Easy peasy. Once you figure it out and it clicks in your brain housing group what exactly it is you are trying to accomplish, newtonian collimation is very simple and quick. Certainly nothing to be intimidated by.

Clear skies,

TOm

Victor,

Do you live near Washington, D.C.? If so, that would explain the wx pattern. Of course I didn't help with by binoviewer purchase either.

Hope we see some stars soon.

Tom

Me, for one.

Clear skies,

Tom