Posts Made By: Duane Jacobson

Brian... that scope looks very much like what I had in mind. Thanks.

And thanks, Sofjan, for the pointer on the 8" travel scope. I'll have to look for that article.

Regards,

Duane

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I think first I'll challenge myself to see what I can fit in my Accord.

The next time I buy a vehicle I'll probably look for something that's friendlier to big scopes.

Duane

The truss dob route could be really nice. With ramps and wheelbarrow handles you really don't have to lift much at all, looking at any individual piece. You'd need a truck/wagon/SUV, though, to make use of the ramps. I see quite a few Astromart sellers from Texas, which I assume could be close enough to you for a reasonable halfway meeting.

A 10" tube dob would be cheaper, but I think a big 35-lb tube would be tougher to move around than the pieces for a 12"-14" truss dob.

Regards,

Duane

Check out...

http://www.dgoptical.com

They sell a 20" f/15 optic set for $11,990

Good luck,

Duane

Going to a public star party is an excellent suggestion. Most places I've lived have at least one such opportunity each month.

Get a pair of binoculars (and a star chart) if you don't already have these. Not huge ones, I'd go for 8x40 or 10x50. There's a pair of used Orion 10x50 Ultraviews advertised here for $80. Every amateur astronomer needs a good pair of binos.

For a first scope I actually lean toward something in the 8"-10" range. Of course, it needs to fit in your vehicle, and you have to be able to move it w/o getting a hernia! You'll be able to see and find a lot more with this size than you will with a 5" scope. Above 10" you really need to go to a truss scope, IMO, and that's over your budget.

In your price range, right here on Astromart I see an 8" portaball advertised at $1500. This does not have push-to, though, and it is not compatible with any push-to or goto system. It's supposed to be a really sweet scope, though. There's also a couple of LX200s, an 8" and a 10". Finally, if you can fit one in your vehicle, a 10" f/6 Discovery PDHQ is a possibility. A new one is about $1500 shipped, so you'll have to add a SkyCommander later (perfectly doable, though).

Have fun,

Duane

If you're willing to build a kit, you can try an Astrosystems Telekit. I'd put a Royce primary mirror into it, and an Antares or Protostar diagonal. Add a SkyCommander (no laptop needed) and your choice of finder (e.g., Telrad) and you're set.

Total cost, including shipping, for a 12.5" setup would be about $3200. A 15" would come in at about $4100, and a 16" at $4800.

Have fun,

Duane

http://www.astrosystems.biz
http://www.fpi-protostar.com
http://www.rfroyce.com
http://www.skyeng.com

ed manspeaker said:
Say a TV-85 vs a Pronto. Would I see any real difference between the 2?

At one point I owned both of these scopes and was able to make comparisons between the two. The views through the 85 are clearly better, but as others have pointed out, the choice will depend on what you want to do with the scope.

If you like pushing your equipment to the limit and really dislike fringing color, the tv85 the way to go (or the tv76). On the other hand, the pronto gives fine views if you're willing to limit the power (to 30x-40x, imo).

Duane

Hi Herbert,

Yes, I've seen the illustrations on his website. I agree that the conical mirrors seem like a great idea, with really no downside as long as the work as advertised.

I'd like to build a lightweight 8" dob that reaches thermal equilibrium quickly (an 8-inch "quick look" scope!). Toward that end, I'd like to have as little thermal mass as necessary in the mirror+cell. I could make a wooden mounting plate, but I wonder if there's a better alternative out there. I'm also wondering if adding a fan would be worthwhile for such a small piece of glass?

Thanks for your observations.

Duane

Herbert Highstone said:

Have you checked out the Royce internet site? It tells how to mount a conical mirror. If I understand the information correctly, you merely bolt the conical mirror onto a flat surface. There is no mirror mount at all in the usual sense.

This to me is the greatest attraction of a conical mirror. The usual concerns about a cell and its problems are completely bypassed. Thus the Royce 10-inch conical mirror looks to me like the optical bargain of the decade. Because you can discount the price of the mirror by at least $100 if you consider the cost of the mirror cell that you don't need and won't be buying.

Best wishes from Herbert Highstone

Joe and Jim,

Thanks for your comments. I'm certainly not surprised to hear that Bob Royce is a great guy. His website has some fantastic articles, and it shows that he obviously has a passion for observational astronomy.

Duane

Not exactly the dimensions you're looking for, but these are made specifically for Newtonian OTA construction...

http://www.fpi-protostar.com/blite.htm

Duane