Posts Made By: Dave budlong

In reply to both of the prior replies I have 2 Orion scopes and the focuser for each scope is on different sides, they came pre-drilled that way. Unlike golf clubs I do not think it really matters if your left handed or right handed. I say in reply to both because if there is a wrong side one of my scopes is backwards, and if I put the telrad clockwise from the focuser on the 12 inch scope it would be on the side.

Have not been to OSP, but I will get there. Just got back from central Oregon a couple of weeks ago and that was our big trip of the summer. It is a wonderful place and even from Sisters the skies are pretty dark so I can only imagine what they are like at OSP. Have fun.

Yup its a great park have gotten in trouble there a couple of times. They are not very understanding of free climbers there, but its an awesome park.

Just a side note I honestly did not realize until I was helping someone here locally, M22 is bigger and slightly brighter than M13 as well.

What type of scope will you be using it in? I know that there are people who will have opinions in favor of one or the other, and some that will say neither. I am of the firm belief that you should get the Skyglow, but only after a good set of eyepieces have been acquired. I have used the skyglow filter and an 8 inch scope and seen the Veil Nebula from the suburbs.

First and foremost buy from somebody reputable. Make sure there is a money back guarantee. If the seller is honest, there will be.
Second be aware of the scope you are getting, IE Brand, aperture, type(achro or apo) and limitations of the type.
If you buy a solid brand scope from a reputable person or place, you should get exactly what you pay for. If not send it back.

Depnds on a couple of things, first what will you be using the scope for primarily, visual or imaging? Second of what?

Another thing to consider is that a 10 inch will split closer doubles, not a big deal if you are not into doubles but, that resolution does make itself clear when you are viewing planets. Consider that Jupiter is roughly 31 arc seconds wide, the extra resolution translates into a lot more detail. Same thing with the Moon, there are details you can see in a 10" that you cannot see in an 8". Finally even in DSO's there is structure that you can see, not even accounting for the light grasp difference.

build a wooden alt taz mount for it, see if I could trade it for a decent set of bino's, and finally become more and more frustrated for lack of aperture.

Paul. all I can honestly say to that is I am shocked. my first Star Party was nothing like that. I went to TMSP out of Ellensburg WA and the people were extremely nice. I did arrive on the second day of the event and there were about 750 people there already although I am not sure of that years total group attendance, my friend and I were both firstimers, and we did have to setup off the main field. We quickly got to know our closest neighbors, and were invited to look through several of their scopes. All I had at the time were my Bino's and an 80 mm refractor. We stayed 2 nights and by the time we had left I had looked through my own scope the first night and scopes as big as a 24 inch the second night. The TMSP has since been limited to 700 people attending and I have not been back for a few years but I have been there a couple of times since my first time, each time I have gone I have had a blast and met more people. I am a long haired construction worker and have met people ranging from Microsoft Execs. to Boeing Engineers to other construction guys, never did any of them make me feel out of place. I have looked through scopes ranging up to 41" dob, and have been there when there were as many as 1300 people. The people were always part of my positive experience. All I can suggest is that you try a different star party, I will suggest 2, TMSP and OSP, here in the Pacific Northwest we are sort of known for being nice people.