Relax; this is not another "What is the best telescope." Close maybe, but different.
The reason for this post is I have too many scopes/too much money invested (some will argue this is impossible). So my thinking is I should pare down some. So here is the type of observing I do and what I have:
Observing: planets, globulars, nebulae, but not alot of galaxy stuff. Most of my observing is done from my yard where the sky suffers from a lot of light pollution (skies are at best mag 4 to 4.5 IMO. Occassionally I go to a dark site with probably mag 5 skies. Some of the scopes below are big, but transportation is not an issue.
Now for the scopes (and my pros and cons on each):
1. 20" f/6 Dob with Pegasus mirror; the mirror is quantifiably top notch
Pros: this one has the aperture, very good for planets,
globs, etc plus good for deep sky if I want to do that
Cons: set-up, climbing up and down the ladder, no
tracking
2. C14
Pros: very decent optics (primary was replaced about
three years ago), tracking, good all around scope with
the focal length for planets and enough aperture for
everything else
Cons: no serious cons IMO
3. 8" f/12 D&G refractor on a MI250 mount
Pros: reasonably easy to set up, decent scope overall
Cons: images are not as crisp and contrasty as I thought
they would be, there is a touch of color on bright
objects, focuser is a bit stiff
4. Tak FS102 on a SP mount
Pros: this is the first Tak I have owned, and wow, what
great images -- crisp, contrasty, just so nice.
Cons: only four inches of aperture
I would appreciate your thoughts on these scopes . I know most people have a bias to certain types of scopes some of my friends are big Dob fans, some are SCT fans, etc., and their opinion will most likely favor their bias. That's not a problem -- I would like to hear your thoughts.
Maybe I keep two and sell two. Mayybe I sell the D&G and put the C14 OTA on the MI250 to improve tracking, etc. Or maybe I sell most everything and get a 6" TMB APO! Or put the Dob on a platform (and buy a 10" ladder)
While I am a bit tired of the big Dob scene -- the ladder, set-up, collimation, move the ladder again -- I'm concerned I will miss the aperture if I sell it. So fire away with your opinions.
Lastly, I think I have some pictures of the Dob on my hard drive if that would be helpful.
(Apologies for the lengthiness of this :^(
Chuck Taney
