So I guess there aren't any inflatable dobs ... :) On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 4:45 PM, Jay Eads <jayleads@gmail.com> wrote:
Debbie,
Thanks for confirming on the 15 inch Obsession. I also REALLY like the Astrosystems kits a lot and am going to look there. I have a NIssan Pathfinder I'll use to transport it. I guess it comes down to the views are the most important and for the month or so each year the back acts up, I can put up with the pain during that time and use the 8 or 10 inch dob. Thanks everyone for your input.
On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 9:56 AM, Debbie <astrodeb@beyondbb.com> wrote:
Jay,
I've had a bad back for years but I've handled my 15" Obsession for 12.5 years. Of course, my problem is in my neck and shoulders, but I use my wheel-barrel handles from the house to the Jeep. I still have good arm strength so it isn't a bad lift into the front seat of the Jeep. Of course, sometimes I have help when I am with other people. The mirror box weighs 60 lbs but if you have a van or a truck, you can wheel it in the vehicle without lifting the mirror box. In the future, I may get a van and a ramp. That is probably the best way to handle a big dob.
As far as performance, I love my Obsession and will keep it the rest of my life. When the weather gets too warm, I think I'll bring it up north. In St George, I have to observe up in the mountains in the summertime because it is way to hot down here. I'm planning on doing some galaxy observing in early May as the weather permits. I'll give a report as soon as I can do some observing.
Debbie
On Thu Apr 22 8:05 , JayLEads <jayleads@gmail.com> sent:
Ok, now's the time. I am beginning the process to upgrade to what I hope is the first of second major purchases over the next five years in the hobby. This one will be a dob, and I'm looking for a truss design. I have a bad back, deteriorating disc at L5/S1 so weight is an issue. I know Ron Ford has Bill Cowles Coulter Dob for sale and I'll be sending him email to take a look at it, but is there any other recommendations (thoughts on Bill Cowles Dob)?
Here is where I am leaning. I have a 10 inch so I think upgrading to a 12.5 won't give me much bang for my buck. So I'm thinking a 15 inch and I am willing to go used or new (probably prefer used). A used Starmaster or Teledit comes to mind. An Obsession 15 inch comes to mind but they do have a rep for the upper cage to be small causing in some scopes a vignetting issue. I have also thought of a used Discovery, I won't go new with them because of what is going on with that company lately or the Orion XXi14. The XXi14 I like because of the intelliscope feature, if I don't want to star hop I can simply input and go. So I would love input into these or other choices others may have:
15 inch Obsession 15 inch used Starmaster 15 inch Teeter (see Teeter Telescopes, they are back east) XXi14
Thougths? Thanks for the input ahead of time.
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