in the market for a telescope
I am now thinking of purchasing my first telescope, after using the SLAS 12" Orion reflector, Dobsonian base, for awhile. Of course I want the largest aperture that I can afford and lift in and out of my RAV4. I know the sky well enough that I don't need go-to and am not currently doing astrophotography. So I would happily buy a manual telescope now if the price was right. I see that Chuck sold two this week, but I saw the email too late, so this note is to be proactive and let you know I am looking, in case someone else has a working telescope that is just taking up space. So...about lifting...my back is not great and I am not confident about lifting more than 40 pounds. What do others do? Obsession's telescopes come with wheelbarrow set-ups, but they are pricey, too. If I buy a manual 15" Obsession now and add go-to later, I will have spent over $10K when the go-to, paracorr and all that jazz are added in. What is your advice? My contact info is on the SLAS website if you want to contact me directly. Marlene Egger
A 15" Obsession would be an excellent choice. It's a LOT of telescope. I would get it with the Feathertouch focuser and GOTO factory installed. GOTO for deep sky is priceless for finding less well known objects. I would prefer the F/4.5 over the compact F/4.2. Get it with a finder telescope. At least the 9x50. I would get the 80mm for a scope this size. I have an 80mm on my backyard 14¼" scope. Paracorr? .... yes. Collimator... yes. You will want to consider this brand also. http://www.collimator.com/ Christmas is coming right up. Good luck with your choice. On Sat, Sep 3, 2016 at 8:32 AM, Marlene Egger via Utah-Astronomy < utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I am now thinking of purchasing my first telescope, after using the SLAS 12" Orion reflector, Dobsonian base, for awhile. Of course I want the largest aperture that I can afford and lift in and out of my RAV4. I know the sky well enough that I don't need go-to and am not currently doing astrophotography. So I would happily buy a manual telescope now if the price was right. I see that Chuck sold two this week, but I saw the email too late, so this note is to be proactive and let you know I am looking, in case someone else has a working telescope that is just taking up space. So...about lifting...my back is not great and I am not confident about lifting more than 40 pounds. What do others do? Obsession's telescopes come with wheelbarrow set-ups, but they are pricey, too. If I buy a manual 15" Obsession now and add go-to later, I will have spent over $10K when the go-to, paracorr and all that jazz are added in. What is your advice? My contact info is on the SLAS website if you want to contact me directly. Marlene Egger _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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-- Siegfried
A 15" Obsession is too heavy. The lightest component is close to 60 lbs. It is true you don't lift it if you use the wheel barrel handles and ramps but that only works if you keep it in the garage or someplace where you can wheel it. If you have steps etc. you are going to have to do some lifting. The lightest component of the UC 15" is 45 lbs. and if you put it in the provided case it takes two people to lift it into a vehicle. I would suggest getting the Orion SkyQuest XX 12i see http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Truss-Tube-Dobsonia... . I would also get the shroud for $89.99. The heaviest unassembled component, the mirror base, is 34.3 lbs. You can move the scope manually but it is really nice to have the object locator for faint objects. At $1399 it is much less than an Obsession. I have both a 15" Obsession and an 18" Starmaster so I speak from experience. I think you will find that anything over 12" won't get used as much since it takes two people or a lot of effort. If you get the Orion scope, be sure to use the cooling fan. Clear Skies, Don Colton -----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Marlene Egger via Utah-Astronomy Sent: Saturday, September 3, 2016 8:33 AM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] in the market for a telescope I am now thinking of purchasing my first telescope, after using the SLAS 12" Orion reflector, Dobsonian base, for awhile. Of course I want the largest aperture that I can afford and lift in and out of my RAV4. I know the sky well enough that I don't need go-to and am not currently doing astrophotography. So I would happily buy a manual telescope now if the price was right. I see that Chuck sold two this week, but I saw the email too late, so this note is to be proactive and let you know I am looking, in case someone else has a working telescope that is just taking up space. So...about lifting...my back is not great and I am not confident about lifting more than 40 pounds. What do others do? Obsession's telescopes come with wheelbarrow set-ups, but they are pricey, too. If I buy a manual 15" Obsession now and add go-to later, I will have spent over $10K when the go-to, paracorr and all that jazz are added in. What is your advice? My contact info is on the SLAS website if you want to contact me directly. Marlene Egger _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. To unsubscribe go to: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".
Lightest component or heaviest compo ent is 60 pounds. Out of how many components? On Sep 3, 2016 2:55 PM, "Don J. Colton" <djcolton@piol.com> wrote:
A 15" Obsession is too heavy. The lightest component is close to 60 lbs. It is true you don't lift it if you use the wheel barrel handles and ramps but that only works if you keep it in the garage or someplace where you can wheel it. If you have steps etc. you are going to have to do some lifting. The lightest component of the UC 15" is 45 lbs. and if you put it in the provided case it takes two people to lift it into a vehicle.
I would suggest getting the Orion SkyQuest XX 12i see http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Truss-Tube- Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XX12i-IntelliScope-Truss- Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/29/p/102017.uts . I would also get the shroud for $89.99. The heaviest unassembled component, the mirror base, is 34.3 lbs. You can move the scope manually but it is really nice to have the object locator for faint objects. At $1399 it is much less than an Obsession.
I have both a 15" Obsession and an 18" Starmaster so I speak from experience.
I think you will find that anything over 12" won't get used as much since it takes two people or a lot of effort. If you get the Orion scope, be sure to use the cooling fan.
Clear Skies,
Don Colton
-----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@ mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Marlene Egger via Utah-Astronomy Sent: Saturday, September 3, 2016 8:33 AM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] in the market for a telescope
I am now thinking of purchasing my first telescope, after using the SLAS 12" Orion reflector, Dobsonian base, for awhile. Of course I want the largest aperture that I can afford and lift in and out of my RAV4. I know the sky well enough that I don't need go-to and am not currently doing astrophotography. So I would happily buy a manual telescope now if the price was right. I see that Chuck sold two this week, but I saw the email too late, so this note is to be proactive and let you know I am looking, in case someone else has a working telescope that is just taking up space. So...about lifting...my back is not great and I am not confident about lifting more than 40 pounds. What do others do? Obsession's telescopes come with wheelbarrow set-ups, but they are pricey, too. If I buy a manual 15" Obsession now and add go-to later, I will have spent over $10K when the go-to, paracorr and all that jazz are added in. What is your advice? My contact info is on the SLAS website if you want to contact me directly. Marlene Egger _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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Sorry, should be heaviest component. -----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Siegfried Jachmann Sent: Saturday, September 3, 2016 3:53 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] in the market for a telescope Lightest component or heaviest compo ent is 60 pounds. Out of how many components? On Sep 3, 2016 2:55 PM, "Don J. Colton" <djcolton@piol.com> wrote:
A 15" Obsession is too heavy. The lightest component is close to 60 lbs. It is true you don't lift it if you use the wheel barrel handles and ramps but that only works if you keep it in the garage or someplace where you can wheel it. If you have steps etc. you are going to have to do some lifting. The lightest component of the UC 15" is 45 lbs. and if you put it in the provided case it takes two people to lift it into a vehicle.
I would suggest getting the Orion SkyQuest XX 12i see http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Truss-Tube- Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XX12i-IntelliScope-Truss- Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/29/p/102017.uts . I would also get the shroud for $89.99. The heaviest unassembled component, the mirror base, is 34.3 lbs. You can move the scope manually but it is really nice to have the object locator for faint objects. At $1399 it is much less than an Obsession.
I have both a 15" Obsession and an 18" Starmaster so I speak from experience.
I think you will find that anything over 12" won't get used as much since it takes two people or a lot of effort. If you get the Orion scope, be sure to use the cooling fan.
Clear Skies,
Don Colton
-----Original Message----- From: Utah-Astronomy [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@ mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Marlene Egger via Utah-Astronomy Sent: Saturday, September 3, 2016 8:33 AM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] in the market for a telescope
I am now thinking of purchasing my first telescope, after using the SLAS 12" Orion reflector, Dobsonian base, for awhile. Of course I want the largest aperture that I can afford and lift in and out of my RAV4. I know the sky well enough that I don't need go-to and am not currently doing astrophotography. So I would happily buy a manual telescope now if the price was right. I see that Chuck sold two this week, but I saw the email too late, so this note is to be proactive and let you know I am looking, in case someone else has a working telescope that is just taking up space. So...about lifting...my back is not great and I am not confident about lifting more than 40 pounds. What do others do? Obsession's telescopes come with wheelbarrow set-ups, but they are pricey, too. If I buy a manual 15" Obsession now and add go-to later, I will have spent over $10K when the go-to, paracorr and all that jazz are added in. What is your advice? My contact info is on the SLAS website if you want to contact me directly. Marlene Egger _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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Marlene: At the risk of being called a heretic, I would argue for going the other way and getting a 10 solid tube dob. They are light and easy to set up. They hold collimation if not banged around. They are easy to load in the car and quickly go on short notice. These virtues make them more enjoyable to use and more likely to be used. And thus taken to social events where they are shared with the public. 10 inches is also the sweet spot in the aperture range. Large enough get good looks at dim objects when transported to a really dark site but small enough that the atmospheric seeing will often support their full resolving power on planets. At SLAS public events, it's the 10inchers who really shine on planet views, whether it's Roger's excellent Schmit-Cassegrain or an orion dob. Larger dobs can do just as good most of the time and can do much better, but only on the rare occasions that the seeing allows it. And the bigger the dob the rarer those occasions occur. Normal seeing will support a 10 incher about half the time,. a 15 incher maybe once a night, and an 18 incher less then once a year. Dark sky observing has a similar problem. Truly great conditions occur only on rare occasions maybe once ore twice a year. True those nights are spectacular but you have to spend a lot of nights in just mediocre conditions before you find that one great night. And it might occur when your schedule doesn't allow you to go. Hope this helps. DT From: Marlene Egger via Utah-Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> To: "utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, September 3, 2016 8:32 AM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] in the market for a telescope I am now thinking of purchasing my first telescope, after using the SLAS 12" Orion reflector, Dobsonian base, for awhile. Of course I want the largest aperture that I can afford and lift in and out of my RAV4. I know the sky well enough that I don't need go-to and am not currently doing astrophotography. So I would happily buy a manual telescope now if the price was right. I see that Chuck sold two this week, but I saw the email too late, so this note is to be proactive and let you know I am looking, in case someone else has a working telescope that is just taking up space. So...about lifting...my back is not great and I am not confident about lifting more than 40 pounds. What do others do? Obsession's telescopes come with wheelbarrow set-ups, but they are pricey, too. If I buy a manual 15" Obsession now and add go-to later, I will have spent over $10K when the go-to, paracorr and all that jazz are added in. What is your advice? My contact info is on the SLAS website if you want to contact me directly. Marlene Egger _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. To unsubscribe go to: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".
Excellent points. As the owner of a 12-inch behemoth, I've regretted I didn't get a 10-incher instead. Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 4, 2016, at 11:54 AM, daniel turner via Utah-Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Marlene: At the risk of being called a heretic, I would argue for going the other way and getting a 10 solid tube dob. They are light and easy to set up. They hold collimation if not banged around. They are easy to load in the car and quickly go on short notice. These virtues make them more enjoyable to use and more likely to be used. And thus taken to social events where they are shared with the public. 10 inches is also the sweet spot in the aperture range. Large enough get good looks at dim objects when transported to a really dark site but small enough that the atmospheric seeing will often support their full resolving power on planets. At SLAS public events, it's the 10inchers who really shine on planet views, whether it's Roger's excellent Schmit-Cassegrain or an orion dob. Larger dobs can do just as good most of the time and can do much better, but only on the rare occasions that the seeing allows it. And the bigger the dob the rarer those occasions occur. Normal seeing will support a 10 incher about half the time,. a 15 incher maybe once a night, and an 18 incher less then once a year. Dark sky observing has a similar problem. Truly great conditions occur only on rare occasions maybe once ore twice a year. True those nights are spectacular but you have to spend a lot of nights in just mediocre conditions before you find that one great night. And it might occur when your schedule doesn't allow you to go. Hope this helps. DT
From: Marlene Egger via Utah-Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> To: "utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, September 3, 2016 8:32 AM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] in the market for a telescope
I am now thinking of purchasing my first telescope, after using the SLAS 12" Orion reflector, Dobsonian base, for awhile. Of course I want the largest aperture that I can afford and lift in and out of my RAV4. I know the sky well enough that I don't need go-to and am not currently doing astrophotography. So I would happily buy a manual telescope now if the price was right. I see that Chuck sold two this week, but I saw the email too late, so this note is to be proactive and let you know I am looking, in case someone else has a working telescope that is just taking up space. So...about lifting...my back is not great and I am not confident about lifting more than 40 pounds. What do others do? Obsession's telescopes come with wheelbarrow set-ups, but they are pricey, too. If I buy a manual 15" Obsession now and add go-to later, I will have spent over $10K when the go-to, paracorr and all that jazz are added in. What is your advice? My contact info is on the SLAS website if you want to contact me directly. Marlene Egger _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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I would agree completely. My Orion 10xti that have used over the last year has been a joy to work with. Loading the car is a 10 minute job, set up likewise is done in about 10 min. I do enjoy the push-to features, but if you like to star hop you can do that too. It breaks easily into two pieces, both pretty light and while you do have to learn how to hold the tube (the weight is all in the mirror end) they are very easy for a single person to move. Don't get me wrong. The views from a 17" are superior, but that is a huge commitment for a night out. I often decide I am going only an hour before leaving and often set up in mostly dark. This would be a significantly bigger production with a truss rod scope. As to 10" scope, I have at reasonably dark skies had clear views of sombrero galaxy, whirlpool, veil nebula, cat's eye, helix, crab, etc. each of these has revealed a good deal of structure, dark lane in sombrero, spiral arms in whirlpool, ring structure in helix, etc. I have also seen some beautiful small galaxies from NGC. Several of this I just happen across panning through Virgo and Leo. The on board computer (along with Sky Safari) has been very helpful in identifying them. On Sun, Sep 4, 2016 at 12:26 PM daniel turner via Utah-Astronomy < utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Marlene: At the risk of being called a heretic, I would argue for going the other way and getting a 10 solid tube dob. They are light and easy to set up. They hold collimation if not banged around. They are easy to load in the car and quickly go on short notice. These virtues make them more enjoyable to use and more likely to be used. And thus taken to social events where they are shared with the public. 10 inches is also the sweet spot in the aperture range. Large enough get good looks at dim objects when transported to a really dark site but small enough that the atmospheric seeing will often support their full resolving power on planets. At SLAS public events, it's the 10inchers who really shine on planet views, whether it's Roger's excellent Schmit-Cassegrain or an orion dob. Larger dobs can do just as good most of the time and can do much better, but only on the rare occasions that the seeing allows it. And the bigger the dob the rarer those occasions occur. Normal seeing will support a 10 incher about half the time,. a 15 incher maybe once a night, and an 18 incher less then once a year. Dark sky observing has a similar problem. Truly great conditions occur only on rare occasions maybe once ore twice a year. True those nights are spectacular but you have to spend a lot of nights in just mediocre conditions before you find that one great night. And it might occur when your schedule doesn't allow you to go. Hope this helps. DT
From: Marlene Egger via Utah-Astronomy < utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> To: "utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com" < utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, September 3, 2016 8:32 AM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] in the market for a telescope
I am now thinking of purchasing my first telescope, after using the SLAS 12" Orion reflector, Dobsonian base, for awhile. Of course I want the largest aperture that I can afford and lift in and out of my RAV4. I know the sky well enough that I don't need go-to and am not currently doing astrophotography. So I would happily buy a manual telescope now if the price was right. I see that Chuck sold two this week, but I saw the email too late, so this note is to be proactive and let you know I am looking, in case someone else has a working telescope that is just taking up space. So...about lifting...my back is not great and I am not confident about lifting more than 40 pounds. What do others do? Obsession's telescopes come with wheelbarrow set-ups, but they are pricey, too. If I buy a manual 15" Obsession now and add go-to later, I will have spent over $10K when the go-to, paracorr and all that jazz are added in. What is your advice? My contact info is on the SLAS website if you want to contact me directly. Marlene Egger _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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participants (6)
-
daniel turner -
Don J. Colton -
Joe Bauman -
Joel Stucki -
Marlene Egger -
Siegfried Jachmann