Old CW4
BANNED
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2006
- Messages
- 870
Just my luck (and a bit of stupidity) to order a large star scope during the start of the New Mexico monsoon season.
I got this six foot high, 12 inch diameter reflector scope shipped in two weeks ago and it's been cloudy and either raining or threatening rain EVERY night since then. Oh well, hope the weather clears soon so this monster isn't in my living room looking like something from Frakenstein's lab. It needs to be outside and looking up at the sky....!
The proper name for this type scope is a 'Newtonian Reflector' and is commonly termed a Dobsonian or Dob here in the States, named after the elderly gentleman who came up with an ingenious base for them, then organized the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomer's Club years ago. I believe Mr. Dobson is now in his middle 90s and still active in star gazing.
This commercial model I have is computerized and motorized on both axes so it will locate (GoTo) and then track objects in space for viewing or photos. The twelve inch dimater primary mirror alone weighs almost 25 pounds and the entire scope close to 100. The base weighs about 50 and the same for the tube. It is portable as two assemblies but with a bit of effort. Can't wait for some clear NM night skies to see what this beast will do. Maximum practical magnification with good resolution should be about 450 to 500 power.
I've powered it up in the house and it's sort of eerie to see this rather large device almost silently turn and tilt. If you're wealthy, the company I got this one from makes them with up to FIFTY inch diameter mirrors! --- For about $125,000, way, way out of my range. Wow!
I got this six foot high, 12 inch diameter reflector scope shipped in two weeks ago and it's been cloudy and either raining or threatening rain EVERY night since then. Oh well, hope the weather clears soon so this monster isn't in my living room looking like something from Frakenstein's lab. It needs to be outside and looking up at the sky....!
The proper name for this type scope is a 'Newtonian Reflector' and is commonly termed a Dobsonian or Dob here in the States, named after the elderly gentleman who came up with an ingenious base for them, then organized the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomer's Club years ago. I believe Mr. Dobson is now in his middle 90s and still active in star gazing.
This commercial model I have is computerized and motorized on both axes so it will locate (GoTo) and then track objects in space for viewing or photos. The twelve inch dimater primary mirror alone weighs almost 25 pounds and the entire scope close to 100. The base weighs about 50 and the same for the tube. It is portable as two assemblies but with a bit of effort. Can't wait for some clear NM night skies to see what this beast will do. Maximum practical magnification with good resolution should be about 450 to 500 power.
I've powered it up in the house and it's sort of eerie to see this rather large device almost silently turn and tilt. If you're wealthy, the company I got this one from makes them with up to FIFTY inch diameter mirrors! --- For about $125,000, way, way out of my range. Wow!
