Jon Isaacs wrote:
Is there any way to "easily" motorize a hardin optical 8" reflector
scope? Right now it's on a particle board mount, and with a 4mm
eyepiece, it's hard to see anything for more than a few seconds. Is
there a kit or something? Or is this a Big Project?

It is possible to motorize a DOB, it will cost more than the scope itself.

That 4mm is 300x. With a 40 degree FOV eyepiece like an ortho, it takes about
30 seconds for the image to cross the field of view. Not a long time...

However, I think with a bit of experience, it becomes quite natural and 300X is
reasonably easily done.

I think another point can be made as well : 300x is certainly a usable
magnification in absolute terms. However, in an 8" dob I'd put some
effort maybe into seeing what can be discerned at a lower ("slower")
power that will allow for more relaxed observing. I tend to use the
lowest magnification that will show me what I want to see. Personally, I
tend to see detail better at reasonably lower powers, despite the fact
that it's smaller. Of course, there are practical limits both ways.

--

-- Len Philpot --
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