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Decided to stop buying telescopes?



 
 
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  #1  
Old November 19th 03, 05:44 PM
Elliott Rosselet
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Default Decided to stop buying telescopes?

Hello, this is my first foray into s.a.a., so my question may seem a
bit strange. I've got a 10" Dob from Hardin, and recently had an
attack of Aperture Fever. Then I read some postings on s.a.a. that
said an 8 or 10" can keep you humming for many years, probably a
lifetime.

So, I'm almost at a point now where (heaven forbid!) whenever I hear
about a StarMaster or a TScope or (fill in the blank), I say -- "you
already have a big scope, dummy!".

Anyone else come to this conclusion?

Actually, part of the reason for this is I got the DSH-10 when it was
$395, and I don't want to ever sell it. Also, FWIW, I've got an ST80,
an Orion 90mm f/10 and an Orion 120mm f/8.3 Astroview, but
collectively have spent less than $1500 for all 4 combined.

Elliott
  #2  
Old November 19th 03, 06:05 PM
Jon Isaacs
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Default Decided to stop buying telescopes?

Anyone else come to this conclusion?

Just about everyone shares this thought.

But when the big one comes along, the question is:

Will you bite??

jon
  #3  
Old November 19th 03, 06:09 PM
Al
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Default Decided to stop buying telescopes?


"Elliott Rosselet" wrote in message
om...
Hello, this is my first foray into s.a.a., so my question may seem a
bit strange. I've got a 10" Dob from Hardin, and recently had an
attack of Aperture Fever. Then I read some postings on s.a.a. that
said an 8 or 10" can keep you humming for many years, probably a
lifetime.

So, I'm almost at a point now where (heaven forbid!) whenever I hear
about a StarMaster or a TScope or (fill in the blank), I say -- "you
already have a big scope, dummy!".

Anyone else come to this conclusion?

Actually, part of the reason for this is I got the DSH-10 when it was
$395, and I don't want to ever sell it. Also, FWIW, I've got an ST80,
an Orion 90mm f/10 and an Orion 120mm f/8.3 Astroview, but
collectively have spent less than $1500 for all 4 combined.

Elliott


You don't have a big scope, you have a scope of respectable aperture. A
scope with more aperture than your 10" will show you more celestial objects
and better images of the same. But here's the downside: Increasing the
aperture from 10" has a hell of an effect on the scope's bulk and weight. I
have a 10" SCT and wanted more aperture, so I added a 14" SCT to my stable
of scopes. The views in the 14 are super compared to the 10, but the 14 is
more than twice as heavy as the 10. I frequently view with a friend who
owns a 20" truss Dob. The views are fantastic, but that 20" mirror weighs a
ton.

So, if you want more aperture and don't want the extra bulk and weight, get
a CCD camera.

Al


  #4  
Old November 19th 03, 07:14 PM
Davoud
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Posts: n/a
Default Decided to stop buying telescopes?

Elliott Rosselet:

Hello, this is my first foray into s.a.a., so my question may seem a
bit strange. I've got a 10" Dob from Hardin, and recently had an
attack of Aperture Fever. Then I read some postings on s.a.a. that
said an 8 or 10" can keep you humming for many years, probably a
lifetime.

So, I'm almost at a point now where (heaven forbid!) whenever I hear
about a StarMaster or a TScope or (fill in the blank), I say -- "you
already have a big scope, dummy!".

Anyone else come to this conclusion?

Actually, part of the reason for this is I got the DSH-10 when it was
$395, and I don't want to ever sell it. Also, FWIW, I've got an ST80,
an Orion 90mm f/10 and an Orion 120mm f/8.3 Astroview, but
collectively have spent less than $1500 for all 4 combined.


*****

If you have seen _everything_ that can be seen through your telescopes
from your location, by all means, get a larger telescope. Otherwise,
don't get so hung up on the equipment that you can't focus ;- on the
stars.

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com
  #5  
Old November 19th 03, 07:55 PM
Stephen Paul
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Default Decided to stop buying telescopes?

"Elliott Rosselet" wrote in message
om...

Anyone else come to this conclusion?


Yep.... right about the time I ran out of money. g

  #7  
Old November 19th 03, 08:45 PM
Kilolani
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Posts: n/a
Default Decided to stop buying telescopes?

Here's the challenge... the other day I was observing the Crescent Nebula
(NGC 6888) in my 12.5" Dob. Then I casually carried my eyepiece with it's
OIII filter over to my friend's 18" Dob (okay, okay... so he had to buy a
van to tranport it). The view was breathtaking. I went back to my scope...
it seemed I could barely see it at all after the view in the 18".

Even though I can't afford one (not to mention the van), after this
experience I could never call the guy with the 18" a "dummy."

"Elliott Rosselet" wrote in message
om...
Hello, this is my first foray into s.a.a., so my question may seem a
bit strange. I've got a 10" Dob from Hardin, and recently had an
attack of Aperture Fever. Then I read some postings on s.a.a. that
said an 8 or 10" can keep you humming for many years, probably a
lifetime.

So, I'm almost at a point now where (heaven forbid!) whenever I hear
about a StarMaster or a TScope or (fill in the blank), I say -- "you
already have a big scope, dummy!".

Anyone else come to this conclusion?

Actually, part of the reason for this is I got the DSH-10 when it was
$395, and I don't want to ever sell it. Also, FWIW, I've got an ST80,
an Orion 90mm f/10 and an Orion 120mm f/8.3 Astroview, but
collectively have spent less than $1500 for all 4 combined.

Elliott



  #8  
Old November 19th 03, 09:08 PM
Mike Fitterman
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Default Decided to stop buying telescopes?

That's ok Steve. You can come over and use mine anytime ;-) Wait until you
see my view. It's changed completely!

Mike.


"Stephen Paul" wrote in message
...
"Elliott Rosselet" wrote in message
om...

Anyone else come to this conclusion?


Yep.... right about the time I ran out of money. g



  #9  
Old November 19th 03, 09:15 PM
Eric Martin
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Posts: n/a
Default Decided to stop buying telescopes?

Two things matter: money and weight. Each one of us has a point of
resistance in both areas. I just bought a small two-wheeler to truck my
DSH-10 through the house and out the back. I figured without that, I'd be
cutting my viewing time way back just through laziness.

If the technology was developed where a 30" primary could be made that
weighed 5 pounds, and would sell for $500, AND have a coma-free focal length
of f/2, well, everyone on this board would own one.





  #10  
Old November 19th 03, 09:54 PM
Stephen Paul
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Posts: n/a
Default Decided to stop buying telescopes?

unhuh... I know what you did.... you tree killer.

;-)

--
-Stephen Paul

"Mike Fitterman" wrote in message
...
That's ok Steve. You can come over and use mine anytime ;-) Wait until

you
see my view. It's changed completely!

Mike.


"Stephen Paul" wrote in message
...
"Elliott Rosselet" wrote in message
om...

Anyone else come to this conclusion?


Yep.... right about the time I ran out of money. g




 




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