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I don't like my scope :-(



 
 
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  #11  
Old February 12th 04, 02:41 PM
BenignVanilla
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I have the Orion 8" Skyquest Dobsonian. I have a few issues with it:

1) When I find an object I like to look at (like when Mars was really

close
last year - remember that?) and I use the eyepiece that views wide (10

mm);
everything looks pretty far away.
2) When I use the higher power eyepiece (25mm) the objects move out of
view so darn quickly.

Does anyone here enjoy his/her Dobs? What kind of stuff do you look at
with it?


You are facing the age old dilema of should I go big, or should I go
Equatorial. An EQ mount will provide for tracking, either manually or via
motors, and will allow you to point and watch an object. Your DOB provides
you with the most light gathering for the buck, but skimps on the mount. I
share your frustration, as I too have an 8'' DOB. But point that baby at a
DSO, and you will be floored. IMHO, the bump-tracking required for a DOB is
OK when I compare it to my ability to see so much. Although, when I get the
cash, I can see myself mounting this thing on an EQ. LOL.

Go outside and point the scope at the Orion Neb...you'll fall in love with
that big ole DOB in a second.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com


  #12  
Old February 12th 04, 07:04 PM
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BenignVanilla wrote:
You are facing the age old dilema of should I go big, or should I go
Equatorial. An EQ mount will provide for tracking, either manually or
via motors, and will allow you to point and watch an object. Your DOB
provides you with the most light gathering for the buck, but skimps
on the mount. I share your frustration, as I too have an 8'' DOB. But
point that baby at a DSO, and you will be floored. IMHO, the
bump-tracking required for a DOB is OK when I compare it to my
ability to see so much. Although, when I get the cash, I can see
myself mounting this thing on an EQ. LOL.

Go outside and point the scope at the Orion Neb...you'll fall in love
with that big ole DOB in a second.


OK, so I think I have three problems based on all these responses. BTW,
thanks to everyone for responding to me! You are a GREAT group.

1) I may need different viewing lenses, not just the two that came with
the scope (10mm, 25 mm).
2) I probably need that $50 laser collimation tool - my scope lenses might
not be aligned correctly.
3) I will have more enjoyment looking at Deep Space objects, and not
trying to track Mars or other quickly moving objects.
4) I need to get away from all of the light pollution near where I live (or
pray for a blackout - LOL).
5) I should try and find a hobby group that meets in real life, so I can
watch how other people handle the scopes and how they look for things to
see.



--
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  #13  
Old February 12th 04, 07:54 PM
BenignVanilla
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wrote in message
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BenignVanilla wrote:
You are facing the age old dilema of should I go big, or should I go
Equatorial. An EQ mount will provide for tracking, either manually or
via motors, and will allow you to point and watch an object. Your DOB
provides you with the most light gathering for the buck, but skimps
on the mount. I share your frustration, as I too have an 8'' DOB. But
point that baby at a DSO, and you will be floored. IMHO, the
bump-tracking required for a DOB is OK when I compare it to my
ability to see so much. Although, when I get the cash, I can see
myself mounting this thing on an EQ. LOL.

Go outside and point the scope at the Orion Neb...you'll fall in love
with that big ole DOB in a second.


OK, so I think I have three problems based on all these responses. BTW,
thanks to everyone for responding to me! You are a GREAT group.

1) I may need different viewing lenses, not just the two that came with
the scope (10mm, 25 mm).
2) I probably need that $50 laser collimation tool - my scope lenses

might
not be aligned correctly.
3) I will have more enjoyment looking at Deep Space objects, and not
trying to track Mars or other quickly moving objects.
4) I need to get away from all of the light pollution near where I live

(or
pray for a blackout - LOL).
5) I should try and find a hobby group that meets in real life, so I can
watch how other people handle the scopes and how they look for things to
see.


1) Not neccessarily. Start with low power and learn how to find stuff. Then
learn to fine tune your bump-tracking skills, so you get good at moving the
scope. Eventually even at high power, you will get good at making slight
adjustments to keep stuff in the FOV.
2) Probably not a bad idea. I need one too.
3) I disagree. I love DSO's and the big bucket DOB's certainly do a great
job of this, but my favorite object in the sky is the moon.
4) Don't we all.
5) Definately the cliff's notes of this hobby.

BV.


  #14  
Old February 12th 04, 11:57 PM
astroguy
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wrote in message
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BenignVanilla wrote:
You are facing the age old dilema of should I go big, or should I go
Equatorial. An EQ mount will provide for tracking, either manually or
via motors, and will allow you to point and watch an object. Your DOB
provides you with the most light gathering for the buck, but skimps
on the mount. I share your frustration, as I too have an 8'' DOB. But
point that baby at a DSO, and you will be floored. IMHO, the
bump-tracking required for a DOB is OK when I compare it to my
ability to see so much. Although, when I get the cash, I can see
myself mounting this thing on an EQ. LOL.

Go outside and point the scope at the Orion Neb...you'll fall in love
with that big ole DOB in a second.


OK, so I think I have three problems based on all these responses. BTW,
thanks to everyone for responding to me! You are a GREAT group.

1) I may need different viewing lenses, not just the two that came with
the scope (10mm, 25 mm).
2) I probably need that $50 laser collimation tool - my scope lenses might
not be aligned correctly.
3) I will have more enjoyment looking at Deep Space objects, and not
trying to track Mars or other quickly moving objects.


Mars moves about as fast as all objects in the sky. really.


  #15  
Old February 13th 04, 08:23 AM
Odysseus
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astroguy wrote:

wrote in message
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[snip]

3) I will have more enjoyment looking at Deep Space objects, and not
trying to track Mars or other quickly moving objects.


Mars moves about as fast as all objects in the sky. really.


Yes; the earth's rotation is responsible for by far the greatest
portion of 'field drift': no celestial body changes its hour angle
anywhere near as fast as one degree every four minutes. Moreover a
solar system body with "direct" apparent motion will drift a little
less than the background stars, so although the Moon is the
fastest-moving object its apparent motion is always counter to the
earth's, making its drift rate about 3% less than a background
star's. Mars's apparent motion is currently "retrograde", but even so
it will take only a fraction of a percent less time to cross a given
field of view than would a DSO.

--
Odysseus
  #16  
Old February 13th 04, 02:35 PM
BenignVanilla
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"Odysseus" wrote in message
...
astroguy wrote:

wrote in message
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[snip]

3) I will have more enjoyment looking at Deep Space objects, and not
trying to track Mars or other quickly moving objects.


Mars moves about as fast as all objects in the sky. really.


Yes; the earth's rotation is responsible for by far the greatest
portion of 'field drift': no celestial body changes its hour angle
anywhere near as fast as one degree every four minutes. Moreover a
solar system body with "direct" apparent motion will drift a little
less than the background stars, so although the Moon is the
fastest-moving object its apparent motion is always counter to the
earth's, making its drift rate about 3% less than a background
star's. Mars's apparent motion is currently "retrograde", but even so
it will take only a fraction of a percent less time to cross a given
field of view than would a DSO.


Just to clarify, in my original response, I was not suggested DSO's were
better because they would drift more slowly. I realize they drift at the
same speed, I was just suggesting his big ole bucket of light catcher would
do such a nice job on DSO's that he may get used to the bump tracking that
is needed.

--
BV.
www.iheartmypond.com



  #17  
Old February 13th 04, 08:34 PM
David Knisely
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Astroguy wrote

Mars moves about as fast as all objects in the sky. really.


Actually, comets are the objects which tend to show their motion against the
background stars the best, although a close-passing asteroid may also show
motion in only a few minutes as well. As far as Mars is concerned, its drift
in the field of view is insignificant in a brief observing session, and is
much more noticable from night to night. Clear skies to you.
--
David W. Knisely
Prairie Astronomy Club:
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/

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