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#11
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wrote in message . com... 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
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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. -- ____________________________ Pear pimples for hairy fishnuts? |
#13
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wrote in message . com... 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
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wrote in message . com... 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
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astroguy wrote:
wrote in message . com... [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
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"Odysseus" wrote in message
... astroguy wrote: wrote in message . com... [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
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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/ ********************************************** * Attend the 11th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY * * July 18-23, 2004, Merritt Reservoir * * http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org * ********************************************** |
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