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

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

"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

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

Davoud wrote in message ...

If you have seen _everything_ that can be seen through your telescopes
from your location, by all means, get a larger telescope.

Come on, that's silly! You can *never* see everything that can be
seen through any telescope, no matter how small and no matter how
bad the location. In fact, you arguably can't even exhaust what
can be seen with the naked eye; if people took your advice literally,
they would probably never buy a telescope at all.

It is absolutely true that you can become obsessed with buying ever
more equipment, and even once you have reached the practical limits
imposed by size, there is infinite scope for spending money on
ever higher quality, or whatever bell or whistle takes your fancy.
No doubt that is why most of us own three times as many eyepieces
as we need.

However, there is no need to go overboard in the opposite direction
and put arbitrary limits on your purchases. A 100mm scope is a fine
thing; in fact, it is a perfect match for some applications. However,
it will not show the spiral arms of M51 -- not to normal mortals,
anyway; I can't speak for O'Meara. But the spiral arms of M51 are
a wonderful thing, a revelation, opening new realms of observing,
and they show easily even to novices through a 12.5" scope under
dark skies. So if you can afford a 12.5" scope, and have a place
to keep it, should you artificially prevent yourself from buying
one just because you haven't seen all 2000 mag 12 galaxies that
show as faint blobs with averted vision through a 100mm scope?

- Tony Flanders

"Elliott Rosselet" wrote in message
om...

Anyone else come to this conclusion?

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

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

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

On 19 Nov 2003 08:44:35 -0800, (Elliott Rosselet)
stepped up to the plate and batted:

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

Stop reading this NG NOW!!!

Seriously, you already have a nice collection of scopes that will
alllow you to observe countless objects and phenomena in the night sky
for the rest of your life. If you are happy with the views they
provide, count yourself lucky to have amassed such a collection of
instruments for a good price and get out there and observe!

G../0

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