Posting Photos Please do take full advantage of the captioning possibilites that exist only in the "Photos" section to add labels and explanatory information...
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skyquest-telescopes@y...
Jan 1, 2010 12:03 pm
Forum Rules This message, like the "Welcome Message", is sent automatically to new forum members, as well as being sent out automatically each month. The...
43145
skyquest-telescopes@y...
Jan 1, 2010 12:03 pm
skyquest-telescopes: Welcome and Introduction Page Revised October 2003 1. Introduction and Background The skyquest-telescopes forum was founded in...
43146
Chris Del Plato
cdelplato99
Jan 1, 2010 4:46 pm
Bill, While I can't say I have much experience with different barlows, I use the Orion Ultrascopic Barlow with my XT8 and have seen nothing to make me think of...
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rcohen53
Jan 1, 2010 5:31 pm
And, among other things, be careful when lifting any large Dobsonian. Many of us amateur astronomers are at an age beyond our prime (I'll be 63 in a few...
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Dan
dg_frezza
Jan 1, 2010 6:37 pm
Good points! And, BTW, my birthday greetings in advance to you on reaching 63! In case some of you didn't read the weight specs under each Monster Dobsonian,...
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JohnA
also_nc
Jan 1, 2010 10:10 pm
... The eyepiece height of the 50" is 16 feet. A Cherry Picker might be more appropriate than a step ladder! The new catalog I received Thursday has some...
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danengel25
Jan 1, 2010 11:31 pm
Bill, I like the 2x Orion Ultrascopic barlow. I use it for ALL my planetary, lunar and double star observing in my XT8i. I can easily see craterlets in Plato...
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Dan
dg_frezza
Jan 2, 2010 2:05 pm
Hi John, Well, a careful re-read of the description of the 36" monster Dob, gave me full confidence in at least two things: 1) According the bold-faced print...
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John
johnwunderlin
Jan 5, 2010 4:01 pm
... I suspect they're thinking that there are some very wealthy amateur astronomers and this will allow them to own an amazing piece of equipment. Orion...
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Dan
dg_frezza
Jan 5, 2010 4:22 pm
Hi John, I agree. I also think, that just maybe, there are some astronomy clubs with a big budget that would allow them to have one of those monsters. I know...
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RapidEye
rapideye.geo
Jan 5, 2010 4:26 pm
... Yeah, but the irony of it is that when you are out in a place like that, you don't need 50" of scope to see all sorts of great things!!! A 10" scope under...
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Dan
dg_frezza
Jan 5, 2010 4:38 pm
Actually, I tried to book a period of time this March during the darkest part of the month, while on break from my teaching, but, soon discovered after a very...
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Jeffrey Topp
hokie1525
Jan 5, 2010 4:38 pm
Wrong. 50 > 10. No such thing as overkill. Bright object become brighter and show more detail. Plus you can see other things you won't see in a smaller...
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Jack & Lynn Kramer
starward12
Jan 5, 2010 4:51 pm
From: "Dan" <dan@...> ... Having spent a week observing at New Mexico Skies, I concur that it's a very good site. They have telescopes there that guests...
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Jeffrey Topp
hokie1525
Jan 5, 2010 5:11 pm
If I were to build a 50" scope at a dark site with the purpose of leasing it to amateurs, it wouldn't be a truss design. It would be in a fixed, pier mount. ...
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Jack & Lynn Kramer
starward12
Jan 5, 2010 5:17 pm
From: "RapidEye" <RapidEye.US@...> ... that, you don't need 50" of scope to see all sorts of great things!!! A 10" scope under those skies will keep you...
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Jack & Lynn Kramer
starward12
Jan 5, 2010 5:23 pm
From: "Jeffrey Topp" <hokie1525@...> ... You're right, Jeff. However with their present Dobs, New Mexico Skies does it right. They are either within...
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Jeffrey Topp
hokie1525
Jan 5, 2010 5:45 pm
So that's my point. If they are always set up in a fixed location, a truss mount would be useless. A scope that large should be permanently mounted. More...
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Jack & Lynn Kramer
starward12
Jan 5, 2010 6:04 pm
From: "Jeffrey Topp" <hokie1525@...> ... Not quite sure I understand. Are you referring to the mount - in this case a Dob - or are you referring to the...
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Jeffrey Topp
hokie1525
Jan 5, 2010 6:25 pm
The point of building optical tubes in a truss fashion rather than a traditional tube is for the portability. It makes the entire contraption lighter weight...
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RapidEye
rapideye.geo
Jan 5, 2010 6:34 pm
... I have to disagree with this - here is a photo of the 60" Palomar scope: http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/history/images/w60.jpg And here is the famous...
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Dan
dg_frezza
Jan 5, 2010 6:39 pm
Thanks Jack. Also, I would like to point out, for what it's worth, my wife has some mobility issues and health needs that I think a place like New Mexico Skies...
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RapidEye
rapideye.geo
Jan 5, 2010 6:42 pm
On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 12:14 PM, Jack & Lynn Kramer ... I won't disagree with that, but under really dark skies, the _NEED_ for more aperture is less. You'll...
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Jeffrey Topp
hokie1525
Jan 5, 2010 7:04 pm
Ok, let's talk about the 60" since the specs are closer to that of the 50" that Orion is selling. If the pictures of what Orion is selling is accurate, there...
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Garry Swatzel
garrybk
Jan 5, 2010 7:06 pm
You do all realize the facebok ad is a spoof ! Garry Mtn Home ________________________________ From: Jack & Lynn Kramer <llranch339@...> To:...
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RapidEye
rapideye.geo
Jan 5, 2010 7:09 pm
... Then they are carrying the joke to an extreme - its in their Spring 2010 print catalog too. Awfully expensive "spoof" in the current down economy. <RE>...
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Jeffrey Topp
hokie1525
Jan 5, 2010 7:11 pm
Well, its on Orion's website and looks pretty legitimate. Jeffrey Topp NOVAC Mentoring Program Director http://novahokies.webhop.org ... From: Garry Swatzel...
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Jack & Lynn Kramer
starward12
Jan 5, 2010 7:16 pm
From: "Dan" <dan@...> ... Dan, for you and anyone else who might be interested in going to New Mexico Skies, I'd advise making reservations well in...
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RapidEye
rapideye.geo
Jan 5, 2010 7:16 pm
... Actually, no. I'll be willing to bet that steel truss assembly for a 60" scope, was in its day, cutting edge technology. If they were going to make the...