Here is the place to talk about all those equipment(Telescope, Mounts, Eyepieces, etc...) you have. Not sure which scope/eyepiece is best for you? Trash it out here!
Actually it is interesting to see how Singastro evolved. Few years back, no one would even be interested to think about an 8" dob. Most are looking at 3-4" refractors. Discussions on newtonians are usually a big turn off.
Now, I see many people talk about 12" scopes and beyond....
There is a bird flu around but looks like we all caught the aperture fever!
Andrew, I was thinking of the 18 inch but my worry is the weight. I am not getting any younger and may not be able to lift it up to my rooftop after a few more years.
Last edited by siahheng on Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Actually it is interesting to see how Singastro evolved. Few years back, no one would even be interested to think about an 8" dob. Most are looking at 3-4" refractors. Discussions on newtonians are usually a big turn off.
Now, I see many people talk about 12" scopes and beyond....
Now, I see many people talk about 12" scopes and beyond....
There is a bird flu around but looks like we all caught the aperture fever!
Andrew, I was thinking of the 18 inch but my worry is the weight. I am not getting any younger and may not be able to lift it up to my rooftop after a few more years.
Actually it is interesting to see how Singastro evolved. Few years back, no one would even be interested to think about an 8" dob. Most are looking at 3-4" refractors. Discussions on newtonians are usually a big turn off.
Now, I see many people talk about 12" scopes and beyond....
There is a bird flu around but looks like we all caught the aperture fever!
Andrew, I was thinking of the 18 inch but my worry is the weight. I am not getting any younger and may not be able to lift it up to my rooftop after a few more years.
If you drive a sedan, 18" will not fit your boot. I suggest you take look at the size first. Pictures always make the scope look small.
Many many years ago (11-12 years back at least), someone came to Ngee Ann with a 16" homemade truss dob. I can't remember what is the focal length....but it took 3 person to do the setup and collimation. When it was pointed at the zenith, the owner quickly put a mini ladder next to it. Even at f/5, the eyepiece was around 80" off ground, or about 7 feet. I don't remember there was a parracorr, and I am pretty sure it is more than f/5. Back those days, f/5 and below is not very common. Oh yeah..the mirror came from University Optics.
The 18 inch would require a hatchback. The 15 inch can fit in the car boot but will probably have to separate the mirror box and the rocker box. The dimensions are stated in the Obsession website. It would be better if you measure the interior dimensions of the car.
My logic of getting a 12.5 inch is that it can fit easily in any small car boot and surely can fit into a taxi boot. Also getting a 12.5 inch will 'cure' the aperture fever and since I do not intend to get any more scopes, it would be better to get the biggest and as portable as possible scope; so I won't need to keep upgrading and spending more money in the process. Also, the 12.5 inch is half the weight per aperture of a comparable solid tube dob so it is rather light and small relatively. I am one who don't like to change 'wives'.. would rather be faithful to one. haa.
My logic of getting a 12.5 inch is that it can fit easily in any small car boot and surely can fit into a taxi boot. Also getting a 12.5 inch will 'cure' the aperture fever and since I do not intend to get any more scopes, it would be better to get the biggest and as portable as possible scope; so I won't need to keep upgrading and spending more money in the process. Also, the 12.5 inch is half the weight per aperture of a comparable solid tube dob so it is rather light and small relatively. I am one who don't like to change 'wives'.. would rather be faithful to one. haa.
That's good to hear. But you sure you will limit to 12"?
I remember many years ago, I told myself that 8" Portaball is the last scope I will get. But as income grow, then got car...well you know what happen next.
HAHA ... 8 years ago, the C8 was THE scope to have. Everyone in TASOS had one, all over the internet everyone was recommending one, but all I had was a C60 that cost my dad $400+ at that time ...
The C8 was my dream scope!!! Like REALLY DREAM SCOPE!!
Now I've got a C8 ... and it seems the IN thing has become HUGE truss dobs that are really quite affordable if you consider the amount of aperture and "portability" .... and yet I have not brought my C8 to its full potential ... not seen everything it can allow me to see and learnt the sky as well as it can teach me .... I must stand firm and not let Aperture fever take over before I make full use of 8 inches!!!
This hobby is really evolving, and it's becoming a challenge staying on the ground ... but it's much easier if you're living on government allowance - like me ... HAHA ....
Jeremy Ng
C8, CR-150HD, TMB 80 f/6
Orion SVP Intelliscope, AstroSlew I
Minolta Activa 12x50WA
siahheng wrote:Andrew, I was thinking of the 18 inch but my worry is the weight. I am not getting any younger and may not be able to lift it up to my rooftop after a few more years.
Well, that's what we have children for, isn't it? First, to carry our heavy scopes, and second, to pass our scopes to when our eyes age.
But I think your MPV should be able to carry the 18" (dump the wife and kids at home!). Otherwise, get a minivan like the Kangoo and all will be well.
Cheers!
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]
Canopus Lim wrote:Also getting a 12.5 inch will 'cure' the aperture fever and since I do not intend to get any more scopes
Famous last words!
By the way, there is no cure for aperture fever. It stays in your body till you return to dust!
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]
