I keep my f4.5 starsplitter 22" in a small 5x8 enclosed trailer that I tow
aroung with my subaru imprezza (smaller than your Audi). It keeps
everything sealed and clean and has ramps so even my wife can roll the thing
in and out and I'm never lifting anything heavy. If you really want to
indulge the big dob bug, then this may be the way to go. One of those cosco
double-step stool/ladder things is all I need to reach the eyepiece (8.5ft
eyepiece height).
-----Original Message-----
From: sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam [mailto:sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam]On
Behalf Of Vincent Huang
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 7:40 PM
To: TAC
Subject: [TAC] Recomendations on a BIG dob [SPAM - Heuristic]
Ok... so aperture fever has hit me pretty hard. Went from a TV76 to a
NP127is and from the 8" VC200L to a C14 but I want BIGGER!!!! Another
reason I want a dob is because of the session @ Coe 2 weeks ago. My Gemini
decided to fry itself halfway thru the night so I ended up with a fully
manual GEM for the rest of the night. Turns out I found having a manual
scope to be loads of fun. I didn't even have DSC so it was all up to me, my
starmaps and the starbeam!! I nailed everything I went in search of
(nothing infinitely small and faint, just some Messiers I haven't gotten
around to and I was showing a friend who is just starting out where in the
sky the Ms were) and it was quite a satisfying feeling.
So, I'm looking for recommendations on biggish dobs. While size is
relative.. big for me is 15 - 18". I don't have transportation for anything
bigger and would rather not have to lug a ladder around as well. Plus, I'm
only 5'6". I don't mind a step stool or maybe a starchair so 18" seems to
be my limit. On the transportation side, all I have is an midsize sedan
(Audi S4). I don't know if the 18" rocker box will even fit.
Right now, I'm looking at Obsession and Plettstone, possibly Starmaster. I
like Obsession because of its track record and the overall quality.
Plettstone has me intriqued with its smipler and lighter designs but I'm
worried about rigidity and if I might be giving something up going from the
Obsession to the Plettstone (even though the Plettstone is more $$$).
Feel free to contact me off list if you'd rather keep it under wraps.
TIA
Vincent
-- What TAC Is About. http://www.observers.org/Join.shtml Webcam, DSLR, CCD Imaging use NorCal AI. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/norcal_ai/ Designing and improving TAC's website. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/tac-ops/ Sub-scribe or Unsub-scribe from TAC http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/sf-bay-tac -- What TAC Is About. http://www.observers.org/Join.shtml Webcam, DSLR, CCD Imaging use NorCal AI. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/norcal_ai/ Designing and improving TAC's website. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/tac-ops/ Sub-scribe or Unsub-scribe from TAC http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/sf-bay-tacReceived on Mon Nov 27 22:23:42 2006