Re: Recomendations on a BIG dob

I actually do not take the C14 out much.. partly due to its weight and the
unwieldiness of having to lift it on to its cradle. And since I usually go
alone, there are no guarantees that other star gazers are around to help.

So the 15" may work out well in that I will probably take it out more often
then my C14. These days, I end up with the NP127is and the MI250 more often
then the 8" VC200L

I had a nice chat with Michelle this afternoon so I have a little more
information to decide with. The only downside is the wait for a Plettstone
is now almost 1 yr. If I order one right now, I won't see it til next
fall. :(.

Mark Brada has kindly offered to show me his Plettstone 18". I've taken him
up on his offer, maybe he'll let me try to stuff it into my car just to see
if it fits!?!

Michelle also has a 16" coming up this year, it will be the same size as the
15" so that is always an option.

If I do place an order for a Plettstone, I guess I'll have to find a stand
in. Maybe I'll get a Meade 16" Lightbridge to ease me thru the wait.

Vincent

On 11/28/06, Jeff Gortatowsky <indanapt@No-Spam> wrote:
>
> While I am not sure I want to go with math and logic like Matt :), I'll
> pipe up once more. (:rolleyes:)
>
> If your weapon of choice for dark nights was/is a G11 mounted C14, IMO
> Matthew has a pretty good point. What you'll gain in a 15 inch dob is a
> wider FOV, simplicity, and... well... franky little else. You already KNOW
> what the views are through a 14 inch telescope. So the views through a 15
> inch will be 'about' the same.
>
> IMO, and take it for what you paid for it, a C14/G11 is as hard, if not
> harder to set up than my 18 inch Litebox whose heaviest component is a 44
> pound mirror/cell/case combination. And it does not need to be hefted up
> above my waist but simply laided down on the ground to have the mirror box
> attached to it. Then I lift it 2 feet to place it in a rocker box.
>
> http://www.litebox-telescopes.com/
>
>
> FWIW I think my 18 inch dob is every bit as easy to setup or transport as
> any C14 resplendent with G11. So if you mustered the gumption for a C14/G11
> on dark sky nights, you can easily do the same with a Plettstone 18. And
> you'll rarely regret the extra aperture.
>
> I am not trying to talk you out of a 15. But consider where you are, and
> where you want to go.
> Best wishes,
>
> ---------------------------------------
> Jeffrey D. Gortatowsky
> Fullerton, California
>
> "Madam, there's no such thing as a tough child -- if you parboil them
> first for seven hours, they always come out tender. " - W.C. Fields
> "What wretched scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" - W.C. Fields
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Matthew Buynoski <buynoski@No-Spam>
> To: The Astronomy Connection <sf-bay-tac@No-Spam>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 6:46:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [TAC] Recomendations on a BIG dob
>
> Given he already has a C14, a 15" is too small a jump. To get
> 1 magnitude more depth, you need roughly 2.5X the mirror
> area (assuming equal light reflection losses, and all that stuff),
> or roughly 1.6X the diameter, meaning 22" or so. With that size,
> portability will need to be carefully considered, and the trailer
> idea mentioned in an earlier post sounds wise.
>
> O
>
>
>
>
> --
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