A telescope question

The Pirate
The Pirate
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Topic 190827

I am looking at the Obsession Dob's. Does anyone here have any experience with them. What would be your suggestions for a good telescope? I prefer goto with tracking.

Thanks.


Odysseus
Odysseus
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A telescope question

Quote:
I am looking at the Obsession Dob's. Does anyone here have any experience with them. What would be your suggestions for a good telescope? I prefer goto with tracking.

I can't speak from experience, but Obsession certainly have a good reputation. Whether you'd be better served with a go-to system is a question only you can answer. If you want to do astrophotgraphy of DSOs, then an equatorial mount with tracking is pretty well essential—but you can get an equatorial platform that in effect converts the alt-az Dobsonian mount to an equatorial. For visual observing, tastes vary: some people like go-to because it allows them to spend more time looking at targets than looking for them; OTOH others derive a large portion of their enjoyment from learning the sky, finding the 'pursuit' as enjoyable as the 'capture'. Orion's Intelliscope line is something of a combination of the simplicity, intuitiveness, and low cost of a Dob with the convenience of a digital coordinate readout; these systems are sometimes called 'push-to'.

If you have Usenet access, I suggest you ask for advice on news://sci.astro.amateur; there's an enormous wealth of experience in the folks that hang out there, and you're almost guaranteed to find someone who's used any particular telescope or accessory you care to name.

The Pirate
The Pirate
Joined: 11 Nov 04
Posts: 57
Credit: 23332769
RAC: 0

Thanks. I have just about,

Thanks.
I have just about, 95%, decided on the Obession Dob. Either a 15 inch or 18 inch. There is a goto and track option for them. It costs almost as much as the Dob. $2800 us.


Odysseus
Odysseus
Joined: 17 Dec 05
Posts: 372
Credit: 19549344
RAC: 2750

RE: I have just about, 95%,

Message 25424 in response to message 25423

Quote:
I have just about, 95%, decided on the Obession Dob. Either a 15 inch or 18 inch. There is a goto and track option for them. It costs almost as much as the Dob. $2800 us.

I wasn't aware that Obsession provided such options. The price doesn't surprise me; any good equatorial mount or tracking drive system will cost a similar amount to the OTA it carries, if not even more.

Those units will have an impressive light grasp—I hope you have a good dark-sky location to take advantage of it! What's the focal ratio of the primaries: around f/4 or f/5?

The Pirate
The Pirate
Joined: 11 Nov 04
Posts: 57
Credit: 23332769
RAC: 0

RE: RE: I have just

Message 25425 in response to message 25424

Quote:
Quote:
I have just about, 95%, decided on the Obession Dob. Either a 15 inch or 18 inch. There is a goto and track option for them. It costs almost as much as the Dob. $2800 us.

I wasn't aware that Obsession provided such options. The price doesn't surprise me; any good equatorial mount or tracking drive system will cost a similar amount to the OTA it carries, if not even more.

Those units will have an impressive light grasp—I hope you have a good dark-sky location to take advantage of it! What's the focal ratio of the primaries: around f/4 or f/5?

It's f4.5.
I ordered the 15 inch Obsession today. With the ServoCAT and Argo NAVIS DSC it is supposed to be autoguide capable. In my quest I have seen some pretty good pictures captured with a CCD and autoguide software on a dob.


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