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Post by dobsonian on Oct 8, 2006 13:19:49 GMT
Hello, I have always preferred refracting telescopes, as in my view they give the "cleanest" high contrast images . That said I would be the last person to deny the virtues of the Newtonian instrument. ( I have two ). Only the large newtonian can give breathtaking views of the deep sky at a reasonable cost. The view of the sky is transformed when using a 250mm dob compared with a 100mm refractor. Does the IAA need, say a 400mm dob to show newcomers the wonders of the universe? Or do we continue to use our own instruments. We have a 90mm ETX "club" telescope, but apart from viewing the moon and possibly Jupiter, that's about it. So, does anyone support the idea of a large club telescope? John.
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Post by bigeye155 on Oct 8, 2006 15:50:10 GMT
Hi John, How is a large dob going to be financed, and who is going to look after it? A16" dob is a large scope and a large commitment for anyone,which will also require stepladders to reach the eyepiece(not so good for young children), it's also a big responsibility for whoever has been assigned to look after it and bring it to any IAA observing events. I've just bought a 12" Meade Lightbridge (made in Taiwan!) and will hopefully be bringing that along to any events planned in the future, it's also very comfortable to use while standing or sitting down. If we all bring our own scopes to these events, then that will allow everyone to enjoy looking at a wide range of objects with a large range of scopes of all sizes, so at least everyone can say that they have at least seen something!!
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Post by bigeye155 on Oct 10, 2006 18:56:14 GMT
Hi again John, you replied in the wrong thread! I'd agree that a big dob would provide the "wow" factor, and I'm certainly not against the idea of a club dob for IAA/public observing, but we need to see more opinions on the matter from IAA members to determine what interest there might be. Based on the number of people who have joined this forum in the past month or so, I'd have to say not much!!
Regards David.
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Post by leonardo on Oct 16, 2006 21:54:22 GMT
Yes, This is that old humbug again is it not? Re the question from Dobsonian about a large club telescope. This has been discussed, at council meetings, on and off I might add, over the years. Taking on board Bigeye's point about the responsability of who takes care of said intrument and the transportation to and from observing sites.etc, the other alternative is surely the setting up of said scope in a permanently fixed observatory, equatorially mounted or computer Alt-azimuth of course. My point being that across the whole of the U.K. and Ireland there are Astro clubs not nearly half the membership of our own which have fully integrated working club houses/lecture rooms mated to their very own observatories. With the correct application to, say the Lottery grants or similar, the project would not be outside our resources. We are not a fly by night club. After all, we are this month celebrating our 60th Birthday! Regards Leonardo
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Post by dobsonian on Oct 17, 2006 19:36:50 GMT
Well Leonardo, whoever you are, more hoary old humbug about amateur club observatories. This has been discussed ad infinitum, nay nauseaum, at council meetings. The conclusion always was that it was pointless because no one would use it, and the vandals would destroy it. No Leonardo, put any money we have into a telescope which could be transported to our public venues, not into bricks and mortar. Yours, John Hall.
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Post by bigeye155 on Oct 17, 2006 22:02:03 GMT
Hi John, Leonardo, If the conclusion of the IAA council has been that an observatory is pointless( I'd also agree with that conclusion also, based not only on the vandalism issue, but the fact that an observatory wouldn't neccessarilly meet the aims of the IAA to show newcomers and anyone else with an interest..... the wonders of the night sky)........... then the next best option would logically be a large portable dob, provided the funds are available to finance and maintain it etc. Based on my experience with my new 12" lightbridge (which I've been well pleased with so far), the new 16" version is due out in the next few months, it looks the part, and would be the best value in its class at £1400 (after a few minor modifications). However it weighs in at 130lbs! An observatory asks more questions than it answers, the large portable dob solution provides the best balance of compromises to meet the needs of the IAA for the short to medium term IMHO.
Regards David.
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