looking to buy a 12'' dobson

[garfieldthecat]

Hello guys,<br /><br />I'm looking to buy a 12'' dobson very soon, probably an Orion XT12, and wondered if some here had experienced this kind of material or had it home and could give me some advice.<br /><br />My main concerns are:<br /><br />- is there that of a real difference in observation between a 8'' and a 12'', specially for deep sky objects (I'm not so much in planetary, that's why I'll go for a dobson). I've been used to my 8'' dobson for ten years or so (observing every night I can), but never observed in bigger instruments.<br /><br />- is a 12'' dobson not to hard to handle for only one person (I'd have to transport it by foot from my home to my observation field)? The weight is the key here, I guess...<br /><br />-what are the eyepieces you recommand to go with it? I was thiking of buying at least a 32 and 20 mm Plossl (I already got a series of smaller diameter plossl eyepieces for planetary).<br /><br />Ok, that's pretty much it.Thanks by advance for your advices

 

[weeman]

I've considered buying a Dob for quite some time now. If you get one, let me know how well it works for you <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Techies: We do it in the dark. </font></strong></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>"Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.</strong><strong>" -Albert Einstein </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

I've never had a problem taking the 12" dob out to dark skies. You don't have to lift that 50lb very far or very often. To get it on and off the tailgate, I just bend my knees and "hug" it. On and off the mount is trivial.<br /><br />Globs aren't the only things that pop better from 8-12 under dark sky. Color resolving in nebula, and for the dark nebula, resolving 'em period. <br /><br />[edit for typo] <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[ai_sci]

I have an Orion XT10 Classic, and if I have to carry it very far, I detach tube from the base, a simple thing of releasing the tension springs holding it together. Then the tube (around 30lbs) can be carried separately from the base (about 23lbs). <br /><br />Adrenalyn is right, the easiest way to carry the tube is to "hug" it. The wooden base comes with its own handle. I love my Dob!<br /><br />Hope this helps,<br /><br />AI Sci <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[ai_sci]

BTW, here is a commercial site that shows a comparison of what you would see from 6, 8, and 10 inch diameter reflectors:<br /><br />What you will see<br /><br />You can expect slightly better (brighter, sharper) from a 12-inch, of course.<br /><br />AI Sci <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

Ack. I need to edit my post... I said "Globs <i>are</i> the only thing..." - when I really meant to write: "Globs <b>aren'<i>t</i></b>..."<br /><br />One little contraction and it blows the whole post. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[ai_sci]

Adrenalyn,<br /><br />No worries, I think most people reading your posts knew what you meant. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />garfieldthecat, <br /><br />It is a good idea to keep the Styrofoam cradles that come with the tube shipping box. I find that they are extremely useful for keeping the tube stable and safe in the back of the car when bouncing along country roads traveling to my dark spot of choice.<br /><br />AI Sci <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

Thanks. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />That's a good idea. I cut a cardboard box, cut one end half-round in the shape of the scope at each end, put a plastic bag around each end, laid the tube in, then filled the box full of expansion foam. Then I removed the scope and sprayed sealer on the foam. Cut off the boxes and epoxied the foam to plywood, then put a spreader between each piece of plywood.<br /><br />Hard to describe, but more permanent for longer term transportability. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[garfieldthecat]

Thanks guys for all those advices till now...<br /><br />I'm still thinking of it, but I really think I'll buy it soon now. For the transport, I have the luck of living in the countryside, meaning I won't have to transport it in a car...<br />But I'll have to take it every night I observe from my garage to my "observation field" (which is my garden <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> )... It's a ten meters long trip, so maybe with a good barrow it would do it...<br /><br />I think I'll go for a 32, but only a plossl would be in my prices I guess if I go for a Televue... The Williams optics Swan 33 mm would be the only wide angle I could afford, but I'm a little bit worried about the quality. Anyone tried it?<br /><br />Also, what I hoped from 12'' was a real improvment when observing galaxies... the number of galaxies observable with a 8'' is already nice, and I'm not at the end of it, but I hoped to reach more details in a 12'' (like more accessible spiral arms or dust bars)... maybe I'm placing too much hope on it <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[kyle_baron]

You may want to consider the Meade Lightbridge truss tube dob. It has gotten a pretty good write in S&T. The 12" runs $999. A 16" runs $1999 (twice as much for the aperature fever). <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />http://www.telescopes.com/search/index.cfm?Ntt=meade%20lightbridge&Ntk=all&source=googleaw&kwid=meade%20lightbridge%2012&tid=exact <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="4"><strong></strong></font></p> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

I bought a lightbridge and immediately took it back after the first night. Cruddy optics. The second one had focuser issues and cruddy. The third one had cruddy optics.<br /><br />The aperture is really tempting - but I can see more and deeper from my 5" with outstanding optics. My 10" decimates any 16" Lightbridge I've played with, I'm afraid. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[garfieldthecat]

Yeah, I thought about the Meade, mostly because it's more easily transportable... But I've never heard any good of Meade optics... On another side, I talked to a guy who told me the Meade and Orion optics were the same, but I'm not sure of that<br /><br />I'm going from one forum to another to try to find commentaries of people with 12'' dobsons before I definitly fix my mind...<br /><br />I envy the american prices though... 999 $ for a 12''... here it's sold at 1100 Euros (both Orion and Meade scopes), which makes about 1500 $. I'm starting to think I'll order it in the US and ship it to France <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[adrenalynn]

I've been looking for a 16" dob that I can motorize. I hadn't thought about Discovery. I just ordered their 17.5". I'll report back after I get it and take it up to the observatory and see how it does. f4.1? That's pretty quick for a 16+" scope. Naglers are practically a requirement. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[Testing]

SG will be out in a week or so.. May we peek? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[adrenalynn]

I won't motorize it right away, so it'll be a bit for pics through it.<br /><br />No use cuttin' it up and stuff if I'm unsatisfied and want to return it. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>.</p><p><font size="3">bipartisan</font>  (<span style="color:blue" class="pointer"><span class="pron"><font face="Lucida Sans Unicode" size="2">bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən</font></span></span>) [Adj.]  Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#ff0000">IMPE</font><font color="#c0c0c0">ACH</font> <font color="#0000ff"><font color="#c0c0c0">O</font>BAMA</font>!</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[Testing]

I would like to hear your plans for automation to component level if you can. I don't care for what is available open market other than the obsession class. I will most likely look for a 12" primary and matching secondary and build my own. I can fab better than crushed tube ends with better repeatability on setup. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>