Dob? Can I scan around and see cool stuff?

Dave · Guest

Hi,

I have been reading for quite awhile now but still get confused. At first I thought that I would want a goto computer because I thought that I wanted to see things fast.

But now I have been looking at the astronomy picture of the the day etc and have started to realize that the sky has a lot of things to see that are bigger than I thought they are.

I believe that I would be happier with a big Dob even if I ended up having to start chart, but I have a more simple question.

Would I be able to scan the sky and see cool things with a 10 inch Dob? Or, are the things out there to far and few between that I would not find something somewhat interesting at least a couple times an hour?

Thank you for all the dedication that you show.

Dave

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5517

Hi

You can see enough with any 10" telescope to keep you busy for the rest of your life, especially if you observe from a dark sky site. It may take you longer to find objects without a computer, but, with experience, you can find any object a computerized telescope can find.
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Carl · Guest

The editor is correct. I own a 10" SCT which I bought in 1989 and I'm still finding new things to see in it!

You sound somewhat new to telescopes. Be aware that the larger the diameter of the objective (as in a 10" diameter Dob), the smaller the viewing field with a given eyepiece. A Dob does not have an electric drive, whereas the modern SCTs do, as do many of the affordable reflectors.

Without an electric drive, the object in the eyepiece will drift out of view, often in a minute or so.

The SCTs are rather expensive, but they're easy to tote around, and the modern models offer many useful features.

Meanwhile, if this is your first scope, you're probably better to invest a mere $500 into a 10" Dob, rather than invest five or six times that sum into an SCT. That way, if you soon lose interest in astronomy, you haven't spent a bundle.

READ a lot of information before buying. Risk confusing yourself, but get plenty of data on each scope. And go to your local Astronomy Club Star Party! The people there will help you.

Guest · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:51 am Post subject: Thanks!

Thanks Joanie and Carl,

This is a first scope (really a second but a 50 mm refractor when I was a young teen did not do anything for me except see the moon and spy in neighbor's windows). I believe the more faint objects are the ones I am going to be more interested in seeing.

Drifting out in a minute would be absolutely fine. Drifting out in 10 or 15 seconds would be a chore.

As far as dark sky, if I can clearly see the milky way with the naked eye does that qualify as dark sky? We can see light pollution in our southern sky but it only goes about 20 degrees up into the sky.

Thanks you so much for your help!

Dave

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5517

Hi

You are very welcome.

Yes, as far as I'm concerned, if you can see the Milky Way, you have a good site. Probably better than 90% of us have.
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