anyone got big plans for big scopes this year?

Barberskum wrote:

when I (all going well) become a daddy.

Heartiest congrats Frank to you and your better half.

There is one astronomical upside to babies, when you're up in the middle of the night changing a nappy or feeding them a bottle, when you're finished you can step outside if it's clear. Well, you're half awake anyway so you might as well take advantage of it.

Paul

Congrats Frank on the terrific news! time to purchase all you can now, as after may all "disposable" income will be accounted for!


Regarding the topic of the thread, I had every intention of building a 16" Dob this year, but unfortunately the recession has put a dampener on that for the next few months at least.

Very disappointing, but preparing for the worst is currently higher on my list of priorities! Id rather have food than starve for great views (although Id guess that many here would say i have my priorities in the wrong order!).

At least i should have the plans mostly drawn up by the time the economy are in better shape, allowing hardware to be purchased.

Thanks Paul.

As for sleep,
5 hours is my limit a night.
I'm fine on 3/4 for a few days if I have to.
or 3 hours + 2 later (as in 11-1 & then 5-
I suppose it's whatever works for you individually..

Back to topic..

I think I'm going to change from the Ultra Compact idea
to a regular dob.
Sacrifice aperture over portability.

well Frank,
you do have the right vehicle for a conventional scope and the perfect sleeping pattern.

Indeed.

As for compact scopes...
I wonder how good these are
www.litescope.eu/litescope+products.html

Congrats on Jr Jr, Frank!

The LiteScope looks like a nice design, but I've always wondered how rigid those string scopes are. Same for the two-pole Lazzarotti Gladius, which isn't even triangulated. (I do see they've recently added a couple more stiffeners to the "rail": www.lazzarotti-optics.com/gladio.html .)

Bottom line, though: I worry how often I'd use any scope with an involved setup routine. (It'd be different if you observed with a group or buddy most of the time, and had some company during the tedius bits, but I usually observe solo.)

The big-Dob-in-a-roll-off-shed though, now we're talking....

Cheers,
-- Jeff.