Show Us Your Dob.....

[niallk]

Congrats @Stu! Looks a beaut with no doubt a very fine mirror 

[niallk]

Holy moly @quaoar ? Wow!! Would be really interested to hear more about that scope in due course

[Timebandit]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

Posted elsewhere, but now I have a dob (actually two) again, I thought I would rejoin this thread

This is my Sumerian Alkaid 14”, with f4.5 John Nichol mirror in it. Lovely compact scope.

 

 

 

A 14" Dob in a box,  love it Stu ? 

 

 

 

[quaoar]

1 hour ago, niallk said:

Holy moly @quaoar ? Wow!! Would be really interested to hear more about that scope in due course

It is a very famous binoscope built some years ago by Clive Milne. Over time it had fallen into a little disrepair. I happened to be in the right place at the right time and he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I've been tweaking a few things and eventually will bring it back into service. I certainly could never have conceived and built such a beasty myself from scratch but I'm a big fan of secondhand gear that just needs some love. There's still some months of weekends to go yet I expect but I will post something when it's ready lol.

cheers

[garryblueboy]

3 hours ago, Stu said:

Posted elsewhere, but now I have a dob (actually two) again, I thought I would rejoin this thread

This is my Sumerian Alkaid 14”, with f4.5 John Nichol mirror in it. Lovely compact scope.

Really nice Stu kinda wish I’d gone for a more compact I looked at that congratulations 

[PaulM]

A pic of my somewhat standard 8" skywatcher but its my first scope in over 30 years and enjoying the sights its giving me

Some amazing dobs on this threat 

[Stu]

8 minutes ago, PaulM said:

A pic of my somewhat standard 8" skywatcher but its my first scope in over 30 years and enjoying the sights its giving me

Some amazing dobs on this threat 

 

They all count Paul, and you will get fantastic regular use out of your 8” I’m sure.

[Timebandit]

10 minutes ago, PaulM said:

A pic of my somewhat standard 8" skywatcher but its my first scope in over 30 years and enjoying the sights its giving me

Some amazing dobs on this threat 

 

 

 

Great scope. I have an 8" newt as well as the 14" Dob. The 8" really is a great performer, especially at a dark site. The 8" does really take some beating as the best bang for buck scope ? 

 

 

 

 

 

[PaulM]

2 hours ago, Timebandit said:

 

 

 

Great scope. I have an 8" newt as well as the 14" Dob. The 8" really is a great performer, especially at a dark site. The 8" does really take some beating as the best bang for buck scope ? 

 

 

 

 

 

cannot wait to get it to a darks site Im just waiting now for a clear fri/sat night. im honestly amazed what i can see now from the back garden in suburbia

[garryblueboy]

As you all know I only recently purchased a fab 16’’ custom Dob and it was great but heart ruled my head and I needed to sell it to fund a new mount for my other  recent purchase I realised I needed a scope like a Dob to give those wow views you get with theese large scopes but I really needed something more portable and space saving so I put up my CPC11 deciding to fund a more portable Dob to give me the aperture but portability and reduce my equipment so two scopes went  out one came in and here it is a fantastic Sumarian Alkaid 14’’ travel scope with Zambuto Mirror and feather touch focuser and I must say it’s so light I can carry it compleete to my viewing area in the garden no problem so here’s hoping clear skies this week end . 

[Jonk]

Interesting that you've put the aperture on "upside down" to change the position of the eyepiece.

I must try that with my Sumerian.

Does it take a bit of getting used to, looking up rather than on a step looking down?

[garryblueboy]

8 hours ago, Jonk said:

Interesting that you've put the aperture on "upside down" to change the position of the eyepiece.

I must try that with my Sumerian.

Does it take a bit of getting used to, looking up rather than on a step looking down?

Sorry I don’t follow 

[mapstar]

13 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

Sorry I don’t follow 

What Jonk is trying to say is you have the focuser (read upper tube assembly not aperture) facing the floor when viewing low objects?

Edited October 11, 2018 by mapstar

[Moonshane]

Plus the other side, eyepieces cannot fall out if you forget to tighten the thumbs.

[PaulM]

my 300p flexi goto dob nx to my 200p

[garryblueboy]

42 minutes ago, mapstar said:

What Jonk is trying to say is you have the focuser (read upper tube assembly not aperture) facing the floor when viewing low objects?

There is not pictures of it assembled it just says attach the top section it is a bit of an optical illusion as it’s more on side than it looks 

[mapstar]

23 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

There is not pictures of it assembled it just says attach the top section it is a bit of an optical illusion as it’s more on side than it looks 

Garry have a look at Stu's Alkaid at the top of this page, he has his focuser on the top side 180° opposite to where you have yours. 

As Shane says we wouldn't want you to have an expensive accident with an eyepiece dropping out if you've not tightened your thumbscrews.

[Stu]

Lovely scope @garryblueboy, must get myself a shroud from Heather! Will measure up when I have the scope set up this weekend.

[Jonk]

Yep the 'standard' way is to rotate the aperture ring (circle with focuser attached) 180 degrees from where you have it.

I thought you did it on purpose but you wouldn't normally want a focuser facing down without a very good reason.

[Paz]

On 29/08/2018 at 09:49, Rainmaker said:

My new DSO hunter, "Excalibur"

Very nice scope and I like the storage solution - thoughtfully kept in the middle of the room so it's easy to walk around it when having to do those non astronomy things we have to do from time to time.

[garryblueboy]

Thanks guys see what you mean 

[Rainmaker]

9 hours ago, Paz said:

Very nice scope and I like the storage solution - thoughtfully kept in the middle of the room so it's easy to walk around it when having to do those non astronomy things we have to do from time to time.

Thanks, I am indeed very fortunate that my understanding wife allows the scope to live in the lounge room..... though she does insist I clean the kangaroo droppings off the tyres before bringing it inside....

[Miguel1983]

Some great instruments here ! 

The Sumerian really impressed me, hadn't seen that one.

I sold my dob some months ago in favor of an 11" SCT, i kinda miss the simplicity of it, oh well someday... ?

 

[garryblueboy]

Is this better guys 

[Moonshane]

?