20" Dob roll out from the obsy (ok, "shed")

[Iainp]

Hi all I just took possession of my biggest scope ever, a 20" Dob. We had to cut off the front of the large shed and fit hinges so the shed now has a double door. Then we fitted permanent planks inside and a moveable ramp on the outside. There's a large mirror at the back so you can check the wheels Stay on the ramp during roll out. Short video of its inaugural roll out here! Iain 

http://fouragesofsand.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/the-half-metre-dobsonian-telescope-see.html

[MarsG76]

Have you got a permit for that weapon???

That is a monster...

nice one

[Demonperformer]

So you went for the "grab'n'go" option, then? (Just envious!)

[Knighty2112]

Looks a little precarious! Hope you get some great views with it.  

[David Smith]

Looks fantastic Iain, you'll get hours of fun out of that monster!

[alanjgreen]

Well done Iain. I am sure you will have many happy hours together!

[Mark at Beaufort]

That looks brilliant Iain. The step ladder looks a bit shaky though. I look forward to many observing report in the future. I feel very envious.

[Stu]

What a beautiful scope Iain, you must be well chuffed!

More a grab and tug than grab and go but very quick to set up for such a large scope with your shed mods.

Mind your back pulling it out and don't fall off the ladder!!  

Enjoy! Looking forward to the reports.

[Alan White]

Nice, very nice.

As others have said, the steps look a tad wobbly, please take great care.

[Iainp]

Thanks guys, yes I realised when  observing the moon last night that leaning over to line up the scope was a risky business!

 

[Paul73]

A decent light shroud shout sort you out!

Something in glam rock spandex should do fine!

Paul

PS. You have joined dob royalty now. Cracking scope.

[spaceboy]

That looks a great bit of kit and I bet the views will be breath taking. As others have said, take care on those steps. I don't personally feel the steps are the problem but more so the ground. May pay to pave the area at some point. Would probably make carting the dob out easier also.

[swamp thing]

Looks like fun  

Enjoy 

[Mr Spock]

Great looking scope. You can't beat more inches!

[Iainp]

"Dob Royalty": I like it! First report: moon stunning, like being there, saw the rille in Alpine Valley very clearly, Eskimo Nebula: not immediately more impressive than through 16" but 1/4 moon was nearby so not a fair test. And pink colour in M42! Wasn't expecting that , as never saw anything but green/blue  with the 16" 

[estwing]

Congrats on the scope and shed!...reports aplenty I hope,... Clear skies 

[Iainp]

Thanks. I see you have the same wheelbarrow handle set up. Invaluable aren't they? I don't know how I'd move it without. I'm so happy with them, I carry them around ;-)

 

 

[estwing]

Yes but TBH I rarely use them as I carry my scope straight out of the car to where I observe.

[Saganite]

On 2/24/2018 at 17:39, Iainp said:

"Dob Royalty": I like it! First report: moon stunning, like being there, saw the rille in Alpine Valley very clearly, Eskimo Nebula: not immediately more impressive than through 16" but 1/4 moon was nearby so not a fair test. And pink colour in M42! Wasn't expecting that , as never saw anything but green/blue  with the 16" 

Beautiful scope Ian, congratulations !

I have seen the Cats Eye Nebula through a beast that size, at Kelling Heath, and it was such a vivid blue, I was shocked. It did not look half so good in my 12" Dob...

[Iainp]

Thanks mate, funnily enough i just posted over on Cloudy nights forum  about observing the Eskimo Nebula last night. The sketch is here, superimposed on one I did a couple of years ago with the 16". The difference is very obvious!

 

[niallk]

Congrats on the beaut of a scope 

Like the extra door created on the shed!

[Iainp]

Thanks mate. There have only been 2 clear nights since buying it, so not much rolling out has been done since then... 

On 28/03/2018 at 00:28, niallk said:

Like the extra door created on the shed!

It works like a dream, though I was seriously worried when the friend who did it went at it with a hand held saw! Here it is part way through. The more he chopped, the more the front section fell apart. Luckily he knew what he was doing:

 

[celestron8g8]

WOW , that's awesome ! I bet the views are mind blowing ?! Ball park figure , what does that size Dob run in US $$ ? 

[Iainp]

Thanks. I'll let you know about the views when I get a decent night! First impression is that on some objects it's a massive step up from my previous 16" scope, and on other objects it's not so great a difference.  I suspect that's due to my not great skies; galaxies and other faint fuzzies are going to be tough even with the big aperture.

Price: it's a high spec David Lukehurst model (1/10 mirror etc) so doesn't come cheap at around £6100 ($8600). These are handmade and superb pieces of kit, and it's the "ultra-portable" (ha!) version, which adds to the price too. (website link below). I got it second hand for not much more than half that, so I'm very happy! 

http://www.dobsonians.co.uk/index.html 

[Subdeo]

Awesome looking scope! congratulations!