Skywatcher 18" Dob 450p?

[GTom]

8 minutes ago, Ships and Stars said:

Thanks Gerry! It's been a handful. From Dec 17th until three days ago my wife and newborn daughter were in hospital twice with only a few days at home in between due to complications and a chest infection for the little one right out of the starting gate - that was touch and go for a bit. They are back and resting comfortably and our daughter is alert and I dare say happy most of the time. Hoping by next new moon I'll be able to at least get away once they are asleep to my dark sky site and return before sunrise (I honestly sound like some kind of vampire now 🤣). Just need the weather to hold. We've had four really clear nights here lately, high humidity, but lunar with the 8" has been my only option. Hope to file another DSO observing report soon! I'd like to turn my attention to more galaxies now after reading your last report. And play with binoviewers on the brighter DSOs of course!

Sorry for going off piste with the thread GTom! Go for the big scope second-hand! 

No problem at all :). Wish the family the best of health and good chances of observing. I am doing a little research at the moment on mirror making, but 20"ish is huge. Got many cloudy days here though, but still, likely a second hand scope would make the most sense. Fortunately more and more big ones are sold in Europe, Taurus, Explore Scientific, etc...

[Charles Kirk]

Just to make the Aperture Fever a bit worse http://www.reginato.it/telescopes.htm 24inch heaviest part 26Kg.

Italian engineering flare.

[Ships and Stars]

2 minutes ago, Charles Kirk said:

Just to make the Aperture Fever a bit worse http://www.reginato.it/telescopes.htm 24inch heaviest part 26Kg.

Italian engineering flare.

I came across this website after asking around for large mirrors. Definitely agree on the Italian styling on the dob there! Did you see they sell up to 32" mirror blanks with the curve generated!! Price isn't too bad either. 

[jetstream]

3 hours ago, Ships and Stars said:

my wife and newborn daughter

Congrats to you and your wife for the birth of your daughter!

You made an excellent choice for the big dob btw IMHO... and hope you can use it soon as things smooth out for you guys.

[GTom]

6 hours ago, Ships and Stars said:

I came across this website after asking around for large mirrors. Definitely agree on the Italian styling on the dob there! Did you see they sell up to 32" mirror blanks with the curve generated!! Price isn't too bad either. 

Interesting! I wonder how much work a pre-generated blank would save to justify a 4x higher price compared to a normal blank? Maybe could get away even without making a turntable...

[Ships and Stars]

1 hour ago, GTom said:

Interesting! I wonder how much work a pre-generated blank would save to justify a 4x higher price compared to a normal blank? Maybe could get away even without making a turntable...

The small mirror blanks are expensive, but as you go up they get much cheaper and I don't know anyone who lists prices for blanks that large.  The curve generation is sold as an option it appears.

Edited January 12, 2020 by Ships and Stars

[Ships and Stars]

7 hours ago, jetstream said:

Congrats to you and your wife for the birth of your daughter!

You made an excellent choice for the big dob btw IMHO... and hope you can use it soon as things smooth out for you guys.

Thanks Gerry! Extended forecast here isn't looking too bad, err, other than the 65 mph winds predicted tomorrow! Storm Brendan apparently. That's fine, I'm working inside!

[GTom]

2 hours ago, Ships and Stars said:

The small mirror blanks are expensive, but as you go up they get much cheaper and I don't know anyone who lists prices for blanks that large.  The curve generation is sold as an option it appears.

Found this German source, prices listed until 20" which costs €360, they do more on order.

[Ships and Stars]

3 hours ago, GTom said:

Found this German source, prices listed until 20" which costs €360, they do more on order.

Cool! I'll have a look. I think I'm determined to try and figure a huge mirror someday, but will do a few smaller ones first to see if it's something I can get right. Thanks! Really good prices by the way.

 

Edited January 12, 2020 by Ships and Stars

[GTom]

Went with the mirror discussion to your mirror topic

 

 

Edited January 12, 2020 by GTom

[StefanS89]

Hello @all,

 

i have an 16“ in Dobsonian Taurus and sometimes i think about to change it to an 18“ inch Sky-Watcher.

1. The Taurus is a very Good scope with an 0.98 Strehl mirror, and 96% coating. Is there a big difference to the 18“ in DSO?
 

2. Can anyone tell me whats the eypiece hight in Zentih at the 450p?
 

i have 6,5mag at my visit loacation.

Greetings from Germany