Reflectors and Dobsonians ???

[alowen]

Evening, can anyone please explain the differences between a Newtonian reflector and a Dobsonian scope?

Is it purely the mount? If it is the mount is that why the price is cheaper than an eq mounted reflector?

Thanks in advance

Al

[Doc]

Basically Yes it's just the mount. A dobsonian mount is just wood and pretty cheap to make so dobs are normally cheaper then newts on a EQ mount.

[alowen]

So if after using a skywatcher 150 Dob for a while, could i buy a eq mount and then put the ota on that easily enough should i wish?

[Doc]

Yes you just need some tube rings or make some yourself.

[alowen]

Doc your a star (no pun intended).

Thanks

Al

[LukeSkywatcher]

Doc pretty much took care of this one. The ONLY part of a Dob scope that can be really called a Dob is the actual mount. The scopes that fit onto Dob mounts are still only Newtonian reflectors........be we all call the whole setup a "Dob" anyway (cuz we love them).

ALSO (and this is pretty important to point out). A Dob mount is pretty useless if you want to take images through the scope that sits on/in it . The Dob mount is a basic Alt-Az mount (you manually have to pan and tilt it to find what you want). There are Go-To versions of the Dob available but they are expensive.

[DarkerSky]

Dob mounts can also be metal bases. If you are not looking for any goto tracking wizardry, the essential difference between a dob base and a newtonian alt/az base (stand) is that the dob is basically a rocker box on which the scope rests and pivots using two circle bearings, while a newtonian on an alt/az mount is a tube mounted on a stand that is counterbalanced to one side.

[alowen]

Right, i see. So do you Dobsonian owners mount them directly onto the ground or use a levelled table/ box to view?

Im guessing on the floor so you can sit next to it?

Thanks

Al

[Doc]

Depends on the size of it. I don't think there's a table capable of taking the weight of mine

[russ]

Mine mainly goes straight out on the lawn (which is pretty flat and the grass kept short) nearest the shed. Sometimes on the patio if i need to see a certain part of the sky.