The customer is also responsible for arranging for needed material handling equipment at the delivery site (for example, the crated 50" mirror will weigh about 500 lbs — you'll want a forklift or a whole bunch of friends!).
LOL, market research!
They will wait to see if there is a market for these things.
I can see them being bought by Universities, High schools, Research centers, etc.
I know if i had the money, i'd buy one for sure.
This reminds me of the days when the big 29" dobs were being made in the U.S.A. Thats a long time ago too. Some of us should still remember those days.
I really think the 50" and 40" should have been a folded Newtonian. Man what a hike up the ladder, not to mention housing of the freak of nature too.
Since I'll be going over the States in a few weeks, if I find a shop that has some of these "monsters" and close by, I'll try and take a pic
Their HQ is in Watsonville, just south of Santa Cruz, and last time I stopped in, granted this was some time ago, did have a retail area. The retail store in Cupertino likely wouldn't have space to set up one of even the smaller models in the showroom
We're pleased to note that these premium scopes come fitted with
Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computers in conjunction with ServoCAT
slew and track servo controller systems.
These instruments are built by Normand Fullum of Télescopes Normand Fullum
in Quebec, Canada on behalf of Orion. Some pictures that Normand sent us
of the 36" prototype are attached.
This reminds me of the days when the big 29" dobs were being made in the U.S.A. Thats a long time ago too. Some of us should still remember those days.
Jimi houses the scope in his private observatory not far from the Prude Ranch,
home of the Texas Star Party. Jimi and anyone who has ever had the opportunity
to look through it have told me the views are absolutely spectacular.
James Mulherin, President of OMI took on the challenge to build these premium
Dobs with encouragement from Dave Kriege of Obsession when Dave announced
he would not be building any more scopes over 25" in aperture. Dave built a limited
run of 30" a couple of years ago that were quickly snapped up. Many of Dave's
scopes feature optics provided by OMI.
I am a little perplexed as to how one would move these monsters about. I guess a permanent observatory is the way one would have to go, or else enlist an army of willing helpers to load it up for an annual pilgrimage to a star party???
I read someone recently that we may well end up with mirrors as large as 100 inches being available to the amateur market. Imagine the logistics of transporting a 100 inch telescope to SPSP each year!!!
I am a little perplexed as to how one would move these monsters about. I guess a permanent observatory is the way one would have to go, or else enlist an army of willing helpers to load it up for an annual pilgrimage to a star party???
I read someone recently that we may well end up with mirrors as large as 100 inches being available to the amateur market. Imagine the logistics of transporting a 100 inch telescope to SPSP each year!!!
A while back I saw an add from one manufacturer who builds a large scope (>36") on a trailer. The mirror box never has to be moved. I guess the trailer has a better class of suspension than the usual cart springs.
100"? You'd need a "wide load" sign, and probably a police escort.
100"? You'd need a "wide load" sign, and probably a police escort.
<sarcasm>
Hehe, you are allowed to go to 3.5 mt's wide with out these...
So buy what you can...
</sarcasm>
These large dobs would be a waste for Melbourne location, well I mean *cough* by the time you drive out on a clear night (or day) to a dark spot, setup for the few hours, it's clouded over.
I mean, it's that man Murphy, he lives a lot in Melbourne...
But boy, lovely to have , I know where my lotto winnings will go to.
<sarcasm>
Hehe, you are allowed to go to 3.5 mt's wide with out these...
So buy what you can...
</sarcasm>
Remember the thread title - "Are they serious".
100"=2.54m. Add a mirror box and 3.5m is not improbable.
If you weren't transporting the mirror horizontal, by the time you'd come up with something suitable the truck or trailer might cost more than the scope.
Well, this is OK for good, permanent site, properly housed, high up on top of a mountain, far away from cities..
I am not sure there are many amateurs who could or would want to afford something like this... but then again, who knows... In Germany there is one guy who goes around with 1m dobson (!!!)
In my view, it is absolute waste of money and time - the scope is big enough to offer a glimpse into serious stuff, but everything else with this design is just not adequate for any really serious work.
People with aspirations for such apertures should simply forget about big-boys toys and start doing professional work.
IMHO.
Sorry...I had a brain explosion. In fact what I had been reading about was 100cm diametre mirror, which of course is ONLY 40 inches diametre....it would seem the Orion scopes are in fact what was being referrred to in what I was reading....
