How many telescopes does one person need?

[seeker372011]

Ok I didnt realise it but when I looked around the other day I found ..other than three pairs of binos and two mounts I have:

a 10 inch dob
a PST
an ETX 70
an ED80 (and guidescope)
an ED127 (and yes yet another guidescope)

surely this is insane

i have only two eyes and only a couple of nights -even assuming they are clear-a week -to use any of this stuff


is there a cure for this form of insanity or is hopeless?

and how many more secret sufferers are out there?

PS you dont count unless you have at least two real scopes (excluding guide scopes and finders!)

[monoxide]

i have 5 scopes including one on the way but each has its own purpose i guess..

12" dob - deep sky + planetary
6" dob - same as above but easier to handle
6" newt - imaging
ed80 - widefield obs/grab n go/guidescope
fs-102 - all rounder/imaging

[h0ughy]

Narayan,

I have a few scopes:
16" Lightbridge
10" Meade RC OTA
8" Celestron SCT OTA
8" Vixen R200SS OTA
127mm APO
Skywatcher pro ED80 OTA
ORION ED80 OTA
Orion short tube 80mm
(still being built) LUNT 60mm double stack solar scope
pair 100mm binos
50mm binos
25mm binos


and no I cant help myself

[erick]

Voted before I could count my binos. Does each pair count as two refractors? :D That's eight more then!

[jjjnettie]

I've got 4 scopes.
But 2 of them are wobbletronics and don't really count.

Dave, you're incorrigible.
The next poll should be entitled,
"How many scopes does your spouse think you have?"

[Starkler]

If you think thats a scary thread idea, you should take a look at this one (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=6254)
:scared:

[Stephen65]

I have four:

90mm APO
132mm APO
Mewlon 250
10" dob

with a fifth, a 20" dob, under construction.

[seeker372011]

shall we start scopeowners anonymous?

[h0ughy]

:scared: :scared: :scared: NOOOOOOooooo they are all for educational purposes;) especially the 16:lol: I cant hide that one - though it does hae Newcastle Astronomical Society on it - must be a club scope Eh;)

[h0ughy]

Hi I am attending AA (astronomical Anonymous) for the first time- it has been more than 24 hours since I bought a astronomy product.......:whistle:

[jjjnettie]

What a cunning idea.;)
Won't she get suspicious when it never goes back to the club?

[h0ughy]

:rofl::rofl: i am the vice president LOL:rofl::P

[jjjnettie]

I remember that thread. Madness, total madness.:screwy:

[renormalised]

Emphasis on the vice:P:P:D:D

In so far as how many scopes does one need....only one...a 40" OGS RC scope with a Tak TOA150 finder, and all the ancillary equipment to go with it:):)

[Zuts]

Hi,

Takahashi Mewlon 300
Televue NP 127 IS
Coronado SolarMax 90
Takahashi FS60-C

24 inch Obsession

Ooops thats my wish list............

Didnt include an RCOS coz I have to be mobile for imaging.

Actual scopes

Celestron NexStar 11
Televue 85
Skywatcher SW102


If i sold all my gear I could maybe have any one of them, but then i wouldnt have a mount, cameras or eyepieces, bugger me :)

Paul

[AlexN]

8" Dob
6" Achromatic
50mm celestron refractor (CRAPPY!!)
Orion ST80 Guidescope
10x50 bino's

- Next:
12" Newt
5~6" APO

[RB]

.....and the $AU is up again.......:sad:

[acropolite]

I have 3 as well as a couple of cheapo's that were given to me and too many pairs of Binos.
ED80
LX90 8 Inch
SW600 8 inch Newt.

I'm really struggling with the urge to jump in to the 127mm APO buying frenzy, is there something the doctor can prescribe to ease the craving.....:whistle:

[seeker372011]

resistance is futile :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::scared::sc ared::scared::whistle:

[Ric]

Only two at the moment but I'm planning on a third, probably an ED100.

Cheers

[marki]

I have 5 in total and definately need to buy some more, and of course each scope should have all its own accessories including mounts so I can set them all up at the same just in case I want a different perspective on a particular object :D.

I think it would be interesting to start a thread along the lines of "if you could only own one scope ....." I imagine it would get a little heated :D.

[[1ponders]]

What's wrong with having a quiver of scopes. If you go fishing you have a rod, reel and tackle setup for each situation, so why not scopes, mounts, eyepieces and cameras. :D

[wavelandscott]

I am only counting the "legitimate"telescopes and not the toys...so 3 is it at the moment...but I have room for more!

[kinetic]

Maybe not quite as trivial and replaceable as fishing rods Paul but
I totally agree with your point.

Maybe more like guitars. I have a few of those accumulated over
the years and if I had to choose one to let go I couldn't! :shrug:

Each one of my guitars, (and telescopes) has a sentimental value
to it and plays certain songs really well (hey great metaphor for a
scope too:D)

I'd part with most material possessions before I came to selling a scope.

Steve

[MrB]

Edit: Ignore, I'm going bonkers! :screwy:

[h0ughy]

would you like fries with that:whistle:

[sheeny]

Scopes are like motorbikes... you can never have too many.;):P

I have a C8, a PST and an antique brass scope. I didn't count my Binos... 20x80, 7x50, 8x20.

Al.

[vash]

I was starting to feel bad when I have only 2 scopes and everyones seemed to have heaps, then saw the results, I feel normal now.

skywatcher 10 inch reflector
skywatcher ED80 pro

[seeker372011]

dont worry Ashley you'll catch up soon enough :)..as I said earlier in this thread resistance is futile

I saw someone has started a similar thread over at CN,...some guys seem to have up to 10 or even 11 scopes..so now I dont feel quite so bad

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2487008/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/3/vc/1

[JimmyH155]

I have 5 presently, but trying to cut down on them as hoping to move to W.A. No one will buy them:(
12" Lightbridge for those deep sky and everything else
8" Meade LX100 for imaging
90 mm grab n go Celestron refractor
120 mm Celestron refractor 'cos its bigger and just "grab 'n goable", and also bounces on the concrete floor with not even a scratch:D
Coronado PST with no sun spots to look at

[Ric]

I like your thinking Al, at one stage I had three bikes but I'm back to two at the moment.:whistle:

Cheers:)

[Ian Robinson]

A big one , that is kept somewhere permanently for the faint fuzzies.

An 80-125mm refractor maybe - as a travel scope.

A good pair of binos too.

[Jen]

:eyepop::eyepop::eyepop::eyepop:
Well you all are just too dam greedy :screwy::screwy::screwy::lol::D
Well i only have 1 :sadeyes::sadeyes::( and i have never even used bino's :whistle:
:scared3:

[MrB]

Only one scope here too, also a 6" newt.
Bino's are brilliant, a pair of 7x50's show nice bright rich fields.

[Moonboy]

I've only got one, but umm it dosen't realy count, it's from Dick Smith's:doh:.
And I think you only need 2:).
LOL:rofl:

[Jen]

Yayyyyy jen hi-fives Mr B
:2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs :

[Babalyon 5]

I have four.
10 in LXD55 Schmidt Newtonian
8in LX90
Celestron 102mm
Orion 80mm ST
8x40 Binos
Planning for an ED refractor nd maybe a 12in Newt for the EQ6Pro Im planning to get as well. Roll on tax refund!!:lol:

[MrB]

One scope is better than zero! :D

[skeltz]

Hmmm my homebuilt 12.5 newt with a zambuto mirror.
a tak fs102,a tak fsq106edx,a tak fs60c a short tube orion 80 and some vixen f9 long guide scope.....yeah i think thats it!:D

[danielsun]

Boy, there has been some additions since the other thread.

10" dob with Argo Navis
8" dob
4"sct on eq5
8" F5 on Eq6
ED 80
70mm guide scope
15x70 bino's
10x50 bino's

And just sold a HEQ5

[seeker372011]

ummm..i wasnn't even counting guide scopes...that adds two to my list :(

[vash]

What about Finder Scopes?

[Glenhuon]

Count here just went up to 5 (6 ifyou count the still to be assembled 70mm guidescope)
My little mate found a 10" Dob in a country tip and made me a present of it. :)

[TrevorW]

Six IMO

1. two refractors at least an ED 80 and up to a 150 either APO or achromatic one short FL the other a longer FL the shorter FL for portability
2. One Newt large aperture short f/L
3. A SC at least 10"
4. A Dob up to 20"
5. A RC astrograph 8"

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[thunderchildobs]

An interesting continuation to the thread might be "How many telescopes that you bought and then resold"

[bluescope]

4 at the moment .... soon it will be 5 ;)

SkyWatcher 254mm Newt
SkyWatcher 200mm Newt
SkyWatcher 180mm Mak
Meade 90mm Mak

We need these things .... we really do !!!!!!

I saw a 100mm Orion Achromatic refractor with Eq mount for $399 in a pawnbrokers on Sunday and had to pry myself away knowing that I am about to invest in an APO very soon.

It was still hard to turn and walk away, it looked really well kept ... shiny black OTA ... blah blah blah !

I had my other half with me ... otherwise I might have given in to temptation.

:thumbsup:

p.s. I promise I will sell some one day :whistle:

[Tandum]

No you don't need them. I always sell off what I'm not using and that will probably come back to bite me in the arse one day. But I don't have space for loads of crap here and one scope at a time is enough for me.

[duncan]

Hi all,
I voted one but only because thats all i've got.
Realisticly one needs three!
One to image with.
One that is really portable.
And one really big one just for those incredible visual views!
Back to Weipa today so i can buy another when i get home.
Cheers all,
Duncan:thumbsup:

[Robh]

I have a 12" Meade LightBridge and my first Telescope, a 60mm Tasco refractor (now about 40 years old). Also, I have three pairs of binoculars.
Wouldn't mind a 4" ED refractor just as a "grab and run scope" when we get 10 minutes of clear sky! One day ...
:astron:

Regards, Rob

[Jone5y]

I recently read a similar piece in a bike mag where the author was questioned on how many bikes were enough for 1 man. I think many of us would agree with his eventual answer, "Total scopes required = N+1." Where 'N' equals the number you already own.

[Kevnool]

2 is enough, had 3 but gave the 3rd away....cheers Kev.

[astroron]

I have three, and a few pairs of binoculars.

[blindman]

How many telescopes does one person need?
(very few actually have read the question)
Hmmmm let me see....
1- for grab and go
1- for DSO
1- for doubles
1- for imaging
1- emergency I suppose
1- for bigger magnification
2- for the observing Sun
1- for every day
1- for exhibition
and finally 1- for teaching kids, which means at least 11 !
Right?
Clear skies, guys
Nev

[astroron]

It also has a sub heading:P
"how many telescopes do you own?":)

[Darth Wader]

At the moment I only have my trusty Sky Watcher 70mm and my Dad's old 10x50 Binoculars. If I could have my way I'd add to that a 20" Dob, a PST and a mak for imaging.

Cheers
Wade

[Hagar]

Basically I have two complete astrophotography setups. Both of totally diferent focal lengths for difering purposes and targets.

HOW Many do you need? As many as the minister for finance will allow.

[Jen]

:lol::lol: Yeah you got that right :thumbsup: one for each day of the week would be nice :D

[TJD]

1 for scanning the milky way
1 for land viewing
1 for the holiday house
1 for travel:P
trev

[Satchmo]

These were aussie made and about $1800 in 1988. :)

[barx1963]

Nice thread resurrection Mark!:D

[mental4astro]

As things stand now, GUILTY as charged, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 :ashamed: :D

One question though, is an 16" bino scope one or two scopes? :shrug: :question:

Yep, corker thread resurrection ;)

[04Stefan07]

I have 2.

- 5" Celestron 130SLT
- Coronado PST

[swannies1983]

8" Dob.

Up until last year I also had a Tal200K and GSO RC8 but sold them. Not enough time these days to warrant anymore than one scope. I would like upgrade the 8" to something bigger as I will only be doing visual stuff for at least the next 5-10 years as I will have to finish my study and wait for the kids to grow up.

[glend]

Not as bad as some, I only have three:

16" GSO Dob, f4.5, fl1800 mm
130mm Celestron newt, f5, fl 650mm
102mm Bresser Messier Archomat refractor, f5.9, fl 600mm

Let's not even start counting EPs.

[The Mekon]

Three is the number

18" F4.5 SDM (the perfect size Dobsonian)
130 F8 EDT Starfire
106mm Astro-tech.

Bought the last scope to use while I was working in Whyalla. Now I cannot bear to part with it.

[Roosta18]

I have 1 but want to sell it, but due to new to the forum I cant place adds until ive made 5 posts or been member for 30days I also have an observatory I want to sell. I will place details once I can place the adds

[Brian3.]

Now this is worrying me. After an absence of 40 years I am about to take delivery of a 115 APO plus mount, eyepieces etc. and already the wait is causing deep emotional distress and now I am realising it is just the beginning phase of an incureable disease/condition. Not only that I am already covering up the true cost from "her indoors!" So dishonesty is also a symptom? Hmmm.
Summed up its symptoms appear in the sufferer as "up market hoarding" combined with long periods absent from the nuptial bed!
Oh dear, Dr Phil am I rapidly developing some type of psychosis, say at the speed of light?

[The Mekon]

Brian, I know this will only add to your current distress, but if you have been out of it for 40 years, you are going to love this scope and be amazed at what it can do!

[Brian3.]

Dear Mekon,
I am old enough to remember you and Mr. Dare...
But of course you are right and I am getting very fidgety waiting.
From all reports it will make my old 4 inch Unitron look like a musket!

[omegacrux]

2 a big one and a little one .
A 10in flex-dob
And a ed80 (thanks Baz , new 2 speed gso focuser on the way )
I like the ease of use with the ed & alt-az , but the big dob wow , Tuk , Omega and the jewel box are like magnets , the front of the scope keeps going back there !

David

[barx1963]

Lets see!
20" dob
8" travel dob
130mm newt on a eq2 mount
60mm solar scope
70x15 binos

So if binos count then 5 is a good number. Only prob is I am contemplating a new project for this year, may involve the number 15!

Malcolm

[Tom_88]

People, people please... I'll be more than happy to permanently accommodate your surplus of scopes :lol:

[Pinwheel]

It's a male thing, first it was 2" then grew to a 4" next it's 8" but now it's 12". :D

[TrevorW]

Same as owning a bike, mathematically

N + 1

[MrB]

It's a shame we can't update our votes.
Things have changed since '08!