Quote:
Originally Posted by julianh72
Matt,
I have no problem with your argument that a Dob is a good way to get lots of light gathering power for a low purchase price, and I agree that using something like SkEye is a great way to add "PushTo" to your Dob ...
But I'm intrigued why you think strapping a smartphone onto a Dob and using SkEye to turn it into a "PushTo" is somehow philosophically different to using a GoTo powered mount (with or without an interface to a planetarium app on your computer / phone / tablet)?
- Both require that you align your scope - and the procedure is pretty similar for both.
- Once aligned, both allow you to check and refine your alignment by targeting a visual target in the area of your ultimate target. (And this can be a huge aid to track down the "faint fuzzies" that are on the limit of your telescope's capabilities - it is good to know that what you are seeking is indeed in the field of view, rather than just HOPING that it is in view after a bit of star-hopping!)
- Both allow you to point to your target reliably, but one drives the scope and stops on target, whereas the other requires you to push the scope and will tell you how far off you are.
- Both could be used with no almost knowledge of the night sky - which is "a good thing" in my book - the easiest way to learn the night sky is to ask your telescope to go to Jupiter (or Orion, or Acrux, or ...), get it in view, then look up and see it in the sky.
"Horses for courses" and all that. |
hi Julian,
I was just putting it out there that a dob can be used as a push to.
it's nothing philosophical, the OP asked a question and I was adding some info that hasn't been stated about considering the dob.
matt