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Old 19-01-2024, 02:40 AM
Hijynx (Benn)
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Hijynx is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 20
That scope looks like it has been looked after very well and the mirrors look physically fine. The ad says "the scope works as it should" and since it is being sold by an astronomical club the comment should be valid.

16" scopes all tend to sit for quite a while before selling. I have a 16"and a 20" custom dob and while I love big dobs and the ritual of managing them, they are not for everyone. I wouldn't worry about how long it has been advertised, 6 weeks is nothing. Last year there was a 20" dob with Hubble optics sandwich that sat online for ages even when the price was dropped to $5000.
There are enough second hand 16"ërs (usually Skywatcher collapsible) that hit the market to keep those that want them in supply. Pick-up only usually makes them stay put for a while too (although I drove 3700km for each of mine).

The Lighbridge dobs are a great option for push-to. I have a 12" one as my grab and go. They are unique in the market now as they break down into manageable parts. That one has some of the basic mods done by the look of it with Bob's Knobs and probably upgraded mirror cell springs. It also looks very clean. If the deceased owner went to the trouble of buying upgrades and has kept it that clean it must provide acceptable views. The GSO mirrors can be excellent. My 12"has a excellent mirror. I have read that 60% are good, 30% are average and 10% are excellent. The missing center dot is a little odd but maybe the mirror has been recoated and he didn't have a chance to do it. The mirror cell in a lightbridge is a chinch to remove to put one on.

If you want to own a 16" dob then $1200 is awesome. Being a deceased estate, they probably just want it to sell. Ask them if you can actually use it before buying it and see if you can split Sirius. It is up nice and high at the moment and will tell you something about the mirror.

I'd go for it, when will you see another 16"er in the condition for that price. But if you are looking for a reason not to then that may tell you something too.

Good luck.
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