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Old 28-02-2009, 08:45 PM
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Ford Prefect (James)
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Ford Prefect is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Hobart, Tasmania
Posts: 36
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrideKnight View Post
so "Dobsonian" is more about the mount than the scope? If I get a solid "dobsonian" scope I can take it off the mount and put it on a GEM later?
Yes. The Dobsonian mount is a cheap alt-az rocker base on which your telescope will sit - the low cost of the mount means you can spend more on the telescope itself. I bought a 12" dob for $1000, there's no way I could afford even a 10" scope on a decent GEM. The dob mount is kinda like a big lazy-susan with trunnions.

http://www.daviddarling.info/images/Dobsonian.jpg

Providing you don't get bigger than a 10" dob, you can later buy mounting rings and put your scope on a GEM. You could do it with a 12" dob, but it would cost a bundle.
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