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Old 27-12-2010, 11:03 PM
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mental4astro (Alexander)
kids+wife+scopes=happyman

mental4astro is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 5,005
Hi Petar,

A 12" dob as a first scope! Way to go!!!

First, have you seen one of these puppies up close? They are BIG.

I always say to those who don't have experience with scopes or a particular style of scope, to get yourself to a star party, hosted by an astro club or one of the many listed in the Star Parties forum, and see these fellas in action.

There is a reason why collapsible/truss scopes exist - big apeture solid tube scopes are enormous. The Skywatcher collapsibles have a proven track record for reliability.

"Stiction" is a technical term that relates to the delicate balance between the force needed to get the scope moving to overcome the grip that the bearings hold on the scope, and then the reduced force to continue on with the smooth motion of the scope. It doesn't describe a 'problem', and I can see how this term can cause confusion.

If the force required to overcome the grip of the bearings, there are various ways to overcome this- clean the bearings and the bearing surfaces; if the bearing surface is a 'laminate' type then an application of all things, car wax, does wonders for reducing friction. These methods apply to both commercially made and DIY made scopes (dobsonian mounted I'm talking about).

Before you go about changing finders or any other bits and pieces, use what the scope comes with. The Telrad is a fine finderscope, but it doesn't suit everyone. There is always time to change. Even better is to go to a star party, with or without your scope, and have a look at these gadgets and maybe have a go at using them too. Each has various pros and cons that each persons needs to feel comfortable with.

Don't rush into purchasing a scope. The stars ain't going anywhere. Your enjoyment of them will go quickly however, if the chosen scope doesn't meet your expections.

Mental.
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