I suppose 'giant' is a relative term, maybe it's not even all that large compared to what you guys use, but it's HEAVY!
I have a scope I bought from a guy who sells telescopes here in Victoria, at the time it seemed like a great idea, after all it was taller than I am and about a foot or so diameter.. I thought I'd be counting the teepees on Europa in no time.
Unfortunately it didn't come with a mount, and trying to line it up with anything is like trying to manually aim a galleon cannon. I have to put a big load of wadded up towels on the ground so that it doesn't roll around, then brace it against a stone table we have in our garden, and then get someone to hold it very still for me while I try to incrementally get it to line up to something that looks encouragingly bright in the night sky.
I like to think that I'm a positive person, but I must admit that sometimes, on a particularly crisp and starry night, when the heavens are clear and the air is still, and I am screaming in fury at my hapless assistant to
put his goddam back into it and stop jiggling the blasted thing, I catch myself wondering if this is
truly the way that this noble pursuit should be conducted.
So far (about 2 years), I have managed to see the moon quite a bit, although it is difficult and burns my eyes, and Jupiter once, which was the literally the most amazing thing I have ever seen.
I'd love to see it again, but honestly I'm running out of patience (and towels).
I have called telescope shops, but they don't build or sell mounts for this scope. I know I need a dob mount. I got the book 'making and enjoying telescopes' but honestly.. it's just beyond me. I know that many people around here would be agog that I could be so technically ignorant, but.. well I can't do it.
I am still on an RSPCA watchlist due to a rabbit hutch that I attempted to construct as a child.
I am in Victoria. I will drive a long way if I have to. Does anyone here have a mount they will sell, or know where to get one?
My telescope is about 6 feet tall and a foot across. I really wish I had bought a smaller one, I was so so excited to get it, I have watched so many lectures on astronomy and cosmology and I have hundreds and hundreds of high def space photos.. but so far the ultimate enjoyment of
seeing it for myself has largely eluded me.. it's really just been a massive headache and I am getting really discouraged. I had such big plans, and now I don't even have any clean towels.
ANY advice would be great.. except for 'build a mount!'
Anyway.. peace!