[QUOTE=ballaratdragons;765829]I'm still trying to get my head around the point of: why would anyone buy a Telescope without a mount?
Ive done it (cause I like old stuff that doenst pop up much), Ive also balanced an OTA on things to see what the optics were like but its not viable to "see" things, DOB mount is a good idea, depending on weight a GEM may turn up second hand at a reasonable cost.
It is an older scops and Im wondering two things
1. why sell to someone who is new to this a BIG scope without a mount at all?
2. What condition are the coatings on the mirror like
Check 2. before you do much else, this can be done by looking from the bottom of the mirror and see if you can see light , which would indicate thinning or dead coatings
this is a good add on astromart, go down till you see the photos of the mirror coatings
http://www.astromart.com/articles/ar...article_id=816
swapping may be a goer if its all good but maybe consider a new 8" DOB
it will be cheaper than the mount for that (10"probbaly cheaper too
)
Roger
EDIT 1.25 or .96 sized eyepieces???