Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavytone
+1.
And even fewer have tried to use their own scopes either at observatory hill or nearby, for a specific astronomical event, with sufficient time to "appreciate" the conditions that prevail.
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Well you're right. I haven't been near the place in about 15 years. But why would I want to, I have high quality visual scopes to 30" aperture under my thumb, under mag 7 skies. I have an 18" Obsession in my shed, located 4.6 metres from my Delonghi coffee machine with Mag 6.2/6.3 skies on my back porch.
What you need to appreciate is that you have had a lot of contributions from some very experienced visual observers, some of whom have worked in public observatories, and many like me who have done a lot of public outreach, over many years, under all types of sky conditions.
Whether a medium aperture APO (6"/10"), or a medium/large aperture SCT, or a medium aperture Mak or Classical Cass is the right solution is open for debate. What everyone almost to a man is tellin you is that to buy a 17" to 20" Planewave would be pissen an enormous amount of taxpayer provided funding against the wall, for nought.
Something else to consider is what has seriously been done to see if the electronics in the mount can be rebuilt, outside of Meade.
Has anyone bothered to ask Gary if the mount is salvageable and at what cost? He is as knowledgeable as anyone on the planet in regards to mounts and mount electronics. It may be cost prohibitive and he may not have the time, desire or inclination, but it will not cost the earth to at least ask the question and it may be something he would take on with a sense of pride and self satisfaction involved, knowing the cause it was for.