Decisions,decisions

stellarquest · #1 12-12-2006, 05:33 PM

Hi all,New member here. Own a WO80,66ED, and a GSO8".Thinking of buying either a 10"Meade Lightbridge or 12"GSO for about 6 per year visits to dark locations in a small car with small family.The scope will also get regular workouts in backyard.Regular collimation required with Lightbridge not an issue.Realise the Meade uses GSO optics anyhow. Want to keep the budget below the $1100, so 12" Meade out of equation.Thoughts anyone?????

jase (Jason) · #2 12-12-2006, 05:38 PM

Stellarquest.

I'm sure you find plenty of IIS members that will be able to assist you.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #3 12-12-2006, 07:15 PM

Hi SQ. Welcome aboard! You wont fit 12" GSO Dob + observing gear + family (no matter how small) into a small car, so I'd say go with the 10" Lightbridge. 10" Dobs (LB or solid tube) are a lot nicer & comfier to use anyway because they are a lot less bulky. There is not a big difference btw the 10 and 12" ito what you can see with them, but there is a big diff in bulk.

rmcpb (Rob) · #4 12-12-2006, 07:19 PM

Welcome to IIS

If you want to keep your budget below $1100 and achieve a decent increase in aperture over the 8" then a 12" is the go. This will be a show stopper with the small car BUT if you are handy with tools and are patient then you could convert this to a truss scope yourself for little extra. If you go that way make sure you have a copy of Kriege and Berry and you should have no worries.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #5 12-12-2006, 07:55 PM

Sorry, I missed that you already have an 8" Dob. Then Rob is right, the 12" would be the next significant step up. You might need a trailer for the scope... or the family.

stellarquest · #6 12-12-2006, 10:45 PM

Well, thank you all for the welcome! The reason I joined is that you good folks out there just seemed like no BS types, who are also just into the hobby for the right reasons, and not simply to one up the next guy.Looks like I was right.Looks like the replies so far are divided, which is pretty much as expected. I did ask a tough question. Some interesting points have arisen from the responses. Janokiss, you mention that there is not a great deal in difference between what can be seen with them. Could you please elaborate on that comment? That could be a clincher. Does anyone out there have the exact diameter for the base of the GSO 12"?To Rob. Thanks for the input. The conversion work is unfortunately not something I would feel confident of doing. Am I now back to considering the Lightbridge?Thanks for the continued input.

iceman (Mike) · #7 13-12-2006, 06:14 AM

Hi Stellarquest,

to IIS.

If you're prepared to wait, the 16" versions of the lightbridge and GSO will be coming out in the next 6 months - I think we'll see a flood of 2nd hand 8, 10 and 12" scopes on the buy/sell forum at good prices.

If you already have an 8", a step up to the 12" is definitely most recommended. There will be a difference between 8 and 10, but not as significant as the 8 to the 12. The 12" has some additional issues such as its size and weight, and longer cooldown time required because of the larger mirror, however the extra aperture and light gathering ability, and longer focal length, is (imo) worth the upgrade.

stellarquest · #8 13-12-2006, 06:39 AM

Hi Iceman,Thanks for the welcome. You have a point about the waiting. As it happens, a friend of mine has made a very generous offer on my 8 inch that I am thinking of accepting. Perhaps better to get what I can now because of you're astute observation. Looking at the dimension of the 12 inch is a scary proposition. It is one big piece.We were thinking of using the 8 inch as the mobile light bucket and keeping the 12 inch for home use, but that kind of goes against the whole original concept.The new GSO versions certainly seem a good substitute for the Meade, but at the moment simply for expediency I am looking at the 10 inchLightbridge.The 12 inch sounds great though........

casstony · #9 13-12-2006, 08:46 AM

Another point important to some is that you can do comfortable all seated observing with a 10", even at the zenith.

ving (David) · #10 13-12-2006, 08:56 AM

iceman is right... if you can wait then early next year the GSO 16" truss is coming out. failing that it comes down to shatever you cn fit in your car. if you can fit the 12"er and whatever else you need to take then teh extra aperture is the way to go. if not then the 10"

oh and welcome abaord

janoskiss (Steve H) · #11 13-12-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stellarquest

Janokiss, you mention that there is not a great deal in difference between what can be seen with them. Could you please elaborate on that comment?

I guess you have to look and decide for yourself. There is definitely a difference, especially on faint objects, but also in terms of resolution when seeing is good and the heavy mirror finally cooled off, but it is a fairly subtle difference. Many newbies would not pick it or only after being told what to look for. OTOH the difference in the size is huge.

I have the 8 and 12" GSO Dobs, and I'm seriously considering selling them both and getting a 10". The main thing stopping me (apart from laziness) is that I love my 8" being so small, light and grab-n-go, and I'm not sure the 10" could fill the same role.

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

Another point important to some is that you can do comfortable all seated observing with a 10", even at the zenith.

Yes, IMO this is a big plus in favour of the 10". The 12" is too tall for sitting, too short for standing. You can use a tall stool but nothing really works well.

Larger scopes, like 16+ inch Dobs, are a different kettle of fish altogether.

ACE · #12 13-12-2006, 12:45 PM

On this query, would a 12" lightbridge be a wrong choice for a 1st scope. Would I be better with a 10" tube dob? I like the idea of being able to collapse a scope put it in the car and goto dark skies with friends etc.

Thoughts appreciated.

stellarquest · #13 13-12-2006, 06:03 PM

Have come very close to deciding on the 10 Lightbridge for a number of reasons. The point about being seated is a very good one. Janoskiss" comments about selling off the 8 and 12 for a 10 hint at hard won experience. I am selling my 8 regardless.Hi Ace. Even though I have been vexed by the 10 vs 12 decision, I have been an amateur astronomer for about 17 years now, so I will add my five cents worth. The 12 is big. Very big. Even the Lightbridge. Collimation will need to be performed much more often on the Light than a standard Dob.My personal opinion, buy a 10 Light, and spend the remaining $400 plus on some quality eyepieces, barlow etc. Maybe I have just convinced myself here.

stellarquest · #14 13-12-2006, 06:13 PM

Just a couple of additional comments. Ace, I have taken my 8 in my car a few times, and a solid tube Dob, even an 8, takes up a lot of room. One other thing, getting people in will mean that you place the tube lenghtwise with the car, with one half of the seat folded down. Putting the scope in and out of the car will result in dings. It just will. I have seen others do this.This is one of the major advantages of the Lightbridge. This type of portability will greatly reduce the chance of damage.Truss Dobs just make sense for anyone taking a scope for a drive. Also, for cleaning etc, the Lightbridge breaks down into manageable sections (stating the obvious here), but that means you can put a towel on the dining room table and work on each unit comfortably and safely. Just try doing that with a solid 12. Whatever you decide Ace, do buy yourself a quality laser collimater.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #15 13-12-2006, 06:17 PM

At this point I should probably stress that you should try the scopes for yourself to see what suits you best rather than just go on my or someone else's subjective preferences. There are plenty of happy 12" Dob owners who would not give up the extra aperture for anything. Best to go along to a viewing night and spend some time with different scopes.

stellarquest · #16 13-12-2006, 06:33 PM

The perfect advice Janoskiss, and I am doing just that tomorrow evening. I will have the opportunity to try out both a 10 and 12 Lightbridge side by side. An incredible opportunity and one I am very thankful for. Thank you Matt and Rory. There will also be an Obsession 16 there, just as something to dream about. I will keep you all updated with my findings.

norm · #17 13-12-2006, 07:42 PM

Great thread Stellarquest. Would be interested in the outcome. I don't have a scope atm, nor am I in a hurry to get one. Fortunately I get to peek at others at my local club to quench my thirst.

I like the idea that I could breakdown a 12 Lightbridge and take it on trips WITH the family. That said, it would be impossible 2 do so with a normal 10" dob.

I'd be interested to know if there is more care required with the 12" lightbridge in terms of handling or whether its a fairly robust scope.

I just can't decide!

stellarquest · #18 13-12-2006, 11:03 PM

Hi Norm,Thank you, had no idea the thread would have as much interest as it had. Great open forum developing. Just as it should be.I will be taking my 8" tomorrow night too, so it will be a real shoot out. Can't wait. The guys have given me permission to load the scopes (except the Obsession) into my trunk as an excercise, so that will be the clincher probably. They have told me I can lift the Lightbridges around by the trusses, so again a very good test. Will be interested to see if they hold collimation.

astronut (John) · #19 14-12-2006, 05:09 PM

Hi Everyone,
Just my 2 cents, the 12"LB in its many parts is not heavy, well maybe the tube holding the mirror is just a bit weighty, but still light enough for Mr Puniverse to carry!

Yes the LB's can be lifted safely by the trusses. Collimation holds very well even after an hour in my car, and a 4km trip over a dirt road.
It usually only needs a couple of tweaks of the primary knobs to achieve collimation.
I have a Laser and if I didn't take all my other astro stuff, I could comfortably carry the LB in the back and take up only one side of the back seat and the boot area.
Have a look at the Nov AS&T check out the 10" & 12" LB in the back of the authors small to medium hatchback.
As he says many people take the 10" for an 8" and the 12" for a 10", their appearances are that deceptive.
I'm 1.78m (5' 10") tall and with my adjustable chair I can sit comfortably with the scope at the zenith. Also with the scope at vertical and me standing, the e/p only comes up to my chin.

A friend of mine has the G.S.O. full tube 12", optically it is the same scope, but he has quite a time trying to manhandle it, that is the main difference between the two.

Tamtarn · #20 14-12-2006, 11:08 PM

We agree with your comments John

We have a 12" GSO. I'm 5'4" and have no problem at all sitting on our Stellar adjustable chair at the second highest position with the scope at zenith and when I'm standing the focuser is just below my nose when the scope is at zenith so I have no problem looking through the EP at this level. David is 5'10" and he finds it OK as well.

Stellarquest we would suggest your main consideration is the room in your car for the scope the base your gear and the family.

If a 12" fits then go for it

It will be a long time before the need to upgrade to a larger aperture later on.... if ever