I have a giant telescope that I have never effectively used
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!'
Depending on what size diameter your scope is, there is a 10inch DOB mount for sale, NOW, on this site, in the Mounts section of the classifieds?
oh, and to IIS
If the scope is 14 inches or less, the NASA MOTS MOUNT
in the classifieds Telescopes and Mounts Section would
allow mounting and tracking and its in Victoria
Noobo, where in Victoria are you?
We have a lot of members spread right across Victoria and you may live near one of us.
One or more of us may be able to help out in some way.
We may be able to get your scope mounted somehow, or wash your towels for you at least
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!
1) If the "guy" really sells scopes, he would have sold you a mount. considering the number of people on this forum who deal with "guys who sell scopes", if you could share the name, someone here could probably give you more solid advice.
2) R'we trolling?
His name was Chris Ellis, if memory serves. He sells telescopes. However it's not his fault I didn't get a mount, it didn't come with one. He was quite helpful and even used a device with a laser to calibrate it for me.
I just didn't realise how unwieldy the thing would be.
I live in Ivanhoe in Melbourne.
I'll measure the telescope precisely as soon as I get home (it is about 10-12 inches diameter), I just wanted to post to say thanks very much for the replies.
I am definately not trolling, I am however a noob.
His name was Chris Ellis, if memory serves. He sells telescopes. However it's not his fault I didn't get a mount, it didn't come with one. He was quite helpful and even used a device with a laser to calibrate it for me.
I just didn't realise how unwieldy the thing would be.
I live in Ivanhoe in Melbourne.
I'll measure the telescope precisely as soon as I get home (it is about 10-12 inches diameter), I just wanted to post to say thanks very much for the replies.
I am definately not trolling, I am however a noob.
You sound like my brother - he's as daft as a brush too.
Though his name isn't Basil, Mr Derek!
Mikerr.
That mount of yours - would it be St Michaels Mount? - I have a picture of it somewhere.
I'm still trying to get my head around the point of: why would anyone buy a Telescope without a mount?
I can understand someone who already owns a mount buying just the OTA.
Didn't this Cris Ellis (spelling of 'Cris' from his own website) ask if you want or need a mount?
Strange service if he didn't.
He is the same fellow who claims to be the Founder of the 'Astronomical Society of Melbourne', which doesn't really seem to exist
Too much fishy stuff methinks.
Hi, sorry it took so long to get back, quite a busy day.
Okay - the reason I haven't contacted Cris Ellis is because he didn't have a mount for the scope in the first place, when I bought it. Honestly I think he was glad to offload it and yes, perhaps he saw me coming but I made the decision to buy it. He made it clear I would need a mount at some point, perhaps (to my mind) understated what is involved in constructing one, but then again maybe not, everyone except me seems to think it's very easy! If I contact him now demanding that he help me.. I don't know it doesn't seem right, I bought the thing off him, it's not his responsibility to help me.
Anway, the diameter of the scope (ie the outside tube,measured from the outside rim) is 48cm / 18". So.. er, quite a bit bigger than previously stated
I will attach pictures of the scope. Please excuse the bad focus and the mangy hound in the pink jacket.
So.. am I up the creek, or do I have options?? Heres hoping!!
Thanks again everyone I really am grateful for the help and friendliness.
That's a Meade 16" Sonotube Reflector. Looks like an early 80's model.
Strangely, if you Google them you will see that people are giving them away in the USA.
You can build a Dobsonian base for it easy enough. Probably cost about $50 and about 2 - 3 hours work to make one.
But you will be pushing your luck to find a cheap EQ mount to carry it.
I had to google 'EQ mount'.. I didn't realise that there was yet another compenent that I will need.
I have a real sinking feeling that I'm going to end up having to take this thing to the tip, which wll be a real defeat I must say.
I guess I should start checking out the other forums for advice on a good first telescope on a budget. The really galling thing is the time I've wasted trying to use this thing when I could have been having a blast with a smaller telescope.
Just to make it clear, this guy Cris repeatedly told me that I would need a mount for this thing, he had a big photo book of telescopes that he showed me with mounts in them and explained what they are. I don't want to disparage him at all, as far as I'm concerned he runs a 100% reputable business and did everything he could to keep me informed. I wanted the big scope, I got what I wanted at the time.
But if you really want to dump it, give it to an Astro Club who can probably turn it into a great usable scope for members to use.
An EQ mount is a different type of mount to a Dobsonian. Harder to set up and use, and very hard to see anything when the eyepiece is in the wrong place.
Whereas a dobsonian mount is easy to set up (takes a minute or so), easy to use (just move it to anywhere you want to look), and the Eyepiece is almost always reachable.
Personally if I were you, I'd be making a Dob mount for it, or getting together with an Astro club that can help you make one.
If you wanted to make the 2 hour drive up here to our Clubroom I'm sure we could construct something for you.
Or try a closer Astro club to you.
It seems a waste for you not to get to use it.
P.S. I hope the mirrors are still in good condition.
Yep, build a dobsonian mount.. 16" is worth the effort - which is not a big one for basic mount. It may be more involved if/when you will need tracking but even this can be handled relatively easy and inexpensively - if you have handyman skills.
There is a lot of websites that describe how to do it..
a good start is here: http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/tm.html
and here: http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/BBAstr...ted_Telescopes
(you can omit motors and computer controls for the start)
Hey ho. Nice scope.
Maybe someone here on the forum would be willing to do a swap, your 16" for a ready to use rig.
16" is great, but not if it's just sitting under your house.
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