The ultimate scope

Ric · #1 10-09-2006, 09:41 AM

Hi all,
Just been checking the lotto results, oh well back to work on Monday.

This now poses a question.
What is your ultimate lotto-scope? assuming a reasonable to large lotto win and money is not a problem what would be the toy you would place on order and make your local astronomy shops week.

Mine would be the Meade Max mount and 20" scope with a selection of UW eyepieces. The last time I did a price check it was around 60K AU dollars.

Cheers

wavelandscott (Scott) · #2 10-09-2006, 09:53 AM

Hard question...not sure I can pick just one!

As I have a "decent" dob already, I'd go with a big refractor with all of the bells and whistles...oh, and a place to put it!

Lee · #3 10-09-2006, 10:10 AM

I don't know - something like this..... might need a big lotto win....

http://www.rcopticalsystems.com/32inch.html

xelasnave · #4 10-09-2006, 10:38 AM

Lee I could not see the scope they were working on, there seems to be a car port in the way... hey that car port is a scope????
alex

xelasnave · #5 10-09-2006, 10:57 AM

I like this set up and promise I would not ask for more

alex

netwolf · #6 10-09-2006, 11:02 AM

Permenant Setup,
1. Buy a bit of land under dark skies out bush and install a fully remote controlled telscope system with all the bells and whistles. Could even lease out time at such a location to Academics/Scholars etc. The Scope would have to be RCOS 20" at least. And maybe a 6" Astrophysics APO to ride on the back of it.

2. Smaller Onservatory at home with smaller RCOS unit + 5" APO.

3. Portable Travel Setup, Nextstar CPC 9.25".

4. If there is money left over i would certainly look at a Radio Telescope built next to the permanent observatory.

I think i might need a very big lotto win or multiple wins.

Regards

avandonk · #7 10-09-2006, 11:10 AM

This comes close. For deep sky imaging.

http://www.observatory.org/10update.htm

Still happy with what I have got and wish the weather was kind at the right times.
Bert

Ric · #8 10-09-2006, 11:34 AM

Heres another toy I found on a quick google. I dont think I could do it justice but I would have fun trying. I just love the computer system that comes with it, I wonder if they would put a few games on it for me for those long imaging sessions

. Like netwolf I could rent it out to professionals for a cheap rate provided they teach me how to use it.

http://www.dfmengineering.com/cct_40.html

Ah, where would we be if we couldn't dream.

cheers

Starkler (Geoff) · #9 10-09-2006, 11:35 AM

My ultimate scope is a portable one, and im working on obtaining it right now

Its going to be a 15 or 16" SDM truss dob with feathertouch focuser, argonavis and Mark Suchting mirror

xelasnave · #10 10-09-2006, 11:51 AM

I bet if we all look closely at ourselves we mostly have what was "the ultimate" scope as in our minds when we first started in the game. I never thought I would have a 12 inch dob ..so I am happy from that point of view .. thinking more I think all I would go for is a triple 6 inch (still expensive) on a "paramount mount" with a little 100mm triplet guide scope... only the price of a small house in the bush.
alex
alex

davidpretorius · #11 10-09-2006, 11:58 AM

like geoff, a nice portable in 14.5" to 16" (motorized dob driven), but also a 16" "RC" for deep sky and a 12" or 14" (if such a beast exists) mewlon for imaging planets... and a nice ed80 for wide views

GrahamL · #12 10-09-2006, 11:59 AM

A Nice colourbond garden shed out the back
One of these ...Its recomended for the casual observer

http://takahashi.telescopes.com/prod...ory-10230.html
that review is a crack up

xelasnave · #13 10-09-2006, 12:15 PM

Graham I am sure I saw that mount under the Takahashi at $500,000 someplace so I wonder is the $260,000 just for the ota ???
alex

Ric · #14 10-09-2006, 01:11 PM

Hi Graham,
loved the Takahashi review, wonderful scope. The tempting bits are the free shipping and of course the lens cleaner for only $4.99 LOL.

cheers

rogerg (Roger) · #15 10-09-2006, 01:30 PM

I go through phases of dreaming about a lotto win and new scope, and being very happy with what I have. I've just come out of a dream phase yesterday, thanks for bringing this up again guy's.

I am surprised how if you're happy to go the big bucks, how many options are out there of 20" and larger. I'm not sure how these guy's make any money with so many competitors. For example, if I won enough lotto money my short list would include:

http://www.opticalguidancesystems.com/
http://www.rcopticalsystems.com/
http://www.meade.com/maxmount/index.html
http://www.anssentechnologies.com.au/

If I were to actually have the money, it would take some serious investigation to actually work out what is the best option. At this sort of end of the spectrum I think the equipment would really need to be focussed towards a specific goal, it's not like a 8" SCT which is more a "one size fits all" uses situation.

The few linked to above have interesting differences, some start and I find it not so easy to compare them - PE for example varies surprisingly between them, as does focal length for the same aperture.

I'd also allow about 1/3 the budget for additional instruments (CCD's, instrument rotator, spectrograph, guide scopes, etc).

Of course before all that is contemplated, the home loan would need to be paid off, and that would take a serious chunk of the lotto winnings!

Also I have to admit that only a small proportion of the money would go on equipment, the rest would be kept to allow time to use the equipment. I already have more telescope than I can use in the spare time I have, it wouldn't get any better with one of these things! I'd make sure I keep enough money to cut back working to 4/days week or something, to get an extra bit of spare time to use the stuff.

Roger.

Striker (Tony) · #16 10-09-2006, 01:37 PM

There is no such thing as the perfect scope.

As soon as I got my scope delivered by a Semi and craned off into my 100sqm observatory that is fully decked out to keep alive a few years from a nuclear attack and then getting the scope working properly they would bring out an even bigger and better one that I would have to buy....lol

[1ponders] (Paul) · #17 10-09-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerg

to cut back working to 4/days week

It's still too much Roger, I know.

leon · #18 10-09-2006, 04:04 PM

What a great thought, being able to get the instrument of your dreams, with the winnings of tattslotto.

Looks like we are all going to work tomorrow, after we have finished dreaming.

Leon

xelasnave · #19 10-09-2006, 05:40 PM

Not me I am going to buy a loto ticket

alex

mickoking · #20 10-09-2006, 06:14 PM

What I've got will do

dreaming of these things wastes too much energy IMHO