My dream set up is an Astrophysics 1100gto (got in October 2014), a SBIG 8300 with self guiding filer wheel (got in November 2014) and should receive my TEC 140 around March sometime hopefully just as the weather clears here on the Sunshine (not) Coast. To top it off I am going to Astrofest this year for the entire 10 days. Happy days.
My dream set up is an Astrophysics 1100gto (got in October 2014), a SBIG 8300 with self guiding filer wheel (got in November 2014) and should receive my TEC 140 around March sometime hopefully just as the weather clears here on the Sunshine (not) Coast. To top it off I am going to Astrofest this year for the entire 10 days. Happy days.
Yeah...that's pretty much a dream setup and program Mark..very noice I hope to get to Astrofest this year too...?
Pretty content with the gear I have but to have a little backyard Ob to house it in would be a dream come true. But to be extravagant it would be cool {after winning Lotto} to commission Tim Weatherell, Paul Van Slyke {hope VSI gets back on its feet} and Roland Christen to outfit the Ob interior
Having tried a 36" dob... no thanks I'll keep my feet on the ground and stick to a scope that actually gets used, often enough.
One of the problems of a really big scope is that they're so daunting to move and assemble that you will very rarely use it, unless it's permanently set up in an observatory.
Based on my experience with my 28" I honestly think that a 32" mirror in a rocker box with wheelbarrow handles is about the upper limit for most middle aged males to muscle around early in the morning.
I have seriously considered a 40 ish" f3 however it would be just too much for one bloke to handle on his own even with mechanical aids.
OTOH in a permanent setting I think the sky's the limit
I think the observatory needs to go up first.
I found having everything set up getting perfect polar made it all so much better.
And living alone saw the whole house become involved..
I don't have the wanties anymore although a clear sky would be nice.
The Rodstar sums it up very nicely!! A permissive wife is essential equipment.
I'm very happy with my kit for now, but know I'll want to go longer eventually. So a hand built, lovingly constructed 10 inch F4 reflector with the best components, all done by a trusted friend, will make me very happy one day.
Oh, and getting the Sony Ultra-COOLED.
Fun thread!
Edit- or a Tak 120 refractor, if folk can convince me that it's as good or similar to the 10 reflector
I'd go a pair of Celestron RASAs: one with a mono camera and either a H-alpha filter or combined H-a and O3 filter; the other with an RGB sensor. Shouldn't be too much to ask for right?
If your going to dream, dream big right?
A Takahashi FCT-250 looks pretty dreamy to me. At 85 Kilo's and 2.8 meters long the observatory it will need to be mounted in will need to be dream sized as well.
I hope to get to Astrofest this year too...?
