Poll - what is your aperture?

[space oddity]

Although I can afford bigger, my 10 inch LX 200 R is the biggest I can handle by myself without breaking my back. It also gives pretty sharp views .This can be described as getting bang for your back. The alternative was going to be a 16 inch lightbridge, but I have been spoiled by goto.

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

12" dob ... would like a 16" or so, but until I have a better place to keep it / shift home / change viewing locale/habits the 12" will be as big as I go I suspect.

[astroron (Ron)]

I have had the 16" for about 7 years now, it is ideal as it is just the right hight that I don't need a ladder and it fits in my car and I can see lots of Deep Sky stuff
Ron

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

A 300mm Bintel dob.......hmmm, I think I'll start a poll on who has a naughty mind. I do, but all the best puns are taken.

Cheers

[spearo (Frank)]

9.25 for me
really hoping to upgrade to a 14" someday
but for now I'll try to get more/better performance from it by sitting it on a more capable mount, the G11 and collimating it properly.

frank

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Just recently moved to a 6" reflector, used a 2.5" refractor for years. Sure do get tempted by these 12"+ dobs, but too used to a GEM now.

Bill

[Phil]

I have the Meade 16" but can not move it so my 4" NP101mm gets used allot more then the 16". I need a bigger observatory so the 16 can sit outside without moving it.
Phil

[§AB]

Originally Posted by Phil

I have the Meade 16" but can not move it so my 4" NP101mm gets used allot more then the 16". I need a bigger observatory so the 16 can sit outside without moving it.
Phil

I know what u mean, my 12" is b!T%H to lift so I devised an ingenious way to move it to the back door....slide it on a rug. Try it!

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

Just recently moved to a 6" reflector, used a 2.5" refractor for years. Sure do get tempted by these 12"+ dobs, but too used to a GEM now.
Bill

I never ever actually touched an EQ mount in my 10 years of astronomy so I can understand what you mean when being comfortable with one particular type of mounting, but IMO get a big dob if the funds say yes - you won't regret it!

[Stephen65]

When I answered this poll I had a 5", now I have a 10" and am planning a 20". Is that aperature fever?

[abellhunter]

Hey Astro Heads.....

Size counts!

Started out with a 3 inch Refractor, then a C-8 SCT on a GEM. Sold the C-8
and for a Meade 10" LX-5. Traded a 3" Unitron for a C-11, sold the C-11
to help pay for the C-14. Bought the Coulter Optics 17 1/2" dob, after 5 years sold it and bought a 25" Obsession, sold that and bought the 28"
Starmaster.

As some of you know allready i am looking to build
an observatory and move the ARSENAL down under!


28 inch Starmaster w/GOTO
17 1/2 inch truss dob w/DSC
C-14 w/Argo Navis
20x125 Astro Binoc's w/heavy duty fork mount

etc....

See post #354

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=65
___________________________________ _______________________

Back in the states i was a member of the Orange County
Astronomers, out of Southern California.....

http://www.ocastronomers.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County_Astronomers

http://www.ocastronomers.org/astroim...Kuhn+Telescope
___________________________________ _______________________

By the way i lived near by the OCA's Anza dark site
near Palomar Observatory for 17 years.

http://www.anzaobservatory.com

Which i wrote about in my astro-bio....

see post #2 & #3 regarding OCA etc...

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=27760
___________________________________ ___________________

Large Group Scope &/or The new OZ Observatory plan [see post #35]

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=27969
___________________________________ _____________________

Aloha, Lance aka "abellhunter"

http://www.anzaobservatory.com

...is Moving to the Southern Hemisphere any ideas, suggestions or
comments?

humphreys@greencafe.com

[Kal (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Stephen65

When I answered this poll I had a 5", now I have a 10" and am planning a 20". Is that aperature fever?

This appears to be a very aggressive form of Aperture fever!

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Originally Posted by Kal

This appears to be a very aggressive form of Aperture fever!

Indeed. If the condition goes untreated, Stephen may need to apply for funding from the Federal Government to finance the purchase after the 20" scope. I wonder if large mirrors fall within the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme?

[Maverick]

Started with 4" and after little fever traded for 6".Maybe will do one more trade to 8"-10".

[Stephen65]

Originally Posted by Rodstar

Indeed. If the condition goes untreated, Stephen may need to apply for funding from the Federal Government to finance the purchase after the 20" scope. I wonder if large mirrors fall within the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme?

Yes, at the rate I am going a 40" scope seems to be the next stage of the disease...

[Rodstar (Rod)]

What 20" scope do you have in mind, by the way, Stephen?

[Stephen65]

It's a joint project by Phil Watson and I - Mark Suchting is grinding us a 20" f/3.7 mirror. It'll designed to be used with a Paracorr, naturally. The idea is to build a low-riding ladderless 20" dob.

[koputai (Jason)]

A 20 inch scope about the same physical size as a 16 inch Lightbridge. I'm sure a lot of people will be interested to see how such a fast big apperture scope goes.

Cheers,
Jason.