Your Dream Scope?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 04-04-2005, 05:05 PM

A good way to find out what people would like to do astronomically is to have a dream thread!

Here it is!

<b>If you had a budget of $100,000 to spend on any Astro gear, what would it be?</b>

Mine would be a Celestron C20 on a pier (approx $45,000 AU), build a proper 12 foot diameter dome up the back paddock (approx $30,000) and spend the remaining $25,000 on High quality EP's, a computer to put in the Observatory and Top of the Range Astrophotography gear.

I would also keep my 12" Dob for travelling around to other sites.

What would you buy with your $100,000 budget? Would it be a few acres in the bush for viewing plus gear? or all gear?

Striker (Tony) · #2 04-04-2005, 05:22 PM

I would buy a GSO 6" dob then book a ticket on the next space shuttle!.

And I would tell the misses I only have $50,000 not $100,000...lol

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #3 04-04-2005, 07:42 PM

LOL Striker!

I have always wanted a 30" Schmidt Cassegrain, you think they could make me one for $100,000? With full goto, and also a 200mm Refractor for a guide scope. At least 3 computers, Big dome (automated) and a bit of land in the darkest part of Australia.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #4 04-04-2005, 08:23 PM

Andrew, I think you need to add at least one more 0 to the $100k budget!

Dave47tuc (David) · #5 04-04-2005, 08:54 PM

I think my dream scope is not on this planet

So build me a Starship so i can go looking for one

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 04-04-2005, 09:08 PM

Tony,

How are you going to keep that within $100,000? A trip on the Shuttle would be a couple of Mill.

Dave,

If you had a starship you probably wouldn't need a telescope. LOL

Dave47tuc (David) · #7 04-04-2005, 09:13 PM

Thats the point

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #8 04-04-2005, 09:18 PM

So, that's what Tony is really up to! No wonder he sold his LX200

Nah! Can't be, he is already in Space.

rumples riot · #9 04-04-2005, 09:42 PM

Dream Scope?

Ritchey Chretien 20" $46,300 US
Astro Physics 1200 GTO Mount $9,400 US
Sbig Camera $15,000.00

Oops run out of money, can I have it in US dollars?

Anyway that is what I want. Either that or the top of the range Takahashi 300 Mewlon on a Astro Physics 1200 GTO mount.

Anyway that my dream scopes.

Rodstar (Rod) · #10 04-04-2005, 09:46 PM

With a lazy $100K I think I'd go on a world tour visiting some of the best (and most remote) viewing sites in the world.

I'd stay in 5 star hotels and have a full time Cherpa in tow to carry the scope and other equipment to each location.

I would also head to Cape Canaveral for a Shuttle launch, and visit an old mate of mine who works with NASA as an engineer.

....And I'd get a 31 mm Nagler.

Rodstar

#11 04-04-2005, 09:50 PM

One of these would be a good start, they make them up to 20inches I believe, but that is a 6fig usd sum.
http://www.tmboptical.com/itemsRecor...d=16&cat_id=4&

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #12 04-04-2005, 09:58 PM

TMB Apochromat. Very impressive! I like the mount.

Starkler (Geoff) · #13 04-04-2005, 09:59 PM

I would get a 15 inch obsession or starmaster truss dob, blow a few K on eyepieces and an argonavis and put the rest towards a suitable dark sky property near a stream full of trout

RAJAH235 · #14 04-04-2005, 11:22 PM

I've already got mine. Plan on saving the imaginary $100,000 for my OLDER age.

L.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #15 04-04-2005, 11:27 PM

Without any money up front that is one difficult question to answer. I would spend $10,000 on researching how to best spend the remaining $90,000. So please advance me $10,000 and I will report back to you in 1-2 months.

PS. I would favour a "maximum aperture per dollar" approach.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #16 04-04-2005, 11:30 PM

In other words, for a hundred grand you would like a 1.5 metre reflector! Where are you going to house it?

Or possibly a 2 metre Dobsonian! Imagine the size of the Dob base!! LOL

janoskiss (Steve H) · #17 04-04-2005, 11:34 PM

I don't know. That's why I need 10% of the grant up front to conduct a feasibility study!

iceman (Mike) · #18 05-04-2005, 06:29 AM

I like Starklers, that'd suit me too, except I still need to work so there's no point having a nice scope out in the sticks that I have to drive an hour to get to each night.

Or does this fantasy include living somewhere that you can use your scope from the backyard, and not having to work?

xelasnave · #19 05-04-2005, 04:38 PM

I,m pretty happy with my new 12 inch because it is my (past) dream scope, dont get me wrong there will be others but it was the next step. and I recon given the viewing here its probably as good as a 16 inch inb the Northern Hemisphere say.. I am working on the observatory outta free rock and cheap cement but the Missus just left home for a real life
so the house has turned into a observatory with gear from one end to the other.. I should send you a photo so you can hold it up to your wives etc and say..."now you think I,m obsessed with astronomy look at this (here add your own words) hill billy...

alex

ving (David) · #20 05-04-2005, 04:43 PM

umm... dunno. sumpin big i guess...