(meteorobs) OT: Telescopes

[stange34 at sbcglobal.net]

Firstly, To use a 12" dob VISUALLY for meteors will require F-stopping it 
way down from a likely F10 to something like F3. This will give you a wider 
field of view(FOV) at the expense of very small magnification of meteors. In 
short, small meteors are not even likely to be noticed by the eye during 
observing and certainly no detail will be seen....just a very short brief 
streak of flash of light.

Without F-stopping it down, the magnification will be greater but the 
meteor(if you can even see one with a narrow FOV) will be so fast as to 
still make it a just a brief blur. Same with a fireball.

Using any telescope to observe meteors will be disappointing even with a 
camera attachment because the area covered will be so much less than the eye 
can see without a telescope. Even the slower moving satellites are just a 
brief streak.

On trucking it.... Without special shock absorbing SEALED containers, the 
OTA is being risked for out of collimation. Dust, dirt, etc., gathers on the 
mirror too just from normal handling let alone riding in the bed of a pickup 
where electrostatic dust sticks on everything.

Trucking it is commonly done, but a closed SUV would be better. Planetary & 
Stellar viewing is a dobs purpose. Not meteors in my opinion. I have owned 
13" dobs and a host of smaller telescopes like 6" refractors etc. NONE were 
suitable for meteors. -Sorry.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <meteorsga at bellsouth.net>
To: <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: 2007/03/23 05:12
Subject: (meteorobs) OT: Telescopes


> It's OT time of year!
>
> I'm considering (strongly) buying my first decent telescope within the 
> next month.  I had some experience using the Celestron nexstar goto scopes 
> last year, which sort of lit the fire to own one myself.
>
> But a bit of looking around has shown me that I could get much better 
> aperture for far less money if I forget the computereized slewing 
> functions and go with a dobsonian mount.  Right now I'm considering a 
> Celestron 12" dobsonian.
>
> My concern is portability (among other things).  The thing is big.  Am I 
> going to be able to easily (and safely) load and carry such a beast out to 
> my observing site(s)?  Is it going to get jarred and unaligned riding back 
> there in the bed of the pickup?  Should I be looking at something else?
>
> Any and all responses would be appreciated in guiding me towards buying 
> the best scope.  My only caveat is I'm not willing to attempt to build 
> one...
>
> Oh, and to get us back on topic, I'll probably try my hand at telescopic 
> meteors...
>
> K. Youmans
>
>
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