John Dobson: 10/14/15 - 1/15/14

[Matthew]

Yeah - I'm a week late finding this out.

He came up with a new telescope design, meant for amateur use. Nothing fancy, cheap, dirt simple, easy to build your own, and could gather enough light for unaided viewing of deep space objects. I'll have to see if the weather cooperates tonight and drag my Dobs outside.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dobson_(amateur_astronomer)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/s...t-of-stargazing.html?hpw&rref=obituaries&_r=0

 

[GBear286]

I lugged an 8" Dob around Texas and saw some incredible stuff. If I ever live somewhere suitable for astronomy I wouldn't mind getting a really big one, perhaps 20" or larger.

 

[Matthew]

I'd like to have the room for one that size too.

 

[DFH65]

I have an older 8" Celestron dob. About a year ago I made a set of setting circles for it and used my ipod strapped to the pipe to give inclination. Works pretty well with the PC software. Been awhile since I have had it out and it is too stinking cold right now.

 

[Matthew]

I didn't think about it until now - I wonder how well it would work to strap an iPad, Nexus, or smartphone to the scope tube and fire up Google Sky Map.

 

[DFH65]

Don't know my guess is it would not be precise enough but might be worth a try. Certainly someone has tried it.