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[RobbW]

Not that I am currently in this situation or ever will be, but let's hypothesize that you suddenly came into some money that you were told to spend on whatever telescope you wanted. Let's say you get a sum of $5,000 or possibly $10,000 that can only be spent on a telescope and accessories. You want to get a telescope that will provide the best possible views the money can buy along with the accessories that will help enhance those views. I know lots of people like to think bigger is always better. However, bigger also means heavier and harder to transport. That won't work for you because you like to drag your scope down by the lake or easily and quickly pack everything into your car and head out for a night of observing without having to enlist a couple of your buddies to haul everything.

So, here's the challenge: you have a tidy sum of funds to spend on a damned good scope but you want to keep it manageable and easily portable. What scope do you get and what accessories would you like to go along with it?

I know it's kind of a silly, subjective question, but I always like to play "what if" games about what I would do if I ever came into some money. And since astronomy is my current obsession, I'm focusing on picking an ideal scope! Of course, if a very large sum of money ever dropped into my lap, I'd just buy land in nowhere Arizona, build a nice home, and install my own observatory. So my original question would then be moot (or "moo" per Joey)!!!

[RobbW]

What?! No one else plays these "what if" games about what you'd do if you had lots of money?!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I'd get me a Ritchey-Chrétien scope, maybe a 18" and have a special trailer to lug it around.

[RobbW]

Sweet, Joe! That's one way to get around the size issue. So, you'd just keep it on the trailer? Maybe convert the trailer to a mobile observatory? I would love to do that!

Okay, now what about if you wanted a telescope you could carry by yourself without the use of a trailer? What's the largest you think you could get away with and still be able to keep it a one-man show? How's your C11? Is that right about on the edge of portability?

[Paulie pchris00]

Okay, you goaded me into it. I don't think I would want to carry around anything bigger than an 8" Dob. I have thoughts of turning my little PT Cruiser into a mobile observatory, although the scopes still have to be taken out of the car to use them. I saw a jeep Wrangler not long ago, and thought, man, I could mount a scope in the back (the back seats would have to come out), pull off the roof, and whammo! Instant observatory! I don't know what kind of scope I would put back there. It couldn't be too big, but it would still be kind of cool.

[RobbW]

Ooh, a Jeep Wrangler mobile observatory! I like the sound of that! You'd have to get one of the Unlimited versions for the extra room. Also, a Rubicon would be perfect for getting to those hard-to-reach dark sky sites. You should totally go military-futuristic with the design. Have the scope rise up from the back above the roll bars and lock-and-load for prime observation. The whole motion should be fluid and look like one of those future war movies where the HummVee has the rocket launcher that rises up and flips over the top ready to fire at will.

Yeah.... that would be sweet!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Forget about a Wrangler...

This is the mobile set up of all...

Full story here:

astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Equipment&action=display&thread=2318

Grabbing a saw.

[Paulie pchris00]

Very nice. Can't beat that. Did the Griffith acquire the car too, or just the scope?

[mojocvh]

Personally, if money was no object I would seriously MOVE to a better viewing location first!!

Last couple of nights, despite the long term rain we have been having, the sky has cleared midnightish, so last night watched and waited then it did turn beautifully clear after the rain stopped and clouds cleared. So, time for a quick sesh, squelch over to the patio, decide as the mount was more or less polar aligned last time leave that and concentrate in getting a good view of the moon as it clears neighbouring buildings.

Looking good, Moon is low but WTH just go for it, nice views (albeit disturbed) then WHAM what,s going on, look at collector plate Hmmm, turn look to the Moon and watch it disappear as the bloody FOG rolls in AAAGH!!




all the best

Andy B.