Posts Made By: Bill Radich

Congrats! I was eyeing that scope, wondering who the
lucky SOB (... um, I mean 'guy or gal') would be. The
earlier f/5.4 version of the 11" is my ideal, 'if I had
to own just one scope' scope.

Please send some observing reports when you get a chance.

best regards,
bill

Hi Bernie,

I purchased Kendrick's barlowed laser earlier
this year- and have been very happy with it. I
can't recall the different model numbers, but mine
is the 2-inch laser with the adapter that lets you
see the spot as you adjust the primary (so this may
be what you are looking at). One caution however, I
found that for my 8" dob, the laser+adapter is quite
heavy, and the adapter makes everything hang out
a good distance. This was a problem for me
initially because if I had the tube at a 45 degree
angle or so, the laser/adapter weight would actually
shift my focuser down, and the laser angle would
not be centered. Now I simply keep the tube
horizontal to reduce this problem (and turn the
laser to make sure the spot is centered).

Note that this may or may not be an issue with
your scope.

bill

Dave,

This is a fun topic- and there are certainly those here that have more
experience in comparing the top-tier dobs, but I thought I'd add my two-
cent's worth (mainly because I've been looking at the same size dob
purchase for sometime in the near future). In the 15" range, both
MC telescopes and starsplitter seem to have good values for a dob with
a premium mirror: a 15" MC w/nova is about $3500, and it's about the
same from starsplitter if you add the necessary telrad and shroud.
If you go with a Royce mirror, MC goes for $4020 for a 15". As you
know, this is about the same as a 15" obsession. Royce mirrors don't
get as much press as the Zambuto's, but I have an 8" Royce that amazes
me.

Just my humble opinion(s).. Have fun!

bill

Really, really wonderful show, visible from suburban Minneapolis
area. There was a lot of 'action' about 30 degrees above the
horizon about 6:30 PM CST here, with glowing rope and loop-like
structures.. now if I could just switch off the street lights
in the neighborhood...

bill

Dominique,

absolutely breath-taking- incredible!
bill

You have to be kidding me! who needs spacecraft when you can get/process images like this from
earth? Once again Wes, your lunar images continue to knock my socks WAY off. I've never seen
amateur, ground-based images like this before.

Thanks for sharing
bill