Telescope Porn (SFW)
 

Looking at some [URL="https://www.altairastro.com/skyvision-compact-dobsonian-300-400-500-600-750mm.html"]porn[/URL] and wondering whether to splurge.

I had a big one (oo-err Missus!) back in the day --- a 460mm one to be precise --- and have longed regretted disposing of it, despite its weight, lack of portability and spherical aberration. 30 years ago it wasn't possible to have motor drives or GOTO control either.

Time to ask for details.

This can or not be related to the thread title. Two weeks ago I went to survey a revolutions bar in Milton Keynes and one of the wall mounted air conditioning controller label was “porno ro”. This was upstairs in the club room.

Many years ago, I visited a facility that had a 1000mm dob. It was a one off. They built other sizes of dobs. It was amazing to see that size tube outside of a "real" observatory.

While I understand the concept behind the thread title.... it is not exactly the most SFW friendly title. I avoided reading this thread until after leaving the salt mine today.

I think Paul intended his NSFW-sounding thread title to refer to his ogling some sexy astro-gear-for-sale.

On a slightly less-sexy astrogear note, I have a pair of 12" plate-glass mirror blanks - one partially prefigured, the other can be used as a tool - plus a 12" lightweight Alu. mirror cell from University Optics (Ann Arbor, MI) and a complete set of grinding abrasives from coarse to fine, which I am looking to dispose of via sale. Any tips re. good online places to advertise such are appreciated.

The thread title should not only be SFW, but also reflect -- [I]is it or is it not SF SWMBO[/I]?

:rolleyes:

Still not sure the title works. Sounds more like a voyeuristic act, if not for the SFW mark.

[QUOTE=xilman;478244]Looking at some [URL="https://www.altairastro.com/skyvision-compact-dobsonian-300-400-500-600-750mm.html"]porn[/URL] and wondering whether to splurge.

I had a big one (oo-err Missus!) back in the day --- a 460mm one to be precise --- and have longed regretted disposing of it, despite its weight, lack of portability and spherical aberration. 30 years ago it wasn't possible to have motor drives or GOTO control either.
[/QUOTE]

Go ahead- Splurge. Give in to your urges. You've earned it. I still have mine (18-inch (457mm) Dobsonian, so virtually the same size as yours was), and yes, it is old, heavy, and given the fact that I am aging, it is becoming less and less portable. I'm glad I never parted with it, though; don't think I could handle that kind of regret.

Norm

Uh oh. Last time I perused a telescope porn site I made strange noises upon seeing the Takahashi and TEC turrets full of great eyepieces.

Here's my baby. Sorry for the quality of the image- its a quick picture of a print; can't find a digital copy. This is my favorite shot of my 18-inch scope. Its a 23-minute time exposure (on slow slide film, probably Kodachrome 25 or 64). I guess back when this was taken, it would be called a "selfie": we set everything up, started the exposure, then ran into the frame and stayed as still as possible for the 23 minutes. (That's why you can see part of the ladder through my legs; it's a single exposure, with no stacking of images or photoshopping.) The foreground is illuminated by a car dome light off to the left, and that's Sagittarius in the sky.

The scope is probably taller than a lot of the Dobsonians of that size now; this is an f/6, but I think nowadays, they're usually f/4 or f/5 or so, so easier to handle and transport.

Norm

[QUOTE=Spherical Cow;478437]Here's my baby. Sorry for the quality of the image- its a quick picture of a print; can't find a digital copy. This is my favorite shot of my 18-inch scope. Its a 23-minute time exposure (on slow slide film, probably Kodachrome 25 or 64). I guess back when this was taken, it would be called a "selfie": we set everything up, started the exposure, then ran into the frame and stayed as still as possible for the 23 minutes. (That's why you can see part of the ladder through my legs; it's a single exposure, with no stacking of images or photoshopping.) The foreground is illuminated by a car dome light off to the left, and that's Sagittarius in the sky.

The scope is probably taller than a lot of the Dobsonians of that size now; this is an f/6, but I think nowadays, they're usually f/4 or f/5 or so, so easier to handle and transport.

Norm[/QUOTE]I need to come and visit you! I'm so far north (+52[sup]o[/sup]) that Sgr is way down in the horizon murk, when it can be seen at all, and light pollution is everywhere.

Somewhere I have analogue photos of my old scope...

[QUOTE=Spherical Cow;478437]Here's my baby.[/QUOTE]
Lovely! Totally! :tu:
I made it large on screen and looked to it for more than 30 seconds (that is a huge compliment, the most of the pictures I see on the web I discard in less than 1 second)