+Bino-viewer Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Hello guys....... The Dob mount (from Orion Optics) is ready to be picked up. Its taken 9 weeks ! but that wasn't too big a problem for me with my busted feet. I'll have to wait a week / before i can get up to OO though. My plaster cast comes off this Friday ! Anyway the purpose of this post is to discuss Dob tracking platforms. Has anyone seen or used them ? For those not familiar with them, here is some detailed info : http://www.reinervogel.net/index_e.html?/Plattform/Plattform_e.html And here is a video of one at work, tracking with a 12" Dob on Jupiter at 400x magnification. Impressive stuff. >https://youtu.be/GdDqhkTxDd4 I'm not experianced with Dobsonians out in the field. I do use an alt-az mount though with my refractor, and am fully used to manually tracking with it. But the DM6 that i use is in a slightly different league to the crude offering from Orion Optics. I've tried OO Dobs at Astrofest & the IAS shows a few times, just to see how they feel, and i'm not convinced they'll be that easy to manually track with, particularly at higher powers. I shall soon find out. With all this in mind, it was always in my gameplan, at some point, to look into buying (or even making) one of these platforms. I'm sure at a meet, or at an outreach event, to be able to have a tracking ability would be invaluable. It also opens up some lunar or planetary imaging possibilities..... There used to be a UK based maker of them, but they have now ceased production. TS in Germany have a few on their site. http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/index.php/cat/c20_Mounts-----Equatorial.html This one below caught my eye, made by the Italian company Geoptik. Not cheap of course, but then again not much in this hobby is. Hopefully a purchase for 2016 ? http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p2700_Geoptik-Dobsonian-platform---motor-tracking-for-telescopes-up-to.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuckstar Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 I looked and thought about these. But then decided that if I want it to track might as well just mount it on an eq. I've never had much problem with mine at out reach events, except for the odd kid knocking it round a bit, but usually looking at bright easy to find objects so no problem to realign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 I see what you mean Andy. But i really don't want to go down the EQ mount route again. Way too much cost and aggro. Wires, counterweights, PA, noisy motors.....No thanks. I'd also need something major to mount a 10" F6.3 Newt. Different matter if i had an observatory. To me the beauty of these platforms is their simplicity. And they work just as well with a 20" scope as a 10" scope. If i were to one day upgrade my scope to say a 14 or a 16, i'm still covered by something like the Geoptik above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 I've never used an equatorial platform, but they are obviously essential for photography and could be very useful at outreach events. For general visual use they are nice if you can afford one but a lot of money for what they do. If you are ever able to use 400x on Jupiter and you are using an average eyepiece at 50 degree apparent field then in your scope stood still, the planet would pass from one side of the field to the other in about 30 seconds. That would be quite difficult to track especially if there was any sticktion in the mount. Mostly you will be using much lower powers and hence wider fields, so at one degree every 4 minutes, manual tracking is much easier. Another, also expensive, way around the problem is to buy some 100 degree eyepieces and the planet will take twice as long to fly by Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 It really depends on how you observe. How long do you look at an object. If it's only a few minutes on each object then you are better of with a wider field of view eyepiece. If you like prolonged viewing, sketching or photography then I would say they are a must have item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 It really depends on how you observe. How long do you look at an object. If it's only a few minutes on each object then you are better of with a wider field of view eyepiece. If you like prolonged viewing, sketching or photography then I would say they are a must have item. You managed to do some marvellous sketches with your 16" without a platfom Mick I can see that a tracking platform would help a lot with sketching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 I just make it look easy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 I think its the potential for some lunar / planetary imaging thats got me more interested in them Pete. I don't normally observe at really high powers. 185x is my current max with the refractor / mark V / 2.6x and 13 Naglers. I've used this power plenty of times and on occasion wish i'd got a bit more, hence the decision to look at 10mm eyepieces. The new Dob, however with its longer fl has the potential to go upto 209x using the current bino. I don't recall ever measuring how long Jupiter takes to pass through my fov. The N13s have an 82* field. At a guess its around 90 seconds ? Much easier to work with my DM6 at high power, than with a Dob mount though i reckon ? That was the word i was looking for Pete......Stiction ! (without the K ) I'm sure the OO dob mount will have a bit of it....! I must say though how much i'm looking forward to trying out this Dob. Really enjoying planning all the various mods i can do to it. But, i really want it to be a grab & go type scope with a decent 'optical clout' Just the tube (fairly light and manoeuvrable) the OO mount (bombproof) and a tracking platform if req. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 I can understand your reasoning Rob. It would certainly be a nice bonus to have a tracking platform on the Dob. I reckon that with a bit of practice you will be nudging the Dob arounf just like you do the refractor on the DM6. It is great fun planning these projects, and makes best use of the current weather we are getting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 It really depends on how you observe. How long do you look at an object. If it's only a few minutes on each object then you are better of with a wider field of view eyepiece. If you like prolonged viewing, sketching or photography then I would say they are a must have item. On a good sharp night, i've spent 20 mins or more just looking at Jupiter without a break. One of the beauties of binoviewing Mick : no eye strain And 82* fov is good for high power, and works well in the bino. So no need for Ethos, etc. I'm just wondering if the credit card can take another big hit......? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Personally I would wait a bit Rob until you have used your new dob a bit. You might find it's not needed. More important would be to raise your dob higher then what it is to save your back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 (edited) way around the problem is to buy some 100 degree eyepieces and the planet will take twice as long to fly by Corrrr, wished I thought of that, ohh hang on, I did!!! Edited November 16, 2015 by Daz Type-R Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 Yes of course i shall give it plenty of runs first to see how things are. And one good way of raising your Dob higher, is to put a tracking platform under it ! i'm already working at 1600mm fl so a platform would add about 125-150mm on to that. As for my back (which thankfully, is miles better than my feet) i have this in mind http://www.firstlightoptics.com/misc/mey-observing-chair.html It has some good reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Yes of course i shall give it plenty of runs first to see how things are. And one good way of raising your Dob higher, is to put a tracking platform under it ! i'm already working at 1600mm fl so a platform would add about 125-150mm on to that. As for my back (which thankfully, is miles better than my feet) i have this in mind http://www.firstlightoptics.com/misc/mey-observing-chair.html It has some good reviews. You'll be applying for another credit card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 I'm more worried about my wife seeing this months (or last months) statement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 I'm more worried about my wife seeing this months (or last months) statement I know the feeling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Paper less statements - works wonders when you purchase a few of those "cheap" American EP's...... Tweedledee and tuckstar 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HykehamObservatory Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 I bought a 12 inch Dob from Orion Optics in 2006. I modified it to go on my German Equatorial Mount. Worst decision I have made in a long time. The wind kept moving the scope- even not enough wind to move the flowers would move it. I decided to make my own dual axis equatorial platform and put the tube back on the original Dobsonian mount. Much more stable. It is made of 18mm plywood, a couple of EBay motors and gearboxes, and a lot of bits from my scrap box. Cost less that £100 and gives me good images of the Moon at F20. Definitely worth building one. It tracks for about 45minutes before I have to reset it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DaveJW Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) On 16/11/2015, 18:33:50, Bino-viewer said: There used to be a UK based maker of them, but they have now ceased production. Aren't these guys still going? Watchhouse equatorial platforms? Ah - as it turns out - they have packed up! Shame about that. Edited November 30, 2015 by DaveJW Mishtake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 They were one of the few who made them in the UK Dave. Thanks for the link. Apparently the chap who ran Watchhouse retired and they ceased production. Shame really. There must be a market for these things in the UK. Could be a good business venture for someone with the right skills...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DaveJW Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 On 30/11/2015 20:06:33, Bino-viewer said: They were one of the few who made them in the UK Dave. Thanks for the link. Apparently the chap who ran Watchhouse retired and they ceased production. Shame really. There must be a market for these things in the UK. Could be a good business venture for someone with the right skills...... Yes I would think so too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werisit Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Just spotted this on ABS http://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=106217 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 12 minutes ago, Werisit said: Just spotted this on ABS http://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=106217 That could be just what he's looking for. I have texted Rob about your post Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 Thanks Alan, Pete. I was away in Bournemouth over the weekend, and had missed this. I've PM'd the seller........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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