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Phillip Creed
Idiot Seeking Village
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 1032
Loc: NE Ohio
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To all,
I'm been going through various mental ruminations on a second scope to complement my 16" f/4.5 and 25x100 binoculars. The problem each time, it seems, is how to mount them without shedding excessive cash.
I think I may have come across a good, affordable compromise--an Orion 8" f/6 Dobsonian (XT8 Classic). There's just one catch, of course...
...how do I get the bleeping thing off the ground to be at a presentable height? I'm 6' 2", and I do appreciate not having my knees on the ground to look at something in Sagittarius.
One thought did occur to me--a coffee/end table. Simple, easy to transport, and about the right height. But, heck, I don't have any experience in using one of them.
Has anyone tried this with an 8" dob, or something similar?
Clear Skies,
Phil
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"Why suffer from insanity when you can revel in it?"
Wilderness Center Astronomy Club member since 1995
ICQ Comet Observer Code: CRE01
*****
16" f/4.5 Truss Dobsonian (FOR SALE!!)
Orion 120mm ST Refractor
23mm Axiom LX
13mm Nagler Type 6
9mm Nagler Type 6
1.75X Siebert Barlow
*****
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22460
Loc: NE Ohio
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One member of our club installed coffee table legs directly to the groundboard of his 8" dob - worked out pretty well.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
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Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
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Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 16396
Loc: Brooker, FL
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Several of our club members have "altitude augmentation devices" - all very simple. You don't even need an end table - a slab of plywood, leg fittings, and screw in legs, and you're ready to observe.
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N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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Phillip Creed
Idiot Seeking Village
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 1032
Loc: NE Ohio
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Rusty,
Any pictures for reference?
Clear Skies,
Phil
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"Why suffer from insanity when you can revel in it?"
Wilderness Center Astronomy Club member since 1995
ICQ Comet Observer Code: CRE01
*****
16" f/4.5 Truss Dobsonian (FOR SALE!!)
Orion 120mm ST Refractor
23mm Axiom LX
13mm Nagler Type 6
9mm Nagler Type 6
1.75X Siebert Barlow
*****
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Nick-Sydney
member
Reged: 05/04/08
Posts: 97
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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I use an oldish unused TV stand. Its very solid, which means there is minimal increase in vibrations etc. It doesn't have 3 or 4 legs like a side/coffee table, but rather 3 sides which are very stable. It also weighs a tonne, so I only use it at home. If I'm going to a dark site I just use a short stool and sit.
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8" GSO Dob | 16" LightBridge | WO M102SV | ZS80IIED | ZS66SD | 25x100 & 15x70 AOE Binos | 4mm UWAN | 3mm SPL | ZOOMII | 2" 30mm Andrews | SV BV3 | Baader Moon & Skyglow
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Bowmoreman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 2992
Loc: Bolton, MA
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Hey Phil! Great meeting you at BEOTS btw...
Before I added my RTP equatorial platform (which adds about 5-6" in height), I would sometimes just take 3 concrete cinder blocks...
The advantage of this approach is that it is SOLID (and cheap)... disadvantage is obvious - at about 10-15# each...
I'd fear that "extension legs" would be pretty wobbly, as would any table not having mass similar to the cinder blocks...
YMMV
clear enough skies
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Dave
Ustream
YLive
XT10i, RTP, CGE, R200CF, TMB80SS
31T5, 22T4, 13Ethos, 8Ethos, TV 3-6 Zoom; Paracorr
MallincamColorHyperPlus,SBIG STV&237A;CanonRebel Xti
WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO #90)
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Patrick
Postmaster
Reged: 05/16/03
Posts: 6788
Loc: Franklin, Ohio
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Hi Phillip,
Have you considered something like a StarDust Observing Chair rather than a table. You can sit pretty low on one of those guys.
Patrick
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Discovery 10" f/6 Split Tube Dob
Celestron C6 SCT
Denk Binoviewers
AT66ED Refractor
Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Binocular
475B Geared Tripod & 501HDV Head
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Celestron Regal 8x42 Binocular
Canon 30D DSLR
Mini EQ1
My Astronomy Pages
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Tom Andrews
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/25/07
Posts: 605
Loc: Homebase - Albuquerque, NM; c...
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I used a wagon which accomplishes height and short transport problems. This wagon wouldn't be tall enough for you, but others with bigger tires might. You could certainly build your own to meet your needs.
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Tom
The Secret To Life:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
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