PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

pj67coll · #70 10-31-2018, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Signed a contract on my house! Closing in two weeks. Most of that is going into our new construction but I’m holding a bit aside for ... ASTRONOMY! Yes folks. I’m taking the plunge.

I have an enviable dilemma: do I get a high quality GEM and slowly build a system or do I forget all the options available with a GEM-based system and go for a serious light bucket, like a 12” goto dob? I swear I’ve changed my mind every day for the past two weeks.

Very nice dilemma to have indeed. Depends primarily I think on what your interests are and the quality of the skies at your location.

For myself I'm primarily interested in planetary astronomy, just because, but also because the skies from my backyard are a complete waste of time for any faint fuzzies. There are about 13 street lights that I can see from my house including four that severely impact what I can see. So I'm confined mainly to solar system stuff.

Always wanted my own observatory but I'd never build one here now. (Scorpions...) So I might attempt to build a pier in my yard. In your case I good "light bucket" might be the way to go especially on an equatorial platform. That way you have the best of both worlds. Large aperture along with the ability to track your target as if you had standard GEM mount.

- Peter.