If you don't already have it, Dave Kriege's Big Dob book is the "bible"
on building and/or using dobs.

sc wrote:
>
> RE:I CAN' STAND IT!
>
> Thank you! That's the best thing I've read on MAPUG in a long time!!
>
> SC
>
> PS to Ed S. and John H., Still loving my LX-200!! Thanks again!! Seriously
> thinking about trying to build a Dob.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 1:00 AM
> Subject: mapug-digest V1 #2053
>
> mapug-digest Tuesday, December 14 1999 Volume 01 : Number 2053
>
> In this issue:
>
> RE: [M]: LX200 purchase
> Re: [M]: LX200 purchase
> [M]: Re: mapug-digest V1 #2052
> [M]: RE: Re: mapug-digest V1 #2052
> [M]: I CAN'T STAND IT!
> Re: [M]: I CAN'T STAND IT!
>
> See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the mapug
> or mapug-digest mailing lists.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 07:45:04 -0500
> Subject: RE: [M]: LX200 purchase
>
> Thanks.
>
> Billy Wayne White
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Sent: Sunday, December 12, 1999 7:32 AM
> > Subject: Re: [M]: LX200 purchase
> >
> > Yes, Yes, Yes!
> >
> > You do how ever want the 10"
> >
> > "White, Billy Wayne (GEA, 037370)" wrote:
> >
> > > MAPUG,
> > >
> > > I have used an 8 inch LX50 with the Magellan II for 2 years now. I'm
> > in
> > > the middle of building a home observatory in my back yard. I'm ready to
> > > upgrade to the LX200 to mount in my observatory.. Before I sell my
> > LX50,
> > > I'd like to know from you who have a LX200 if given the opportunity to
> > do
> > > things over, would you still purchase the LX200? Is it worth the
> > difference
> > > in price really? Although I won't be able to do so immediately, I'd
> > like
> > > to move into CCD imaging in the future. Thanks for your help.
> > >
> > > Wayne White
> >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 17:23:09 EST
> Subject: Re: [M]: LX200 purchase
>
> I am a relative newcomer to astronomy. While my first scope is a 2045D, two
> months ago I purchased a 10" LX200. I would do the same again. While not
> as
> quick and dirty as the 4", the ease of use once set-up is more than
> offsetting. Probably only takes about 5-7 mins to set-up, align and begin
> observing. While I will keep the 4", I would purchase another LX 200 w/o
> hesitation.
> Lynn.....
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 18:06:40 EST
> Subject: [M]: Re: mapug-digest V1 #2052
>
> Michael,
>
> Before you decide on the Meade Superwedge or the Milburn Wedge for use with
> your Meade LX Series scope, I suggest you check out an alternative wedge
> design ..... the Mettler Wedge.
>
> It can be viewed at:
>
> <A HREF="http://www.skyvalleyscopes.com/mettler.htm">The Mettler Wedge</A>
> http://www.skyvalleyscopes.com/mettler.htm
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Pat Lanclos
> http://members.aol.com/skysgt/index
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 19:18:05 -0800
> Subject: [M]: RE: Re: mapug-digest V1 #2052
>
> Hey,
> Do any of you have any experience with this wedge because I might just buy
> one. It looks pretty good and is only a few dollars more than Ken Millburn's
> Doug
>
> - -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Monday, December 13, 1999 3:07 PM
> Subject: [M]: Re: mapug-digest V1 #2052
>
> Michael,
>
> Before you decide on the Meade Superwedge or the Milburn Wedge for use with
> your Meade LX Series scope, I suggest you check out an alternative wedge
> design ..... the Mettler Wedge.
>
> It can be viewed at:
>
> <A HREF="http://www.skyvalleyscopes.com/mettler.htm">The Mettler Wedge</A>
> http://www.skyvalleyscopes.com/mettler.htm
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Pat Lanclos
> http://members.aol.com/skysgt/index
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 23:29:36 -0500
> Subject: [M]: I CAN'T STAND IT!
>
> For the 15 years of my marriage, my wife has maintained a constant, but
> low frequency, series of references to her interest in astronomy - she
> had a small scope as a teen and "...really loved looking at the
> planets."
>
> Well, in September I decided to buy my wife a telescope for this
> Christmas. So I started my research. I used the Net, a friend
> astronomer/astrophotographer/ATM, books, store personnel, MAPUG, and a
> local astro club. I wrestled with cost, useability, quality, etc. But
> most amazing (to me at least), in my pursuit of understanding and the
> knowledge to make a wise investment, I became fascinated with the whole
> celestial observer thing. The more I learned the more excited I became.
> Man, this will be great! I'll become an explorer of sorts, and best of
> all, this is something my wife and I will be able to share. (We already
> happily share a motorcycle, reading, scuba, kids, and a dog - she's a
> rare bird, my wife is!)
>
> The thing is that I've REALLY been sucked in. I'm so gassed up that I
> can't stand it! We've been out on every night with decent seeing
> learning the sky with binoculars, including 3 freezing hours watching
> the Leonids. We're having a ton of fun with the charts, planospheres,
> and red lights.
>
> I finally decided on an 8" LX200 f/10. I figured it would take a month
> to get the thing - that made ETA about 3 days before
> Christmas...perfect!
>
> Except...the place I called had one in stock. It arrived 2 plus weeks
> ago. I couldn't hide the big boxes from her, so she knows what's coming.
> Figuring that since she knew it was here, I decided there was no harm in
> setting it up..."just to make sure all the pieces were there" (sure!).
>
> Digression...my wife is the nosiest, most inquisitive,
> can't-keep-a-secret, peeks-at-Xmas-presents, woman I know. She can't
> stand it knowing that there's something she's not supposed to know. End
> digression.
>
> Well, figuring that she wouldn't be able to leave the six-foot, sheet
> draped thing in the living room alone, I started dropping hints about
> how maybe she ought to get her present early. (It never occurred to me
> that once she had seen it, we could then begin to USE it! No, of course
> not!).
>
> I CAN'T STAND IT! My wife says, "Nope, don't want to spoil my Christmas
> surprise!" AAAARRRRGGGGHH! I can't try out our new telescope! It sits
> there looking at the inside of the lens cover while I memorize the
> user's manual!
>
> That lasted about a week. Whilst haunting the MAPUG, I discovered that
> this expensive instrument I had purchased had a few minor flaws. Just
> what I needed! If I can't use it, then I'll improve it! (Yeah, ther's a
> looney bin somewhere with my name on it.)
>
> So now I have a wedge stabilizer based on Ed Stewart's design, a
> modified tripod sled with castors, courtesy of Ed Stewart and Don
> Holcombe, and have modified the Meade counterweight system into a 2D
> system using suggestions from several people. Pizza pan tripod tray is
> next on the list...then maybe a power box? Depends on how many 36 hour
> days I can squeeze in before Christmas.
>
> There is a little teaser of happiness in this story. Last night I
> finished the tripod sled and needed to test my creative genius - my
> problem was the door to the deck from the enclosed porch - it was too
> narrow to accommodate the dimensions of Ed and Don's sled with castors.
> I modified things by not using a "T" arrangement for the 2 X 4s, but
> instead joined 3 of them at 120 degrees in the middle with a thick, but
> small (about 13 inches per side) plywood plate on top. This (in theory)
> allowed me to take advantage of the space between the legs to go through
> the door by rotating the tripod through the opening.
>
> So I assembled everything on the porch and gave it a shot. Voila! It
> worked!
>
> It was then I noticed that the sky was extremely clear. Would it be
> cheating if I flipped the covers off the OTA and finder and took a peek?
> Nah, of course not! Grabbed the standard 26mm eyepiece, knelt on the
> deck (no chair yet), pointed the finder at the Orion Nebula (I had
> already clandestinely aligned it to the scope through the living room
> window), then looked through the eyepiece.
>
> I gotta tell ya...I've drooled over the fine color photos on the Net,
> been astonished at the deep field shots of distant galaxies, and been
> amazed at amateur pictures showing the Great Red Spot. But I've NEVER,
> EVER seen anything as breathtaking as my first, in-focus, full field
> view of the Orion Nebula. As I watched it move out of view, I could
> only say...well, I can't tell you exactly what I said, but the sight was
> truly profound and wonderful. I only wish my wife had been there.
>
> I put the scope back under the sheet in the living room.
>
> Christmas will come...eventually.
>
> I CAN'T STAND IT!!!
>
> My apologies to any who may object to this voluminous post in their mail
> box. I just hadda tell someone, and you folks seemed like you might
> welcome my story.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chuck
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 12:11:53 +0700
> Subject: Re: [M]: I CAN'T STAND IT!
>
> Great story Chuck, it's one for the focal point section of Sky& Telescope.
>
> Best wishes for Christmas - perhaps it has come true.
> Alan
>
> >For the 15 years of my marriage, my wife has maintained a constant, but
> >low frequency, series of references to her interest in astronomy - she
> >had a small scope as a teen and "...really loved looking at the
> >planets."..........snip of great story........
> >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of mapug-digest V1 #2053
> ****************************

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