Did anyone else see it fly past a couple of nights ago? It was VERY cool! It was like a very bright star that passed right above the big dipper…at least here in New York. Right before it passed, we saw a small satellite pass. I thought it was the Space Station at first, but it turns out the Space Station was much bigger, lol.
Also, right now you can see a few of the moons of Jupiter even when just looking with binoculars. I think we made out 3 with a pair of cheaper ones.
Dobson was a fellow who took up an interest in telescopes. Being a bright boy, he figured out how to make a very good telescope for not very much money, and shared his method with the world. The resulting style of telescope is called a Dobsonian, or a “Dob”. You can buy them ready made if you don’t want to do the work yourself. Prices vary depending on the size and quality. A Dobsonian does not have a motorized mount (part of the inexpensive design), but can be fitted to one for a price.
Basically, it is a big cardboard tube, with a spider to hold the mirror at one end, and a lens and smaller mirror suspended part way down the other end. Viewing is through the side near the upper end with an added eyepiece. A basic mount will move in both axes, but you have to move it by hand.
Lots of good Dobsnians available from Meade or Celestron.
Well now wait a sec. there is some controversy about the Dobsonian name after all many individuals played a role in the development of this scope. I think it is wrong to marginalize their contributions.
Anyway get a sonotube from Home Depot and go crazy. We let our guys paint the tube when we built ours fifteen or so years ago, now I am trying to figure out how to cut it, flatten it, and frame it since they would rather play with their little particle accelerators more than scopes.
