Need a Big Man Scope!

[Bigbeck]

I need a beginner scope that I can view while standing up. I'm 6'2" tall. I want to stay under 500.00. I'm thinking Orion 8" dob or Celestron Astromaster 130EQ reflector. We already have the Celestron Astromaster 90 EQ refractor, which my son loves. We also have a 14" high stool for viewing. But sitting and bending forward a couple of degrees really kills my back. I can only take it for a few minutes.

If I get the dob,I realize that I'll probably have to build a 12" high platform for it.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

I can easily handle a 40-50 pound scope without hurting my back.

[Moya]

I have the Orion Dob you're talking about, and coincidentally am the same height as you.

Its a great scope and pretty easy to carry, but you would want to build some kind of add on base for it as its about 4 or 5 feet tall when the tube is completely vertical. I have to bend down a bit during viewing, but it doesn't bother my young bones all too much (I had the privilege of being conceived in the very late 80s).

I also found kneeling down on the ground to be somewhat comfortable, but again, young bones here. :D

I don't know much about the 130EQ, but the Orion XT8 8 inch dob is a GREAT 'scope.

[redshifter]

It will be difficult to find a scope or scope + platform that will allow you to observe any object while standing, as objects in different parts of the sky will require different elevations of the eyepiece off the ground. You might need a platform of some kind that can easily be raised/lowered such that the eyepiece can always be at a height conducive to standing.

I've had the 8" Orion dob and loved it. I have since upgraded to the Orion 10" dob and have no plans to upgrade it any time soon, it's a great combination of aperature, ease of use, ease of setup, and portable enough that it fits in my car.

One thing worth considering is a larger pair of binocs (say 80-100mm) on a tripod and paralellogram style mount. I have such a setup and can view any object in the sky while standing, although viewing objects at zenith is more comfortable if I'm lying down.

[Bigbeck]

The problem I have is when my torso is at a right angle to my legs, as in sitting down. Standing up, I can easily bend 45 degrees. A comfortable eyepiece height for me would be from 42" to 60" while standing up. This pretty much eliminates the refractor that I have - if only the eyepiece was at the other end.(:

[redshifter]

Hmmm...if you could add a few hundred bucks to your budget, the Orion 12" dob may work out without needing to do anything to raise it, the eyepeice height might be OK right out of the box.

[Bigbeck]

Come on Red! And for a few billion more I could get a hubble. You have a wife Red? That's all I'm gonna say. An 8" or 12" platform is free!

Why don't I just get a 130 to 150mm reflector on a EQ? That eyepiece is going to be up there,right?

[Siguy]

Come on Red! And for a few billion more I could get a hubble. You have a wife Red? That's all I'm gonna say. An 8" or 12" platform is free!

Why don't I just get a 130 to 150mm reflector on a EQ? That eyepiece is going to be up there,right?
Large refractors can get you into some very awkward positions. I certainly would not recommend them to someone who has a narrow hight range.

Also, I think you should just work with the telescope you have until you're ready to move to something bigger, maybe get an adjustable chair or something. There are also mount extentions for refractors, but I don't think there are any that work with a Synta EQ-1. You might need a trip to the hardware store.

But if you absolutely must have a big telescope now, go with an Orion 8-12'' dob. SkyQuest XTi 12'' dobs are on sale for les than normal XT dobs right now!
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=overstock_sale/~pcategory=overstock_sale/~product_id=09189

[redshifter]

'Come on Red! And for a few billion more I could get a hubble. You have a wife Red? That's all I'm gonna say. An 8" or 12" platform is free!"


Well, you'll need to be a lot taller to see anything through the Hubble while standing up....

An 8" dob will be comparable in price to a 130 - 150mm EQ reflector, but will give you more aperature and likely be a lot more stable. Also, the eyepeice height ought to be similar as well in most cases.

And yes, I do have a wife...and a platform is only free if you already have the materials and tools to make such a platform (minus the labor). You didn't specify that in your original post, so I made the assumption that the difference in cost between the 8" Orion and an applicable platform for your needs wouldn't be a whole lot cheaper than the 12" Orion dob.

[Bigbeck]

and a platform is only free if you already have the materials and tools to make such a platform (minus the labor). You didn't specify that in your original post, so I made the assumption that the difference in cost between the 8" Orion and an applicable platform for your needs wouldn't be a whole lot cheaper than the 12" Orion dob.


Sorry Red. Sometimes I assume that everyone who has a hobby has a garage full of tools and scraps of wood and metal lying around. I guess it comes from being a carpenter and welder for most of my life. Seems like everyone I know that's in building trades has an abundant supply of building materials just lying around.

[redshifter]

No worries! I wish my garage was full of tools and wood/metal scraps with which to build all the projects I'd like to do.

[tre475]

I just got this Celestron 90 EQ Refractor Telescope (http://www.dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=80147&ru=290) for my brother, it features a compact and portable design with ample optical performance, and has a convenient pan handle with built-in clutch for easy targeting and smooth motion. This style of mount is great for viewing nature and celestial objects. seems cool.

[RickJ]

A good used 8" SCT on a fork mount on a good tripod would solve the height problem as they vary little with various pointing angles. A used one will hold value well so the cost is small when you move up.

A 6" Newtonian on an equatorial mount is just about as inconvenient for you as the DOB and is not nearly as steady.

Rick

[Bigbeck]

I just got this Celestron 90 EQ Refractor Telescope (http://www.dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=80147&ru=290) for my brother, it features a compact and portable design with ample optical performance, and has a convenient pan handle with built-in clutch for easy targeting and smooth motion. This style of mount is great for viewing nature and celestial objects. seems cool.


That's the scope that I have. I really like the way an EQ mount operates.

I partially took care of my problem by fabricating a 10" long tripod mast out of 2" steel pipe and 3/16" steel plate. I spent 3.00 at home depot for the pipe and a couple of metric bolts. It took me about a half day to get everything layed out and cut perfectly square and welded. I had to cut an oblong hole in the pipe in order to install the top bolt that goes into the mount. That was an afterthought.
I wonder why Celestron don't make one? Am I the only tall guy in the country that uses a refractor?

It works well and looks good too. Now I don't have to crawl around the ground like a snake when looking up 70 to 80 degrees.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

Don