Anyone own a Dobsonian telescope?

Question

Are they pretty heavy? I've hear that most of them are. Do you have to pretty much get on your knees to look through it?

Answer 1

1. "Heavy" is relative. Some are heavier than others. An Orion 8inch dobsonian has a total weight of 41 lbs, but the tube and base can be carried seperately. For short distances, this is very transportable. You won't be hiking with it, however!

2. You don't get on your knees - you get a stool or chair! I think 6-to10inch Dobsonians are in fact about the most comfortable telescope design you can find to use. Viewing while seated is much better than the standing contortions you need with a scope on a German equatorial mount, for example.

The tiny 4.5inch dobs are too short to use while seated; they need to be used on a steady table. Larger dobs (about 12inches on up) are better used while standing, or even require a stepladder.

Answer 2

I have an 8" dobsonian. I used to own a 10", but after moving to a more light-polluted location after owning the 10" over a decade, it was just too heavy to lug around anymore. The best scope is the one you use most often and the 10" wasn't getting used enough. I have no major regrets about downsizing to 8".

As Zhimbo has pointed out, you can carry a dob in 2 pieces which makes it easier. Check the weight specs to see if you are willing to carry it much. 8" is very optimal because it is not much heavier than a 6" but will show things significantly better, wheras 10" is noticably heavier than 8" but the improvement is not worth the weight difference for me personally.

If you live near a retailer that specializes in telescopes you could go to their showroom and see the ones on display and try (after asking of course) lifting them to see what it is like.

A lightweight stool, preferably with adjustable height works well with using 10" and smaller dobsonians. Orion and others sell them, though you might find them significantly cheaper if you get a good deal on a drummer's stool at a musical instruments store. An 8" and smaller dob will likely have you sitting down to observe even when it is pointed overhead. A 10" and larger will have you standing up (maybe a little bent) when viewing the zenith.

Let me emphasize that 8" is probably the best first scope size you can get. But that is just my opinion.

Answer 3

As telescopes go, the Dobsonian is one of the larger ones. There are heavier scopes, but, for a given size (like "8 inch") a Dobsonian is pretty hard to move around or transport. They make Dobsonians that come apart so you can transport it in a car, and special carts so you can roll big Dobsonians around. The eyepiece is at the top, so you're more likely to need something to stand on, than to kneel down.

If they're big and somewhat clumsy, why do people buy Dobsonians? For the money, nothing will show you dim deep space objects like a Dobsonian.

A small refractor is lighter and more portable. But nowhere near as good for deep space objects. Fine for the moon and the planets.

A mixed lens/mirror telescope ("catadioptric", several sub-types) is a popular compromise. Not as cheap as a Dobsonian, not as expensive as a big refractor. Not the very best for deep space objects or planets but pretty good for everything. Pretty small and easy to move around. Meade and Celestron are the major builders, others make them. A Questar is among the very best, but is extremely expensive, close to what a big refractor costs.

Here's some pictures of all of them:

http://www.meade.com/productguide/index.html

Answer 4

The are generally considered light weight for the size of mirror that they can use. I own a 12" SCT GPS LX200 from Meade. That, is heavy. With a big Dob, you need a ladder.

Answer 5

They can be heavy or light, large or small, tall or short. See the two sources for examples of small and large ones. You will probably need to get on your knees to look through a small one, unless you set it on a table. You will need a step ladder to look through the big ones!