The SKY WATCHER Story,

[Condor]

So I’m sure a lot of the members…if not all… do not know that one of my many eclectic interests is chasing planets. I pick up all of my telescopes out of auctions ‘cause I can’t afford anything over the counter new. So about three years ago I picked up an 8” Dobsonian Sky Watcher at auction for $43 bucks.. New in the box. The problem was it didn’t have a base, so contacted Sky Watcher and bought a base for $125. Felt pretty good about getting a new $550 scope for less than $200. Then about 3 months ago I picked up one of Sky Watcher’s collapsible 8” Dobsonian’s. Again, at auction, and this time for around $80 bucks. Same deal, no base, but I had an 8” base. The Flex-Tube scope… that’s what Sky Watcher calls it… retails for $695. Then last month a Sky Watcher base, that is motorized and computerized, pops up and I go for it. Spent way more than I should have, but it was one of those ‘gotta have it’ moments. However, the power bases retail for $700 bucks and I got this one for $250 bucks. Got it home and put it together. Alas, poor Yoric… it was for a 10” Dobsonian, not the 8"… The mighty Casey had struck out… So just yesterday up pops 10 ea. Complete Sky Watcher 10” Dob’s., and after a flurry of bidding I got one for $180 bucks. They were the classic’s (non-Flex-Tube), but one would slide into the 10” flex power base. Haven’t picked it up yet, but looking forward to adapting a classic 10” onto a 10” flex power base… Hey, it’ll be entertaining…. I’ll add some pics when they are assembled and ready to go chasing planets… Maybe even some pic's of a planet or two??

[slowrollwv]

Jack I hope you don't find Pucsatonia. That little pace where the Pucster is from. He may start to go home like ET and flood the Midwest again. :Laugh:

[cowpuc]

Jack I hope you don't find Pucsatonia. That little pace where the Pucster is from. He may start to go home like ET and flood the Midwest again. :Laugh:

 

lop eared trouble makin varmint!! Leave my homeland out of it will ya!! Jacks got enough excitement in his life without go looking for Pucsatonia!!

 

Hey Jack,, betcha that set up would be a RIOT up in the Sierra Nevada's on a non Moonlit night!!!!!!

[Sylvester]

Even over a telescope. Not nice boys. Some of you may need time-out.

 

[Condor]

lop eared trouble makin varmint!! Leave my homeland out of it will ya!! Jacks got enough excitement in his life without go looking for Pucsatonia!!

 

Hey Jack,, betcha that set up would be a RIOT up in the Sierra Nevada's on a non Moonlit night!!!!!!

 

Think what it would be like in the parking lot of the Mt Hood Lodge.. I grew up in L.A. and the first time I saw the Milky Way on a dark night during a water skiing trip down by Parker,AZ on the Colorado River I was hooked.... The most amazing thing I'd ever seen...

I just unpacked the 10" Dob, and Holy Moly it's heavy... and big!! Now I see why they aren't very popular.. :-) But I bet it'll take great pics...for an amateur... Maybe someday a lighter flex tube 10" will show up in an auction?? Now I gotta go re-read the manual in order to pull the mirror so I can modify the side mounts.... Sign!!... it never ends...