Dobsonian Mirrors
Monday, September 12th, 2011 |
 Meade Light Shroud for 12 Inch LightBridge Dobsonian  US $29.00
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 Mega disc Woodwork Plans and How To Guides on a DVD US $1.58
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 Woodworking Plans Tips Tricks PDF on DVD Many Full Color Sections US $9.99
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 Orion SkyQuest XT6 9806 150mm Newtonian Telescope US $33.00
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 Astro Optics 125 Collimator Economy Collimation Tool For Telescope US $8.99
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 Meade 931 0965 to 125 45 deg Erect Prism Diagonal US $25.00
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 MEADE ETX 90ec telescope etx 90 US $250.00
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 Celestron Edge HD 1100 On CGEM Mount 11 f 10 Aplanatic SCT Telescope 11082 US $3,999.00
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 Meade 928 125 45 deg Erect Image Diagonal Prism US $40.00
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 Woodworking Playhouse Wendyhouse Dollhouse Plans CD US $5.00
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 WOOD PDF PLANS 1000s 1000s on a CD BUILD IT YOURSELF PRINT USE US $7.88
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 MASSIVE Woodwork Collection Over 1GB Of Plans On 3 CDs US $11.04
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 Woodworking 20books CD Woodwork Plans Farm Homesteading US $5.00
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 Baader Planetarium 2 inch Clicklock Mirror Diagonal 295 US $264.95
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Orion Three-Fan Cooling System for Convex-Back Dobsonians
Sale Price: $59.99  |
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Orion SkyQuest XT8i IntelliScope Dobsonian Telescope
Sale Price: $599.99 |
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Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Telescope
List Price: |
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Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Reflector Telescope
Sale Price: $489.00 |
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Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
List Price: |
Astronomy: Build Your Own Telescope for Inexpensive Family Fun
Astronomy is thought of as something nerds do or those hidden away in towers with big telescopes and mysterious computations. However, you don’t need to be good at math a nerd or spend a long time learning to discover the stars. The ancients did that and learned a lot about their world that way. Given these times when money issues are foremost, it’s nice to know that there are simple things we can do to enjoy our world and learn more about it without having to spend a lot of money or do things that are too complicated to enjoy after all. It’s possible to have fun in your backyard with a little instruction and time, then get other folks around with you to enjoy it too.
We read how folks discover new planets and wax eloquently over stars and their speed, direction and relationship to one another. How many of us know that you can actually build your own telescope to appreciate those heavenly lights in the skies, those stars above us. That might even be a whole lot more interesting than watching the stars in other areas, those in television and the movies or in politics, those Bill Clintons, Sarah Palins, and Paris Hiltons, that all fade in time. Those stars in heaven won’t.
Joey Matheson in the town of Natchitoches, is a talented man, a retired clown from major circuses, who does odds and ends at a local church and teaches people how to build telescopes and enjoy looking at the stars. He is a Bible scholar also along with being an amateur astronomer, so in his own way he balances science and religion. Recently I spent some time with Joey as he explained the elements of the telescope. Looking at the heavens up close in the evening sky can be fulfilling and informative. Joey is not only adept with the telescope, he is also a master at explaining how it is used.
John Dobson, working in a monastery in San Francisco in the 1960’s, wanted to develop a telescope design that would be relatively easy to use. Joey has this type, which is called the Dobsonian telescope. The telescope originated with Isaac Newton. It consists of an eyepiece in the back, a secondary cage and mirror box. One looks through the eyepiece and sees the images that are brought through light that comes in and is reflected by a large mirror. Joey’s telescope is made for deep sky observing, for looking at galaxies, asteroids, and pinpointing stars. Through it one is able to see 18,000 galaxies.
The telescope helps one establish direction, iis used for navigational purposes and to establish the seasons for planting. Joey tells us that the telescope gives him certitude and understanding that there’s a purpose for everything in the relationship of one thing to another, in the earth and in the heavens. It has practical purposes as well as esoteric ones.
There are simple instructions the Internet for building telescopes and networks of people to talk with about them. Astronomy clubs are great groups to join because these folks are interested in nature and the heavens and like Joey see that purpose for everything under heaven.
About the Author
Professional journalist with small town newspaper with hard copy and online editions and political and social blog. Licensed also as a mental health counselor, certified as a teacher, and experience over 40 years in multiple areas. See website at http://www.therealviews.com and blogs at http://everythingsarahpalin.blogspot.com or http://coffeewithcarol.blogspot.com
Orion XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope & Beginner Barlow Kit
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