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Swapped my refractor for a Dobsonian and the difference is night and day
I spent years fighting with a tiny 80mm refractor just to get blurry views of Jupiter. Finally picked up a 10-inch Dob from a guy on Craigslist for $200 and I saw the bands and Great Red Spot clear as anything on the first try. Anyone else find that aperture really does beat portability?
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the_fiona1mo agoTop Commenter
That $200 Craigslist Dob is the best deal since someone sold me a "barely used" cat that turned out to be a raccoon. Jupiter's bands through my old 80mm looked like someone smeared peanut butter on a foggy window. Now I see the Great Red Spot so clear I half expect to spot a tiny alien waving back at me. The aperture difference is basically like going from peeking through a keyhole to having the whole door thrown open. You ever try to explain to your spouse why the 10-inch needs to live in the living room?
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thomas_roberts1mo ago
Ngl, the whole "barely used cat turned out to be a raccoon" thing from @the_fiona is cracking me up. Sounds like a wild Craigslist adventure.
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simonp401mo ago
Man I had the exact same struggle with my old 80mm, that peanut butter description is spot on. My first clear night with the 10 inch I sat out for three hours just staring at Jupiter like an idiot because I couldn't believe how much detail was actually there. My wife still hasn't forgiven me for the living room situation either, she says it looks like a telescope threw up in there.
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