The Dobsonian Telescope: A Practical Manual for Building Large Aperture Telescopes
By addebook • Jun 25th, 2008 • Category: Astronomy & Geography •
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The Dobsonian Telescope: A Practical Manual for Building Large Aperture Telescopes
The Dobsonian Telescope: A Practical Manual for Building Large Aperture Telescopes
By David Kriege, Richard Berry
Publisher: Willmann-Bell
Number Of Pages: 475
Publication Date: 1997-06
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0943396557
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780943396552
Binding: Hardcover
This book tells how you can build a state-of-the-art Dobsonian telescope using readily available materials and supplies. Every step of construction is detailedin photographs and diagrams, and the underlying ideas are carefully explained. As a result of this three-year collaboration between authors David Kriege and Richard Berry, experienced and well-known telescope makers, you now have the opportunity to build a high-performance telescope from 14 inches to 40 inches aperture based on the thoroughly tested designs described in this book. The Dobsonian telescope takes its name from the astronomer/philosopher John Dobson, who introduced the concept of inexpensive, large-aperture telescopes to astronomy. Amateur astronomers at the time were so amazed that a telescope builtfrom simple, inexpensive materials performed so well that they could hardly believe their eyes. As home-built Dobsonians started showing up at star parties across the nation and people saw what Dobsonians could do, the word spread. In just a few years, the Dobsonian revolution swept the world. Since those early telescopes, Dobsonians have improved dramatically. An entire generation of amateur telescope makers contributed their best insights and refinements to Dobson’s original design. Today’s Dobsonians are larger, lighter,and more precise than ever before. For example, it is possible to build a telescope of 20 inches aperture that is compact enough to transp
Summary: The Dobsonian Telescope
Rating: 5
This book is the BIBLE for understanding and building your telescope. An absolute must read.
Summary: Excellent, comprehensive, well-written book!
Rating: 5
I am a beginning amateur astronomer, and this book has helped me immensely in understanding how telescopes work and what goes into building a quality telescope. Though I won’t be able to afford the optics for my dream telescope for some time, this book is excellent for either the aspiring telescope maker or an amateur like me who wants to understand what makes telescopes “great” vs. “so-so”.
The book is well-written and is a very easy read, even though it goes through some fairly complicated stuff at times. I highly recommend it!
Summary: Order it now, you won’t be sorry!
Rating: 5
One of the hardest things a beginner faces when jumping into amateur astronomy is “Where do I start?”. That question has been answered in great depth by this book. Considered by almost everyone to be “the bible” of amateur telescope making, if this book doesn’t inspire you to start cutting wood, then you need to find yourself another hobby!
One of the authors is responsible for the “Obsession” line of high-end Dobsonian telescopes. This book is almost a step-by-step guide on how you can build your own large Dobsonian, with optics and performance nearly as good as an Obsession. Yes, you probably won’t save much money over a purchased ’scope, but the pride of being able to say “I built this myself!” more than makes up for that. Plus, you will know (and understand) every single square inch of your telescope, so modifications and changes won’t be as frightening to you as they would if you had to cut into a $3000 commercial telescope.
If you think you’re going to use this book and build an 18″ ’scope for $500, you’re going to be in for quite a shock. The authors in this book both stress the importance of premium optics, and these do not come cheap. Expect to spend roughly $1500, or more, for a good quality 12.5″ primary mirror alone. Quality doesn’t come cheap, and with the only commercial Pyrex production line in the US shut down for the next several years, expect mirror prices to rise, drastically.
For those who can afford it, a scope like this can last for a lifetime. But if you can’t afford such a huge investment, this book also covers construction of an 8″, closed-tube Dobsonian (The larger sizes in the book are all truss tube models), which can be assembled for roughly $600.
Right now, several of my friends and I are starting to plan our dream scope, using nothing but this book as a reference guide. We’re going to build slowly, completing one major piece at a time. This both insures that the finished unit is as high a quality as we are capable of producing, plus helps to defer construction costs over a longer period of time.
Even if you have no intention of every getting a Dobsonian, you will find many things of value in this book.
Why are you still reading this? Go and order a copy for yourself. Experience firsthand just how well written and useful it really is, and I’ll bet you also start dreaming of cutting wood and aligning optics.
Summary: The Bible on Building Dobsonians !
Rating: 5
If you are interested in building a Dobsonian with professional results, this is the book for you. It even excercises pragmmatic guidance on what aperture should one choose by describing a series of scenarios one would not contemplate before building, but would clearly regret in the after.This is specially useful for those suffering from “aperture fever”.
The author wisely leaves aside the craft of making your own optics. He reduces it to one chapter. The reason: if you you want to build a serious and large aperture telescope; buy the optics. This, with time and experience, comes as the best option.
Nothing is left aside on what building a Dobsonian may concern. I honestly didn’t look for anything else after this book. (The only thing I surfed the internet for was for more images on Dob designs).
This is a rare book, for it accomplishes to fill virtually every doubt you may have on the subject.
Summary: Available from Publisher
Rating: 5
This book is available directly
from the publisher for $29.95 at
http://www.willbell.com/tm/dobtel.htm
Free Download Links
http://rapidshare.com/files/119558148/The_Dobsonian_telescope_Kriege_Berry.djvu.djvu
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