Telescope Dobsonian Style

The Telescope Dobsonian, I know when I was first getting into amateur astronomy everything was totally new! It was embarrassing to ask questions sometimes because I felt like I was asking professional motorcycle riders how to ride a tricycle. The most basic information to them was a foreign language to me!

If you have felt that way or are feeling as out of place as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs in the world of astronomy. I can get you started here with a quick explanation of the Dobsonian Telescope or actually a Telescope with a Dobsonian Base!

So lets talk about the Telescope Dobsonian.

I know most people call this telescope a Dobsonian, or a Dobsonian Telescope, mostly we just call them "Dob". For now just to get the point across I'll call it the Telescope Dobsonian because one must realize that the telescope is actually a "Newtonian" telescope. Dobsonian came from the base that was invented by John Dobson when he was in San Francisco with the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers.

So we will call it the Telescope Dobsonian here just for the fun of it, and to help simplify our talk.

Note: Don't call the Dobsonian a telescope Dobsonian at the local star party! They will probably look at you funny...they will know what you mean by telescope Dobsonian. But astronomy folk usually just call em Dobs.

Let's discuss the make up of a Telescope Dobsonian

The Telescope Dobsonian is basically two parts; the OTA (optical tube assembly) and the base. The OTA is typically a Newtonian reflector made with a solid tube or a truss tube assembly. The base of the telescope Dobsonian can be made from almost anything handy and any design you can come up with in your head! (click here for information on building a Newtonian telescope)

Keep in mind the whole purpose of the Telescope Dobsonian style was to have a large diameter telescope that was affordable by a lot more people. You might think of John Dobson as the Henry Ford of the telescope! John Dobson literally brought the telescope to the masses by making it affordable and fun.  His telescope Dobsonian style enabled a totally new style of astronomy to come about...The Sidewalk Astronomer!

No expensive equatorial mount, no computers, no observatory. Just a very portable, large diameter telescope that could be set up anywhere there was access to a dark, or not so dark, sky.

Remember that there is a LOT of history and science that comes with any telescope explanation. I will keep things as simple as possible and in straight talk as much as I can. I will link enough of the science and techie stuff to keep you confused if you want to use it. My First Scope will help the beginner

Telescope Dobsonian Style

Look at this view of M42 with a 18" Dob

Dobsonian Telescope

We will begin with the OTA