Dobsonian Telesecopes – Telescope Boss

Review: Orion Skyquest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope

The 8-inch Dobsonian is one of the most often-recommended telescopes for serious beginners. There are a few models to choose from, any of which should give comparable performance. In this article, we’ll be looking at one of the more popular models: the Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic. About Dobsonians The term Dobsonian refers to a Newtonian…

3 Dobsonian Bases outside in grass and in a gravel parking lot

What Does Dobsonian Mean? The Incredible John Dobson

Dobsonian is a name for one type of telescope base. Dobsonian telescope bases move in two directions, up and down and left and right; astronomers refer to this as altitude and azimuth or alt-az. Dobsonian bases are designed to be affordable and easy to use. The Dobsonian base is usually made from coated plywood and…

Are Go-To Dobsonian Telescopes Worth the Money? Pros and Cons

The Dobsonian reflector is an immensely popular telescope among amateur astronomers. Powerful, cost-effective, and easy to use, they opened the door to large-aperture telescopes for observers across the world. Since the early 2000s, GoTo models have become increasingly common from suppliers like Orion and Sky-Watcher. These adaptations of the traditional Dob add motor drives to…

What Can You See with a 12-inch Dobsonian? (with pictures)

There is a saying in astronomy that aperture rules. Larger apertures collect more light and have higher resolution than smaller ones. This means they can detect fainter objects and resolve finer detail. There is also a condition called Aperture Fever when astronomers just want bigger and bigger telescopes! So where is the balance? Dobsonian telescopes…

What can you see with an 20 inch Dobsonian

What Can You See With a 20 Inch Dobsonian?

The 20 inch Dobsonian is one of the biggest telescopes commonly used by hobbyists. These telescopes must be special ordered and are not available from the major manufacturers. A 20 inch is 56% more aperture than a 16 inch Dobsonian. It is often recommended that you move up at least 1.4% in aperture for a…

What Can You See With an 8 Inch Dobsonian?

An 8 Inch Dobsonian is one of the most commonly recommended telescopes for beginners. It is often recommended because it is a high quality telescope that is very affordable and portable. You can use this telescope to see some really exciting objects. Depending on the weather conditions, the time of year and the darkness of…

Can a Dobsonian Telescope Be Mounted on a Tripod

Dobsonian telescopes are a great value for a lot of aperture, but the dobsonian base has its limitations. A small Dobsonian reflector can be mounted on a tripod or equatorial mount as long as the mount is capable of holding the weight of the optical tube. Install mounting rings to hold the scope to the…

What Can You See With a 10 Inch Dobsonian?

A 10 Inch Dobsonian is a very capable telescope. You can find thousands of objects; galaxies, planets, globular clusters, double stars, and planetary nebulae even in light polluted conditions. If you are able to travel to a dark site, you will be rewarded with even more spectacular views. While the exact objects you can see…

Astrophotography With a Dobsonian: Can It Be Done?

One of the things we often hear about Dobsonian telescopes is that they are no good for astrophotography. In this article we’ll find out what Dobsonian telescopes are, how they are limited for astrophotography, and how you might work around those limitations. About Dobsonians The Dobsonian reflector is one of the most popular telescopes for…

Best Set Up For Observing with Back Pain

Comfortable Observing with Back Pain: Tips for pain free stargazing

I have had issues with chronic back pain since my early twenties! Using my telescope was tricky at first, but I have found a few things that have helped me observe pain free. I have had two telescopes and I found that I am in very different positions when I use each one. I also…