Discovery 10" W/ Pyrex upgrade


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Brand and Model:Discovery 10" W/ Pyrex upgrade
Price ($USD):$629.
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:254mm (10")
f Ratio:f/4.5
Focal Length:1143mm
Finder:Telrad
Electric Power:
Mount:
Tripod:
Weight (lbs):65 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Discovery 10" W/ Pyrex upgrade
I HAVE THE f5.6 version of the 10". The longer tube is a consideration for transport, though I can fit it in my Toyota Camry. I selected the two inch focuser upgrade. It has a pressure screw that has to be set fairly tight to avoid having the eyepiece shift in the focuser as it is racked in and out (this wrecked havock with the collimation until I figured it out). Scope seems well made. It has sliding bearings to help balance scope with heavier eyepieces. Inside of tube is well blacked. Base is laminate but well made. I had to "roud" out some of the holes in the scope base support to be able to countersink the screws below the surface so that they would not rub on the ground board. Only one hole was "off". Tube is heavy related to 10" size and f5.6 focal ratio. Scope is easy to use. I recommend opting for a telrad rather than standard focuser. All in all a well made "tube dob". I have mounted mine on one of Equatorial Systems "Compact Equatorial Platforms" (this replaces the ground board) to allow the dob to track, This makes high power views a pleasure and makes for a durable star party scope. The kids can kick it and I don't care.
Optics seem good and are comprable to our club's other dobs (mostly Meades).

Why a seven: documentation is skimpy, I'd never had a Newt before and the collimation advice was sparse and the instructions on how to manipulate the spider to achieve collimation were nonexistant. scope is heavy. I had to do some modifications. I think that it is well made, supplied eyepieces were good. The darkening of the inside of the tube is good.


As modified: Equatorial Platform, 2" focuser, telrad, 8x 50mm Amici prism finder, sand bag (adjustable bearings could not compensate for the finder scope mounted close to the end of the tube) I'd say its closer to an 8 or 9. On the platform the dob makes a perfect star party (novices looking in scope) scope.

One of the reviews (?S&T) commented that the secondary on some discovery telescope's dobs is too small, decreasing the effective size of the primary. I don't know if this is true for the 10" f5.6

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39466


Discovery 10" W/ Pyrex upgrade
I have had this scope for about three weeks so far but have only really had a chance to check it out in the past few days. First of all I purchased the standard F5.6 model, up graded to the JMI focuser with the tetrad. before I ordered the scope I asked if I could trade the standard focuser which they were giving you the 2" one plus a barlow and two eps. The fellow on the phone at that time said yes he could work things out and ended up getting the scope, mount,jmi and tetrad for under $700 plus shipping. This is my first dob and have looked threw a few 12.5 discovery dobs at star parties and was impressed with there performance. The scope performes very well so far, dso's just pop outa the ep's and the moon is outstanding, Mars is to low in the sky for real observing so I'm going to have to waite till jupiter and saturn show up this fall. It does star test well and the only thing I see here at my home is most nights the upper atmosphere never really settles down for a 10" scope. The JMI focuser is great and the tetradis ok, not really thrilled with it. The mount had taken some time to get it the way I wanted it to be but once its done it smooth but still has a small amount of firmness to it. I'll know more about how it dies on the palnets but for dso's it great and that was the main purpose for this scope. I'll report in about a month and will see how it gies. I would have no problem recomending this scope, Enjoy.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39471


Discovery 10" W/ Pyrex upgrade
We purchased the F5.6 with Telrad over a year ago. The scope arrived in good shape. It assembled with no problems, all parts fit perfectly. Our scope is quite easy to collimate, both the secondary and primary have easy to use adjustments. The tube is nicely painted inside with a flat black.

The scope works smoothly as long as I keep the bearing surfaces clean and it balances nicely with the eyepieces we own. As mentioned collimation is easy, star test show identical on both sides of focus.

We have had no problems with this telescope, but the times I called Discovery for advice, we were treated well and always recieved quick responses.

This is a very good telescope. I highly recommend it.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39470


Discovery 10" W/ Pyrex upgrade
Jan 8, 2001
I bought the 10" F5.6 plate glass version for my 37 year old younger brother as an introduction to astronomy gift. He always enjoyed looking though my scopes when we were younger, but never had his own. I figured that for about 1000$ you could get this scope, cost about 600$ including shipping, which is serious enough to show deep sky objects and planets well, a couple of wide field Konig eyepieces, a Telrad finder, a star atlas (I like Edmund's Mag 6 for ease of use, enough detail, but not too much detail) and some astronomy books (I really like the 2 volume The Night Sky Observers Guide). So if he didn't have much continued interest it wouldn't be a great loss, but, on the other hand ,if he really had an interest, I wouldn't kill it from disappointingly dim, poor views and a difficult to use scope.
The scope came well packaged with no damage. All parts were included. All holes were drilled properly and assembly was very quick and easy. The mirror was glued to the sturdy and open designed metal mirror holder.All mirror surfaces were clean and in perfect condition. Collimation was very close and quickly done using my Tectron collimating eyepieces. An aside for those complaining about collimation. That's just part of life if you own a reflector and want the best performance. Get a book or find instructions on the internet and buy or make a set of collimation eyepieces.
I was only able to use the scope twice under dark Florida skies before leaving the country. My impression was that the scope performs absolutely outstandingly well. The motions were silky smooth, with no drag, no balance problem, even with the stock finder, a Telrad finder and switching from a lighter Konig to a larger, heavier 8.8mm Meade UWA eyepiece or Nagler 12mm. The focuser is all metal and works well considering the price. The image was steady even at high power.And, tracking at higher power is effortless. For an adult, the viewing height is rather low. I'm happy I got the F5.6 version. It is the absolute longest tube that fits in my brother Jeep Cherokee with still being able to close the back.Also, it has less coma than the 4.5 version and less sensitive to collimation errors along with being taller.
I didn't expect too much from a plate glass mirror, but I could see no thermal problems and the figure of the mirror blew me away. It is much better than my Meade 16". In a star test I could see no differences in in or out focus star patterns and all views of clusters, nebula in Sagitarius and the Ring nebula were bright and sharp. I was totally pleased with the mechanical and optical performance. It is effortless to use and gives superb views for the money spent. Like I said before, if you are on a small budget or want to introduce a capable person (capable of carrying the load, collimating the mirror and caring for the mirrors) to astronomy, and want an amateur scope that gives serious detailed views and have money left for accesories and books, this scope will do the job extremely well. That is why I give this scope a 10. It was much more than I ever expected for the money spent. The most essential add on for ease of use is the Telrad or like finder. That's true for any Dobsonian in my opinion. I started my serious astronomy hobby in the 70's with a heavy, 6' long, fiberglass tube 12.5 Newtonian, on a shaky pipe legged equatorial mount, using a straight though finder and narrow field orthoscopic eyepieces, with viewing done from up on a 6" ladder. My mirror alone was 600$ in 1975. You guys and girls don't know how easy you have it with the stable Dobsonian mounts, inexpensive scopes, Telrad style finders and wide field eyepieces. You had to be a rich fanatic and strong and healthy and owner of a van( if you wanted to transport your large, and for those days a 12.5" was, scope to a dark site) to be a serious amateur in the old days.
Clear Skies to all. Hope the review helps. See my review of the 90mm Discovery short tube for another Discovery scope. I'll do one of my new 17.5" Discovery truss tube after I get to use it. I'm here in Saudi Arabia until summer vacation and it is in it's packaging in Florida. Talk about anticipation.
Bob Parks at arielb3@yahoo.com

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39469


Discovery 10" W/ Pyrex upgrade
I Don't have the Pyrex upgrade, but it works very well. Excellent scope with a 16mm Nagler. Planets aren't bad for a F/4.5 scope. i'd reccomend it, as long as you know how to collimate well.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39468


Discovery 10" W/ Pyrex upgrade
I have the f/4.5 version of this scope. All in all, I'm quite impressed with this scope. The scope went together quickly and without a hitch, unlike all other dobs I have ever worked with. Best of all, the collimation was almost spot on after assembly. Only minor tweaks of the primary were required for near perfect collimation. The scope seems well made and is relatively attractive. The Optics seem better than most other mass produced dobs I have seen. I could find no obvious evidence of undercorrection on this mirror. The mount is a bit stiff, but there is an advantage here. All of the eyepieces I own (including Nagler Type 4's) do not place the tube in an out of balance condition. The f/4.5 tube is relatively short, so there are occasions when the viewing position is a bit uncomfortable while observing near the horizon. On the other hand, the f/4.5 tube is relatively light and easy to handle. I rate this scope at least a 9 for it's price/performance ratio. Recommended.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39467


Discovery 10" W/ Pyrex upgrade
This is on a F5.6 10" non pyrex dob with JMI focuser and is to add to the above post. Planetary is very good, I was able to get up for the past few mornings at 4am and get a glimse of Saturn & Jupiter. The rings were split easy and I was able to resolve detail in the outer ring very well plus banding on the planet. Jupiter was outstanding and the detail in the banding was unreal, it not only resolved the bands but also detail within the bands. Detail on both planets was great at around 250X and I feel if the scope would have had more time to cold soak the views may have been even better but will see as the fall season comes upon us and these planets go higher in the sky. Still have not brought the scope to a real deep sky site but I am very confident it will perform very well.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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