Choosing and Using a Dobsonian Telescope

In the 1980's, on the sidewalks of San Francisco, amateur astronomer John Dobson began showing throngs of people how to build and use large aperture scopes, often from scraps. The Dobsonian (Dobs) is now the best-selling large telescope in the world. There are a great variety of different Dob styles, ranging from elaborate and decorative creations to simple mass market designs, and new models appear all the time. In this title, Neil English presents the ultimate guide to buying and using a commercial Dobsonian for recreational astronomy. He provides in-depth accounts of the various models (plus accessories) on the market - both economy and premium - together with describing the wealth of innovations that amateurs have made to their Dobs to optimize their performance in the field.

Even after thirty years of innovation, the Dobsonian Revolution shows no signs of abating. Find out where the future lies for these large aperture `scopes and the exciting avenues John Dobson's vision will take us down in the coming years.

Experienced observer and writer on astronomy, Neil English has enjoyed looking through and writing about Dobsonian telescopes of all vintages. A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, Neil has been a regular contributor to Britain’s Astronomy Now for over 15 years. His work has also appeared in Astronomy magazine and New Scientist. He holds a PhD. in biochemistry and a BSc in physics and astronomy. English is the also the author of the sister Springer title, Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope. He observes from the dark skies of rural, central Scotland, where he lives with his wife and two young sons.