On 28 Nov 2008, at 21:15, Darin Christensen wrote:
Do the scopes with the computerized pointing follow the target or do they just point to at the moment they are programed?
Depends on the scope. Some (like the one on the Ealing at SPOC) help you find something but then the scope's clock drive or your muscles keep the scope on the target.
None of the scopes I have looked at even say anything about a "clock" and I wonder if a scope with a Dobsonian mount can even have one.....
Again, it depends on the scope. A basic Dob has no motors and no electronics. But if you want to spend the extra money a clock driven Dob is possible. However, some may question the sense of putting a drive on a small Dob.
Is the computer pointing system worth the extra cost?
That's one of those "personal choice" sorts of things. But the fact that most Dobs (including the state's largest) are motorless says something. As Jay suggested in his UA post earlier today you might want to consider borrowing one from SLAS and trying it out before you buy. patrick