You are probably right - it would be best to take a big dob and put it on a rate-modified dob tracker platform. It's a good thing we'd be imaging because I wouldn't want to climb a 12 to 16 foot ladder in an EVA suit! - even if it wouldn't hurt much to fall that far. Dave - I think you'd be okay with the earthshine as long as you had good baffling since there isn't any atmosphere. That also assumes that everyone stays away from the moonshine. Just imagine how close the double stars could be that you could resolve! Clear skies, Dale.

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Dale Hooper wrote:

When we go back to the moon in 2018, I'll be a spry 58 years old - so I should certainly live long enough to make the journey myself. <g> So, I was curious what it would take if I plop my Meade LX-200 out on the lunar surface and want to observe?

Why would you want to settle for such a small scope? On the moon, you ought to be able to heft a 30" dob with little problem, even at 58. :)

Aaron

You will want to set up on the far side of the Moon. I think the earth shine, which we see all the time reflecting off the Moon, will make it such that you wouldn't be able to see very well.

You could probably set it up inside a glass dome. The dome would need to be made such that it didn't distort the image. I big Dob with one of the Meade DSI eyepieces would be the way to go. Then you could share the image with all of us Earthbound astronomers.

Dave