David, One option is to make or purchase an equatorial platform for your dob(s). If you size it for your upcoming 12-inch, you'll have both the aperture and the ability to keep high-power views centered in the eyepiece. If I were you I wouldn't waste my money on a goto 80mm scope. There are probably kits out there, or discussions on some of the newsgroups or lists on the 'web that describe how to make these. I'm told that you can get the parts you need for under $100. Perhaps someone on the list can give you that info. I know there are some nice though rather pricey commercial units available for big dobs, that run anywhere from about $500 to about $2K or more. -Rich --- David Trevino <dotrevino@yahoo.com> wrote:

I would like to ask those that have GO-TO scopes their opinion on them. Looks too me that one could spend more time observing that trying to find objects. (although some argue that finding them is half the fun).

Anyway, here is my train of thought: Last year I bought a 4.5" dobsonian. It is not the greatest, but some nights the viewing is good from my driveway, enough to keep me interested (and better eyepieces helped tremendously). But my greatest frustration is trying to keep it pointing in the right direction. I can find planets and other objects just fine at low/medium power, but when I get to high power, it is really hard to keep them in view. (the mount may not be as good as it could be since a little bump or push when trying to focus is enough to move it off target).

Anyway, I see that Walmart has the Meade DS-80AT for under $250. I know it is smaller aperture than my current scope, but I am atracted by its computer controls. If it indeed can find and track objects as described, then I can spend my time learning how they actually look (most photographs are taken with larger scopes so they don't look the same). I am not worried about the aperture since I am in John and Lisa's telescope class, so later this summer I'll have a 12" scope. In this case the Meade would aid in pointing me in the right direction, so I can recognize my target in the finder for the larger scope.

Any comments or ideas on this or other affordable computerized mounts will be greatly appreciated.

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