[SJAAboard] loaner scope program - goals

[Jim Van Nuland]

Akkana Peck wrote:

 > I was also curious when I saw the Quantum was kept while the
 > short-tube refractors were sold, but maybe that's just my ignorance
 > ... I've never actually seen the Quantum and don't know anything
 > about it. Is it a ritzy thing like a Questar, not just a sub-C5?

   It is on semi-permanent loan to Hsin I Huang, who uses it often for 
school star parties.  His 10" Dobsonian is a bit clumsy for schools.

   The company was founded by a few Questar employees, who designed a 
scope similar to the Questar, but got the price far lower by avoiding 
such costly frills as centerless-ground legs, titanium body, etc. 
It's good optically, but I don't have any specific numbers. 
Mechanically, it seems quite adequate, with smooth slow-motion on each 
axis.  The tube is painted plain blue, not the high-end finish of a 
Questar.  It uses a separate Barlow and finder, avoiding the 
complexity of the Questar's "control box".


 > And as long as I'm posting, my own interest in loaner telescopes
 > has been mostly "try before you buy": not by brand and model but by
 > type. Does the difference between 10" and 12.5" matter to me?

   Excellent point!  Terry has an 8-inch Dobsonian, and wanted to 
refinish the tube and mount.  She borrowed a 10" Dob to use while 
doing the refurb.  Afterward, she told me that she's glad that she had 
bought the 8, as she found that the 10 was just a bit too heavy for 
her.  At last she was comfortable with her initial purchase.  Her 
choice of the loaner was deliberately one size larger.  (Sort of like 
buying clothing.)

Clear Skies!
-- 
Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association
<http://www.sjaa.net/school/indexs.htm> School star party site