Standing nearly 9 feet tall and weighing in at over 110 pounds fully assembled, the Bob Davidson Telescope naturally attracts star party attendees who enter its gravitational field.​

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Named for WAA's first president, the Bob Davidson Telescope is a 20" f/5 Dobsonian telescope manufactured by Obsession Telescopes in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.  Generously donated in the late 1990s by WAA member Lloyd Buchanan, this impressive telescope delivers breathtaking views of a wide range of objects from planets to faint nebula and galaxies.  Depending on the altitude of the object being observed, the telescope can require the use of a ladder to reach the eyepiece!

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How do we transport such a large telescope?  Thanks to its collapsible truss tube design, the telescope breaks down into more manageable pieces and can be loaded via ramps into a compact or mid-size SUV or wagon.  The telescope features removeable wheel bars which allow the mirror box to be transported like a wheel-barrow.  While it is technically possible for the telescope to be assembled or disassembled by a single person, we prefer to have a small team of people to help.

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While it doesn't make it to every star party, we try to bring the Bob Davidson Telescope out at least once or twice per year when viewing conditions are expected to be exceptional.  Be sure to check it out and have a look through if you have the chance!

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Technical details:

Manufacturer: Obsession Telescopes

Telescope Type: Dobsonian Reflector

Focal length: 2540mm

Primary Mirror Diameter: 20" (f/5)

Primary Mirror Thickness: 2"

Eyepiece height at Zenith: 8 feet

Mirror box weight: 100 lbs

Upper assembly weight: 11 lbs

Limiting stellar magnitude: 16.5

Rayleigh Resolution Limit: 0.27 arc seconds

Contrast Limit (minimum diameter before a nebular object fades from view): 4.3 arc minutes​​​​​​​