Obsession Telescopes

Obsession Telescopes is an American optical telescope company that specializes in the production of Dobsonian telescopes.[1] The company released the first commercially available Dobsonian telescope.[2] It is also the largest producer of Dobsonian telescopes and has worldwide operations.[3]

Obsession Telescopes
FoundedLake Mills, Wisconsin, USA (January 1, 1989 (1989-01-01))
FounderDavid Kriege
Headquarters
Lake Mills
,
USA
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
David Kriege
ProductsDobsonian telescopes
Websiteobsessiontelescopes.com

Obsession Telescopes was founded in 1989 by David Kriege and is based in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.[4] According to Kriege, the inspiration for the company came from a star party he attended, where he experienced Dobsonian telescopes for the first time. Learning of the low cost of building a Dobson style telescope from others at the party, he went on to build the Dobson style Obsession 1 telescope.[5] Although the style of the telescope was new to the market, it gained popularity among astronomy enthusiasts.

Obsession Telescopes have also been used by academic institutions and some professional observatories in addition to being used for astrophotography.[6][7] An Obsession Telescope 25" was the largest aperture telescope at the Custer Observatory in New York State for a time. [8]

Products and Design

Among the telescopes built at Obsession Telescopes are Dobsonian telescopes with 12.5-inch mirrors, and telescopes with computerized positioning[9] which are based on an ultra-compact style.[10]

The compactness is achieved by making the traditional Dobsonian design collapsible.[11] In this way, the truss shrinks down to a smaller size enabling easier transportation of a bigger telescope with a larger diameter aperture mirror to a star party.[11]

Provided that the overall quality is maintained, a bigger aperture can improve many aspects of telescope performance for example, an 18-inch diameter telescope has five times the light-gathering power of an 8-inch telescope, all else being equal.[11] In addition, the bigger telescope has finer resolution and better contrast with the gathering of more light allowing for clearer visibility of fainter astronomical objects.[11]

Primary mirrors are supplied by Optical Mechanics, Inc. (OMI) and Ostahowski Optics, while secondary mirrors are supplied by United Lens.

In 2007, Obsession Telescopes released their new line of highly portable telescopes which they designated as UC (Ultra Compact), thereafter referring to their original line of telescopes as "Classic" models.

Among the many accessories offered by Obsession Telescopes on their range of telescopes are the: ServoCAT drive system,[12] JMI focusers and Wildcard Innovations' Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer (DTC)[13][14]

Models

Obsession telescopes available circa 2012[15] ranged in price from over $3000 USD for the 12.5 inch to $12–15,000 USD for the 25 inch,[16][17] manufacturing only a limited number of 30" and 36" telescopes.[18]

In 2009, Obsession Telescopes assisted OMI in the design of the OMI Evolution-30.[19] The company's telescopes available circa 2009, twenty years afters its founding in 1989,[15] ranged in price from over $3000 USD for the 12.5 inch to $12–15,000 USD for the 25 inch.[20][17]

  • Aperture, Focal Ratio, Focal Length
  • 12.5 inch, f/5, 63 inch[21]
  • 15" , f/4.5, 68"
  • 15" UC, f/4.2, 63"
  • 18" ,f/4.5, 81"[22]
  • 18" UC, f/4.2, 75"
  • 20" , f/5,100"
  • 20" ,f/4,80"[23]
  • 25" ,f/5,125"
  • 25" , f/4, 100"

Awards

The Obsession 18" f/4.2 UC ('Ultra Compact') won a Sky & Telescope Magazine Hot Product of 2008 Award.[11]

See also

References
  1. Hudson, Ken (May 5, 2010). "Interview with David Kriege of Obsession Telescopes". Shareastronomy.com.
  2. "Obsession Telescopes / Telescopes / 18" UC (Ultra Compact)". Obsessiontelescopes.com.
  3. "Obsession Telescopes / About Us". Obsessiontelescopes.com.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2009-02-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Hudson, Ken (2010-05-05). "Interview with David Kriege of Obsession Telescopes". Shareastronomy.com. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  6. Hudson, Ken (2010-05-05). "Interview with David Kriege of Obsession Telescopes". Shareastronomy.com. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  7. Hudson, Ken (May 5, 2010). "Interview with David Kriege of Obsession Telescopes". Shareastronomy.com.
  8. Popering, David van. "Custer Institute". Custerobservatory.org.
  9. Adams, Eric (11 June 2021). "Six smart telescopes that make astronomy a snap". Bbc.com.
  10. Hudson, Ken (2010-05-05). "Interview with David Kriege of Obsession Telescopes". Shareastronomy.com. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  11. "Obsession Telescopes / Telescopes / 18" UC (Ultra Compact)". Obsessiontelescopes.com.
  12. "Obsession Telescopes / Accessories / ServoCAT". Obsessiontelescopes.com.
  13. "Obsession Telescopes / Accessories / Argo Navis". Obsessiontelescopes.com.
  14. "Wildcard Innovations Argo Navis" (PDF). Cloudynights.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  15. "Obsession Telescopes / Telescopes / Compare (English values)". Archived from the original on 2009-03-08. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  16. "Obsession Telescopes / Telescopes: 12.5", 15", 18", 20", 22", 25"". Obsessiontelescopes.com.
  17. "Obsession 18" Dob - Dobsonians (10" - 40")". Cloudynights.com.
  18. "Obsession Telescopes / From the Obsessed / 30" Owners". Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  19. "OMI: Evolution-30". 24 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-24. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  20. "Obsession Telescopes / Telescopes". Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  21. "Obsession 12.5" Dob - Dobsonians (10" - 40")". Cloudynights.com.
  22. "CN Reports: Obsession Telescopes 18" f4.5 - CN Report". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  23. Astronomy, March 1991. Obsession 20" Review, by Alan Dyer

Further reading
  • Sky & Telescope, February 2009, "Obsession 12.5" Review"
  • Kriege, David and Richard Berry. The Dobsonian Telescope: A Practical Manual for Building Large Aperture Telescopes. Richmond, VA: Willmann-Bell, 1997. ISBN 978-0943396552
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