Obsession Telescopes

{{Short description|American optical telescope company}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Obsession Telescopes

| native_name =

| trading_name =

| caption =

| type =

| traded_as =

| genre =

| fate =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| foundation = Lake Mills, Wisconsin, USA ({{Start date|1989|01|01}})

| founder = David Kriege

| defunct =

| location_city = Lake Mills

| location_country = USA

| locations =

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = David Kriege

| industry =

| products = Dobsonian telescopes

| production =

| services =

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| aum =

| assets =

| equity =

| owner =

| num_employees =

| parent =

| divisions =

| subsid =

| homepage = {{URL|obsessiontelescopes.com|obsessiontelescopes.com}}

| footnotes =

| intl =

}}

Obsession Telescopes is an American optical telescope company that specializes in the production of Dobsonian telescopes.{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=Ken |date=May 5, 2010 |title=Interview with David Kriege of Obsession Telescopes |url=https://shareastronomy.com/2010/05/04/interview-with-david-kriege-of-obsession-telescopes/ |website=Shareastronomy.com}} The company was founded in 1989 by David Kriege, and is based in Lake Mills, Wisconsin{{Cite web |url=http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_739pnt |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-02-27 |archive-date=2012-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217110332/http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_739pnt |url-status=dead }} and operates globally.{{Cite web |title=Obsession Telescopes / About Us |url=https://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/about/index.php |website=Obsessiontelescopes.com}}

Obsession Telescopes builds two different styles of compact truss-style Dobsonian telescopes which can optionally be equipped with computerized positioning.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20141208-six-smart-telescopes-that-make-astronomy-easy|title=Six smart telescopes that make astronomy a snap|first=Eric|last=Adams|website=Bbc.com|date=11 June 2021}} The primary mirrors range from 12.5 inches to 25 inches in diameter and are supplied by Optical Mechanics, Inc. (OMI) and Ostahowski Optics, while secondary ones are supplied by United Lens. Accessories include the ServoCAT drive system,{{Cite web|url=https://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/accessories/ServoCAT/index.php|title=Obsession Telescopes / Accessories / ServoCAT|website=Obsessiontelescopes.com}} JMI focusers, and Wildcard Innovations' Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer (DTC).{{Cite web|url=https://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/accessories/ArgoNavis/index.php|title=Obsession Telescopes / Accessories / Argo Navis|website=Obsessiontelescopes.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/argoold.pdf|title=Wildcard Innovations Argo Navis|website=Cloudynights.com|access-date=July 22, 2022}}

In 2007, Obsession Telescopes released a second series of telescopes more portable than their original design. They designated this series as Ultra Compact (UC), referring to their former one as 'Classic.' From 2009-2012 their telescopes ranged from USD 3000 for a 12.5 inch telescope, up to USD 12–15,000 for a 25-inch telescope.{{Cite web|url=https://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/telescopes/index.php|title=Obsession Telescopes / Telescopes: 12.5", 15", 18", 20", 22", 25"|website=Obsessiontelescopes.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/user-reviews/telescopes/dobsonians-10-40/obsession-18-dob-r1675|title=Obsession 18" Dob - Dobsonians (10" - 40")|website=Cloudynights.com}} The company manufactured a limited number of 30-inch and 36-inch telescopes.{{Cite web |url=http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/obsessed/30-inch-owners.html |title=Obsession Telescopes / From the Obsessed / 30" Owners |access-date=2009-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223153956/http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/obsessed/30-inch-owners.html |archive-date=2008-12-23 |url-status=dead }} In 2009, it assisted OMI in the design of the OMI Evolution-30.{{Cite web|url=http://www.opticalmechanics.com/evolution_dobs/Evo-30_intro/index.html|title=OMI: Evolution-30|date=24 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324103734/http://www.opticalmechanics.com/evolution_dobs/Evo-30_intro/index.html |access-date=July 22, 2022|archive-date=2009-03-24 }}

The Obsession 18-inch f/4.2 UC (Ultra Compact) won a Sky & Telescope Magazine Hot Product of 2008 Award.{{Cite web |title=Obsession Telescopes / Telescopes / 18" UC (Ultra Compact) |url=https://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/telescopes/18UC/index.php |website=Obsessiontelescopes.com}}