After all the questions I posted on travel scopes a few months ago, I wanted to report on the scope I finally did take as carry-on on a total of 6 planes going to and coming from Fiji...
I'd originally bought a Sky 90, but was disppointed in what its aperture revelealed, despite the pinpont stars (my other scope's an 11"), so a few weeks before the trip, I contacted Vince at Infinity Scopes and he agreed to build me an 8" Uti newt with a palm-controlled digital setting circle program. Check out his website- he's an Astromart sponsor.
It arrived in plenty of time for the trip, with gorgeous optics, pinpoint stars, and a much better ability to resolve globulars than the Sky 90 (surprise, surprise!).
Vince's customer service is unrivalled- after a few phone calls and countless e-mails, we determined that my palm wasn't interfacing correctly with the program. He spent a weekend rewriting software, sent me a loaner palm to take to Fiji, and ultimately went way beyond the call of duty to make sure I had an operable scope for my trip (remember, by this time I was leaving in a couple days!) and also to improve the Uti's software system.
One thing I like about the DSC is that, unlike my Nexstar's go-to, the Uti is still moved manually. I can try to find an object by starhopping, and if I don't succeed I can punch in the object with the palm, and it will direct me to the right place. Seems like a nice compromise between knowing the sky and coping with frustration!
I had a backpack case cover made for the scope, and managed to lug the 22 pound scope on all those planes and to fulfill my quest- having the biggest carry-on aperture possible for my first jaunt to Southern skies- and it was so well worth it!
I hear the Uti got a "best new product award" by Astronomy mag- I'd heartily recommend them too! (and no, I'm not affiliated with them. I just wished when I was deciding on a scope that I could find more reviews or customer comments about the Uti...)
Mary
I'd originally bought a Sky 90, but was disppointed in what its aperture revelealed, despite the pinpont stars (my other scope's an 11"), so a few weeks before the trip, I contacted Vince at Infinity Scopes and he agreed to build me an 8" Uti newt with a palm-controlled digital setting circle program. Check out his website- he's an Astromart sponsor.
It arrived in plenty of time for the trip, with gorgeous optics, pinpoint stars, and a much better ability to resolve globulars than the Sky 90 (surprise, surprise!).
Vince's customer service is unrivalled- after a few phone calls and countless e-mails, we determined that my palm wasn't interfacing correctly with the program. He spent a weekend rewriting software, sent me a loaner palm to take to Fiji, and ultimately went way beyond the call of duty to make sure I had an operable scope for my trip (remember, by this time I was leaving in a couple days!) and also to improve the Uti's software system.
One thing I like about the DSC is that, unlike my Nexstar's go-to, the Uti is still moved manually. I can try to find an object by starhopping, and if I don't succeed I can punch in the object with the palm, and it will direct me to the right place. Seems like a nice compromise between knowing the sky and coping with frustration!
I had a backpack case cover made for the scope, and managed to lug the 22 pound scope on all those planes and to fulfill my quest- having the biggest carry-on aperture possible for my first jaunt to Southern skies- and it was so well worth it!
I hear the Uti got a "best new product award" by Astronomy mag- I'd heartily recommend them too! (and no, I'm not affiliated with them. I just wished when I was deciding on a scope that I could find more reviews or customer comments about the Uti...)
Mary
