Posts Made By: Jim Zinn

Same here. I generally consider a 1.0mm exit pupil to be my limit. My 59 year old eyes see them above that, but they only become really bothersome at or below 1.0mm.

I guess I'm going to have to do the binoviewer thing if this keeps up.

Jim in Texas

I had a similar problem just this week with my NS11. Mine would find the object, but then not track. Like you, the power pack I was using (Celestron's) was freshly charged and indicated full power. I shut down and connected to another battery pack (Radio Shack). Started up, alligned and everything worked the rest of the night.

Curious, but I have read that these are very picky about he power that they get.

Jim in Texas

Star Watch by Phil Harrington is my most used book. I use it to plan my viewing and refer to it often while viewing. I like that it tells what I can expect to see and that the items it lists are things that we beginners can find and appreciate. It tells what you should see (and rates the "wow" of the view) with binoculars, a small scope, and a large scope.

Really nice shot.

Every house needs one of these sharp looking birds singing.

Jim in Texas

I've been using three of these for about two years.

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_blnk.htm

Great at star parties for letting people know where your tripod legs are.

Jim in Texas

It'll put your eye out, son.

Or is that the Red Ryder BB gun?

(A 27mw green laser!)

Jim in Texas

I would think that something like a Telegizmos cover would
take care of it. I use one on each of my scopes whenever they
are out for the night (or the week at the TSP). It might be
overkill for a scope in the dome, but that is some really nice
equipment you describe.

Jim in Texas

I find it easy to echo the majority here.

When my wife and I bought our first scope (NS11) I muddled by for a few months with the starter kit. My first premium buy was the 24mm Panoptic. Next was the 13mm Nagler T6. Now I have an eyepiece case full of mostly green lettered eps, but almost every evening starts with the 24 Pan. Most nights it and the 13 T6 spend 90% of the time in the diagonal. They wowed us when we first got them and continue to be our favorites. We use them in our other scopes too, but they are our favorites in the big SCT.

Jim in Texas

I have 7 and 10 year old grandkids. We view together often. My advice may differ from the more technical minded, but it is based on my two examples.

Get them something they can see something with. I believe they will be more likely to use the scope if they can see more than the moon and a bright planet. I think 6 inches is minimal. 8 would be better. I know those are hard for them to move about, but likely the little one won't be setting up along. Also, if they see something they want to do, they will figure out ways to get it done. They will also learn to collimate and do things like that if they must. They will learn to find things in the sky if they are rewarded with a decent view. Most people, kids included, who aren't already into this stuff don't get all excited by a dim, averted vision view of a wisp.

A good way to get them using the scope is to set it up with them when you set up yours. Then you look through theirs too.

Mine love viewing. I haven't bought them one yet, but it will come in a year or two. i'm thinking of a 6 inch SCT on an alt-az mount.

Lots of trade offs. I will agree with the post that suggested not messing with a gem if you are not doing imaging. I think that comfort and convenience are too often overlooked as elements of quality viewing.

If you are the type who likes a quick peak and then move on to the next item on the list, then the comfort of the viewing position is not all that big a deal. If you like lingering for a while or sketching or just gazing, then the way a fork or alt az sct treats your body is a welcome thing. I can view most of the sky for long periods in comfort. I think I view better and see more when my neck is not bent at angles to my body. Then there is the tracking that is usual on the fork mounts. I think that promotes deeper viewing.

Likewise, I prefer the range of viewing positions in a fork SCT to the range of a dob.

But an SCT needs some care. It must be cooled and it must be dew protected. I use a Cat cooler and I have yet to need more than my dew shield here in Texas. But mostly, they must be collimated. Not as often as a newt, but way too many never bother or get used to soft stars or just don't know how. The difference between a collimated and in uncollimated SCT is usually the reason for the bad rep they get.