Posts Made By: David Colton

Any of the Crayford focusers will reduce mirror flop. I purchased an Apogee brand for a little over $100 and you can get motorized units from Meade and JMI for around $250.

Canon recently came out with a DSLR optimized for digital photography and Sky and Telescope recently did a review. Here's the link on the Anacortes site. DSLR's aren't cheap and this one is no exception.

http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=&pid=9359&m=45

BTW, have you been to the ScopeTronix website? They sell digital camera to telescope eyepiece adapters and have adapters to fit just about every DSLR on the market. (Of course, once you pick out what you need be sure to purchase it through the sponsor.)

I bought a TAK 5mm LE last year, primarily for the eye relief and price (I couldn't afford a Nagler at the time). It is an excellent piece of equipment and you won't be disappointed if you choose one. However, keep in mind that over time you'll probably buy other short fl eyepieces, perhaps a UO ortho or a Nagler or a Siebert, or all of the above, so don't sweat it.

In that price and size range (i.e., portability) it sounds like you're looking for a Mak, such as Orion's 127mm or Meade's 125mm. These would be well within your budget including mount and tripod.

Check the archives. I asked a similar question about two years ago and there was a lot of feedback with photos of homemade rigs. Several people had modified hand-trucks/carts (the two wheel kind used for moving boxes, crates, and appliances) that might do the trick.

I occasionally use a light yellow filter (#8). It cuts down on glare without significant loss of contrast and depending on your tastes, the warm tone can be pleasing.

As I understand it, this will be marketed as a tool to help people learn the night sky. So, yes if you're already familiar with the night sky and can find your bearings the Skyscout is redundant.

Here's my problem with it. First, because distribution has been delayed, it's likely that Celestron has experienced technical problems that make it's accuracy suspect. I'm concerned that in an attempt to get their product out, they'll market what is essentially a 'beta version.'

Second, if the response from Celestron Tech Support is accurate, then the SkyScout will point you in the general direction of an object but won't be able to pinpoint it. That runs counter to their advertising which suggests that it will lead you directly to an object and provide you with background information. It appears more likely that it will point you in the general vicinity and provide information that therefore may or may not apply to the object you're looking at.

Consequently, my ultimate concern is that rather than helping people learn and enjoy night-time observing, like a cheap telescope, it will turn people off. That may be pessimistic, but it will be up to Celestron to prove that they have a product that delivers as advertised.

Wherever you find it, please keep in mind that Acetone is an inhalent and exposure to its fumes does result in the destruction of brain cells. It's also flammable. Be sure to use it outdoors.

Agena Astro sells Baader Filters in light weight cells in a number of sizes for under $20. http://www.agenaastro.com/

I bought a pair for my binoculars and they work quite well, the only thing I had to do was cut back the ends of the plastic hold screws to get them to fit. If you send the owner the outside diameter of your scope he will tell you which size to purchase.