Posts Made By: gregg bernstein

Hello and Happy New Year to all:

It has been a while since I posted. Perhaps, that is a good thing.

Anyway, I was hoping to get some advice.

I have read all of the various posts on mirror cleaning. I also have made the decision to clean my 22" mirror (I weighed all of the pros and cons, I think). There is pollen on it (my fault) and I want to get the pollen off before any harm is done.

I read that Starmaster owners (I own a NightSky scope) are encouraged to clean their mirror while in the mirror cell.

My 22" mirror is large and heavy (2" thick) and I am reluctant to remove it from the cell if I do not have to do so. I know Obsessions are generally cleaned with the mirror installed.

So, does all of this mean the cell will not be damaged nor the felt pads under the mirror? No rusting or corrosion of any components of the cell, right?

Thanx for any help.

Gregg
Augusta, Maine

Hello:

I planned to clean my mirror months ago, but have been unable to find "surgical cotton." Can you all let me know what brand and type of cotton you use? My understanding is that the general Johnson and Johnson sterile cotton balls are abrasive. Can any of you point me to what I need, either at a supermarket or drug store or on the internet.

Thanx so much.

Gregg

Hello:

I am just a new owner of the Meade LX 200 GPS UHTC. I have not used the Celestron 11, but played around with it at shops while I was looking and at the NEAF convention in NY in May.

I only have had the Meade for a couple of months and have had it out about 5 times. I am fairly strong so the scope is not that heavy, but it is awkward when lifting. I am very pleased with the scope. GOTO is dead on--amazing. Little to no mirror shift. Mount is rock solid. It has compared favorably with good large refractors on the planets and globulars, though, I have not done any direct comparisons with similarly sized SCTs.

It is a beast, but a friendly one. I love mine.

Good luck with your choice.

Gregg D. Bernstein
Augusta, Maine

Yeowza! As Popeye says--Goshg! I just received my new 22mm Nagler for my Meade 12 LX200 GPS UHTC. I have never owned a premium eyepiece and never actually saw a Nagler eyepiece. This is a tank. I purchased it from OPT from John. He gave me friendly, very detailed advice.

Of course, it is cloudy tonight. I hope it clears up later. I know many of you have used Naglers, but I will have to give a full report at some point to pretend I am actually contributing to this forum, rather than simply asking questions.

Clear skies.
Gregg
Augusta, Maine

Dale:

I have a Meade 12 LX200 GPS UHTC. I looked at the CGE 11 and the 14. I had the opportunity to take a CGE 14 apart at the NEAF show in NY. It is a nice scope and looks great. I was a bit concerned by the "newness" of the CGE mount, knowing that problems would certainly arise. From various posts here and on Yahoo, it does seems as though the CGE mount has some growing pains.

Re the GPS. I have to transport the scope everytime I use it. My observing spots are not too far away from one another, but I must say the GPS is convenient. I know some of the info you would input into the CGE probably goes into non-volatile memory, but I think you do have to reload the date and time. A small item to be sure, but it is a nice touch.

I have not had the chance to optically test my scope, but I had some nice views of Saturn last week through my brand spanking new 22mm Nagler. The scope was not totally cooled down, but Saturn did look awesome.

Good luck.
Gregg
Augusta, Maine

Inge:

There is a cloudy nights review of these.

I believe this is the link:

http://www.cloudynights.com/eyepieces2/tmb.htm

I just purchased a 22mm Nagler for my Meade 12 LX200 and Saturn looked great. I also purchased a 13mm Nagler, which should be arriving shortly. I have heard it performs well on the planets, too.

Gregg
Augusta, Maine

Dale:

I have had my Meade 12 LX200 GPS UHTC for a few months now. I agonized over the choice. I was looking at the CGE 14 v. the Meade 12. I also went to the NEAF show in NY this last May and had the opportunity to take both scopes a part a bit. I also took a look at the Nexstar 11 at the show. I did not see a CGE 11 at the show. I have a C8 that I used many years ago and fell out of the hobby, at least viewing wise. I always wanted to come back and wanted to get a significant upgrade. I toyed with the idea of a big dobsonian for a while, but I live in central Maine. The air here likely would be tough on an exposed mirror and I am a trial attorney with a toddler and only have a limited amount of time to view. Schmidt Cassegrains can take a bit to set up, but with computer control, once everything is connected, off you go. I remember the first night, I saw more in an hour or so than I had over many nights with the C8!!!

I thought the CGE was fairly solid, but it did seem maxed with the 14 on it. I imagine the 11 is a better fit. I chose the Meade for a couple of reasons. First, I felt the $2500 price difference (at the time, before the Meade price increase) was not worth the extra 2 inches of aperture for my purposes (general viewing). I really wanted the CGE 14, but with my limited viewing time and the skies here in Maine (dark, but not the steadiest), I felt the extra aperture would make me feel better, but not necessarily see better on a regular basis. I really, really, really, really, really agonized over the decision. I had wanted a C14 for years. And, the CGE 14, though substantial in size and weight, actually breaks down in to lighter components.

I read all of the reviews, asked lots of people questions, spoke by telephone with some owners, and then looked at my wife and child and felt I was pretty lucky to get any scope like this. So, I made the choice to go with the Meade.

I purchased the Meade eyepieces, but recently sold them and bought a new 22mm Nagler Type 4 (amazing eyepiece) and I likely will get tomorrow a new 13mm Nagler Type 6. The Meades were good eyepieces and I was a bit reluctant to sell them. They were like Toyotas, very good and a clear step above average (Ford or Chevys) eyepieces. The Nagler 22mm is a top of the line Mercedes. Yet, Toyota is very nice, so the difference, while significant, is something that you very much "appreciate," but it is not as though the Meades stink in comparison.

I have found the weight of the scope less of an issue as I have used it. Clearly, in the beginning I was very cautious with the scope--so that meant moving more slowly with a heavy object. I am a fairly strong boy, though. I compete in powerlifting and study martial arts. I am sure all that helps. The worst thing about the scope's weight and awkward shape is taking it off the tripod and placing it back in the Meade shipping box I still am using.

See Part II

Thank you all for your helpful information. I am off to Mass. in a week or so to look through a 20" Obsession!

Gregg

Thank you all for your very up front and informative opinions. I am fortunate to have so many people who do not know me provide excellent advice and constructive criticism regarding the various scopes I have been considering.

I have been waiting so long to make a decision and it seems to be getting harder as crunch time nears.

Thank you again.

Have a great new year.

Gregg D. Bernstein
Augusta, Maine

Thank you all for your suggestions. I always appreciate the help.

Tonight looks like it will be clear. I hope to be able to get out and view with a friend.

As a couple of you may know I have been unhappy with the purchase of my NightSky 22" telescope. It is nice in many ways and frustrating and incomplete in others.

I hope to be able to fire up the Argo Navis and ServoCat tonight and see what it can do (and perhps begin to get over my anger and dissappointment).

Thanx.

Gregg