Posts Made By: Doug Culbertson

HI Mark,

Unfortunately, it is still up in the air for me. I hope to make it, but at this point I can't say for sure.
Oh well, if I can't make it this time, I will definitely be there for the spring star party!

Doug
Midway, FL

HI Carlos,

I would love to get copies of your templates as well. If you could please email them to cdculbertson at hcsmail dot com

Thanks!
Doug
Midway, FL

IMHO, anything that rides on a GEM automatically takes it out of the "quick look" category, but YMMV. For your stated price range, I would go for something along the lines of a StellarView (SP?) AT1010 on the TV Panoramic or Telepod mount. The Telepod and Panoramic often come up on Astromart at very good prices. My good friend Owen (see above post) uses this set up and it is very nice indeed.

I currently use as my grab and go (in addition to a Starmaster 11" ELT) a Pronto on the Panoramic and it is about as fast a set up as you can get. I leave the Pronto/Panoramic setup in my living room, so all I have to do is grab a couple of eyepieces and a barlow and head out the door. I am out and observing in less then two minutes! The Pronto is also my solar scope, which is the main reason I bought it.

Also, I think it important to mention that one needs to realize the purpose of a "grab and go" outfit so that you are not disappointed. I went through several of these setups, selling each one as I was disappointed in what they were showing me. I finally came to the realization that the purpose of such a setup is to get my eyepiece fix in on a night of limited time. I could not expect to see the same things that I did through my 11" or my 18" scopes! I have also known others who dumped their small scopes because "it couldn't compete with the big scope". That is not the purpose of a small scope. These small scopes are great for their intended purpose though, and will show you nice views of brighter open clusters, the Moon and even some halfway decent planetary views. Just don't expect it to match that 10" LX200!

Sorry for the long ramble...

Doug
Midway, FL

FWIW, I sold an Astro-Physics 130 EDT after I received my Starmaster 11" f/5.4 ELT. While the AP gave absolutely stunning images, along with a fast cooldown, it simply could not compete with the Newt on planets or deep sky. Color saturation on Jupiter and Saturn are excellent in the ELT, and color in the GRS is much more apparent than it was in the apo. Aperture rules on planets too.

Now, having said that, there is something simply stunning about looking through a fine refractor that is hard to describe. And, yes, I DO still miss the AP!

Doug
Midway, FL

Oh, thank you so much for this! ;-) You know, Thanksgiving weekend was gorgeous...of course, since I had no time at all to observe! Hey, hope you you had a pleasant visit just the same.

BTW, where is the Rosemary Hill Observatory?

Doug
Midway, FL (the Midway between Tallahassee and Quincy)

Well, I have only had mine a couple of days, and it brought clouds with it. I did get a chance to try it out last night in my Pronto on the Moon...until the clouds came back again. In a word, it is amazing! Only about a half pound, looks like a very slightly larger version of the 19mm Panoptic, and just as nice. Much lighter than the 22mm Pan, so I have no regrets at having sold my 22mm to finance the 24mm.

I look forward to trying it in my 18" and 11" Starmaster dobs, but I was sufficiently impressed to order a second one so I can use them in the binoviewer. Sorry I can't provide more detail...maybe once it clears up again.

Doug
Midway, FL

Well, I don't have much experience with the others, but I am currently on my third Starmaster. I think that says something in itself! My first Starmaster was a 14.5" w/goto, and I currently have an 18" f/4.2 w/goto and Pegasus mirror, as well as an 11" f/5.4 ELT/Zambuto. Not only are Rick's scopes outstanding, but the customer service is amazing. Rick is fond of saying that his customer service goes with the telescope, not just the customer. As an example, when he delivered my used 18" to me, he noticed that the drive wheel was worn, as was the glassboard on the rocker box. He replaced both before delivery. I am not sure that you would get that from anyone else.

I prefer the wiffle tree support for the mirror to a sling. Just a personal preference I realize, but it holds collimation better through the night, and that is a fact. I also like the fact that Rick tests each and every telescope before he ships it, so you are assured of receiving a telescope with a mirror that has actually been observed through, rather than just drop shipped from the mirror coater. The thinner 1.6" mirrors that are used in the sizes under 24" cool much faster than a full thickness mirror too. Contrary to what one scope maker claims, these mirrors do NOT exhibit astigmatism because the wiffle tree cell supports them in exactly the same way the testing bench used by the mirror maker does.

I also like the truss arrangement in the Starmaster better. They are set up in a triangle configuration so that you install two sets of trusses at a time. Makes setup faster, and you can set the upper cage on top of the trusses while you bolt it down. This is much easier than trying to set 8 separate poles into clamps in the upper cage. In addition, there is a goto/tracking system you can get on the 14.5" sizes and larger, but it is kind of expensive.

Keep in mind that this is MY opinion, and I don't need any flames from the owners of any of the other makes! But, I did my research thoroughly before I ordered my first Starmaster, and have been satisfied enough to buy two more.

Oh yeah, another excellent brand to throw into the mix is Nightsky. Uses a similar mirror cell and truss configuration as the Starmaster, and Jim Nadeau is a super guy to work with as well. I may be biased, however, as I consider Jim a friend!

Doug
Midway, FL

Owen,

I have come to the conclusion that the "throw and go" (one or two trips out the door) type of scope that will cool down quickly, yet provide satisfying views of the planets and deep sky objects...does not exist. My main interest in a throw and go is to give me pleasing views of the Moon and planets, as well as some deep sky. The deep sky isn't so important to me as far as this type of scope is concerned, because if I really want to do deep sky I will haul out the 11" or 18" dobs. No, for me, a "quick look" means nipping out and getting a nice view of Jupiter or Saturn or the Moon.

I have been on the quest for this holy grail for several years now and have had a Short tube 80 (OK on the Moon, lots of purple), a C5 (pleasing views, but loooong cool down time), 4" Vixen achromat (OTA and SP mount were way too much hassle to consider it a throw and go), a TMB w/CNC tube on a Giro(same thing, but add in the problems with balancing the bloody thing) and a Pronto (Wonderful on the Moon and some open clusters, just too darned small for the planets).

I have about concluded that the terms "more aperture" and "throw and go" are mutually exclusive. As Tom Clark, of Tectron Telescopes, used to say; "if it is portable it is too small, and if it is big enough, it isn't portable!" I would, however, love to hear other takes on this.

I do think that you are probably on the right track in thinking of a refractor as a throw and go scope, IF such a beast exists. If for no other reason, surely for the fast cooldown time! OTOH, I have recently been rethinking the C5 in spite of the cooldown.

Other than cooldown, I have just about concluded that my 11" ELT is about as throw and go as I can get...Besides, I am growing weary of beating myself up over this!

Doug
Midway, FL

Sorry folks, I JUST saw the thread about the FS 102 on a Gibralter below! I would not have posted my question had I seen that one first....Senior moment I suppose.

Doug
Midway, FL

ROFLMAO!! Man, this is almost too true to be funny...Thanks for making my day.

Doug
Midway, FL