Posts Made By: Tim Ailanjian

I'll try to be brief. I have 2 young boys under age 3 but growing fast! I want to give them many choices of passtimes to enjoy with me when they are old enough. I have done RC, sports, etc. but got curious about astronomy, as I like "equipment", am an engineer (Metallurgical), and have always enjoyed the night sky. I have been seious about this for 6 months now, with a pair of 10x50 Ultraviews. I am loving learning the sky for real! Love the moon, Jupiter, doubles, M42, M8, M20, M13.

The nuts and bolts is this: While I have enjoyed the views with binocs, I find I am liking finding the DSO's more than looking at them (except the ones listed above). So I feel it might be time to buy a scope.

I never miss a day on AMart, so I've been through all the beginner scope threads. I've exhausted reviews by Ed Ting, Cloudy Nights, Excelsis, Todd Gross (all awesome by the way). I love all this equipment, want it all and don't have one scope yet!! I'm sold on a dob of approx. 10" aperature but the question is this: Keeping in mind what I explained of my observing, if I can afford it, should I buy a premium dob (w/Zambuto mirror), or should I still start out a little slower with the likes of Discover 10" PDHQ or XT10?

I have no idea if I have communicated my thoughts well, I only know I failed in being brief. Please forgive and thanks for the input!

-Tim

I was putting my 3-year old son to bed the other night and he looked out the window and said "Daddy, I see a Staaaar", like only a litte child can say it. I told him the star is named Arcturus, and he said "OOOOHHHH".

Tonight we're getting for ready for bed again and he goes to the same window and says "Daddy, that's Sharkturus!" Couldn't stop laughing...

-Tim

So I want a 10" for my first scope after 1 yr with binocs, and I've heard nothing but great things about Discovery optics (which is my priority along with weight). But with the weight of the 10" f/6 PDHQ, I'm just too worried it will not get enough use as my observing sessions are usually 1-2 hrs and spur of the moment (I'm spoiled by the ease of binoculars I guess).

Then I learned that Discovery often ships the 10" PDHQ in f/4.5 upon request, but the salesperson I spoke to could not give me a weight. Are there any owners of the f/4.5 that can tell me the weight of their scope? Also, any comments on the performance with respect to the faster ratio (is coma an issue, do you use a paracorr, etc.) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help!

Just read in the paper here in So. Cal. that Meade's 3'rd Qtr. profits (ending Nov. 30) were up seven fold to $2.9 mil.

The article mentioned brisk sales of CaptureView (the Meade combo binocular/digital camera). I didn't even know the product existed till today. Has anyone here tried them?? I'm bored, just making conversation...

-Tim

I've carefully collimated my 8" f/6 (using a sight tube and cheshire) and subsequently checked this with a holographic laser, and both agree. All looks good, secondary centered under focuser, etc, etc.

Then on a bright star overhead at ~270x, defocused star on one side of focus shows misalignment, but not awful. Central obstruction is definitely not centered, though. However, on the other side of focus it is really bad, central obstruction is way off to one side.

I've looked through lots of star collimation resources, none of which seem to discuss differences in inta/extra focal images. Any thoughts? Thanks for the help!

-Tim

Soda lime glass is basic "glass" or "window glass", also known as "float glass".

I know as little as you about the new 13.1". However, I have had my new 8" PDHQ for about a month and it is wonderful. Saturn has been spectacular, jet black Cassini division, crepe ring, multiple bands on the planet, etc. I would buy another Discovery scope in a heart beat, so be sure to tell us about it if you make the purchase!

-Tim