Posts Made By: Josh Williams

Hey all! I need some advice here as a VERY green thumb. I'm hoping to get my first telescope this summer but I'm gonna' need something fairly portable 'cause I'm gonna' be taking it with me between Hawaii (where I go to school) and California (where I'm originally from). So I've been thinking about gettin Orions new SkyView Pro 127 Mak scope. I'm not too worries about the technicalities since I have a couple good friends that have taught me about EQ mounts and I've messed around with them a bit. But I was looking at the new Orion catalog and was wondering if any of the other new SkyView Pro scopes would fit the bill. I realize these are pretty new scopes so a lot of you may not have them or have had a chance to tinker with them, but give me what you can. Thanks in advance.

I plan on using it I guess for just general viewing although doubles have always held a special interest to me, especially Alberio. And the planets are always stunning as well. But I wouldn't mind seeing some DSOs.

P.S. Sorry all. This is in reference to another post I had under the subject heading "my first telescope" where one person asked what I would be using it for mostly. Although I very much like some of the responses I was getting to this post as it was.

Well, I was thinking about getting a small portable scope from Orion, but after being told to check out the Stellarvue site, some of those scopes looked pretty accomodatable to my situation. You see, I need something that I can take with me on an airplane seeing as how I'm gonna' be going back and forth from HI to CA. So I'm asking all you Stellarvue owners what you think of your scopes and how portable they've been. I'm also wondering what are some of the dimmer things you've been able to see with them since I want something I can still see perhaps some of the better DSOs with. Basically something portable (airline wise) yet I can still see some good stuff with. Thanks in advance everyone for helping this big time rooky enter the field and make a final decision which will hopefully be this summer.

If you think nobody has a sense of humor on this forum, read the whole thread with the subject heading "Uses." That's some funny stuff!

Okay, this is gonna' be my first scope, but I've been going back and forth between the new Orion SkyView Pro 127 (Mak) and the Stellarvue 4 in. achromat. I would like to get something before Mars is at it's greatest magnitude and also something that's airline portable (that's why I'm choosing these two scopes). After Mars, the scope will be used pretty much for general viewing and perhaps I'll be taking it up to Mauna Kea with me seeing as how I'm gonna' go back to school at UH Hilo in August. Anywho, everyone's two cents (or ten or fifty or seventy-five or whatever you may have) would be very much appreciated. Thank you all in advance.

They say the only stupid question asked, is the one not asked, so here goes. Where on (in?) a telescope does a focal reducer go? I was looking at the 5 in. Intes Mak and it came with a focal reducer, but I was wondering if I would be able to get one and put it on, if I got the new 5 in. SkyView Pro Mak from Orion. Thank you.

And I know you all love to give advice to them, so lets have at it. I have yet to get my first real telescope, and at first I was trying to save up for either an Intes 5 in. or a Stellarvue 4 in. (don't worry about how much I'm into this stuff, I'm majoring in Astronomy and will be attending Univ. of Hawaii to give you guys an idea) but quickly found out how good my abilities are at saving money (as in, they're not). So I'm wondering if any of you can make any telescope recommendations that are airline portable for less than $500 (preferably the whole package deal, OTA, mount, tripod, eps, etc., but not totally necessary). Anywho, thanks again to all who respond and don't hesitate to respond regardless of how much or how little knowledge you have. Let'er rip!

I'm planning on buying an Intes 5 in. M503 Mak-Cass and was wondering if I should just perhaps buy one of their tripods or if even the relatively new Orion SkyView Pro mount would be compatible. This seems like a pretty good scope and saw it used at a star party a while ago and the owner liked it a good deal. Any other suggestions would be welcome as well. Thanks all.

Well kids, after all this time, it finally looks like I'm gonna' be getting a new (and my first) telescope. An Intes M603. I'm buying it from an astrophotographer whose son I'm tutoring and he simply doesn't need it anymore. And it'll be in superb condition. Anywho, question is, I'm gonna' need a mount/tripod but I want something I can pack up in my check in bags when I travel since I'm gonna' be taking it back and forth with me to Hawaii (where I'm gonnna' be going to school). So I need something relatively sturdy, yet portable at the same time. Preferably an EQ mount...but I guess if it's not doable, then I'll have to make do (lol). Any suggestions?
P.S. I'm gonna' bring the OTA with me for carry on and put the mount/tripod in my check in bag(s) so I'll have a little more room to put it (mount/tripod) in. Thanks all.

Everything...and I mean EVERYTHING, is made up of atoms. So what is it about the arrangement of these atoms that makes a living thing living, and an inanimate thing inanimate. It's certainly not the atoms themselves (as far as I can tell) so it's gotta' be something about how the things are grouped together. How come my pen isn't standing up right now having this debate with me? I guess what I'm asking is, is howcome we're..."alive"?