TV 102

I've been planning on purchasing a new telescope this fall and mulling over the various options. I had pretty much settled on buying a Televue 102 when along comes Celestron and Meade with their sales. Well, after considering a lot of factors, I've decided to go with the 102. (One of the key factors that influenced my decision was seeing lots of Meade and Celestron SCTs on sale here and other sites, but very, very rarely a Televue). I do have several questions though, which I hope some of you can answer.

First, is there any difference between the green and white TV 102 and the (newer) black and white model? I ask because I notice that one vendor charges somewhat less for the earlier green and white model.

Second, does the Gibraltor mount with Skytour have to be leveled?

Third, do the guide stars for the Skytour have to be 180 degrees apart? My yard slopes downward from the South and is heavily treed. As I'll be doing most of my viewing from this location, much of the Southern sky is obstructed and so I'll need to select guide stars primarily from the North and Northeast.

Thanks for your feedback.

David:
I've owned a TV102 for about a year now and will attempt to address at least one of your questions plus throw out some unsolicited opinions on the Gibraltor:
1)The green focuser and dew shield of the green/white TV102 is painted; probably powder coated. It's not as durable or as expensive as the black anodized shield/focuser on the black & white model.
2)& 3)Cannot help you here; unfamiliar with Sky Tour

For what it's worth:
I owned a Gibraltor about 2 months and got rid of it at the first opportunity. Too difficult to find and track objects, especially at anything over 100x. Staying on a target required continuous manual motion inputs on two axes. As the magnification went up, the inputs had to be very precise or you were off the target. Sky Tour would be some help in getting back if you did wander off, but still the inputs would have to be precise.

Changing to a high power eyepiece once an object was acquired was also a hassle. Even if both eyepieces had the same weight, the tube was unbalanced in the interval between e.p. removal and e.p. insertion. This meant that at least the altitude axis would have to be locked. If you're a little klutzy like me, it means both axes will have to be locked. Once your high power, small FOV e.p. is in place, you have to unlock the axes and try to catch up with your object again. But now, due to the high mag., your inputs must be much more precise. In my case, the change to a high-power e.p. was usually the last I saw of my object. In retrospect, a zoom e.p. would've been a big help with this mount.

I ended up putting the TV102 on a used GM8. The GM8 is overkill, but it can track objects under motor control with axes locked which eliminates both the tracking hassle and the e.p. change hassle. Precise movement on both axes can be done under motor control. I don't have GoTo or digital setting circles on it, but for visual use; just pointing the RA axis in the direction of Polaris is all that's needed. Nowadays the new Meade LXD55 mount would probably be a better choice than the GM8 for strictly visual use. It would cost much less while providing GoTo and Dig. Setting Circle capabity.

The GM8 had one unexpected benefit: Its stout construction just begged for more of a load. Ended up buying a very nice used C9.25 OTA for less than $1000. I use that for DSO's while reserving the TV102 for the moon, planets and wide field use. Of the two the C9.25, once cooled down, is much more impressive than the TV102. I've been underwhelmed by the TV102. I keep it primarily to give some future immunity to the APO bug. A 4" aperture just isn't enough.

Knowing what I know now I'd take advantage of one of the Meade or Celestron sales and not look back. You might put off an APO purchase until you've had experience with someone else's and and can determine with certainty that's what you want.

Hope this helps.
Bob Young

>> (One of the key factors that influenced my decision was seeing lots of Meade and Celestron SCTs on sale here and other sites, but very, very rarely a Televue). <<

From personal experience, there's two reasons for selling a premium apo: 1) you went nuts and now have too many scopes, and 2) your bank account flipped out even worse and you need cash in a hurry. Apos in good shape don't languish for long on Astromart.

I suppose 3) could be "getting out of the hobby," but that's so bizarre I don't even want to think about it...