Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 20:37:23 -0700
Reply-To: Jack <john.cook58@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jack <john.cook58@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Astronomy via Westy (aNVC)
In-Reply-To: <kend71pfo6g7m5bgg2qvs8r0tui33tudr9@4ax.com>
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Consider this a possible heads-up to do further investigation before
buying Celestron. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this
information but I consider the source reliable.
This comes from an ex-Meade employee. Apparently, Celestron had
become something of a joke around Meade since it (Celestron) had been
sold. Either it was a Chinese buyer or the telescope was to be built
entirely in China. Either way, they felt the quality would (or had?)
dive bomb.
Take the above for what it's worth. The ex-employee was not trying
to push Meade products (he no longer worked there). I've tried to
qualify the little I know, but for sure, if I were considering buying
Celestron, I'd do my homework first.
//Jack
On 2 May 2005 at 19:25, BA wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Here's some stuff ...
>
> My (one of the earliest) Celestron NexStar does not have any
> manual-override. I found that to be a serious shortcoming. When I
> don't feel like hooking up the battery or listening to the motor, I
> can't use this one. If you buy any "goto" scope, I recommend holding
> out for manual operation ability..
>
> I have trouble thinking of any 8" scope as "compact". Even my
> NexStar, which is a 5", hardly qualifies as "compact". I have a Meade
> ETX 90 RA (approx. 3.5" - mine's not a "goto" but Meade does have a
> "goto" in that size) is my "compact" scope.
>
> You decrease size/weight, but also decrease light-gathering when you
> get a smaller scope. It's a trade-off
>
> If your scope will be doing a lot of traveling, you'll be needing to
> collimate (adjust the alignment) more often than usual. So whatever
> you buy, make sure collimation isn't a PITA.
>
> Do lots of research before you buy. Better yet, find a local
> astronomy club and go to one of their "open" nights ... you can see
> lots of different scopes in real-life use (and get lots of different
> opinions about your own situation).
>
>
> B(&S)
> '87 Westy 'Esmerelda Blanc'
> SoCal
>
>
>
> On Mon, 02 May 2005 07:31:52 -0700, you wrote:
>
> >I know the almighty list counts a few amateur
> >astronomers among our ranks, so I'm seeking any advice
> >you can offer.
> >
> >My wife and Westy traveling partner has recently
> >gotten the astronomy bug, and is interested in a good
> >quality telescope suitable for viewing, and perhaps
> >eventually photographing, planets and other heavenly
> >bodies.
> >
> >We'd like something relatively compact enough to fit
> >in the Westy for weekends spent camping and stargazing
> >in the north woods, so she's presently leaning toward
> >a Schmitt-Cassegrain design, probably in the 8-inch
> >range, but we are open to other suggestions.
> >
> >• Other telescope designs or brands to consider?
> >• Is one design significantly more durable and
> >therefore better suited to backwoods travel than the
> >others?
> >• Is one design better for astrophotography than
> >another?
> >• Do most telescope celestial navigation computers
> >have a manual-override function to enable manual
> >navigation?
> >
> >Any advice would be appreciated, and if this subject
> >is considered too oblique for the Vanagon List, please
> >pmail with any responses.
> >
> >Thanks!
> >
> >Jeffrey Earl
> >1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
> >http://www.vanthology.com/
> >
> >__________________________________________________
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> >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
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>
>
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