Spotting Scope for Astronomy

Post by **acc** » Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:34 pm

IMHO, my observing experience tells me that a 5" SCT/MCT is a good scope to start with unless u can manage a larger scope both physically and financially. While u can see many DSOs and planets with a 90mm or smaller scope, a 5" scope will show much more detail.

Post by **VinSnr** » Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:40 pm

acc wrote:hi Kelvin
Get the largest aperture scope you can afford and which is portable enough for your use! I admire those who learn astronomy using a spotting scope but why deprive urself of more satisfying views if u can afford a larger scope?

cheers
cc

I agree to some extend. However, portability for newbie is also important. Many newbies do not know portability problems. Once they bought themselves a 10" (assuming they can afford it), they realised they use it so little and their interest in astro dies at that very moment too.

Post by **acc** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 9:59 am

I agree to some extend. However, portability for newbie is also important.

Ya that is very true. I think a 5" SCT is the maximum portable scope that can be describled as pack n go, but then only if its mounted on a light alt-az mount.

Nowadays, I am getting more and more lazy and the portaball is getting less starlight... :oops:

Post by **Airconvent** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:59 pm

acc wrote:
I agree to some extend. However, portability for newbie is also important.
Ya that is very true. I think a 5" SCT is the maximum portable scope that can be describled as pack n go, but then only if its mounted on a light alt-az mount.

Nowadays, I am getting more and more lazy and the portaball is getting less starlight... :oops:

That is why once you get embedded into this hobby, you need a few scopes to cater to various occasions. A small get-up-and-go like the ETX, Skywatcher Mak or ST80mm. A mid size goto for those lazy days and a humongous aperture scope for "special" occasions...like the 16.1"!
Looks like CC is short of the goto. Maybe can consider my ETX or upgrade to an 8" LX200 ???

rich

Post by **VinSnr** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 5:37 pm

Airconvent wrote:
acc wrote:
I agree to some extend. However, portability for newbie is also important.
Ya that is very true. I think a 5" SCT is the maximum portable scope that can be describled as pack n go, but then only if its mounted on a light alt-az mount.

Nowadays, I am getting more and more lazy and the portaball is getting less starlight... :oops:
That is why once you get embedded into this hobby, you need a few scopes to cater to various occasions. A small get-up-and-go like the ETX, Skywatcher Mak or ST80mm. A mid size goto for those lazy days and a humongous aperture scope for "special" occasions...like the 16.1"!
Looks like CC is short of the goto. Maybe can consider my ETX or upgrade to an 8" LX200 ???

rich

what CC can do is get a Nextstar 80 GOTO mount. Then mount his TV-85 on it. That way get gets GOTO as well as portability.

Kelvin · Post by **Kelvin** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 6:29 pm

I admire those who learn astronomy using a spotting scope

you do ?? haha you shouldn't =P a spotting scope will give you "astronomer's neck" in the morning and make you wonder about lousy camera mounts,

and a whole lot of trouble, but the truth is you guy need a 70~90mm scope of more, for deep sky work, ah a 60mm is good for the moon only ,veuns still looks like a dot or LED.

Post by **Airconvent** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:43 pm

Kelvin wrote:
I admire those who learn astronomy using a spotting scope
you do ?? haha you shouldn't =P a spotting scope will give you "astronomer's neck" in the morning and make you wonder about lousy camera mounts, and a whole lot of trouble, but the truth is you guy need a 70~90mm scope of more, for deep sky work, ah a 60mm is good for the moon only ,veuns still looks like a dot or LED.

actually, unless Venus is in its crescent phase, it usually looks like a dot to most scopes as its very bright....only at higher magnification can you see that it is not a full circle. And unlike the nice blue Venus you see with clouds on the nasa photos, in reality, you see no features on a telescope.
CC has always describe it as "boring" but I feel you really need to look at all the planets at least once....I have seen all of them except Mercury which remains elusive to me....

rich

Kelvin · Post by **Kelvin** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:46 am

Oh dear.,, then what kind of field work can i do on my scope except the Moon and Crates.

Post by **VinSnr** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 10:37 am

Kelvin wrote:Oh dear.,, then what kind of field work can i do on my scope except the Moon and Crates.

I have told you....why dun you believe me? You can hunt for at least 20-30 messier objects wtih your scope.

If you haven't found those M objects yet, you shouldn't be complaining about your scope.

Kelvin · Post by **Kelvin** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 12:22 pm

Heads up rookies astros, i just came across a magic thing that will take wawy the pain of buying a scope.

This camcorder by Canon has 10x optical zoom and 500x digital zoom!!

WOW ! i can see the pluto about the size of a football is it??

Could someone enlighten me on the 500x or 800x digital zoom magic ?