what can you see with WO Zenithstar 66SD in Spore?

[Canopus Lim]

I think the first scope should be a good pair of binoculars. There are so many celestial things and nature to view through a good pair of binoculars. Last 2 weeks in USA, I brought my 10x42 Nikon binoculars and saw many animals (Sea Lions, Elephant seals, Seagulls, Pelicans etc). Also, with it I saw many star clusters and a few galaxies. The image was sharp, contrasty and flat. To me, the binoculars is worth every bit as I could see a lot of things with it.

The next step of course is to get a small scope that is highly portable. I got a C5 (actually called the G5 because it was german equitorial) but I found the equitorial mount urrmmpph... really hard to operate. It would be good to have a scope of 80mm above or a 5 inch Mak/SCT with an Alt-Az mount. The aperture cannot be too small as compared to the binoculars. For example the 60mm is just slightly bigger than a 50mm binoculars. For deepsky it is not much of an improvement. A 5inch Mak/SCT on the other hand is quite a significant improvement. If I do not drive, I will get either a good 4inch APO or a good 5inch Mak.

[alvinsclee]

No arguing between 66mm or 80mm in my case.

I bought the 80mm as my 1st scope and have been enjoying whatever I can see (despite light pollution limiting the clarity). Then, I felt that while it was a good scope for astronomy, I cannot use it for my nature-watching activities due to the bulk and weight.

So, comes Airconvent's 66mm sold to me and it serves me well whenever I go for evening birding in the forested areas and astro ob when I emerge from the forest later in the night. Lugging the 80mm with the buky portamount in the forest would have the macaques laughing at my clumsiness. For the 66mm, I simply fix it one of my light-weight carbon-fibre tripod and just go rambling.

[mandaragit]

hey guys thanks!