john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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hey, i might be buying this scope soon. just want to hear the pros and cons of this. i'm going to be using it for AP. i'm buying a laptop and i have a webcam right now. i have been using a 90mm mak and think its almost time to upgrade!
so please tell me if this is the right scope!
thanks! 
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
 -Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Kolenka
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/01/08
Posts: 1010
Loc: Seattle Area, WA, USA
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It isn't bad, but get ready for a world of pain in using the ETX as-is for AP. The fork mount is rather touchy, and just holding a laptop in hand with a USB cable running to the scope is enough to add vibration to the image.
That said, I find it useful enough for planetary work with a webcam. Not sure I would try for deep sky with it.
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Orion XX12 / Orion 80ED OTA / AT66ED
Nagler 7T6, 9T6, 13T6, 17T4, 26T5
Canon XS, TIS DMK 31AF03, AstroTrac TT320X
Northwest Astro Photoblog
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sang33ta
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/08/08
Posts: 767
Loc: UK
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If you want to see what you can deep sky check out
http://www.weasner.com/etx/guests/2008/guests_deepsky.html
beware of Meades photos though many of them are piggy packed on an LX200 which is unfair!
If you want to image low f/ratio Meade LXD would be better.
http://www.meade4m.com/cgi-bin/gallery4M.cgi?type=18
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Hioptic 152mm f12.5 Maksutov, CG5-AGT, Meade Super Plossl Set, Casio QV-2900UX
Edited by sang33ta (07/30/08 12:13 PM)
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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Quote:
It isn't bad, but get ready for a world of pain in using the ETX as-is for AP. The fork mount is rather touchy, and just holding a laptop in hand with a USB cable running to the scope is enough to add vibration to the image.
That said, I find it useful enough for planetary work with a webcam. Not sure I would try for deep sky with it.
so this set isn't to sturdy? i will have the laptop on a table. it can't be any worse then the set up i have now. its very shaky.
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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Quote:
If you want to see what you can deep sky check out
http://www.weasner.com/etx/guests/2008/guests_deepsky.html
beware of Meades photos though many of them are piggy packed on an LX200 which is unfair!
If you want to image low f/ratio Meade LXD would be better.
http://www.meade4m.com/cgi-bin/gallery4M.cgi?type=18
thanks for the links it gives me a good idea what i will expect!
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Kolenka
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/01/08
Posts: 1010
Loc: Seattle Area, WA, USA
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Quote:
Quote:
It isn't bad, but get ready for a world of pain in using the ETX as-is for AP. The fork mount is rather touchy, and just holding a laptop in hand with a USB cable running to the scope is enough to add vibration to the image.
That said, I find it useful enough for planetary work with a webcam. Not sure I would try for deep sky with it.
so this set isn't to sturdy? i will have the laptop on a table. it can't be any worse then the set up i have now. its very shaky.
With the ETX, Meade had to skimp on the fork or the optics to make the price target. They skimped on the fork.
So while the optics are worth the money, and visually, it works great. The best success I have had with AP is planetary and lunar. I have yet to find success with deep sky. There is also the issue of clearance in the fork, which makes imaging near the zenith difficult.
And tracking will be okay at best. Good for visual, but you will see a lot of motion in alt/az when tracking planets.
Optically, it is great, and I have no doubt it works for planetary, I am just not convinced it is a solid scope for deep sky without deforking it and mounting it on something more stable.
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Orion XX12 / Orion 80ED OTA / AT66ED
Nagler 7T6, 9T6, 13T6, 17T4, 26T5
Canon XS, TIS DMK 31AF03, AstroTrac TT320X
Northwest Astro Photoblog
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
It isn't bad, but get ready for a world of pain in using the ETX as-is for AP. The fork mount is rather touchy, and just holding a laptop in hand with a USB cable running to the scope is enough to add vibration to the image.
That said, I find it useful enough for planetary work with a webcam. Not sure I would try for deep sky with it.
so this set isn't to sturdy? i will have the laptop on a table. it can't be any worse then the set up i have now. its very shaky.
With the ETX, Meade had to skimp on the fork or the optics to make the price target. They skimped on the fork.
So while the optics are worth the money, and visually, it works great. The best success I have had with AP is planetary and lunar. I have yet to find success with deep sky. There is also the issue of clearance in the fork, which makes imaging near the zenith difficult.
And tracking will be okay at best. Good for visual, but you will see a lot of motion in alt/az when tracking planets.
Optically, it is great, and I have no doubt it works for planetary, I am just not convinced it is a solid scope for deep sky without deforking it and mounting it on something more stable.
thats fine. its to Light polluted here to even do DSO. i normally just take pictures of planets. haven't done a lot of imaging but with the LP its not a big deal.
a friend is offering me the scope just trying to get a feel on what i should expect.
i probably should have stated that i'm only really going to be imaging planets and the moon. sorry!
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Kolenka
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/01/08
Posts: 1010
Loc: Seattle Area, WA, USA
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Which is why I mentioned that I found it useful enough for planetary in my first post. 
As-is, it is a great visual and planetary AP scope. It will be a somewhat noticeable upgrade from the 90mm, The main problem I have these days is that I keep overexposing Jupiter and other planets, so there is plenty of light grab available. Resolution is good on doubles for visual viewing as well.
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Orion XX12 / Orion 80ED OTA / AT66ED
Nagler 7T6, 9T6, 13T6, 17T4, 26T5
Canon XS, TIS DMK 31AF03, AstroTrac TT320X
Northwest Astro Photoblog
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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Quote:
Which is why I mentioned that I found it useful enough for planetary in my first post.
As-is, it is a great visual and planetary AP scope. It will be a somewhat noticeable upgrade from the 90mm, The main problem I have these days is that I keep overexposing Jupiter and other planets, so there is plenty of light grab available. Resolution is good on doubles for visual viewing as well.
ok thanks very much!
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Lee Jay
sage
Reged: 02/27/08
Posts: 463
Loc: Westminster, CO
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Quote:
The best success I have had with AP is planetary and lunar. I have yet to find success with deep sky. There is also the issue of clearance in the fork, which makes imaging near the zenith difficult.
And tracking will be okay at best. Good for visual, but you will see a lot of motion in alt/az when tracking planets.
If your going to do deep-sky with it, you *have* to put it in polar mode. I was just about flattened when I tried it in polar mode the first time, and compared the tracking to that in alt-az. In alt-az, 1-second exposures create visual smear more than 50% of the time. In polar, I get about 50% keepers (defined as near-perfect) at 30 seconds unguided. That's one heck of a difference. Polar mode also helps greatly with the zenith problem, depending on where you mount your camera. I like polar mode so much, I now use it for visual too!
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 7051
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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The ETX line are primarily visual telescopes, though they can be used for basic astrophography. The problem isn't so much how sturdy the mount is (it's plenty sturdy enough) but with how long the focal length is (f/15) and how steady the drive is. The ETX-125 should make a killer lunar & planetary telescope, but at f/15 it's photograhpically very slow, requiring fairly long exposures as compared to the more typical f/3.3-f/6.3 imaging systems. The challenge is increased by the drive which is fine for visual and L&P, but the periodic error makes taking long exposures problematic. You might me able to resuce this using periodic error correction, but I've never tried it. If you're primarily interesting in deep sky imaging you might consider the LXD75 SN6 (or even the N6) which is probably one of the best imaging platforms in a similar price range as the ETX-125.
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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hey update!!! i will be picking up the Meade ETX-125 on September 7th! can;t wait!!
i have a question though! 
the 125 has a back compartment thats like a built in flip mirror kind of thing? does it work like a flip mirror you turn it on the one eyepiece then the other or can you see through both at the same time?  it might be a dumb question but i'm curious!
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Lee Jay
sage
Reged: 02/27/08
Posts: 463
Loc: Westminster, CO
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It's a flip mirror.
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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Quote:
It's a flip mirror.
ok thanks!
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Congrats John! I noticed you said you were getting yours on September 7; did you mean August 7 (this coming week) or a month from now?
I'm still a little on the fence before ordering mine. I've heard some great things about the scope, and as it turns out, most of the complaints I found were based on early production units of the EC version from back in the late 90's. Seems they've addressed many of the issues (vibration, image shifting, and blown motors/drive trains.)
Still, for me it's a big step. Just need to make sure I've exhausted all my pre-purchase resources before taking the plunge.
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
 Updated: 09/16/2009
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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hey Tim, no i have to wait until September. i'm saving for a laptop right now. so i can do some imaging more often!
i'm actually buying the scope from a member here on the forum. i'm going to meet him half way. 
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Awesome! Well congratulations! I've got a relatively new (about a year old) HP Pavilion dv9000 series laptop that I'm hoping has the ponies to do some field work, as I'd like to hook a scope up to it for control and eventually some imaging.
You'll be getting it just in time for what I consider to be the start of prime observing season. Fall is my favorite time of year for a number of reasons, not least among them are clear, crisp Autumn nights and some of my favorite celestial goodies coming up out of the East at decent hours.
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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thanks Tim! can't wait for the telescope. it should be so much nicer then my 90mm right now.
i'm buying a apple laptop that includes a free ipod touch.
well have to go edit some photos of jupiter!
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Well John, I'm in that boat now right along side you! I just did a gut-check, and placed my order on Astronomics for my 125! Already got my initial e-mail, just waiting on the confirmation and shipping details, but I'm hoping it'll be here by the end of the week or early next week.
Of course, if things hold true, we'll be socked in with eight weeks of solid overcast now! That's just the way it works here...order a new piece of equipment, and the weather just knows and clobbers you! 
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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Quote:
Well John, I'm in that boat now right along side you! I just did a gut-check, and placed my order on Astronomics for my 125! Already got my initial e-mail, just waiting on the confirmation and shipping details, but I'm hoping it'll be here by the end of the week or early next week.
Of course, if things hold true, we'll be socked in with eight weeks of solid overcast now! That's just the way it works here...order a new piece of equipment, and the weather just knows and clobbers you!
big congrats Tim! hope to hear a report when it arrives!
yes the clouds will follow the arrival of the new scope  when i got my first scope the 90mm it was cloudy for about a week. got my first goto mount the ds2000 cloudy for about a week. thats how it works.
i guess with the 125 being such and upgrade it will be cloudy for much longer
well i guess it will give you time to learn how to operate it! 
again congrats!
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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EventHorizonMD
journeyman
Reged: 08/05/08
Posts: 5
Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
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I am awaiting the arrival of my ETX-125PE too. Should arrive any day. I can't wait. Fortunately, here in Arizona clouds aren't much of a problem. Thinking of taking the new scope up to Flagstaff to get away from the light pollution here in Phoenix.
I have been using an Orion 6" Dobsonian for several years and am not sure what to expect in terms of comparison. Hope I'm not disappointed!
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Kevin
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Swamp Fox
super member
Reged: 12/26/06
Posts: 166
Loc: Goose Creek, South Carolina
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Quote:
I am awaiting the arrival of my ETX-125PE too. Should arrive any day. I can't wait. Fortunately, here in Arizona clouds aren't much of a problem. Thinking of taking the new scope up to Flagstaff to get away from the light pollution here in Phoenix.
I have been using an Orion 6" Dobsonian for several years and am not sure what to expect in terms of comparison. Hope I'm not disappointed!
Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on the new scope!!
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Tele Vue 102
Meade ETX125
Orion XT12i
35mm Panoptic; 22mm T4 Nagler; 17mm T4 Nagler; 12mm T4 Nagler; 10mm Radian; 4mm Radian; 2x Powermate
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Welcome Kevin! Sounds like quite a few folks jumped on the 125's this week! Congratulations, and looking forward to hearing your comparison with the dobbie. I envy your conditions...here in the overcast Northeast, especially this summer, we're getting unprecedented views of the bottom of clouds. 
Keep us posted! Clear skies to you!
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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Quote:
I am awaiting the arrival of my ETX-125PE too. Should arrive any day. I can't wait. Fortunately, here in Arizona clouds aren't much of a problem. Thinking of taking the new scope up to Flagstaff to get away from the light pollution here in Phoenix.
I have been using an Orion 6" Dobsonian for several years and am not sure what to expect in terms of comparison. Hope I'm not disappointed!
welcome to CN Kevin! congrats on the scope. hope you post pictures and a first light report!!
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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EventHorizonMD
journeyman
Reged: 08/05/08
Posts: 5
Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
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Thanks everyone. I'm looking forward to participating in the forum!!
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Kevin
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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Quote:
Thanks everyone. I'm looking forward to participating in the forum!!
well we didn't have a choise to welcome you Kevin, its a rule! if we don't the MODS ban us from CN for a whole day!  
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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EventHorizonMD
journeyman
Reged: 08/05/08
Posts: 5
Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
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Wow. Seems rather Draconian to me, but I will accept it nonetheless. BTW, I was wondering if anyone has an opinion about the Questar 3.5" scope. Quite a bit more expensive than the Meade ETX, but I have an opportunity to save about 50% off retail on a used one.
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Kevin
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5472
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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Quote:
Wow. Seems rather Draconian to me, but I will accept it nonetheless.
 Kevin , i was just playing around with you. warming up the newbie! you will get use to it.
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Joe Cipriano
Entropy Personified
Reged: 09/03/05
Posts: 3893
Loc: Uh... anyone have a GPS?
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Quote:
Quote:
Thanks everyone. I'm looking forward to participating in the forum!!
well we didn't have a choise to welcome you Kevin, its a rule! if we don't the MODS ban us from CN for a whole day!
I am NOT that evil!
No, really - I'm not.
Kevin - Welcome to CN.
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In the Land of Eternal Light Pollution & Great Pizza (Chicago)
SN-6, ED80, WO 66SD
Meade 208xt, SBIG ST-4
D70 (modified)
CGE (way modified)
A Wife who understands (unmodified)
Some other stuff...
The best introduction to astronomy is to think of the nightly heavens as a little lot of stars belonging to one's own homestead.
George Eliot
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ColoHank
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/07/07
Posts: 668
Loc: western Colorado
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I have a cousin who was a member, way back when, of the team responsible for determining the best location for the observatory on Mauna Kea. They used Questars as reference instruments to test the quality of "seeing" at various places along the crater rim. A Questar is admittedly pricey considering its relatively limited aperture, so when I was trying to decide whether or not to buy one, I gave him a call. I followed his advice then and pass it along to you now: Go for it!
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Questar 3.5 standard - pyrex and BB coatings
Powerguide II
8mm, 12mm, 16mm, 24mm and 32mm Brandons
modified Bogen 3030 w/ homebuilt wedge
Homebuilt Galileo scope and very large and ugly homemade tripod
other odds and ends, including iPod Touch with StarMap Pro (what a marvelous combo)...
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"Nothing exists but atoms and empty space. Everything else is opinion."
Titus Lucretius Carus 99-55 B.C.
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