asaint
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 2021
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Star Ware Fourth Edition
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 27405
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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Very nice Tom!
T
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4423
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I read Edition 2 cover to cover-several times
and I speedread Edition 3. I skimmed Edition 4 at the bookstore. It is amazing how much the scope/telescope brands change.
It is essential reading for someone just getting into amateur astronomy and/or trying to cope with the maze of products available.
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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ErnieM
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/13/04
Posts: 1172
Loc: Phoenix,AZ
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I have read mine from cover to cover and still refer back to it a lot.
Ernie
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Ernie
DSH8/ Crayford focuser
ST80 with 2" focuser on Astroview mount
7XL,10LX,13t6,17LX,22LVW,27 Pan,TV 32,SWA 26 & 38mm,TMBs,UOs,Sratus,and Viven 8x24 Zoom.
9x63 binos
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PhilH
sage
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 233
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Thanks for the kind words, Tom. And thanks for your chair! Ron created a real masterpiece there. I had to balance it out, for the carpentry-challenged reader (like me) by including the LYBAR chair, as well. Even I could (and did) make that one!
Yes, it is amazing to see just how much the telescope market has changed from the first to fourth editions. Being a student of the hobby's equipment, I really enjoy going back and rereading some of the earlier descriptions and reviews. Where are all those scopes today? ;-)
You mentioned how I'm constantly updating my web site with new material, which is true. That alone will keep me busy for quite some time!
Phil
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Phil Harrington
"Binocular Universe" Columnist, Astronomy magazine
Author: Star Ware || Star Watch || Touring the Universe through Binoculars || et al...
http://www.philharrington.net
http://www.observingsites.com
"Two eyes are better than one!"
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RRaubach
AstroCowboy
Reged: 01/26/05
Posts: 2173
Loc: Douglas (Converse County),WY
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It's great to see you here at CN! This is a very *user friendly* forum.
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Rodger
Meade SN-10 (UHTC) on Tak EM-200 mount/Antares rotating rings. Moonlite focuser.
Parallax 14.5" Newtonian on HD 200 mount (arriving soon!) w/ conical Royce mirror.
TMB 203 f/7 APO refractor on Tak NJP-160 mount.
Discovery 12.5" PDHQ
Schneider 18x80 "Flakfernrohr" binoculars/tripod mounted. Canon 15x50 IS binoculars
Unihedron Sky Quality Meter
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30032
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
Yes, it is amazing to see just how much the telescope market has changed from the first to fourth editions. Being a student of the hobby's equipment, I really enjoy going back and rereading some of the earlier descriptions and reviews. Where are all those scopes today? ;-)
I did a massive version of this when I got back into amateur astronomy. I hadn't done more than glance at a copy of S&T since about 1974, so what I saw on the newstands in '03 was a shock. I couldn't remember such a diversity of products being offered for sale. To refresh my memory I went to the U of A library and looked up issues of S&T from the early to mid 70s.
I was remembering things correctly, and it really was a brave new world!
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
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PhilH
sage
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 233
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Quote:
It's great to see you here at CN! This is a very *user friendly* forum.
Thanks, Rodger. I've been known to lurk around these parts before, mainly in the binocular and classic scopes forums.
Best,
Phil
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Phil Harrington
"Binocular Universe" Columnist, Astronomy magazine
Author: Star Ware || Star Watch || Touring the Universe through Binoculars || et al...
http://www.philharrington.net
http://www.observingsites.com
"Two eyes are better than one!"
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dvb
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 1923
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I've certainly enjoyed my copy, and was pleased to see large numbers in stock at the Canadian Chapters/Indigo chain.
I'm afraid I haven't been able to figure out the puzzle on page 171: The "well-known manufacturer/importer of astronomical equipment" Phil left out because of a grudge. Supposedly, it is conspicuous by its absence, but it has eluded me.
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Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Collapsible Dob
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C8 SCT
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100
Skywatcher ED80
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
AT Voyager
Skymaster 15x70
Mallincam HyperColor Plus
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buckaroo
Space Cowboy
Reged: 05/26/06
Posts: 1593
Loc: Underwood,Washington
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Great book and I am very fond of the dob on the cover.
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Steve
.742 meter f4.5 starmaster
12" f5.4 Teeter planet killer
10" f6 newt
sv102a f7.9
Atlas-g
Canon 1DmkIIn,40D,AE-1P,AE-1
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ErnieM
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/13/04
Posts: 1172
Loc: Phoenix,AZ
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Reference page 171.I haven't either.
Ernie
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Ernie
DSH8/ Crayford focuser
ST80 with 2" focuser on Astroview mount
7XL,10LX,13t6,17LX,22LVW,27 Pan,TV 32,SWA 26 & 38mm,TMBs,UOs,Sratus,and Viven 8x24 Zoom.
9x63 binos
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PhilH
sage
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 233
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Quote:
Reference page 171.I haven't either.
I'm afraid the mystery will remain unsolved. 
Phil
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30032
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
Quote:
Reference page 171.I haven't either.
I'm afraid the mystery will remain unsolved.
Phil
Just as well, I suppose. I'd hate to have to moderate you before you made it to 50 posts... 
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 2165
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
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Quote:
Quote:
Reference page 171.I haven't either.
I'm afraid the mystery will remain unsolved.
Phil
I'm pretty sure I have a handle on who it is...
BTW, I have the 3rd and 4th editions, and have worn out the third, and am doing the same to the fourth...
Thanks!!
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-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular
Meade 2080 LX10
5" Celestron SCT
Skywatcher Equinox 66
Starblast OTA
EQ6 Pro mount (spiffed up with ADM stuff)
8X42 Bushnell binos (pretty decent for 25$)
Canon Rebel XT (AKA 350D)
Starshoot autoguider
Tolerant Spousal Unit (AKA The Lovely Mrs. RogerRZ)
----------AJP Observatory----------
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Jim Rosenstock
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 2402
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
The warning that the use of GoTo by beginners might slow their development is not a matter of proven fact, to the best of my knowledge, (although I will freely admit that I have not formally studied the matter). So even the mild-mannered expression of this view found in chapter ten strikes an oddly discordant note. I believe the book would be better off without it.
Oh, please.
Phil Harrington has been in the business of advising beginners for some time now; if HE doesn't have the standing to venture such an opinion--one way or the other--then who does?
IMO, Harrington's advice for beginners to avoid go-to is also harmonious with his advice--approvingly noted in this review--that the best first "scope" for a beginner is actually a pair of binoculars. Both pieces of advice steer the beginner toward a simpler, more intuitive initial approach to this virtually limitless hobby.
Sorry, very little of Phil's book can be categorized as "proven fact"...which is as it should be. One needs a certain amount of human judgment to sort out all of the facts and factoids...and Harrington provides an appropriate serving of such judgment, based on his extensive experience in evaluating all sorts of equipment.
BTW, I'm not at all interested in reviving the "go-to vs star hop" argument, so please, let's not go there. My point is that Phil's assessment, based on his years of experience and three previous editions of the seminal work on the subject, is indeed appropriate in Phil's book.
And that's a fact. 
Jim
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QUESTION AUTHORITY!
"errr....sez who??"
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Moggi1964
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/05
Posts: 2512
Loc: Madison. NJ. USA
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Reference page 171.I haven't either.
I'm afraid the mystery will remain unsolved.
Phil
Just as well, I suppose. I'd hate to have to moderate you before you made it to 50 posts...
 
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Morris
WO Megrez 80 ED F/7
WO 8x42 binoculars
Seymor Rosin F/4.5 Astrograph in the making
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