Jim langley
super member
Reged: 07/02/11
Loc: New Holland, PA
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Good grab n go scope
#5158272 - 04/05/12 08:50 PM
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I am looking for a grab n go combination to take to star parties, or whenever I just feel like heading out on a whim. I am partial to SCTs so I would like to keep my search limited to those. I was thinking about a NextStar 8, or even an 8" Edge on a lightweight mount?
Any thoughts?
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Widespread
sage
Reged: 05/11/11
Loc: Bowling Green, Kentucky
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: Jim langley]
#5158316 - 04/05/12 09:56 PM
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I own a NexStar 8SE, and I love it. Is it good for grab and go?
Well, good grab and go is kind of like pornography: it's hard to define, but I know it when I see it. Actually, a more apt analogy may that there are as many flavors of grab and go as there are flavors of, er, ice cream.
To get to brass tacks, for car transportation to star parties, I think it's outstanding. Heading out on a whim? Well, it's very portable, but enough to require a modicum of gumption, which whims are notorious for lacking.
My personal IDEAL grab-n-go for whims would be something like a Stellarvue 90mm triplet with a Discmount on a Gitzo tripod.
My ACTUAL scope for spur-of-the-moment whims?
My Orion ST80. Hey, there is always a lacuna between the actual and the ideal 
Edited by Widespread (04/05/12 11:42 PM)
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avarakin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/13/09
Loc: Parsippany NJ, USA
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: Widespread]
#5158356 - 04/05/12 10:34 PM
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For me a grab/go star party scope is a 10" dob. I always have it in my car so I can go to club site after work if I want to.
Alex
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Widespread
sage
Reged: 05/11/11
Loc: Bowling Green, Kentucky
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: avarakin]
#5158456 - 04/05/12 11:44 PM
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Avarakin, I know it when I see it 
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Smittty692k4
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/05/11
Loc: East Bernard, TX
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: Widespread]
#5158825 - 04/06/12 09:34 AM
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Hello Jim.
If you are thinking about the Nexstar 8SE, then I would back you up by saying it is a great Grab n go setup.
Have you checked out the Nexstar forum and made a post there?? You wil be overwhelmed at all the positives about it, and also can get insight as to other questions you have.
One person - easy setup
Auto 2 star align - quick
gotos - within FOV (95%) of time for me
5 stars
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caheaton
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/26/09
Loc: SW Ohio
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: Widespread]
#5158828 - 04/06/12 09:36 AM
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I agree with Widespread. The choice of a grab and go is a highly personal choice that depends upon you much time you're willing to wait for the optics to cool, how heavy is too heavy, set up time, etc.
For star parties, I prefer the 10" dob. For a fast set up, no wait scope to a nearby park I've lately preferred the ST120. For camping trips it's usually the ETX80 or the 102mm F/6 (as opposed to the ST120 since the 102mm's lighter weight gives me more choices of which mount to bring).
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herrointment
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/12/11
Loc: North of Hwy. 64
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: caheaton]
#5158861 - 04/06/12 09:53 AM
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The 8SE doesn't just dance out the door with you in my experience.
I love mine, but I'd opt for something smaller if G and G means quick and easy.
A small refractor would seem to be the ticket IMHO.
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orion61
Vendor(Clear Edge Optical)
Reged: 10/20/07
Loc: NW Iowa BURRRR
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: herrointment]
#5158954 - 04/06/12 10:48 AM
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A perfect grab and go scope is the Celestron 127 NexStar SLT
only weighs 17 lbs. carry it in one hand and the eyepiece case in another.
It has full Go-To and a 5" Mak gives superior images and is very contrasty. Carry batterys onboard.
Plus they are CHEAP $450.00 on closeout!
NexStar 8 is too bulky in my opinion. I have a NexStar 6se that is not as convenient to use.
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MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/22/11
Loc: Mendon, MA
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: orion61]
#5158960 - 04/06/12 10:52 AM
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A G&G for me would be the Celestron C6-XLT OTA and/or the Astro-Tech AT72ED; they are both light weight scopes that image great.
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berobertsmd
super member
Reged: 09/28/09
Loc: Brandon, Mississippi
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: MRNUTTY]
#5159179 - 04/06/12 12:54 PM
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Hello Jim,
I use My Nexstar 8SE as my "quick set up" scope. It cools down fairly quickly, but there are some other considerations to think about. It's a full size C8, 18" long, probably with a 15" dew shield. Speaking of dew, you'll need some dew heaters and a power tank, but you need a power tank anyway to run the scope. It has internal power with 8 AA batteries, but they don't last long. It comes with a red-dot sight, but you may want to add a Telerad or such. Set-up is straight forward, and the Go-To is wonderful and accurate. Performance is great, it is a C8. Good luck-
Bruce
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stevew
Now I've done it
Reged: 03/03/06
Loc: British Columbia Canada
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: berobertsmd]
#5159345 - 04/06/12 02:43 PM Attachment (58 downloads)
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Here's what I use as a grab and go.
C8 on a E.Z. Touch mount. It's quite steady, and works well.
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Classic8
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/12/06
Loc: Naperville, IL, USA
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: stevew]
#5159532 - 04/06/12 05:10 PM
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How are we defining grab n go? Something you can carry out the door in 1 piece? That limits things quite a bit. I have an 80mm refractor on an alt-az mount that counts for that. Not enough aperture for me though. My 10" Meade SCT goes out the door in 2 pieces, no external battery needed so it doesn't take me long to start observing...
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berobertsmd
super member
Reged: 09/28/09
Loc: Brandon, Mississippi
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: Classic8]
#5159658 - 04/06/12 06:30 PM
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Well I guess Jim should answer that, but my thoughts were a couple of trips out the door, easy 1 person process, quick set-up to viewing time, easy break down for trip back home; using a scope that would work generally well for lunar, planetary, and some DSO.
Bruce
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Crow Haven
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/09/09
Loc: Betwixt and Between
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: berobertsmd]
#5159749 - 04/06/12 07:29 PM Attachment (62 downloads)
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Here's what I use...
I would suggest go up (from the C-5 pictured) to a C-6 sct. I've used a C-8 on this AT Voyager mt. also, but the C-6 would be better as far as vibration.
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azure1961p
Postmaster
Reged: 01/17/09
Loc: USA
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: Classic8]
#5159869 - 04/06/12 09:14 PM
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Quote:
How are we defining grab n go? Something you can carry out the door in 1 piece? That limits things quite a bit. I have an 80mm refractor on an alt-az mount that counts for that. Not enough aperture for me though. My 10" Meade SCT goes out the door in 2 pieces, no external battery needed so it doesn't take me long to start observing...
Id agree with the 80mm being a great grab and go scope. My Televue Ranger is about as spur of the moment as It can get and with. Cooldown avereging 20 to 25 minutes max its unparralleled.
But it is JUST 70mm .
There in lies the rub. It can show surprisingly good detail on Mars and Jupiter, but Saturn for example that changes relatively little is the same one night to the next in the 70mm. Some nights are sharper than others but there just isnt THAT much going on . Thats where larger aperture grab n go is needed. Then the Crepe ring shows, refined ring contrasts emerge and belts begin to show nice too. A good seeing night shows a lot more through medium aperture than small when it comes to Saturn.
My "midgrade" scope between the 8" and 7Omm is my Nextstar6SE . I love it. Nice stellar diffraction patterns. Hardly a burden to set up and for some odd reason far far better looking than its pix. Mediocre seeing had me a great view of Mars at 320x (once i ditched the mars filter  )
Downside? Unless you have a Lymax cooler, expect about an hour cool down. Thats where it violates my grab n go criteria. But man what a lot of power in a small package. Tracks beautifuly. If it doesnt track well Ive found its one of two reasons or both - tripod wasnt leveled and an accurate three star alignment wasnt performed. A few minutes for that little adjustment. One star alignment for high power planetary viewing for me, isnt accurate enough. But it will follow for a while.
Im a huge fan of the Nexstar 6SE. Its been too long since jts last outting.
Pete
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Jim langley
super member
Reged: 07/02/11
Loc: New Holland, PA
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: Classic8]
#5159918 - 04/06/12 10:16 PM
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Well, I have been picking up my CPC 1100 mount and OTA, and hardware together, and walking 80' to a better observing area in my yard. I'm getting a little tired of the back strain. Some times, I barely get home from work in time to view certain objects, so I do not have the time to carry things out seprately, then put them together. SO, grab and go for me is something about half the weight, (or less) of what I am lugging around right now.
Here is what I am looking for.
Easy carry out into my yard in one piece, quick setup
Easier carry in two parts; put in the car and off you go.
SCT, or Mak with at least 6", or 8" (if it is light enough).
Tracking and goto.
I think I am debating on the 6SE, or 8SE at this point. I'm not sure what more the 8SE will allow me to see. I know it has more light gathering ability, bu the 6" is lighter. I like the simplicity of the mount.
I will be looking at everything I can find at NEAF, then make a decision at the show.
Jim!
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azure1961p
Postmaster
Reged: 01/17/09
Loc: USA
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: Jim langley]
#5160271 - 04/07/12 07:52 AM
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Jim,
The Nexstar 6SE is light but its ROBUST. Its beefy. With a total weight of thirty pounds, tripod included its really manageable - and Im outta shape. The OTA of my reflector is thirty five pounds alone add the dob mount and I aint lifting it anywhere.
Youve already got the 11" so any special or noteworthy events and there you go. For so much other I think youd like the six. Its small enough to be portable easily, big enough to show most of whats out there small enough to make setting up the C11 worth while when you do. That and the 6" SCTS have been stunningly excellent optically.
Pete
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azure1961p
Postmaster
Reged: 01/17/09
Loc: USA
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: azure1961p]
#5160317 - 04/07/12 08:32 AM
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Well maybe not stunning... pleasingly perhaps.
Pete
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mega256
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/10/07
Loc: N of Tampa
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: azure1961p]
#5160320 - 04/07/12 08:34 AM Attachment (65 downloads)
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The 6se is a very nice grab and go setup...I think the 6se
is better than the 8 because they use the same mount.The 6 can see all that the 8 does,but at a little better tracking and less weight and mass.Almost no cool down time too.I use mine with a video camera($100-sdc435) to see farther then the big dobs can...great"grab and show" setup..Also maybe a meade Lt6..another nice setup.
5",6",8" compared in size...
Edited by mega256 (04/07/12 09:43 AM)
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t.r.
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/08
Loc: Upstate NY
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Re: Good grab n go scope
[Re: azure1961p]
#5160323 - 04/07/12 08:36 AM Attachment (50 downloads)
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I've had an 80mm refractor, 90-2mm refractor, 100mm refractor, 130mm refractor, ETX90, Nexstar 5, and a C8 all competing to be my one-trip out the door grab-n-go setup. I've settled on the C-6XLT on a GC-4 driven mount(the SE would be fine also). Best combo of weight, performance and bang for buck. Not too big, not too small, the C6 is juuuust right and doesn't leave me wanting for light or resolution. It beats all the refractors smaller than the 130mm. Rumor has it that the C6 seems to be made to a better quality as well. Mine is confirmed 1/6-1/7 wave tested. Thats a Baader zoom in the diagonal, the only eyepiece needed, simplifying things even more. On this morning I clearly viewed the Serpent Storm on Saturn...the C6 is indeed a planetary performer! 
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