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Equipment Discussions >> Equipment

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City Kid
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/06/09

Loc: Northern Indiana

Sky Quality Meter new

#5717204 - 03/06/13 08:22 PM

It looks to me like the most useful one would be the SQM-L with it's narrower field of view. Is there any reason I wouldn't want the SQM-L over the SQM?

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GlennLeDrew
Postmaster

Reged: 06/18/08

Loc: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: City Kid]
#5717432 - 03/06/13 10:35 PM

I have the original SQM, and very often wish it had a smaller characteristic field than its 80 degrees. Given the variation in sky brightness, even at dark sites, and particularly when the milky way is well up, makes a smaller sampling field very useful.

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JimMo
I'd Rather Do It Myself

Reged: 01/08/07

Loc: Under the SE Michigan lightdom...

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: GlennLeDrew]
#5717847 - 03/07/13 07:46 AM

Quote:

I have the original SQM, and very often wish it had a smaller characteristic field than its 80 degrees. Given the variation in sky brightness, even at dark sites, and particularly when the milky way is well up, makes a smaller sampling field very useful.

+1 My experience exactly.

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: JimMo]
#5717969 - 03/07/13 09:23 AM

I also have the original SQM, and am very happy with it. If the SQM-L had been available at the time of my purchase, I would have went with that one, but to me, it's not worth the money to get the newer one, now.

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beatlejuice
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 04/05/11

Loc: Hamilton, ON,Canada

Re: Sky Quality Meter [Re: City Kid]
#5717980 - 03/07/13 09:30 AM

I have the SQM-L and you can certainly tell from the varying readings as you point to different parts of the sky that it works as intended and, intuitively as you think it should according to the current conditions in different sections of the sky.

Eric

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cliff mygatt
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/27/09

Loc: Kitsap County, WA

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: beatlejuice]
#5717999 - 03/07/13 09:42 AM

I have the SQM as well, bought it used from AMART. It is a nice to have but certainly not a must have. I use it because I have it but would not miss it if I did not have it. Good Luck!

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City Kid
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/06/09

Loc: Northern Indiana

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: cliff mygatt]
#5718643 - 03/07/13 03:11 PM

Thanks everyone. I pretty much had in my mind I was getting the SQM-L but before I pulled the trigger I wanted to see if anyone knew something I wasn't thinking about. SQM-L it is. I realize this is far from a must have. It's more of a toy for me than anything but it will be nice to have numbers to put with my subjective assessment of the sky quality.

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careysub
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 02/18/11

Loc: Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: City Kid]
#5718721 - 03/07/13 03:59 PM

Quote:

Thanks everyone. I pretty much had in my mind I was getting the SQM-L but before I pulled the trigger I wanted to see if anyone knew something I wasn't thinking about. SQM-L it is. I realize this is far from a must have. It's more of a toy for me than anything but it will be nice to have numbers to put with my subjective assessment of the sky quality.

It would be very helpful to other amateur astronomers if more people had these AND posted their readings to dark sky sites to characterize them. You could even document the light domes that are present.

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JimK
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/18/05

Loc: Albuquerque, NM USA

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: City Kid]
#5719010 - 03/07/13 06:29 PM

I first got the original SQM, but then saw the narrow-angle model (SQM-L) and thought that it would be better for my uses. I sent an email to the company asking about an upgrade and they were most helpful and said it was possible. So about 2-1/2 years ago I returned my SQM and got it upgraded to an SQM-L for a nominal fee and have not regretted the narrow field since then. I suggest that if anyone is interested in converting, send the company an email for details.

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City Kid
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/06/09

Loc: Northern Indiana

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: JimK]
#5719299 - 03/07/13 08:36 PM

I just placed my order. I can't wait to play with my new toy!

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cliff mygatt
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/27/09

Loc: Kitsap County, WA

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: City Kid]
#5720101 - 03/08/13 09:25 AM

Enjoy! There is a forum on Cloudy Night, where I don't remember, for listing your SQM readings.

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Doc Willie
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 03/31/10

Loc: Mid-Hudson Valley, NY, USA

Re: Sky Quality Meter [Re: careysub]
#5720302 - 03/08/13 11:10 AM

Quote:

It would be very helpful to other amateur astronomers if more people had these AND posted their readings to dark sky sites to characterize them. You could even document the light domes that are present.

You can do that at Globe at Night.

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Raginar
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/19/10

Loc: Rapid CIty, SD

Re: Sky Quality Meter [Re: Doc Willie]
#5721113 - 03/08/13 08:10 PM

You guys tracking on the SQM iphone/android app?

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Sky Quality Meter [Re: cliff mygatt]
#5721236 - 03/08/13 09:14 PM

Quote:

Enjoy! There is a forum on Cloudy Night, where I don't remember, for listing your SQM readings.

It wasn't a forum, rather a thread, that got bumped back many, many pages, as members were not posting their readings enough to keep the thread on page 1. I believe it is in Equip.

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John K
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/26/05

Loc: Vernon BC Canada

Re: Sky Quality Meter [Re: csa/montana]
#5721281 - 03/08/13 09:51 PM

I do sketching for a magazine and I find that it is great for giving people an idea of the conditions of which the sketch was done.So for me it is a great tool and less of a toy.

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Scott in NC
Mad Hatter

Reged: 03/05/05

Loc: NC

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: John K]
#5721961 - 03/09/13 10:27 AM

I've had a SQM-L for a little over a year now, and I really like it. I'm definitely glad that I paid a little extra for the "L" version. And I agree with the previous posters who have said that it's more of a "neat gadget to have" than a "must have." Would it be a serious detriment to my observing enjoyment if I didn't have one--NO! But am I glad that I have one--YES!

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Raginar
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/19/10

Loc: Rapid CIty, SD

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: Scott in NC]
#5722016 - 03/09/13 10:53 AM

They moved it to Computers and Software. They're looking for volunteers to beta test it. You need a normal SQM and an Iphone 4s-5.

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Starman1
Vendor (EyepiecesEtc.com)

Reged: 06/24/03

Loc: Los Angeles

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: Raginar]
#5722781 - 03/09/13 06:31 PM

One man's "Mag.6.2 sky" is another man's "Mag.6.7 sky".
But one man's "Mag.21.40 sky by SQM" is another man's "Mag.21.40 sky".
Objective reality is a far better indicator to another of the sky conditions at your site than are subjective evaluations.
Here are some threads pertaining:
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6

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City Kid
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/06/09

Loc: Northern Indiana

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: Starman1]
#5722867 - 03/09/13 07:33 PM

Quote:

One man's "Mag.6.2 sky" is another man's "Mag.6.7 sky".
But one man's "Mag.21.40 sky by SQM" is another man's "Mag.21.40 sky".
Objective reality is a far better indicator to another of the sky conditions at your site than are subjective evaluations.

That's one reason I wanted one. My subjective evaluation of the skies I observe under on a 1-7 scale means that most good nights are rated the same. However in reality they aren't the same and now I will have actual numbers to refer to.

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cliff mygatt
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/27/09

Loc: Kitsap County, WA

Re: Sky Quality Meter new

[Re: City Kid]
#5722887 - 03/09/13 07:42 PM

I like that idea! I will start using my SQM readings for transparency log entires and thus make it none subjective!

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