Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums
Privacy Policy |
Please read our Terms
of Service | Signup and
Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User
Maverick
sage
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 256
Loc: 41:06:38.819N 81:28:51.650W
|
|
I'm a novice when it comes to telescopes, but I have been doing a lot of reading and have settled on trying to purchasing one of these two scopes...
#1
Objective Mirror: Concave mirror, hard coated
Lens Clear Aperture: 150mm (6 inches)
Focal Length: 1400mm
Resolving Power: 0.93"
Faintest Discernible Object: 12M
Mount: ET-8 Equatorial
Focusing: Rack and pinion focusing
Collimation: Mirror is collimated before shipment. Primary tube has collimation adjustment screws. Collimation aides and instructions are not included.
Primary Tube Length: 19 inches
Plossl 25mm Eyepiece:
Diameter: 1.25 inches. An adapter ring for .965" eyepieces is included with this telescope.
Magnification: 56x; 2x more with the Barlow lens!
Exit Pupil Aperture: 5mm
Brightness: 25
Visual Field: Apparent 40°; Actual 51'30"
Plossl 6.5mm Eyepiece:
Diameter: 1.25 inches. An adapter ring for .965" eyepieces is included with this telescope.
Magnification: 215x; 2x more with the Barlow lens!
Exit Pupil Aperture: 1.5mm
Brightness: 2.25
Visual Field: Apparent 41°; Actual 14'
or
#2
Mirror Focal Length: 800mm
8" (203mm) Diameter Primary Mirror
25.5" Tube Length
Rack and Pinion Focus
Declination Circle
Latitude Scale
Concave Objective Mirror - hard coated
Heavy Duty Pre-attached ET-8 Equatorial Mount
6 x 30mm Sight Finder Scope
Adjustable Aluminum Tripod
Leg Braces
Moon Filter, Sun Filter, Balance Weights, Accessory tray
Eyepiece: PL25MM, PL6.5MM
Magnification: 30x, 115x
Exit Pupil Aperature: 5mm, 1.5mm
Brightness: 25, 2.25
Visual Field- Actual: 1 Degree 36', 26'
Visual Field- Apparent: 40, 41 degrees
I could I please get some opinions on which scope would be better?? I plan on trying to view the moon, planets, and whatever Else I can see!!!
Thanks in advance, 
Mav
--------------------
Edited by Maverick (08/06/03 02:43 PM)
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22479
Loc: NE Ohio
|
|
I dunno; those Far East no-names scare me. I have what I think is the precise unit you describe as #1 out in my garage right now. Bought it on ebay just because it was very inexpensive and sounded like fun. It wasn't; the focuser isn't lined up with the secondary and there's not enough adjustment range. It'll need to come apart and be re-drilled.
If you do get one of these, THROW AWAY THE SOLAR FILTER IMMEDIATELY!. Those eyepiece filters are unsafe and these are the only scopes I've seen for years that come with them.
Scope #1 has something wrong in the description. You list the focal length as 1.4 meters, but the tube length as 19". There have been a few instruments produced with a "relay lens" inside to extend the focal length (and this doesn't work very well) but the one I have has 700mm focal length. The manual does mention a 1400mm version - it would have a tube twice as long.
I'd recommend looking at similar instruments offered by Orion; good warranty and a decent track record for quality assurance.
--------------------
John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
|
Ken
sage
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 271
Loc: 39 20'N 78 01'W
|
|
Mav,
A couple of things, first stay away from generic and E-bay style telescopes like the plague. You did not specify a source, or make of the listed telescopes.
Second, buy or borrow at least one or all of the following books.
#1 Sam Brown All About Telescopes
#2 Phil Harrington Star Ware 3ed
#3 Dickinson & Dyer The Backyard Astronomers Guide
Third, You would be better off buying a pair of binoculars than a cheap telescope. Understand that there are quality inexpensive telescopes, but that's not the same thing as a cheap telescope. John suggested Orion which has some good inexpensive telescopes and there are plenty of others available, but I would suggest that at the least you buy one from a reputable dealer after you have researched the models you are interested in.
Ken
39 20'N 78 01'W
1977 Edmund Scientific Co 6" f6 Newt
1994 Meade 2045D SCT
2002 Edmund Astroscan 4.25" RFT
2002 Questar 3.5 Std. Pyrex/BB
“If the pure and elevated pleasure to be derived from the possession and use of a good telescope…were generally known, I am certain that no instrument of science would be more commonly found in the homes of intelligent people. There is only one way in which you can be sure of getting a good telescope. First, decide how large a glass you are to have, then go to a maker of established reputation, fix upon the price you are willing to pay-remembering that good work is never cheap-and finally see that the instrument furnished to you answers the proper tests for telescopes of its size. There are telescopes and there are telescopes….”
Garrett Serviss 1901 Pleasures of the Telescope
--------------------
Ken
39N 78W
77 Edmund 6"f6
94 Meade 2045D
02 Edmund Astroscan
02 Questar 3.5
04 Meade ETX-105
|
Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 6301
Loc: Pennsylvania, USA
|
|
Neither is a very good choice, IMO. Consider a 6" Dob from Discovery, Hardin, Orion, or Stargazer Steve
instead.
Dave Mitsky
--------------------
Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
|
Maverick
sage
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 256
Loc: 41:06:38.819N 81:28:51.650W
|
|
Thanks for the help guys!! and I have taken your advice and plan to go for a more quality telescope in my price range, What ya guys think of Orion SpaceProbe™ 130ST EQ http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=288&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=4&iSubCat=8&iProductID=288
What could I hope to view with this scope??
--------------------
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Looks good to me. I'm not a reflector guy, but it looks like a good one. I'd get the motor drive while you're at it.
Saves on a lot of knob turning.
I'm with the others on the telescope/E-bay thing. THere are some things you just should not buy off of E-bay. Telescopes of any kind are high on the list.
|
Victor Kennedy
Pooh-Bear
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 9849
Loc: Slovenia
|
|
Quote:
What could I hope to view with this scope??
From a fairly dark site you will be able to see all the Messier objects, and many Caldwell and NGC objects. With a barlow lens you should get nice views of the planets and the moons of the big ones. You should be able to see the polar ice caps on Mars, and some surface detail, Uranus's disk, and maybe even Neptune's.
Your scope should have a nice wide field of view, so with a good wide field eyepiece you should get amazing views of extended DSOs such as M31, the Andromeda galaxy, M44, the Beehive Cluster, and the double cluster in Perseus. These last ones are the ones that you will want to show your friends and family. 
--------------------
To err is human; to moo is bovine.
|
Maverick
sage
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 256
Loc: 41:06:38.819N 81:28:51.650W
|
|
THANK YOU!!! and Thanks to everyone for you help. Thats exactly the kind of info I was looking for...I have ordered the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ, the AstroTrack Drive, Shorty 2x Barlow and the 13% Moon filter. It should be here in about 5 days, I cant wait to get it!(and maybe try to hook up my webcam and try taking some pictures!! )  WISH ME LUCK!!!
--------------------
Edited by Maverick (08/18/03 01:35 AM)
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 
