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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2100
Loc: Arizona
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Well tonight was a nice nigth after all, I had planned to go to my friends observatory but clouds kept me away. Well the clouds gave way to crisp Arizona fall skies with a beautiful wanning Gibbous moon. Its mid night here in AZ with no breeze and about 62 degrees outside, PERFECT!
Tonights observing session wasnt with my expensive eyepieces and big 16" dob, but with the baby of the scope family, the little Celestron First Scope mini-dob (76mm f/3.95) and a 32, 25, and 10mm Plossls.
Targets:
M45:
The Seven Sisters in this little scope are just great! Using my 25 Plossl (12x haha!) the entire cluster shined bright with its surrounding star field. Very nice, clean views.
Hyades:
A bit dimmer then the Seven Sisters but I could see all six of the main stars as well as several others. Viewed with the 25 Plossl (12x).
Mel 20:
This massive open cluster in Perseus is usually a binocular object but the view was great. I used a 32 Plossl (9.4x) the entire cluster was visible with a little room to spare.
Double Cluster:
Dim but both clusters could be see easily when using the 10mm Plossl.
M15:
VERY tiny! Had the 10 Plossl (30x !), saw it as a very dim smudge, looked a lot like a small, compact comet.
Kembel's Cascade:
This was a bit difficult due to the moon glare but I got it, I forgot how big the object was! I will need to go back when there is no moon up and try it again! Very nice little chain.
M42:
Of course, very dim, just rising above the roof of the house, could just make out a little nebula.
"37" cluster in Orion:
Extremely small
Lastly the moon, of course big and bright.
Its nice to be able to put away the big expensive equipment and just sit out with a small scope every once in a while. Kinda takes me back to my roots, in the beginning with my little 50mm refractor.
Over all a very enjoyable night with the little scope!
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www.skywardeyes.webs.com
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nytecam
Postmaster
Reged: 08/20/05
Posts: 5746
Loc: London UK
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Celestron First Scope mini-dob is what aperture?
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Nytecam 51N 0.1W
Meade 30cm LX200+ETX-70+e-finder+C8+Ha+CaK PSTs SBIG SGS+homebuilt spectrographs
Starlight SXVF_M9+Lodestar CCDs/Canon 300D DSLR/Fuji E550
My observatory build-ETX-70 imaging-my videos
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star drop
Guilty as Charged
Reged: 02/02/08
Posts: 16198
Loc: Snow Plop, WNY
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I believe that it is a 76 mm aperture, nytecam.
Using the Celestron First Scope mini-Dobsonian would be like starting all over again.
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Ted
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Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2385
Loc: 50N - too far north!
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It's great fun to occasionally observe with a small scope. Sometimes I take out my refractor (3.5") or little Meade SCT (4") rather than my big 12" or my 8" and it takes me back to the exciting days when I first discovered observing 18 years ago. Not that observing these days isn't exciting, of course it is, don't get me wrong, but when something is new it's a 'special' kind of 'exciting'.
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Visual Deep Sky Observing - being rebuilt
Observing blog
My astronomy event photos on Flickr
12 inch Dob
8 inch Celestron C8 Newtonian
4 inch Meade SCT
8x42 Leica binoculars
Various TeleVue eyepieces
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Sarkikos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1046
Loc: Suburban Maryland
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Skyward Eyes,
I was thinking about picking up the 76mm FirstScope in a couple weeks when it goes on sale at a local big box store, but then I heard it has a spherical primary, the secondary is often attached askew to its stalk (no spider here), and the secondary is not really adjustable longitudinally. Do I really want a fixer-upper right out of the box, especially when it's only 76mm?
I already have a 4.5" ball Newt that has a spherical mirror, and my first scope was a 4.25" f/10 Edmund Newt on a GEM, which also had a spherical mirror. The Edmund had a pretty sharp image and was a great planet scope, which shows that a spherical mirror will work OK at a longer f number. The ball Newt isn't too bad if you keep the magnification fairly low, which is the whole idea of a portable rich field telescope. It has given me surprisingly good wide field views of open star clusters, such as the Double Cluster and Stock 2, and Milky Way star fields, even some nebulae. It was the first scope that showed me M78 in my red zone at home. I attached a green laser finder to the ball Newt and use that to locate objects while I hold the scope in my arms: a neat grab-n-go scope. Of course, there is some spherical abberation toward the edge of the field, but I usually don't notice it unless I look for it. So I do have some experience with the capabilities and drawbacks of these little scopes. It would be neat to have a lighter, even more grab-n-go scope to scan the Milky Way and large open clusters and such. I like binos, but they are hard on the neck.
The bottom line is: Are you happy with the 76mm FirstScope, did you ever consider returning it, and would you advice others to buy one? Answer in any manner you feel comfortable. 
Clear Skies,
Mike
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Celestron 10" f5 Newt on 1stBase (DSO)
Zhumell 8" f6 Newt, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO)
6" f5 Newt, 130ST, 4.5" f4.4 Ball w/GLP, ST80 w/Crayford (RFTs)
C4-R (NSO/DS)
90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS)
SkyMaster 25x100, 15x70
Zhumell 20x80
Barska XWA 10x50, 8x40
OptiView LPR 10x50
Const View 2.3x40
BV-125C
CG5, 2 drv / CG4, 2 drv, wood legs, ScopeStuff saddle / CG3, 1 drv
SV AZ / 501HDV on Bogen 055XB / P+ on Oberwerk
QuikFinder, Telrad
Orion Dynamo Pro 12, Dew-Not
Have GLP and not afraid to use it!
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2100
Loc: Arizona
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I love the First Scope! I feel many people judge this little scope to harshly. I have seen people complain about coma, the sphierical primary, etc... Well for those people I would say, its a $50 scope! I find this little scope is awesome for $50! Sure there is coma but I mean this isnt a Obsession or Starmaster with a coma corrector, its a $50 scope.
I have several friends who bought this scope and they all love it! I had it out at the Grand Canyon Star Party and was showing very experienced astronomers the entire North American Nebula with it! I would highly recommend this scope to anyone, just dont expect to get a TeleVue or Astro-Physics quality scope. For $50 the scope is amazing.
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www.skywardeyes.webs.com
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blb
sage
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 214
Loc: Piedmont NC
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Quote:
I love the First Scope! I feel many people judge this little scope to harshly. I have seen people complain about coma, the sphierical primary, etc... Well for those people I would say, its a $50 scope! I find this little scope is awesome for $50! Sure there is coma but I mean this isnt a Obsession or Starmaster with a coma corrector, its a $50 scope.
I have several friends who bought this scope and they all love it! I had it out at the Grand Canyon Star Party and was showing very experienced astronomers the entire North American Nebula with it! I would highly recommend this scope to anyone, just dont expect to get a TeleVue or Astro-Physics quality scope. For $50 the scope is amazing.
I totaly agree. We bought one for my niece to have at Christmas. What prompted us was a friend in our club bought one and had it out for a public viewing that our club sponsered. It was totaly awsome. I put my 10mm Radian in it for a realy good look at Saturn and some of it's moons. For $50 this is much better than those department store refractor's. 
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C-11, C-6, XT10i Dob, ETX125PE, TV102, & AT66
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starrancher
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/09
Posts: 582
Loc: Northern Arizona
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First of all , .....Cool report Kevin !
Secondly , I really gotta agree with blb as it just beats what you can get in a $50.00 dept. store Refractor .
Somebody (can't recall who right off) did let go a 60s' vintage 50mm Tasco 6TE not long ago for $49.00 though . Now that was a deal !
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LXD75 AR5
LXD75 SN8
Series 4000 Plossls
Misc. other stuff
Fort Rock , Az .
Edited by starrancher (11/09/09 04:50 PM)
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2100
Loc: Arizona
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Thank you guys! I love the First Scope, I need to use it more, it makes me really ejoying just sitting down with a simple scope and enjoying the night sky. People get so wrapped up into what they have and dont have they forget about the important things. Its not the equipment that makes the astronomer, I like to test my knowledge by using different scopes such as the First Scope. I really would like to get a Starblast 6" though.
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www.skywardeyes.webs.com
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starrancher
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/09
Posts: 582
Loc: Northern Arizona
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Another thing that can be said for using a small scope is that it will hone your looking skills . I've been using my 1966 vintage Tasco 50mm refractor the last couple weeks , & in amazement I saw M31 , M32 & M110 last night in a red sky zone ! M110 was a bugger & only seen for split second glimpses while panning the scope , but M32 was right there & M31 filled the field nicely at 30 power .
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LXD75 AR5
LXD75 SN8
Series 4000 Plossls
Misc. other stuff
Fort Rock , Az .
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ggarrison
super member
Reged: 07/22/09
Posts: 158
Loc: Austin, TX USA
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Quote:
Thank you guys! I love the First Scope, I need to use it more, it makes me really ejoying just sitting down with a simple scope and enjoying the night sky. People get so wrapped up into what they have and dont have they forget about the important things. Its not the equipment that makes the astronomer, I like to test my knowledge by using different scopes such as the First Scope. I really would like to get a Starblast 6" though.
I totally agree. I want to make sure that I never let "gear lust" or astronomy statistics overcome the wonder of looking at the heavens.
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Gordon
Celestron Nexstar 8SE with XLT coating - Baader Planetarium Hyperion 8mm-24mm Clickstop Zoom eyepiece
Celestron Skymaster 20x80 Binoculars
Smart Seat II Observing Chair
all in the hands of a total neophite 
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Register at ScopeBuddies.com to find local astronomy buddies! 
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2100
Loc: Arizona
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I have had "gear lust" and I am trying to get away from that, observing with the little dob really helps. I want to enjoy any telescope I am able to use, big or small.
Its not what you have its how you use it.
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www.skywardeyes.webs.com
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Dain
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/24/05
Posts: 1596
Loc: N.Y. Adirondack Mnts. NGC 4565...
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Quote:
Its not what you have its how you use it.
Skyward,
Many times over I still try and spread this around to fellow observers. These are good words to remember in this hobby.
Clear Skies to All!
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Best,
Dain
Adirondack Mountains (my true dark sky site)
@ Cedar River Flow
Local Site
Clear Skies?
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2100
Loc: Arizona
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Yes I have met many people who have spent tons of money on equipment yet they dont know how to work it or anything. Sad really.
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www.skywardeyes.webs.com
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Sarkikos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1046
Loc: Suburban Maryland
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A little Dob with a wide field can put objects more in context with their neighboring constellations and objects. It could be a good elixir for newcomers to the hobby who are overly dependent on goto and pushto in their scopes. I've never had either of these gizmos, so I don't have that affliction, but I can imagine how gotoers could become too focused on viewing objects and remain nearly oblivious of their celestial surroundings. Take out a little Dob on a simple alt-az mount or even just hold it in your arms and try to find all the objects you can from memory alone. That is a good test of how well you really know the sky.
Clear Skies,
Mike
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Celestron 10" f5 Newt on 1stBase (DSO)
Zhumell 8" f6 Newt, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO)
6" f5 Newt, 130ST, 4.5" f4.4 Ball w/GLP, ST80 w/Crayford (RFTs)
C4-R (NSO/DS)
90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS)
SkyMaster 25x100, 15x70
Zhumell 20x80
Barska XWA 10x50, 8x40
OptiView LPR 10x50
Const View 2.3x40
BV-125C
CG5, 2 drv / CG4, 2 drv, wood legs, ScopeStuff saddle / CG3, 1 drv
SV AZ / 501HDV on Bogen 055XB / P+ on Oberwerk
QuikFinder, Telrad
Orion Dynamo Pro 12, Dew-Not
Have GLP and not afraid to use it!
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Sarkikos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1046
Loc: Suburban Maryland
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Of course, a good bino could serve the same purpose.
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Celestron 10" f5 Newt on 1stBase (DSO)
Zhumell 8" f6 Newt, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO)
6" f5 Newt, 130ST, 4.5" f4.4 Ball w/GLP, ST80 w/Crayford (RFTs)
C4-R (NSO/DS)
90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS)
SkyMaster 25x100, 15x70
Zhumell 20x80
Barska XWA 10x50, 8x40
OptiView LPR 10x50
Const View 2.3x40
BV-125C
CG5, 2 drv / CG4, 2 drv, wood legs, ScopeStuff saddle / CG3, 1 drv
SV AZ / 501HDV on Bogen 055XB / P+ on Oberwerk
QuikFinder, Telrad
Orion Dynamo Pro 12, Dew-Not
Have GLP and not afraid to use it!
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