Telescope Reviews: Re: Lose the list....

I agree with most what has been said in this thread. What's funny, is that there are nights where I want to compare views of different similar objects (e.g., galaxies in Coma Berenices and Virgo, globulars, planetaries). In those situations I like the ability to quickly move between targets. In not too favorable skies (where star hopping is harder due to the lack of a sufficient amount of visible stars) I like the assistance of a GoTo (or PushTo) system.

On other occasions I want to visit a list of objects. I usually prefer moving the scope by hand to do so. It's nice to compare nights this way, using a set of standard observing lists. Also, sometimes I want to observe a list of objects described in an article, or a report or somebody else's observing log. Reading these articles often motivates me to visit the objects mentioned.

There are other days where I just enjoy unprepared stargazing. Usually I sweep the skies either with binoculars while lying on a reclining chair (on summer nights). Or I use my 80mm rich field refractor with a low power eyepiece and just want to take in whatever crosses my field of view. The darker the skies the more fun!

Cheers,

Olivier

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Tal-200K (#199) with JMI NGF-Mini2M focuser on GEM3 • Astro-Tech AT80ED on Orion Sirius EQ-G with EQDIR & home made wireless EQDIRECT • Celestron Regal LX 8x42 & 10x42 • Helios 15x70
ATM 14" f/5 (designing mirror cell and filter wheel/focuser) • ATM 10" f/6 Portable Truss (polishing) • ATM 10" f/25 Dall-Kirkham (primary: polishing, secondary: #120 grit)
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