62 replies to this topic

[mloffland]

Cloudy Nights Refractor Review Contest

[pollux]

If my grammar was good...

[Teal'c]

I also battle with proper grammar Pollux.

[wilash]

Mike, very nice idea, but why just refractors? Why not just a telescope review regardless of the design. This may encourage people who don't own a refractor to write a review about their telescope to win a refractor. I don't see much point in giving refractor owners another refractor - OK, having too many telescopes is like having too much money, but you get the idea.

Anyway, I think it is nice to have these contests. I hope there can be a few that can be open to everyone regardless of equipment they own in the future.

[Astronomics]

The main reason is in order to have contests over the course of the year we need different categories. So this one is a refractor challenge. We should have a different contest every 3 months or so and they will vary in what you have to write about. Reflectors will come up some time as well as schmidt cassegrains.

Clear Skies,
Mike/astronomics

[RRaubach]

Mike-

You can count on at least one review--I will be receiving my new TMB 203 f/7 in about 2-3 weeks, and I will write a review!

Rodger

[pollux]

I have 5 refractors I can write review for. Does that mean I will have better chance to win???

[Astronomics]

We would love all the content, but in future contests you might be out of luck as the reviews have to be new to Cloudy Nights. But, I would like to see as much content for the website as possible contest or not. CN is all about sharing information and experiences.

[mnpd]

Sounds like fun! Too bad everything I own/on order has already been throughly reviewed, is discontinued or not worth the effort.

[Astronomics]

You can write a review of the product, you just can't submit a review that was written by you and previously on the site. We want as many reivews as possible from as many different people as possible. Duplicates, triplicates, whatever. The more the merrier.

[mnpd]

Anyone know how long it takes for the reviews to appear on the main page? I sent mine in on Meade's AR5, and it hasn't made it to publication yet, although I see several reviews with later dates that are up and running.

[DJSnM]

I see a 40mm Refractor for $15 on Computergeeks.com - maybe I should just review that, I'm sure I could write a highly entertaining hatchet job.

[mnpd]

Go for it! Somebody, somewhere has need for something cheap. I resubmitted by review. It won't win a Pultizer, but perhaps someone needs the information about my AR-5.

[Glassthrower]

Likewise, I sent in a review a few weeks back and I didn't get a reply and it isn't posted either.

MikeG

[mnpd]

Likewise, I sent in a review a few weeks back and I didn't get a reply and it isn't posted either.

MikeG

I've sent mine three times now in the past hmmm.....9 days? The submission email is valid, since I got a negative reply back when I asked the first time if my review had been received. Some reviews appear to be making to the webpage same day when comparing the write date to the post date.

[DJSnM]

I sincerely hope it's the date of submission that determines eligibility rather than the publication date.
I've got a review ready to go, but I'm wanting to hone my language a little and make a few more observations just to be sure of my opinions.

[mnpd]

Well, the site isn't under any obligation to post any review, even though there's a contest. It's possible that some reviews will never be posted because of literary standards.

I don't know...we'll know in time.

[DCS]

My submission took some time to show up on the site - this is OK. I imagine it takes a lot of time to organize and review these things.

An automated reply implying "got it" would be useful just so you aren't left wondering though.

I sincerely hope it's the date of submission that determines eligibility rather than the publication date.
I've got a review ready to go, but I'm wanting to hone my language a little and make a few more observations just to be sure of my opinions.

I was noticing on prior contests that submissions continued to get posted for some time after the deadline. It likely takes a while to work through the backlog and get them all "out there."

-Pete

[asaint]

Hi all,

There is a problem with the email forwarding system from submit@cloudynights.com over to webmaster. I have made Mike Loffland aware of it and he is looking into it.

MikeG - I don't have any reviews from you. Must be a casulty of the email problem. Try sending it directly to webmaster@cloudynights.com

MNPD - per our email exchange on Dec 8th, I never received your review either. Thanks for resending, it was posted today.

Allister

[Vesper818]

Wondering...
Can we review a homebuilt Refractor, i.e. what we expected from it, how the design works, and how it proforms up to the expectations?

[asaint]

Siderea,

Yes - that is fine for the contest.

Allister

[jwaldo]

Which will be more important for the final review, readability or quality of info?

[asaint]

Jim,

Just write the best article you can. Have a friend read it through and give some feedback. Try not to overthink what you are writing.

Allister

[DJSnM]

Well that's mine submitted, it's another Orion Skyview Pro 100 EQ review, although in my defense I did start writing it before I read so many other submissions on this scope.
It's a 560k zip file containing HTML and images.