22 replies to this topic

[RLK1]

This looks like a system similar to celestron's starsense although its difficult to determine what's in the data base but I do see galaxies and nebulosities as one of the choices in the app:

 

https://www.amazon.c...8efb903409&th=1

[jupiter122]

Not sure what “app“ you were referring to, but this has every sign of being a trash scope.

[RLK1]

Not sure what “app“ you were referring to, but this has every sign of being a trash scope.

"Not sure what “app“ you were referring to"

 

Per the description of the scope: "Simply follow our instruct to install stargazing app, enter the name of the celestial body you want to observe, and follow the app's arrow to adjust the space telescope's latitude & longitude. This will align the smart telescope with your desired target. Instantly identify aligned celestial bodies and displays its detailed information." 

[jupiter122]

If you trust anything that listing tells you, then by all means, go for it.

[RLK1]

If you trust anything that listing tells you, then by all means, go for it.

I don't trust everything in the ad. Nobody does.  The point here though is not an inexpensive telescope. Celestron sells its starsense with cheap scopes and amateurs buy them just to get the starsense and its app so they can use them on their own scopes.  The is the first time I've seen something similar on another scope along similar lines, i.e. a cheap scope with a phone directed app attached to the scope and I'm not referring to more expensive Pi finders and plate solving units sold elsewhere. 

[Sunsparc]

https://artyom-beili...strohopper.html

 

AstroHopper does the same thing for free. You could use it with an existing scope right now.

 

I spent $10 to get AstroHopper working on my scope; $3 for a cheap phone case and $7 for a roll of Velcro. Cut lengths of Velcro, stick them to the back of the case, then stick the case with the top side pointing at the aperture end of the scope. Then put the phone in the case. Load up AstroHopper, align it, then search for your object. It's extremely accurate. Every time I have used AstroHopper, it has put me directly on top of the object I was searching for.

 

I made a video this past winter showing how it works.

https://www.facebook...90457184410793/

[RLK1]

https://artyom-beili...strohopper.html

 

AstroHopper does the same thing for free. You could use it with an existing scope right now.

 

I spent $10 to get AstroHopper working on my scope; $3 for a cheap phone case and $7 for a roll of Velcro. Cut lengths of Velcro, stick them to the back of the case, then stick the case with the top side pointing at the aperture end of the scope. Then put the phone in the case. Load up AstroHopper, align it, then search for your object. It's extremely accurate. Every time I have used AstroHopper, it has put me directly on top of the object I was searching for.

 

I made a video this past winter showing how it works.

https://www.facebook...90457184410793/

Thanks for the info on this. How well does this app work for objects in the NGC/IC catalogs?

[Sunsparc]

Thanks for the info on this. How well does this app work for objects in the NGC/IC catalogs?

 

Only works on Messier and NGC that I can tell, no IC. You can input custom objects by their RA and DEC into Settings though.

[artik]

Only works on Messier and NGC that I can tell, no IC. You can input custom objects by their RA and DEC into Settings though.

I use OpenNGC database. There are ~500 IC objects as well but as long as it has NGC number it is preferred.

[kwyjibo]

SkyView Lite is the name of the app it uses. 

[sevenofnine]

Another way is to attach a laser to a go-to mount. After a 2 star alignment, the night sky is your oyster 

 

.

 

 

[Jon Isaacs]

From the webpage:

 

"Objective lens of telescope for viewing planets : 2 ED(Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements, chromatic aberration corrected for accurate color reproduction."

 

Total hogwash.  Time to buy a 10 foot pole not to touch it with. 

 

Jon

[RLK1]

From the webpage:

 

"Objective lens of telescope for viewing planets : 2 ED(Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements, chromatic aberration corrected for accurate color reproduction."

 

Total hogwash.  Time to buy a 10 foot pole not to touch it with. 

 

Jon

Yeah, I saw that but, once again, I was interested in the app, not the scope.

[Nautilus]

That scope has been around for almost a year.  Around last June or July I believe.  Their prices were as low as $160 before Christmas.

What had intrigued us was their purported Starsense like app and questionable ED lenses.

[Nautilus]

https://artyom-beili...strohopper.html

 

AstroHopper does the same thing for free. You could use it with an existing scope right now.

 

I spent $10 to get AstroHopper working on my scope; $3 for a cheap phone case and $7 for a roll of Velcro. Cut lengths of Velcro, stick them to the back of the case, then stick the case with the top side pointing at the aperture end of the scope. Then put the phone in the case. Load up AstroHopper, align it, then search for your object. It's extremely accurate. Every time I have used AstroHopper, it has put me directly on top of the object I was searching for.

 

I made a video this past winter showing how it works.

https://www.facebook...90457184410793/

Do you have a photo you can share with us?

[Jon Isaacs]

Yeah, I saw that but, once again, I was interested in the app, not the scope.

 

There are too many red flags on that webpage.  I found it interesting that they hyped the adjustability of the red dot finder.   

 

Apparently the app used is SkyView Lite.. I downloaded it, it doesn't seem to plate solve.  

 

Jon

[Nautilus]

I think that is because the RDF has the cell phone holder attached to it.

[Nautilus]

If you trust anything that listing tells you, then by all means, go for it.

Bottom line, perhaps you should purchase it on Amazon. If it does not do what the web pages purport then return it. You have nothing to lose.

If you do get it, let us know the outcome.

[Nautilus]

https://artyom-beili...strohopper.html

 

AstroHopper does the same thing for free. You could use it with an existing scope right now.

 

I spent $10 to get AstroHopper working on my scope; $3 for a cheap phone case and $7 for a roll of Velcro. Cut lengths of Velcro, stick them to the back of the case, then stick the case with the top side pointing at the aperture end of the scope. Then put the phone in the case. Load up AstroHopper, align it, then search for your object. It's extremely accurate. Every time I have used AstroHopper, it has put me directly on top of the object I was searching for.

 

I made a video this past winter showing how it works.

https://www.facebook...90457184410793/

Another option is to purchase a car phone adapter that is used in the car and rig it onto the scope.

 

 

[Sunsparc]

Another option is to purchase a car phone adapter that is used in the car and rig it onto the scope.

 

 

71in8i7Wv5L._AC_SL1500_.jpg

 

The only ones that would remotely work are magnetic ones and it throws off the gyro, so AstroHopper goes nuts. I went that route originally, sticking a flat magnet to the back of a case and then putting it on the scope. Tracking was not accurate at all, so I removed it and went with Velcro instead.

[Skywatchr]

Another way is to attach a laser to a go-to mount. After a 2 star alignment, the night sky is your oyster 

 

rsz_img_2210.jpg.

Lasers are dangerous!

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=K9pO9AgrzAc

[artik]

The only ones that would remotely work are magnetic ones and it throws off the gyro, so AstroHopper goes nuts. I went that route originally, sticking a flat magnet to the back of a case and then putting it on the scope. Tracking was not accurate at all, so I removed it and went with Velcro instead.

From my experience magnets interfere with an original direction (using compass) and you can switch to manual mode and find the start you need to align to.

After alignment the tracking is done using gyro that shouldn't sensitive to magnetic field.

 

At least I worked with magnet several times and I know many AstroHopper users connect the phone using magnets without major issues.

 

Also note any ferrous metal of OTA can screw with compass anyway.

[Sunsparc]

From my experience magnets interfere with an original direction (using compass) and you can switch to manual mode and find the start you need to align to.

After alignment the tracking is done using gyro that shouldn't sensitive to magnetic field.

 

At least I worked with magnet several times and I know many AstroHopper users connect the phone using magnets without major issues.

 

Also note any ferrous metal of OTA can screw with compass anyway.

 

I use manual mode by default anyway. Easier to go to manual mode than troubleshoot accuracy issues.