So, why do you really put out on the internet what kind of gear
you use to study the sky? The answer to that question is probably the same as you get from
everyone else posting things here, things such as animals, cars, boats, flowers and so on.
You have a hobby that you like a lot and want to share with and to hopefully make contact
with others sharing the same interest and passion as yourself for your hobby. Maybe even
to make others interested and excite them to begin to study stars on their
own.
It’s not all easy to start on your own with
astronomy,
it’s a huge area to learn, both physically and theoretically. What everyone suggests
you to do is to join a society or club of some kind, I haven’t done that
yet. Instead
I have probably read all the books I’ve come across over the years, which usually is
advice number two. Then we have the equipment! I have tried four telescopes so far, a
plastic one from some mail order company with a 60 mm refractor from Unitron. I have also
had a look through a 4 inch Muscow Cassegrain from Soligor which belongs to a friend of
mine, and then of course my present telescope the Meade 8 inch Lx10. Knowing this
I’ve come to one certain conclusion, size does matter, at least within
astronomy.
With a larger diameter on the telescope you can catch more light and thereby get a sharper
and more detailed picture.
My telescope
William
Optics ZenithStar Fluorite Doublet
Telescope Facts
A small-aperture but extremely-portable APO scope, ZS 66 SD Doublet APO is
here to fit all your needs!
Sharp to the edge and color free, no other scope will beat it's price/quality
ratio! Excellent mechanics and fit and finish, Crayford 2-speed fine
focuser, super-high transmission multi-coating, aluminum case. Fast focal
ratio makes it your ideal fast set-up for travel astrophotography or
piggybacking.
My telescope
Meade 10" LX200 GPS UHTC
Telescope Facts
|
Specifications: 10" Model LX200GPS-SMT — Includes 10" Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube assembly (D = 254mm, F = 2500mm f/10) with MgF2 coatings on the correcting lens and standard aluminum coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors (Ultra-High Transmission Coatings available optionally); primary mirror lock; 4-speed Zero Image-Shift Microfocuser; heavy-duty fork mount, with 4"-diameter sealed polar ball bearing, quartz-microprocessor-controlled 5.75" LX worm gears on both axes, and multi-function control panel; manual and electric slow-motion controls on both axes; setting circles in RA and Dec; Autostar II control system with Autostar Suite Software, 3.5-Megabyte flash memory, digital readout display, permanently-programmable Smart Drive and 185-speed drive controls on both axes, High-Precision Pointing, and 145,000-object onboard celestial software library; GPS alignment system with 16-channel GPS receiver, magnetic declination compensation, and true-level and North electronic sensors; Smart Mount which improves the pointing accuracy of your LX200GPS telescope's "Go To" system; 12v DC telescope power supplied from internal battery compartments accepting 8 (user-supplied) C-cells (optional 25 ft. cords are available for powering from auto cigarette lighter plug or from 115v AC); 8 x 50mm viewfinder; eyepiece-holder and diagonal prism (1.25"); Series 4000 Super Plössl 26mm eyepiece; variable-height standard field tripod; operating instructions. |
Previous scope
Meade LX10
Telescope Facts
- My present telescope Meade 8 inch Lx10 Schmidt-Cassegrain
- Diameter 203 mm (8 inches)
- Focal length 2000 mm
- Closing up focus 15 meters
- Smallest magnitude 14,0 meters
- Smallest magnitude with camera 16.5 meters
- Maximal theoretic enlargement 500x
- Maximal coverage-area with camera 0,68*x0,97*
- Optical tube dimension 9.1 x16*
- Secondary mirror diameter 3 inches
- Ra engine operatingsystem Dc servo engine
- Voltage 6,0 volts
- Handcontrol with double speed both ways
- Material Aluminium
- Lensmaterial Pyrex®
- Weight 30 kilos
My first telescope Unitron 60x900mm refraktor.