Re: Has anyone been here?

"Justin Uthadude" <justin.uthadude@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1123953486.915844.238760@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Situation: First scope. First post. <=$500 to spend. Used is fine.
>
> Conditions: I live near Los Angeles at the beach. I can only see stars
> of magnitude -50 with the naked eye, but I can always see the moon
> and a couple planets. Most of my viewing will be done here on my
> balcony. When I pack up to go to the hills or desert (2 hrs), size
> doesn't matter. I primarily want to learn, watch, and photograph
> (afocal, digital) the moon in detail (not just craters, but features on
> them). Like a couple pictures of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn that are
> recognizable. Wide deep-sky views of M42.637 times pi raised to the
> power of the seeing coefficient*wavefront/exit pupil are of no concern.
> Would like to be able to see enough detail to starhop my way around to
> learn the sky. I can see Scorpius pretty well. (Is there one of those
> telrad things for beginners that will draw the lines on the
> constellations? It's a lot tougher in real life than in the
> pictures.)
>
> Status: I've read thousands of articles, posts, reviews, etc. Nobody
> agrees on anything. (In that respect you guys are exactly like my buds
> on the classical guitar group).
>
> Progressive Conclusions:
>
> Orion 5" not APO refractor - I don't want to lay on the ground to
> see overhead. Too long.
>
> Dobs, reflectors - too big for my balcony.
>
> Intes 5" Mak - $500 just gets you the tube
>
> Orion 127mm Mak - sounds great, but might get aperture fever.
>
> Old Celestron C8 SCT- price is right, looks like a tank, despite
> it's shortcomings, it's still an 8" aperture and I'll probably
> get a good mount to boot.
>
> Help? Ideas?
>

Just to ensure we're interpreting you correctly...

You have developed an interest in astronomy, but are not sure what scope
would be a good one for you to buy.

You post to this group, and summarily dismiss the group as never being
able to agree on anything.

Then you draw some of your own conclusions about several scopes.

Then you want the group to help you decide what you should get...

Did we miss anything?

--
Jan Owen

To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
Latitude: 33.662
Longitude: -112.3272


.

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