Re: computerized dobs- how accurate?
- From: "Joe S." <anon@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 07:42:11 -0400
"Jason Able" <jazastr@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:NF8Rg.11267$v%4.7241@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In this age of instant gratification, especially where youth are
concerned,
I have begun the search for a telescope that will allow as fast a finding
of
DSO and other objects as quickly as possible. I am a fairly new school
teacher and we have an older Meade 8" Dob at school. Last year, I tried
to
use the Dob to find DSO's, but it took too long to star hop and the kids
became impatient, which started leading to discipline problems. I see
that
Orion offers a dob with a computer that is supposed to slew? to objects
once
they're punched in to the computer. How well does a scope like this work
and can it quickly and accurately place a DSO in the eyepiece? Several
reviews I've read suggest alignment problems. The bottom line is that I
would either like to purchase a new dob, able to accurately find a given
object quickly, or adapt our existing dob to perform the same task.
Suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jason Able
You seem to be referring to the Orion Intelliscope Dobs. I own an XT-12
Intelliscope and am quite pleased with the ability of the system to locate
objects. Remember, though, some DSO's are truly faint and fuzzy -- your
scope can be pointed directly at the DSO and you won't see a thing because
of light pollution or other viewing conditions.
Here is a link to my home page article about the XT-12; the Orion Dobs are
all similar except for the mirror size:
http://www.schlatter.org/Dad/Astronomy/XT%2012.htm
Here is a link to my home page article about the Intelliscope:
http://www.schlatter.org/Dad/Astronomy/intelliscope%20page.htm
As with any computerized system, setup is critical. When you assemble the
scope, you must follow carefully the instructions about making certain the
tube stands vertical in relation to the base. Then, when you align the
scope -- which you do with each observing session -- you must pick two
alignment stars that are at least 60 degrees apart and you must center each
star in the field of view -- which means an eyepiece with crosshairs is
advisable, though not required.
There is a learning curve with the Intelliscope but it's not at all
difficult. The Intelliscope controller is easy to use but you do have to
follow the steps in using it and if you use it only occasionally as I do,
you have to re-learn it every time you pull it out.
You could put together some interesting lessons involving the students in
assembling the scope, setting up the Intelliscope system, and aligning the
scope at the start of each observing session.
Also -- you do not have to use the Intelliscope system -- if you are viewing
the moon, planets, or other easy to find objects, just leave the
Intelliscope controller in the box. If you want to use the Intelliscope
later in an observing session, just stand the scope vertical, plug in the
controller, and align it.
.
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- From: Jason Able
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