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Post by jamesbeattie on Sept 15, 2007 19:56:29 GMT
Hello Again...
I was at one of the meetings waaaay back in february and intended to join, but work as always has a way of ruining plans. I ended up on night shifts for months there (inspecting street lights no less- don't worry I didnt do a very good job!! Why do you think I'm back on day shifts? Har har!!).
Anyhoo, the time has come for m to make a purchase.
I'm thinking about the Skywatcher SKYMAX-127. Any good? Any use for deep sky work?
I hope to see you all again on Oct. 1st.
Regards,
James
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Post by stevie on Sept 15, 2007 23:44:16 GMT
Good to hear from you again James, hope you can get along to the next meeting. Make yourself known to one of us, and we will introduce you around to everyone else.
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Post by mia on Sept 16, 2007 13:05:55 GMT
Hi James! Hope all's okay with you, glad you're still in the land of astronomy. I promise if you turn up on the 1st I won't bend your ear about lorries and the RoadService!!! I'll leave you in the capable hands of Neil and Phil again and you can talk all things scope with them! Just to point out incase you've missed this, we're not in Thompson PS anymore! We now have the meetings in Ballyclare HS!
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Post by NeilP on Sept 16, 2007 15:49:42 GMT
Never looked through this scope, but I did a bit of googling on it and the consensus seem to be it is a good value for money scope, great on the planets and the moon.
The focal length is quite long 1500mm means which means it wil have a fairly small field of view which might make finding the DSOs a bit more difficult.
If what you are interested in is primarly DSOs, for the same sort of money, you could consider an 8" maybe even a 10" dob, this would give you much more light gathering for DSO work.
Look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.
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Post by nemesis on Sept 16, 2007 19:24:44 GMT
For deep sky, go for a Dob as Neil says. Glad to see you back, I'd PMed you way back, James! I'll look forward to seeing you at the meeting, and fill you in on our common acquaintance!
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Post by jamesbeattie on Sept 16, 2007 20:40:27 GMT
I'm interested moreso in planetary work, I was just wondering would it be any use for DSO's if I wanted to change tack.
I was going to go for a Dob ages ago. Then I saw one and realised it wouldn't go in my front door. Portability is king for me!!
Aye Eamonn I listened to those tracks. Not what I was expecting!! Good stuff though especially dreamtaking.
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Post by mia on Sept 16, 2007 21:22:01 GMT
realised it wouldn't go in my front door. Portability is king for me!! James, sorry to sound like an idiot but do you mean when it's assembled??? It wouldn't go through many peoples' doors whilst assembled! Even I have to wiggle (astronomical term! HONEST!) the 105 out the back door on its mount and it's titchy (another astro term!) I'm sure Eamonn and Kieran will tell you how easy it is to set up! (though a bit heavy!) The views through them are wonderful for the price!
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Post by jamesbeattie on Sept 16, 2007 21:29:39 GMT
I know what you mean. Its a storage thing. I just dont have anywhere to put anything bigger than the 127. I suspect that the dob would still take up a fair bit of room even un assembled. My wife saw one too and said where the ___ are you going to put that?!!
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Post by mia on Sept 16, 2007 21:57:38 GMT
I'm all set up outside and contrary to weather reports from Kieran (phoenix) it's NOT clear (HA!) so back in for a wee while and a wee brandy! James, Eamonn has a 12" dob that fits in the boot of his car when disassembled so I'd class that as a small cupboard!! I know Kieran needs a Chinook to transport the 16" so that might be out of the question! I'm obsessed with dobs (I've great dark skies and I'm after one next!!) but I'm sure you'll get advice from the others re other more suitable scopes so good luck and hopefully see you on the 1st!
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Post by jamesbeattie on Sept 16, 2007 22:40:31 GMT
Actually now that you mention it the 8" Lightbridge looks like it may just sqeeze in when its broken down.
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Post by Veronica on Sept 17, 2007 8:17:13 GMT
Hi James! I had such fun reading this post, especially your comment re: your wife's reaction Know what you mean about storage (I've enough problems tucking my wee 4" refractor away on the kitchen) but, like Mia & Eamonn, one of these days I'd love a Dob! Let us know how you get on and see you at the next meeting.
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Post by stevie on Sept 17, 2007 9:42:15 GMT
If you store a dob standing upright on its base, it takes up less space than you might imagine.
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Post by nemesis on Sept 17, 2007 11:22:13 GMT
A Lightbridge breaks down to a relatively small size. Even more so if you use a hammer!
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Post by stevie on Sept 17, 2007 16:09:55 GMT
So that's how you can carry yours in your pocket. Ingenious. Careful with that glass Eugene.
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Post by jamesbeattie on Sept 17, 2007 19:37:47 GMT
OK I'm definitely edging toward the 8" Lightbridge now. Can anyone recommend some accessories ie eyepieces etc I might need to go with it.
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