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Post by garyr on May 13, 2008 13:09:05 GMT
My telescope that is and not me. I have a ETX 70AT and after just 6 months it seems to be dying a death already. Last night the focusing knob fell off and before I had a chance to re-attach it the whole front of the telescope seemed to fall apart ( the in-out focusing tube bit whatever its called). I managed to get it all back together eventually but I think some of the gears have taken a battering as there is an occasional odd grinding noise. Anyway I think at some point it might be time to upgrade and was thinking of the Nexstar 102 SLT, has anyone got or tried one. www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=slt102Is it much of a step up from an ETX 70 ?
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Post by mia on May 13, 2008 13:23:57 GMT
the whole front of the telescope seemed to fall apart ( the in-out focusing tube bit whatever its called). Gary, do you mean the front lense fell out?? My 105 is a different kind of scope from your refractor but I'd be under the impression the only thing that could fall off the front would be the actual glass at the front.
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Post by nemesis on May 13, 2008 13:55:24 GMT
Wow....that doesn't sound right! Something has really gone wrong with that scope. I think a couple of people have the Nexstar 102...Veronica and Brenda maybe? You'll find it a lot better than the ETX 70, more magnification, brighter images etc. It's good value for the money.
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Post by garyr on May 13, 2008 14:06:02 GMT
As far as I can see the ETX is two tubes one with the lens at the end which slides over the bottom tube which is attached to the mount. Between the two there seems to be a long threaded screw thing that goes from one tube through the bottom tube and out the end and has a little round knob attached to it. Turning said knob pushes the tube with the lens in and out.
However the knob fell off and it seemed to be the only thing holding the lens tube on and it came off in my hand. I did manage to get everything back together which took hours and hours and it all seems ok however I wont really know until I get home from work and set it up.
In truth I have had nothing but trouble with the bloody thing and only wish I could find the receipt.
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Post by nemesis on May 13, 2008 14:38:28 GMT
I'm not that familiar with them, Gary, but it sounds as if the focusing knob is linked to one of the focusing tunbes, holding it in place, and if it comes off the tube stops being retained. Sounds a bit shoddy. To be truthful, the ETX 70 is a really minimal scope, with not much better magnification than you'd get from good binoculars, but is aimed at absolute beginners or as a portable scope for holidays etc.
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Post by garyr on May 13, 2008 14:45:24 GMT
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Post by nemesis on May 13, 2008 15:29:56 GMT
Either would be a marked improvement. Both good, basic, scopes with GOTO capability and little transportation problems.
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Post by Veronica on May 13, 2008 16:28:43 GMT
Hiya Gary, Sounds like a right pain! I've a Meade DS2070AT refractor and I've been really happy with it. It was a Telescope House jobbie too. Never had any bother with it and it's given me some grand views and half decent photographic results (moon and sun).
Brendan, my brother, bought the 4.5" refractor model, one up from mine. He had a bit of bother with his at the start (my memory has gone really crap lately)...the mount, I think. It wouldn't slew with the GoTo. I'm sure Brendan will keep me right. He does enjoy using it though and I was impressed with the views.
And they are so easy to transport about, by hand and by car.
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Post by garyr on May 13, 2008 16:55:34 GMT
Telescope seems to be going ok apart from a slight noise .... however I really only got it as a stepping stone to see how into the whole stargazing thing i would get and must say I am hooked .... when I get back from my travels investments will be made ...
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Post by nemesis on May 14, 2008 14:23:26 GMT
No matter what you get, you'll never be satisfied! The first rule of astronomy.....
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Post by garyr on May 20, 2008 15:14:49 GMT
I was thinking of purchasing one of these when the nights draw in and when I return from the land of giant tortoises .... www.uk-telescopes.co.uk/celestron_nexstar_4_se.htmHas anyone any experience of this piece of kit? I want something that will give me a good view of planets as well as the more visible DSO's, would this be the way to go for around 300 quid?
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Post by nemesis on May 20, 2008 16:05:40 GMT
Looks good, probably better for planets and double stars etc, rather than DSOs per se. That's because of the 4" aperture....you really want as much light as you can get for them to view them optically. It's one of those things you can only appreciate when you see it. It looks similar to the ETX 105, which several members have experience with, and I'll step back to allow them to throw their views in.
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Post by stevie on May 20, 2008 19:40:33 GMT
Gary I have a Celestron 6" SCT, which I am very fond of, and use quite a lot. But, in my opinion, you cannot beat a dobsonian scope for really seeing most objects at their best, especially DSO's . I know the Nexstar4 has go-to, but, when it eventually "goes to", you will probably quickly get frustrated at the limited view. If you have £300 or so to spend, I would advise you to get an 8" or 10" dobsonian. £ for £, there is no contest. Here's a link to a very good value scope. (Iwould have recommended the 8" Celestron Starhopper, but they appear to have been discontinued). There are other brands available as well, but this will give you the general idea. Keep your eyes open for the next observing session, and come along and try some of the big dob's, especially Jonathan's 8" starhopper.(Although, once you see M51 in the 16", you will want to re-mortgage your house to get one) www.telescopes-binoculars.co.uk/acatalog/SkywatcherSkylinerDobsoniantelescopes.html
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Post by phoenix on May 20, 2008 21:01:15 GMT
If you buy from FLO then join Astrochat since he gives discount to members ;D
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Post by garyr on May 21, 2008 10:34:45 GMT
I do like the spec on both the 6" and 8" versions displayed there but are they not massive? I do like the convenience of the whole computer guided aspect . Although my ETX70 was particularly pants I did find the autostar quite useful, though my previous refractor was not autostar and I am pretty sure I managed to find just as much with it. Maybe I don't need autostar after all.
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