hello from new member with astrology telescope on ebay

[okiscopey]

This is my first post to IIS.

I found this on eBay (LARGE-ASTROLOGY-TELESCOPE ... see URL below) and was wondering if experienced members could let me know if this is a worthwhile purchase.

I believe this model gives high-end performance (cloud details on Pluto, etc.) as well as being able to see into the future. Apparently, looking at your bank statement through this instrument allows you to see months or even years ahead (it depends upon the magnification). In my case this is likely to be a depressing sight, but I can live with it. I imagine you could use this facility to avoid certain expenses. If there's no sign of a lottery win for instance, there would be no need to buy tickets every week.

I suspect the mount looks a bit flimsy, would an HEQ5 be an improvement?

As I'm new to all this, any help will be gratefully received.

eBay International Item number: 170024942789

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LARGE-ASTROLOGY-TELESCOPE-WITH-STAND-AND-LENSES_W0QQitemZ170024942789QQihZ00 7QQcategoryZ3636QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIte m

[janoskiss]

Welcome to IIS okiskopey! :)

You're being silly. :P

Do you have a telescope? What sort?

[ving]

:lol:

welcome aboard... just incase you are serious, dont touch that scope!

[Astroman]

Oh I hope to hell that you are not serious, if you are you may want to buy a few books and learn about ASTRONOMY first. Then look at buying a REAL telescope later.

[Starkler]

I always have a chuckle to myself when I see sellers promoting the virtues of a product when they can't even assemble it properly :rofl:

[astroron]

Okiscopey, You Did Not Even Read The Advert Properly, It Is Only Available In The Uk.
Are You For Real?

[GrahamL]

Its set up for viewing the southern sky from up there thats why its put together upside down:P..

:hi: welcome ..very funny first post

[mickoking]

What are you talking about? havent you heard about the benifits of having the finder underneath the tube of the 'scope? I swear by it :rofl: It is almost as good as the Aussie Geographic store that used the barlow for a finder.

G'day and welcome Okiscopey :)

[RB]

:lol2: Mick, I've seen that too. :lol:

[Doug]

AstroRon, you said:
I think that if you re read the advert you will see that it is the "GBP 10.00" that is only available in the UK; the item, it is claimed, will ship world wide.;)
that is if a buyer can be found.

Doug

[seeker372011]

welcome okiscopey

great first post, but with the weight of the future hanging off your Astrology scope an EQ5 is probably just a bit underdone..maybe an EQ 300 is what you need ?

on the other hand you didnt say whethr you wanted GoTO as well in which case you need the EQ300 with the HG-Wells system?

[danielsun]

Welcome Okiscopey:welcome: Don't even think about buying that scope you would be getting ripped off. At $2.46AU its way way over priced, especially for a proper astrology telescope!:lol:

[nightsky]

Very funny :lol: and BTW you forgot about the postage 10 quid and thats only for the UK, God only knows how much it would be to OZ ;)

[okiscopey]

Many thanks for the welcome and for everyone's advice on the 'astrology telescope', with a special hello to those who thought I was serious!

I do have a good theoretical knowledge of astronomy, having been interested since I was 8. Before leaving the UK (in the 70's) I was a member of the BAA and I've subscribed to 'Sky and Telescope' on and off for decades. I'm also a professional photographer of the S&T (scientific and technical) variety, so I'm not about to invest in that ridiculous eBay telescope or anything like it. You can now all breathe a sigh of relief!

Despite all of this, I've never actually owned a decent astro telescope (that's Janoskiss' question answered) so I don't have any real experience of observational work. As I'm going to become a grey nomad next year, it seems the ideal time to make a start.

I'm thinking of an 80ED or 100ED which should suit bumpy motorhome life and the relatively non-demanding visual observations I'd be doing. I'd like an equatorial mount so I can find things without starhopping and keep them in the field of view.

However, this does lead to a 'real' question. If I just want to have a quick look at something bright and obvious, does an equatorial mount make this difficult? Is there a sort of de-clutching mechanism in mounts like the EQ5 (?) or they as easy to 'quick point' as an alt-az? I'm really confused ... any clarification will be gratefully received.

(I hope this is the correct thread to continue this topic.)

[Doug]

You might like to consider something similar for around the price of an ED 100
take a look at https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6967

You seem to not be considering imaging based on your specs for a bumpy road/mobile life and a non goto setup. If you were, the above link would not be too appropriate. But it will find objects quickly enough, has a little more apeture than an ED100, and could be setup without a tripod.
Ideal camperscope for a campervan.

cheers,
Doug

[Helvetius]

Hi everybody,

I was about to write my first post to this forum when I came accross this thread and I cannot resist adding my two cents to it.
It seems a point was missed when reading the ad: It says "Astrology Telescope" which is something totally different from an "Astronomy Telescope".
Astrology is "a pseudoscience claiming divination by the positions of the planets, sun and moon". And this telescope is certainly perfect for this purpose ;)
One can even use it to predict what will be it's own near future: the trash bin :lol:

Cheers

PS: about Okiscopey's "real question" ("If I just want to have a quick look at something bright and obvious, does an equatorial mount make this difficult?"). If the bright and obvious stuff is a car on a highway, you need an Alt/Az mount:) ; if it is a Moon crater you need an equatorial mount to track it and to keep it in your EP by turning one knob only. But before reaching that one knob only action, you will have to spend some time to set up your mount towards the terresterial pole. This mount is also what you would need for astrophoto (as you are a photographer you will probably look into it).

[okiscopey]

Thanks for the advice Helvetius. Janoskiss has suggested a Meade ETX 105PE, and I think I can add a few $ to buy the somewhat more respectable 125PE. I note from their PDF manual that it's easy to disengage the axis drives to allow manual pointing, so one has the best of both worlds.

[[1ponders]]

This is true, but be aware that if you have done an alignment using the scopes computer, disengaging the clutches will render that alignment useless. My suggestion would be to simply use the hand paddle to move your scope "semi-manually" The etx125 scopes are great little scopes, sure they are no 12" dob for light gathering power, but they are no slouches either. Easy to setup as well and great accuracy.

Oh and :welcome: to the site okiscopey ;)

[nightsky]

G'day
M8 add a few more $ and save your self the trouble and expense buying the 125 PE and get yourself a Meade 8". why I hear you say!! because like most of us after looking through a 5" scope you'll want a BIGGER one :rofl: and which ever one you decide on "Clear Skies"
Good Luck

[janoskiss]

I most certainly did not! :)

EQ mount axes can be easily locked and unlocked and pointing them is not any more difficult than an alt-az. The annoying part is that the OTA rotates when you swing the scope to a different part of the sky, so you have to rotate either the diagonal or the whole tube (for a Newt) to be able to look throught the eyepiece. The focuser height also varies more with an EQ than an alt-az mount.

[Doug]

Well Steve, I wont take umbrage if you don't:lol:

Doug

[okiscopey]

Oops! Sorry Janoskiss, it was a slip of the keyboard after one too many Coopers Sparkling Ales. It was Doug who suggested the 105PE.

As I don't (yet) have aperture fever, as I've never had a halfway decent scope before, and as I'm going to be travelling around in a 4WD motorhome, I'm sure the 125PE will keep me happy for a while. I'm aware that if the electronics pack up it will be next to useless, but I'm sure that any other solution for a mobile lifestyle would involve some other sort of compromise (too big? misalignments?)

Now, what was I doing before embarrasing Janoskiss ... oh yes, I was going for that last bottle of Coopers ... hic!

[janoskiss]

I'd seriously consider an 8 or 10" Dob in your position. The Lightbridge truss dobs can be packed away in a fairly small space.

[okiscopey]

... I'd seriously consider an 8 or 10" Dob ... Lightbridge ...

Yes, I can see there's more to this than meets the eye (no pun intended!). I think I'd better trot along to BinTel and some local meetings and have a look at the options.

Many thanks for everyone's help once more, this is an amazingly active group.

Oh ... I've just noticed ... this is my 5th post, so I should be able to sell things now. Trouble is, I don't have anything to sell. Maybe one day!

[iceman]

Not quite, you have to be a member for a month as well :P

I strongly recommend getting to Bintel and have a look around, and if you can make it up to Kulnura (or a more local observing group) you'll get even more benefit by looking through some of the scopes first hand.