Wouldn.t be without one, Would You?

[astroron]

I have just read the Star Camp thread and the ARGO NAVIS was mentioned,so I came to the RIGHT thread :lol: to mention that I have been using one for over three years, and wouldn't be without one now.
When I was doing star hopping and using charts, I was not getting through half as many galaxies a night as I am now, I look forward to many more years of dark nights with my ARGO NAVIS and 16"scope searching out those faint fuzzies for my supernova search.astroron :thumbsup: :astron: :astron:

[ving]

this thread could cause debate... so I'll star! :P

I like the hunt... nuf said :P
still if i was doing some serious research i'd definitely want some form of push to for my dob so i dont have to hunt down the objects i am researching :)

[iceman]

I agree with Ron, I don't own an AN (yet, I have a sky commander), but I wouldn't live without my DSC's now. Allows me to find and see soooo many more objects in one night.

The tour feature is just awesome.. I used Robby's AN at the SPSP this year, and have played with John's, Scott's, hector's, etc at the kulnura meet ups, and then of course Dave's at the camp.

It's very close to the top of my list, but I want a planetary eyepiece too.. hmm decisions.

The good thing is, I just need to buy the computer and it will plug straight into my existing encoders.

[rmcpb]

I agree with Dave though I have set up manual setting circles on my scope. That said, there is not much I cannot find with the combination of Telrad circles on a chart for the object then progressing from the Telrad to a wide angle lense then up the power as the object is centred.

[dhumpie]

I guess it depends on your scope. If I had a large truss dob, I would not go without the Argo Navis. Is is one of the "more essential" add ons that can greatly add to the thrill of observing :) Anywa this is getting way ahead of me....

Darren

[wavelandscott]

I like it both ways...not sure what that says for me...

Sometimes, I enjoy the hunt...other times I want to speed right through my list for the night...

With and without both have merits...what ever floats your boat...

Having successfully straddled that fence...

I will say that more and more I enjoy using the AN...most evenings I have one or both of my young sons (or their sticky finger snot nosed friends) bumping the scope as they try and look through the eyepiece...the AN makes "re-acquiring" a target very easy...in fact it is not unusal for my oldest son to suggest that it is time to re-adjust based on the AN readout

I've not used any other system so I can't compare across DSC but the AN is top shelf no doubt. I don't think I would have a scope without it in the future...if I can help it.

[dhumpie]

Argo Navis is good for the obscure objects such as Abell galaxy clusters and maybe some weird PK planetaries :)

Darren

[astroron]

I had 15 years of using star charts, setting circles, and star hopping, I think I am entitled to a bit of luxury at the eyepiece,plus it is so much more efficiant for my search, and I get lots of enjoyment out of my scope. astroron :thumbsup: :astron: :stargaze:

[janoskiss]

I still don't know my way around most of the sky, so if I got one I'd probably never learn. No DSC for me for a while I think.

[Dave47tuc]

I had a little debate at Star Camp. :poke:
It is 2005 and Observing has come along way. There so many "Go To" scopes now as well as "Push To". If you want them have them, if not don't. :D

I have star hopped over many many years. Once I went "Go To" I have never looked back.

The ? was would I do with out them? Well I could but I prefer not. :)

I love "Go TO" or "Push To" ;) and fully respect those who choose not to go that way. :thumbsup:

[Starkler]

I just got my argonavis today and I cant live without it :lol:

I have previously used a palm based dsc, but found that accuracy varied a lot depending what part of the sky I was looking at. I could only align on the planets and a pre-defined list of stars. Those stars were not always conveniently placed for a good alignment.
With the argo you can align on any object in the catalogues, so even if accuracy goes out you can just re align on an object close to the wanted target and carry on :)

[danielsun]

hey geoff , i just read you got yourself an argo, great stuff!!! you wont look back you'll be amazed how good they are!! its the best investment ive made to my scope and it opens up a whole new world of viewing!!

[[1ponders]]

Viva La AN and EQ mounts, Oh sorry this is a Dbo thread :poke::poke::poke: :lol: Yep I love mine too.

[iceman]

No, it's an argo navis thread!

[xrekcor]

I love the hunt too, been star hopping since I started this hobby nearly 3 yrs ago, But
may I say, there are nights where an AN would be great just to let something else do
the searching, and you can relax and peel off anything you want to see. I
think for purist sake it good to start out star hopping. You can only but learn
the sky that way.

When I get my new 16" GSO dob that will be the next accessory. I also think Darren is
right, imagine manually pointing Pete's 30"er!!! yikes!! although you probably could it
had a very smooth action.

regards,CS

[slice of heaven]

I reckon the hunt is overrated :)
But I cant afford an AN setup so what I have will have to do.

[iceman]

In my opinion, it's true that you will most likely learn the sky by star hopping, but I don't think it's true to say that if you have push-to or go-to, that you don't learn the sky.

The way I see it, is that learning the sky is a choice. Just because you have goto, doesn't mean you can't get out there with binoculars or naked eye, in combination with a planisphere or star chart, and learn the skies that way.

Let's just be careful not to let this turn into another goto vs non-goto thread, because this is about ArgoNavis.

People will make their own decisions about how valuable their time is, and for some, having a computer tell them where to point the scope will be a great reward in time saving and seeing many more objects in a night than they would've done without.

[iceman]

I started out hunting, and now I use my DSC's if i'm in DSO viewing mode. While I enjoyed the hunt at the time, I enjoy the convenience now and don't wish to go back to hunting.

[ballaratdragons]

I've only ever been a Hunter. I would like to be a Gatherer! If I had the dollars I reckon I would get the Argo Navis. But then again, after the stuff I saw at Camp, I would like to get GoTo! (thanks John and Robin)

I'm also getting lazy :rofl:

[janoskiss]

Ken, did you also get a good look at the Argo in action. It looks much easier and quicker to use than a Goto. And the batteries would last for ever.

[Starkler]

Well I tried out the argo last night and discovered that I have an issue with my azimuth encoder (not supplied by Wildcard) which I havent sorted out as yet.

I sent Wildcard an email describing the problem and asked about their hardware/encoders and within an hour got a prompt personalised response (not just a canned message).

Prompt email support on a Sunday ? Im floored with the level of support that Wildcard give to their customers, and that was a big part of my decision to splash the cash for one.

:thumbsup: Wildcard.

[[1ponders]]

You get that with Gary, Geoff. Excellent customer support :thumbsup: