Is this a good telescope?

[nightsky]

I was expecting a reply like that . I suppose the innocent are easy impressed. Lets just say this chat has now ended and "There the matter lays"

Originally Posted by ThunderChild

Wow - you even came out of the womb with binos attached to your eyes?!
I am very impressed!

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

I thought TC's reply was hilarious. I guess I must be innocent too. Naked eye observing should not be underestimated either btw.

[nightsky]

Indeed

Originally Posted by janoskiss

I thought TC's reply was hilarious. I guess I must be innocent too. Naked eye observing should not be underestimated either btw.

[ThunderChild (Chris)]

Originally Posted by nightsky

I was expecting a reply like that . I suppose the innocent are easy impressed. Lets just say this chat has now ended and "There the matter lays"

I sincerely apologize for any offence I've caused to you nightsky.
I made what I believed to be some light hearted fun.

For the record, my comment was an (arguably) humorous way of making that point that naked eye observing contains some joy. And it did turn out that Sheap had not yet used binoculars.

Again - very sorry for any upset I've caused you.

[nightsky]

Originally Posted by ThunderChild

I sincerely apologize for any offence I've caused to you nightsky.
I made what I believed to be some light hearted fun.

For the record, my comment was an (arguably) humorous way of making that point that naked eye observing contains some joy. And it did turn out that Sheap had not yet used binoculars.

Again - very sorry for any upset I've caused you.

Hello TC No need for you to apologize I am the one that should apologize to you, and which I do now, I took your post the wrong way, my only excuse being, I have not had much sleep this last few nights and should not have been sitting in front of the computer all of last night,and most of this morning,and should have had more sense taking offence at a light hearted remark. so all is good

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Naked eye viewing IS still a wondrous thing ... I am using my scope almost nightly, usually from around 11pm to 2 or 3 am, it's nice and quiet and dark then, but I still stop frequently and just let my eyes roam around the heavens for the sheer joy of it, trying to take in the enormity of it all! You don't see the "shooting stars" peering into an eyepiece, nor many of the satellites floating around serenely as they go about their business.

Sometimes I use my eyes alone to go "fuzzy spotting" then when I spot one I use the scope to check it out. Try it, you'll see what I mean, learn to look "off-axis" ie try to take note of things that are not directly where you are actually "looking" but offset, because the human eye has greater light sensitivity this way.

As for binocs - well they are great as you have found now Sheap, I often use either my 8-24x variables, or even the scopes attached 8x finder, and just troll around the milky way until something catches my eye.

And something always does!!

" 6 weeks ago I kuldn't even spell arstronomar, and now I are one!! "

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Originally Posted by Gargoyle_Steve

Naked eye viewing IS still a wondrous thing ... I
am using my scope almost nightly, usually from around 11pm to 2 or 3 am, it's nice and quiet and dark then, but I still stop frequently and just let my eyes roam around the heavens for the sheer joy of it, trying to take in the enormity of it all! You don't see the "shooting stars" peering into an eyepiece, nor many of the satellites floating around serenely as they go about their business.

Sometimes I use my eyes alone to go "fuzzy spotting" then when I spot one I use the scope to check it out. Try it, you'll see what I mean,..........

very true for me also
also when peering through eyepieces for a no. of early morning hours
the eyes become tired and naked eye grazing the dark crowded 7mag sky gives em a break

I swear some nights I can read by starlight and often see sharp shadow outlines

[chrissarah]

as i was reading this thread... towrds the end before people starting dicussing the fact that someone has binoculars as eye sockets i noticed you guys talking about the quality of mirrors for both the skywatcher and the Guan Sheng GS-680 it stated on AndrewsCom that the mirrow within this scope is of a quality "1/12th surface wave BK7 mirrors" does this make any difference to the aurgument about which is better...
i am considering purchasing the GS-680 but hav enoticed the skywatcher is a little cheaper... also i spoke to lee today... who happens to be a friend of a freind.. and he said that this scope has one of the most accurate mirrors...
any people disagree???
thanks

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

I always found that the mirror in my GS scope gave me a wonderful view - I do not have my 10" anymore, but that is only because I now have a 12" instead whose view I am even more impressed by. (Keep im nind I have been observing through decent scopes for less than 12 months, I am not an expert at all - I consider my viewpoint may be relevant to your own experience level though).

I have looked through Skywatcher dobs but only in 8" size so I cannot fairly make a true comparison on equal sized mirrors. Others may be able to provide more accurate comparisons re mirrors but I think you will find the quality of mirror manufacturing to be much the same. (Do they all come out of the GSO factory anyway??)

There is nothing wrong with the GSO mirrors, they make a pretty damn good product at a fantastic price. Consider that the Meade Lightbridge range of dobs are entirely manufactured by GSO for Meade, mirror included - they can't be too bad at all.


Keep in mind that there is a difference between GSO mirrors and a mirror manufactured by craftsmen such as Mark Suchting (a forum member) and other professional mirror makers, but with GSO and so on you are getting an entire scope (OTA on dob base), that is very capable of serving many people quite well, for just a few hundred dollars. With a craftman made mirror you are getting a VERY high quality mirror, but on it's own it will cost you much, much more.


To put it another way: I'd love to drive a Porsche, but I own a Ford - it does what I need just fine at a price I can afford. If I ever decide I need a Porsche I'll just have to save a lot more money first.

(PS: Mark I do hope to be getting in touch some day, just not this year .. or next maybe... perhaps 2010 ... )

Cheers!

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by GrampianStars

I swear some nights I can read by starlight and often see sharp shadow outlines

And dont ya just love that, my back yard is the same as yours

regards,CS