Posts Made By: Steven Lynn

I rather blame it anything else! Tourists! Walmart! etc. etc.

Too bad but at least it all seems fixable.

Hi, I have a TV-85 and a Celestron/Vixen Fluorite 90. The major difference is the focal length, f/7 vs f/9. Doesn't sound like much, but translates to not needing a barlow for high powers.

Having looked through several 4" refractors, I would say you are right: minimal difference going from 85mm to 90mm, but a little more visible going up to 100mm. And, comparing a TV-101 to a Vixen ED 114mm (both f/5.3) the larger scope definitely is brighter.

I would say any 10mm increase in aperature would be visible. Going from your 85mm to 100mm would a jump in performance. A jump to 110mm (or more) would be a bigger jump. Either would be worth it.

Don't forget you will need an appropriate mount.

Steven

Hi,
The above advice is all good. For a detailed discussion of this issue, check this link:

http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html

One good choice for a first telescope is not a telescope, but binoculars. The link above recommends 7x50mm binoculars or 10x50mm binoculars (7x or 10x magnification; 50mm diameter front lens).

Why binoculars? They can be picked up and used in seconds, they are easy to aim, require little skill.

Another option are Canon Image Stabilized binoculars, such as:

http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=&pid=1823&m=45

My final thought, is that I agree that your wife probably some ideas of her own. You can surpise her by putting a picture of a (or several) telescope(s) in a box and wrap it up. After she opens it tell her she's going telescope shopping!

Steven

I think Celestron charges under $200. Call it $175 for arguments sake. So, after paying to ship it there and back it will cost about $225-very roughly. Even though I live within driving distance of Celestron, I'd probably do it myself. It's money vs laziness as the real battle for me.

If you have not shipped an 8" SCT, boxing and doing it safely are another stumbling block and cost issue.

Slow night?

I copied and saved it! (For personal use only!!!

It may end up as the computer desk top, which rotate and change frequently.
Good work.

Jon Isaacs said:

OK, so you saw the game against ND...

What do you think?? Assuming the[y] beat UCLA....
Jon

20/20 Hindsite reminds you that assumptions can be dangerous 8) . Well, I guess I get to see USC in the Rose Bowl!

Steven

UCLA alumni (I lasted two weeks until I bedridden with a kidney ailment)....
...and, I have USC Credit Card. (I received an unbeatable credit card offer from "UCS" after attending many classical music concerts there...)

Wow, that is neat! Keeno. Groovey. I've run out of words.

Yep, love the parachute.

Awesome!*

Steven


*and I never use that term....

I stumbled across a small Cessna type plane in Arizona. You could see it's shadow, as it wasn't flying too high.

The LA Times had an article about 'virtual' travelers this week. A few points from the article:

*There is a Google Earth forum or chat--I've never been to it. Finding planes, and trying to identify them is a common endeavour.

*The pics are often updated. Some are several years old. I spent several hours with a friend checking known (to us) locations. Some new buildings that are only a few years old don't show up.

*Events get a lot of attention, and finding more about them, too. A boat on fire off of Iceland (boat sunk, boater rescued). An alligator in the LA Zoo. I couldn't find that, but did find some other animals.

*a person recently disappear off a boat in the San Franssco Bay. Google through it's contacts with the imaging satellite owners posted new pics of the area to help the search. He's still missing and presumed lost at sea.

*A boat (sub?) leaving Tokyo Harbour..

*And yes, there is a site that claims to have pics of unclothed sunbathers. Although the resolution leaves a lot to the imagination. 8O

My find: go to Area 51, North West of Vegas. Zoom out and look for another dry lake bed further north and west. It has circular markings like a targert and several small round things on it. Nuclear test zone?