Eyes in the Sky [Article]  | 04/30/03 | by Jay Reynolds Freeman When I first bought my C-14 some twenty years ago, one of my first observing programs with it was a Messier survey. On recommissioning it last summer, I. . . Afocal Astrophotography with Film [Article]  | 04/29/03 | by Eric Roel As an old-timer in the Astronomy hobby, I would recommend that you enter Astrophotography with a film camera. My point is that you might not like it, so th. . . Jenny’s Astrophotography Experience...a 5 part adventure [Article]  | 04/29/03 | by Brian Anderson Three months ago Jenny decided that she would finally take the financial plunge and get seriously involved in astronomy, a topic that had fascinated her si. . . 10,000 Objects logged [Article]  | 04/29/03 | by Jay Reynolds Freeman In March, 2001, I logged my ten thousandth different celestial object seen. Lest you think that saying so demonstrates lack of humility, there . . . Deep-Sky Weasels Meet Einstein's Kitty Crumblies [Article]  | 04/29/03 | by Jay Reynolds Freeman The journey took some five hours -- an hour to the far end of the Bay Area, not quite three hours cruising north in California's Great Valley, then an . . . Harvey: Planetaries, Planets, and the Draco System [Article]  | 04/29/03 | by Jay Reynolds Freeman It was again interesting to see how small variations in magnification made great changes in the appearance of the image; the cutoff for an aesthetically. . . ETX 70 version 15.03.03 [User Review]  | 04/26/03 | by Michiel Claessen After a break of almost twenty years I took up astronomy as a hobby again some years ago. My main observing instruments are a Vixen BT-80 binocular telesco. . . An ETX-125, C5+ and a MN56 (A brief planetary comparison) [Shootout]  | 04/26/03 | by Allister St. Claire The C5+ uses a single fork arm assembly mounted on a sturdy tripod. I like the single fork arm assembly as it allows me to rotate the diagonal out of the w. . . A Binoviewer Journey: Of Microscope Heads, Denkmeier and Tele Vue [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by Tom Trusock …I saw detail that I have *never* seen before in a scope this small. This HAD to be due, at least in part, to the binoviewer. . . . Binoviewer [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by Phil Barker The binoviewers came with a barlow lens of about 15mm aperture. This is removable and seems to increase the effective focal length by around 1.5-1.8 X. The. . . Siebert Binoveiwer vs. Tele vue Bino Vue [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by Jim Nadeau Well, I did a test of the Siebert and the Tele Vue BV's tonight on some DSO's before the moon came up, then later on I gave them a shot at Saturn when the . . . Oberwerk 15 x 70 Vs Orion Giant 16 x 80 [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by Ed Zarenski I have been in the market for a new pair of binoculars for a while now. Over a period of 4-5 months I read as many reviews as I could on binoculars in the . . . Questar 3.5 Duplex, ETX, C5+ Comparison - June-July 1996 [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by Stewart Squires I posted this review to SAA almost two years ago. Perhaps not surprisingly, after a brief review, I found little to change. After this same two year period. . . Questar 7 - commentary and comparison [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by Phil Barker A friend purchased a Questar 7 a few years ago and I am going to record my impressions of the telescope. I have 20 years experience as an observer speciali. . . Comparison of the Questar 7 with the Meade 7" Mak - 1996 [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by Stewart Squires It has also been almost two years since this review was written. I no longer have the Meade 7" scopes and have had the luxury of owning a second 7" Questar. . . Celestron Nexstar 11: 11" SCT With Onboard GPS "GOTO" System A "Mini Review" [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Why a "Mini-Review"? One of the most anticipated scopes (according to the buzz on the Net and according to our Editor, Allister St. Claire) is the new Cele. . . Celestron Nexstar 11 GPS [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by Ed Moreno Considering its SIZE and weight, the telescope was fairly easy to move to the tripod, went into place with little difficulty, and secured in seconds. As a . . . A Beginners Review of the Meade LXD 55 10” UHTC Schmidt Newtonian [User Review]  | 04/25/03 | by Brian Nelson Please be aware that I am relatively new to the hobby of astronomy so this review is not based on a comparison of a wide range of experiences. However I th. . . The Trial and Tribulations of an Altazimuth Mount [User Review]  | 04/19/03 | by Blair Slayton Initially when I bought Orion’s Explorer 90mm Altazimuth Refractor I did not like the mount. The lack of an adjustable knob for coarse altitude adjustment . . . Tal M Newtonian [User Review]  | 04/18/03 | by Daniel W. Rickey, Ph.D. I had read a lot of good things about Tal scopes and decided to buy one just for fun. I selected a 80 mm f6.6 Newtonian that sells for $270CND ($169US). Th. . . What Can you see for $500? - 4 Telescopes Compared [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Jeff Phillips The telescopes reviewed here have all received favorable comment in magazines or on the Internet: The Meade ETX90, the Celestron C102HD refractor, the Cele. . . Tele Vue Pronto and the "Living Star Atlas" [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Aaron McNeely The Pronto comes with a padded carrying bag for storage. The bag features a shoulder strap and could easily be carry-on luggage for astronomy vacations. Th. . . Kids: Hey Josh [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Kent Allison It's a warm summer evening and you have your favorite telescope and star charts set up in your back yard. Deeply engrossed in finding that elusive 12th mag. . . The TMB 130 f/6 Objective (and building a tube assembly around it) [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Jim Buchanan The calculation of tube length is very easy and can be accomplished several ways. This lens objective has a focal length of 780mm or almost 31 inches from . . . Beginners Equipment Q&A [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Brian Murphy The quickest way to determine if a scope is not optically defective is probably to meet up with a few experienced observers and compare scopes and notes. I. . . Kids: The Solar Session [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Trusock It started off innocently enough. Never stopping to think I was only one guy and never having put on an observing session of this scale, I never imagined w. . . Kids: Engaging Kids in Astronomy [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Jamie Seibert I had just aligned the scope and told it to find Saturn when my neighbor's grandchildren came out of the house with their Dad to head home. On the way to t. . . Kids: Robby's Night! [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Don Spencer I asked him if he would like to see what he was really looking at on the computer and he excitedly nodded. Using my Planetarium skychart software, I was ab. . . Kids: The Neighborly Summer Skies [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Justin Montgomery The willingness of astronomers to teach what they have learned is one great asset we have that has the potential to bring many others into our ranks. All w. . . Kids: Summer Triangle [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Jane Gauker I had contemplated getting out my 10” dob to find that 12th magnitude galaxy I had been wanting to add to my list, but my family was busy elsewhere tonight. . . Kids: Reintroducing the Wonder of the Starry Sky | Contemporary Children and Astronomy [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Jay Michaels In today's technology savvy world, the youth of society have grown accustomed to the fast-paced nature of daily life, the instant gratification stemming fr. . . Kids: In the backyard (with James the boogeyman) [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Jim Nadeau While looking once again for NGC 5466 that very dim, low surface brightness globular cluster on the Bootes - Canes Venatici border near M3, swatting mosqui. . . Kids: The Salty Bear Principle [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Brent Orton OK, so I was only 12. And I didn¹t exactly sneak up on Mr. Morton the way you imply. He saw me coming, clear as daylight. In fact, it was daylight -- at fi. . . Kids: Kids and The Practical Astronomer [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Elwood Smith Like most backyard astronomers, I did my best to introduce the neighborhood children to the wonders of the night sky. I showed them my Newtonian and explai. . . Kids: The study of the sky and celestial bodies [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski Our galaxy is called the MILKY WAY. There are billions of stars in the Milky Way. Sometimes when you look up at the night sky you can see the hazy light of. . . Kids: Master Doc 01-09 [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski Kids: Master Doc 01-09. . . Kids: Maps [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski Kids: Maps. . . Kids: Outline Doc [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski This outline describes a program I have put together for introducing children to the hobby and science of Astronomy. Generally it takes three hours to comp. . . Kids: Flyer [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski The NCMS PTO is sponsoring an Astronomy Night for everyone who is interested in learning more about our Solar System, the Sun and it's planets, the names . . . Kids: A Complete Astronomy Presentation [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski It was a little over two years ago now that I was out in the yard one night when my son Aaron and the kids from across the street wanted to see what I was. . . Kids: A Night With A New Friend [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Kevin Pfeifle It's a warm night on July 14th. Like most clear nights, I decided to setup my 8" PortaBall dobsonian telescope (The Snowball). I'm deeply engrossed in find. . . Kids: A Midsummer Night's Dream [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Bill Krosney We've all probably encountered this scenario or some variation of it at some time. So, WHAT DO YOU DO? Do you politely answer their questions? Do you show . . . Kids: Introducing Neighbors to Your Friends [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Robert Knauf If you use your telescope in an area where others can find you, you will, sooner or later, encounter visitors. The glow of a red flashlight and the whirr. . . Kids: Astronomy for Kids [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Stanley Yen No other area of science excites the public imagination in quite the same way that astronomy does. Astronomy deals with the entire universe, in all its gr. . . Kids: Me and My Time Machine [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Kevin Harris "The star you are looking at is called Altair, it's just a point of light because it is so far from Earth. The distance is so great the Astronomers use wh. . . Kids: New Skies for Young Eyes [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Ray Natera Right away show them something of interest and tell them something interesting: I swing the telescope to the double star Alberio in the constellation Cy. . . Kids: A Night of Discovery [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Chuck Taylor There are objects for the first night and extra objects for either a second night or in case the first night goes longer than anticipated.. . . Kids: The old man and the sky [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Brad Franzella With their anticipation fixed on the moon, they were eager to get their eyeballs onto the ocular. I swung the scope over to the heart of Cygnus and the g. . . Kids: Excuse me Mister - can I have a look please? [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Doug Inwood It was nearing the astronomical darkness end of the twilight. This Friday evening was looking, very much, like turning into an excellent Friday nights ob. . . Kids: Tips for Parents with Kids [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Duncan Rosie One of the major problems we face in getting kids interested in astronomy is the “awesome” factor. Unfortunately (and yes, even in our remote corner of th. . . Kids: Bringing Back the Young Astronomers [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Gauss Rescigno I will often be out observing in my driveway when a neighbor comes along walking their dog. Often times it's during the winter and neither they nor I am w. . . Kids: Whacha Doing? [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Stacy Jo McDermott OK, I'm on the front sidewalk, nary a cloud or fog bank in the sky, got my soda, star charts, cookies and telescope all set up.. . . Kids: Explaining Amateur Astronomy to Young People [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Dan Bush As amateur astronomers we are the "Gateways to the Cosmos" for the general public. Even though most of us are not employed professionally in astronomy we . . . Kids: Would you like to take a look? [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Andrew Arai I have been using telescopes for close to 25 years now and have been queried with everything from a positive and inquisitive "Whachya doing?" to an irrita. . . Kids: Hands On Experience [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Anthony Lutton As astronomers, we take for granted that most people haven't a clue what a Schmidt-Cassegrain or Dobsonian telescope is used for, or even what it is for t. . . Kids: Whatsup? [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Ralph Lambert What to do if you are looking through your scope this summer and some young people comes along and says "Hay mister, whacha doing?" Besides the fact I w. . . Kids: The Golden Opportunity [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Doug Matulis You are immediately captivated as you reminisce back to those feelings of utter joy and excitement you felt as you made your first discoveries. You remem. . . Kids: Amateurs Helping Kids [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Trusock I had four neighbor kids over the day I got it and last night we had the Cumberland Star Party, 15 people - 4 adults/11 kids attended. Fabulous night, cry. . . Kids: The Sky Shared [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Trusock I'd seen the new "comet thingie". As I replied that yes, I had, another approached and commented that he'd seen it using his dad's binoculars. Hearing . . . Kids: My Son Tyler [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Scott Smith Tyler was hooked back in 1999 when I woke him up from sleep one night and told him to dress and come outside with me. The Moon, Saturn and Jupiter were . . . Cepheids Explained [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Daniel Mounsey The first cepheid ever discovered was in 1784 by a man named John Goodricke. The star is officially called "Delta Cephei" obviously named after its const. . . A Visit to Mag 1 Instruments [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Allister St. Claire Pete Smitka is the owner and craftsman of the PortaBall line of telescopes. Pete's been around Astronomy for 40+ years. An active amateur astronomer and c. . . Suburban Deep Sky Observing & Sketching [Article]  | 04/17/03 | by Jay Michaels Today’s generation of amateur astronomers face numerous sources of difficulty and temptation. The convenience of being able to observe from one’s b. . . Orion Aluminum Accessory Case [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Daniel W. Rickey, Ph.D. After keeping my eyepieces in cardboard boxes and plastic sandwich containers, I finally decided to purchase a dedicated case. I chose the large Orion alum. . . Takahashi EM200 USD II [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Rob Pollard Firstly, I’ll introduce myself. My name is Rob Pollard and I live in Plymouth UK. I’ve been interested in Astronomy since the age of 6 and have been active. . . Celestron G5 SCT [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Rick Key I got my telescope (a Celestron G5) a few days ago and immediately took all the stuff out of the box. I was able to assemble it fairly easily without readi. . . Orion Shorttube 4.5" [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Steve Reecy I got home late last night, and sitting on my doorstep was the package I've been waiting for 5 business days (7 actual). Like a kid at Christmas, I pulled . . . Orion 3" Space Probe Newtonian [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Scot Silv Recently, I had the time and the opportunity to purchase an Orion 3" equatorial Space Probe telescope, to show a young relative a reflector vs. refractor, . . . 13mm Nagler Type 6 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jeff Verona The Type 6 Nagler is the most current version of an optic devised by Al Nagler in the 1980s. This design solves the triple equation of a wide field (82° A. . . 40mm Stellarvue Deluxe Plössl Eyepiece [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jeff Verona In The Year-Round Messier Marathon Field Guide, Harvard Pennington claims that an eyepiece with a 1° true field is "ideal" for observing Messier and deep-s. . . Orion Expanse Eyepieces. (A Consumerist Comparative Consideration of Orion's Taiwanese EXPANSE Wide Field Eyepieces in 20mm, 15mm, 9mm and 6mm) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Joseph Wong The attention-grabbing, new, Pacific Rim product is ORION's four eyepiece set targeted for "Those Extra Wide Open Celestial Spaces"-to quote its catalog by. . . Orion(Economy) Explorer II Zoom Eyepiece(1.25 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Wing Eng I purchased an Orion Explorer II Zoom Eyepiece, in 1.25" format, from the Orion Cupertino, CA, retail store which is the closest store to my home that allo. . . 7mm Meade Research Grade Orthoscopic (Peer Reviewed) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jeff Verona The 7 mm Meade Research Grade Orthoscopic eyepiece dates from the late 1980s/early 1990s. The ep was intended for the long refractors of that period, of th. . . 22mm & 8mm Lanthanum Superwides [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Clark Thomas I purchased these my first two upscale eyepieces from Orion, but they are identical to the Vixen Lanthanum Superwides, even down to the price. I understand. . . Carl Zeiss Jena 0.965 inch Orthoscopic Eyepieces [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Kevin Barker My introduction to these wee eyepieces was my first peek through my newly acquired APQ 100/1000 refractor in 1995. The telescope included a 10 and 6 mm ort. . . 7 Low Power Eyepieces and 2x Barlows for Beginners [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Bill Reinehr In the How-To section of Cloudy Nights, there is an article by Allister St. Claire in which he points out that the low power eyepieces routinely supplied w. . . DETAILED COMPARISONS OF 7MM EYEPIECES [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Darwin Bagley Each time I buy a new scope, I feel the need to buy four or five new eyepieces in order to get it to work right. If you compare my results against other ey. . . 10 mm Clave Plossl, Televue Radian, and Celestron Plossl Comparison Part 1 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Derek Wong I have been searching for a 10 mm pair of planetary eyepieces for a long time. Though the Zeiss 10 mm orthoscopic is regarded by many people as "the best",. . . Further Eyepiece Spotlights [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Darwin Bagley I do not own a Paracorr. I wish I did. My 16 inch f/4.6 would benefit from a Paracorr more than any scope I have ever owned. The following report is some o. . . Apogee 9.5mm Super Easy View Eyepiece [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Terry Alford When most of us think of eyepieces the brands that jump to mind are those such as Edmund, Meade or TeleView. These and several other companies make quality. . . GTO Plossl/Barlow Review [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Milton Esquinaldo The fit and finish of the 25mm plossl seem good to very good. The eyepiece has an unusual smell to it. It smells like rubber (I guess from the rubber surro. . . University Optics Konigs [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Frank Bov I've tried both TV plossl and UO Konig 32mm eyepieces, head to head, and the biggest difference is the eyecup on the TV. Optically, neither I nor the sever. . . 5mm Vixen Lanthanum Eyepiece vs 4.8mm Nagler [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Dale Ibis Because I wear eyeglasses, I have always been very sensitive to the eye relief of an eyepiece. Even without glasses, I find that good eye relief is essenti. . . Vixen Lanthanum 7.5mm and 5mm [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Stanley Yen I have a 5mm Vixen Lanthanum and a 7.5mm Orion Lanthanum (both purchased used), as well as a 6mm Celestron Orthoscopic of early 1990's vintage. The orthosc. . . Vixen Lanthanum 9mm [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Matt Brown I have owned a 9mm Vixen Lanthanum eyepiece for a couple years, which was originally used sparingly on a C8. I later acquired a 7mm Pentax SMC XL that beca. . . 6 mm Vixen Lanthanum LV vs. 6 mm UO Ortho [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David Brodeur I purchased a 6mm Vixen Lanthanum LV eyepiece along with my first telescope (a Tele Vue Ranger) about four years ago. I was buying the telescope primarily . . . Vixen Lanthanum 5mm and 9mm [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Stacey Thater Having gone through a variety of mid to high power eyepieces, I acquired two of the Vixen Lanthanum line of eyepieces. One is the pure Vixen and the other . . . Leica 14 and 22mm eyepieces [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Richard Whalen Just returned from the Chiefland Star Party where I was able to evaluate two Leica eyepieces over a 1 week period. These Eyepieces were on loan from APM. F. . . Darwin Bagleys Magnum Opus [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Darwin Bagley Over the last year, I have started to re-collect a handful of different inexpensive eyepieces just for the fun of it. I sold a bunch of them years back in . . . 10.5mm MegaVista Meets a 10mm Radian [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Pete Rasmussen I received a like new 6-element 10mm Radian (8-01-01) and took some looks through it and against my 7-element vintage Orion 10.5mm Megavista the following . . . 40mm MK-70 vs 35mm Panoptic [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Frank Bov I use my 40mm MK-70 more than my 35mm Pan because it gives a wider field and doesn't hurt the Dob's balance as much. I find it easier to navigate with that. . . Omcon 35mm Erfle [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Richard Whalen Very well made with chrome lower barrel and black upper piece that has rubber grip ring. Threaded for 2" filters. No eyecup. Lense is set in 5mm approx. Le. . . Pentax XL 60mm [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Markus Ludes The eyepiece is made from CNC maschined black anadized aluminium body. The lenses are fixed in the upper 1/3 part of the housing surrounded by the movable . . . 12mm Televue Radian vs 12.5mm Celestron Ultima & 12.5mm Vixen Ortho [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Anway I am fortunate to live under dark skies. And though the natural beauty of the upper peninsula of Michigan has nurtured a tourist "Mecca", those skies are p. . . 40mm Rodenstock, 42mm Vixen LVW, 40mm Pentax XL [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Joseph Donahue For the past few years I've revered my 30mm Leitz 88 degree as the ultimate wide field eyepiece for panoramic viewing. The 30mm Leitz's performance blew aw. . . Siebert Optics eyepieces [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Don Regan I've been into astronomy for 30+ years now and have seen and used a good many different eyepieces. Being primarily a planetary observer in my early years, . . . 4.5" Bushnell Voyager [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Daniel Mounsey After owning and using various telescopes that require a good deal of work to set up here in the city of Los Angeles and out in the field, I was in search . . . The Speers-Waler 10mm [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Trusock There once was a mythic line of wide field eyepieces, reputed to be the equal of any other on the market, yet costing only half as much as others in their . . . Antares 24.7 mm Speers-Waler Eyepiece [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David Knisely Intrigued by the fine performance of the Antares 5-8mm Speers-Waler eyepiece, I decided to take a look at another eyepiece in their line, the 24.7mm Speers. . . Takahashi 2.8mm HI-Ortho [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Richard Anderson Sometimes, it takes a bit of effort to obtain just what you want. Trial and error are the hallmarks of building an eyepiece collection and when you finally. . . TeleVue 8-24mm Zoom [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Chris East I have managed to get in several nights testing my new Televue 8-24mm zoom; enough at least for a fairly good stab at a review. The weather has been warm a. . . Celestron 7.5mm Ultima and Tele Vue 8mm Radian [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski The Celestron 7.5mm Ultima is an excellent high-powered eyepiece. In my 1250mm 5" SCT, I get 167x with a 17' True field of view. In my 1200mm 6" refractor,. . . Macs & Astronomy [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Neale Monks Astronomy on the Mac is thriving as never before, and particularly with the latest UNIX-based operating system the range of software has gotten even bigger. . . Lunar Map Pro [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Anway As I worked on my first scope back in the 60's, the "Race to the Moon" was in full swing; lunar fever was high! When you couple that atmosphere, with the f. . . Orion Skyquest 8 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Viv James I have owned this telescope for 6 months now. My name is Viv James and I live in Melbourne, Australia, our skies are pretty good out in the suburbs and I g. . . Review of the Orion SkyQuest XT8 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Luca Rescigno Hello, I'm Luca Rescigno. I've owned my Orion 8" dob for about a year and a half now, but I still haven't gotten around to reviewing it. So I suppose now I. . . Orion XT10 Dobsonian [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Craig Molstad I was surprised that someone had not yet submitted a review of this scope. Since I have owned one from the minute they became available I thought I would t. . . Takahashi MT-160 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Salvatore Giambruno This is the telescope I currently own and use. There aren't many like it in the U.S. I purchased this one from John Biggs of GCS Astronomical, LLC. Like al. . . Takahashi FS - 102 Fluorite Doublet Apochromat [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tony Addino While my nine year old son and I were out in our rural backyard one clear evening this past Fall, my son gazed up into the sky and remarked on the endless . . . Takahashi FS-60C F/5.9 APO Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Since my last telescope review for this site was a comparison of the AP and Takahahsi 6" APOs, I thought, 'now, for something completely different' - a 2.3. . . Sovietski Tal-M Newtonian [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Bill Brady I had two goals in mind when I purchased my latest telescope, quick setup and wide field viewing. The scope I selected is from Sovietski Collection ( HYPER. . . TAL 200K [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Andrea Tasselli The TAL 200 K is a modified Cassegrain system composed of a primary spherical mirror and a secondary optical train consisting of a Mangin lens and a menisc. . . The Novosibirsk TAL 200K Klevtsov Cassegrain [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Bill Brady At last I have a telescope that sees better than I do. This instrument is a carefully designed and built Cassegrain with a big difference, its tube is open. . . TEC 10" f/20 and Other Subjects [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Eric Roel Several years ago, I was looking for a telescope with a reasonable aperture and a long focal length, that could outperform my 225mm. f/12 Takahashi SCT The. . . Ten-inch Teleport [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Keith Molkner The ten inch Teleport is a unique high-end altazimuth newtonian made by Tom Noe of Wylie, Texas, and incorporating an F/5 primary mirror by Carl Zambuto. I. . . TMB 100/800 Apo Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Matt Brown I purchased a TMB100/800 recently from TMB Optical. It is the model with the Vixen tube. I couldn't justify the extra expense for the nicer tube. I purchas. . . TMB 100MM F/8 APO Refractor (New Version- German CNC Tube) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Early last year, I bought and reviewed what I came to conclude was the best 4" refractor I ever owned or used, the TMB Optical 100 f/8. The optics for that. . . TMB Optical 152mm Apochromat [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tim Povlick This is a short review of the TMB Optical 152mm Apochromat. Your reviewer has had about 2 years experience behind the eyepiece. Being a professional EE in . . . TMB Optical 180 F/9 EDstar APO Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Demary The 180 mm f/9 EDstar differs from the other Fluorostar telescopes offered by TMB Optical (U.S.) & APM (germany). Designed with less expensive glass and an. . . TMBoptical 203MM F/9 Apochromatic Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky What is a "TMB" and who and what is "TMBoptical": While it might seem odd to begin a review of a telescope with a lengthy background commentary about the c. . . TMB 100MM F/8 APO REFRACTOR [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky This is a review of something a lot of you believe to be 'vaporware' -- the TMB Optical 100 mm f/8 APO. I ordered this telescope last year and took deliver. . . Televue 101: First and Second Light [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jason Newquist Jamie Dillon told me that the wonderful thing about the "new equipment brings cruddy weather" superstition is that it holds water. So it was when I took re. . . Tele Vue 101 and Sky Tour [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Kevin Berwick I recently received my TV101 on Gibraltar mount with a Sky Tour computer. I've now had the opportunity to test it for about six months and thought I'd post. . . Tele Vue 140 140MM F/5 APO REFRACTOR [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky This telescope fits my personal criteria for the ideal, multi-use telescope. Asked by a friend what my ideal telescope would be, I said the largest possibl. . . BORG 100ED REVIEW [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Dale Ibis I am affiliated with the U.S. BORG distributor, Hutech Corporation, as a part-time Regional Representative. On evenings and weekends I demonstrate BORG pro. . . Orion VX80 Altazimuth Refractor (The "other" 80mm telescope) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Les Blalock I recently decided that the ideal grab-and-go scope would be a small, long-focus refractor on an alt/azm mount. The Orion VX80 (80mm f/11.4). Altazimuth Re. . . Apogee 4" achromat refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Doug Hoy Well, I've pointed the Widestar at everything I can think of, and overall I'm fairly satisfied with it. In the store, a quick comparison with the 80mm Apog. . . Televue 2.5x Powermate [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David Knisely There was a time when the negative lens system know as the Barlow lens was looked down upon by many amateur astronomers. Although they have been improved a. . . A Wocket in My Pocket: The Tele Vue 70 mm Ranger [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Brian Tung My birthday was earlier this month (September), and my wife Debby's gift to me was a trip to Woodland Hills, the local scope/camera store, with a budget of. . . Review of TeleVue SDF and a Takahashi FC100 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Johnathan Moore This past fall at Astrofest I was able to look through a FC100 and compare it to my SDF. I set up my SDF on "refractor row" right next to a FC100. So I had. . . Synta (Skywatcher) 120mm F/5 Achromatic Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky A month or so ago I received an e-mail from a very nice man who offered to allow me to test and review his about-to-be delivered Skywatcher 120 f/5. He ask. . . Sky Watcher 102mm F/5 Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Gary Hinks Okay I think the first thing one should say about this telescope is that it's not designed for looking at the full moon at high power! Some people are buyi. . . Orion Skywatcher 120mm [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Curt Irwin About five months ago I ordered the Orion Skywatcher 120mm from Orion's web page. It arrived promptly within five business days and neatly packed and undam. . . Sky-Watcher 6" Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Al Canarelli A refractor telescope is a departure for me, as I've always owned reflectors before finding a comfortable home with SCTs. While I owned a Ranger and two 80. . . Orion Skywatcher 90 EQ Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Duncan Rosie I'm a newbie here, at astronomy and 'scope reviews, so please bear with the lack of technical fundamentals and descriptions of far flung galactic delights!. . . Sky Watcher 102mm f/5 refractor (SW102) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Bill Reinehr The Sky Watcher 102 is a small rich-field refractor. It is very similar in design to the Orion ShortTube 80 and it's variants. Since the two instruments ar. . . A Review of the 6-inch f/8 Sovietski Newtonian [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Dobbins In April of this year I took delivery of a 6-inch f/8 Newtonian reflector from Sovietski, the North American distributor of a line of telescopes manufactur. . . Short Tube 80 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Rod Mollise My little Eagle Optics Celestron 80mm f5 refractor arrived this PM. Actually, it was waiting for me when I got home from work (balky TACAN unit on a destro. . . Short Tube 90 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Mark Minasi I've discovered the 14" SCT is a bit hard to bring along as carry on... (And please, you macho types who actually break down their 14-25" inch scopes a. . . Orion Starmax 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Dennis Bullock Well my new Starmax 127mm Maksutov telescope just arrived by UPS. UPS (I pronounce it OOPS) gave it their usual gentle treatment by dragging the box down t. . . Stellarvue 102D [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David Owen In January of 2000 I was in the market for a "Short Tube 80" scope to use as both a quick look scope and as a travel scope. I had heard many conflicting re. . . Takahashi Sky 90 (aka, FCL-90) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky When building its earlier doublets, Takahashi remained conservative in its offerings, staying with relatively 'slow' focal ratios to avoid problems with sp. . . Meade 152 ED Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tony Grigsby I'm on my 17th scope, which is the 6" Meade APO in which I've chosen to give a quick review of. I'm in my 5th year of Astronomy, and for me it's been like . . . Meade DS 90EC (90mm f/11.1 Achromatic Refractor with Autostar) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by A. Irizarry Having been absent from the hobby for more than 10 years, I recently got bitten by the bug again. Since I live in a moderately light polluted suburban area. . . Meade 127mm ED doublet vs Tak FS128 vs AP 130 EDT f/8 (The Good, the bad and the ugly) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jay Reynolds Freeman Rich Neuschaefer struck a disdainful pose, poncho tossedcarelessly over his shoulder, MaxBright diagonal stuffed into a low-cut holster at his waist, and l. . . Takahashi Mewlon 250 -- 250 mm Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky A What? What is the Mewlon from Takahashi? According to the TNR price list, it is a "Cassegrain." According to the manual, it is a "Dall- Kirkham." Now, wh. . . Intes MK-67 First Light [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Stephen Kluge I arrived at our club's observing site half an hour after sunset and the sky looked spotless. Not a single cloud. Moon and Venus were still pretty high up . . . Intes 6-inch f/10 Maksutov Reviewed [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jay Reynolds Freeman On Saturday, June 8, 1996, I stopped at Joe Sunseri's residence on my way to observe at Fremont Peak State Park, to pick up a Russian Intes 6-inch f/10 Mak. . . Takahashi EM200 USD II Review [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Rob Pollard Firstly, I’ll introduce myself. My name is Rob Pollard and I live in Plymouth UK. I’ve been interested in Astronomy since the age of 6 and have been acti. . . Fujinon 10x70 and Sky Window Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David Goodrich The Fujinon 10 x 70's with the SkyWindow have been a wonderful purchase. Together, these have added a new dimension to sky-watching that I have never exper. . . Losmandy GM-8 Mount and Digital Circles/Computer [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Moreno The Losmandy GM-8 is one of my favorite things. I remember the first time I put it together and admired it. It is just one of those rare acquisitions that . . . JMI AC-Powered Right Ascension Drive Motor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Paul H. Bock Jr. Every astronomy beginner quickly learns that one advantage of an equatorial mount is that the observer can use a drive system to keep the object being view. . . Osypowski Tracking Platform [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jeff Morgan Arguably the most significant development in amateur astronomy in the last 50 years has been the Dobsonian telescope. Go to any star party, and perhaps hal. . . Universal Astronomics Sirius B Mount for the Fujinon 25x150 Binoculars [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Bill Faatz I took delivery of this mount the second week of January 2003. My purchase was prompted by dissatisfaction with the Fujinon pedestal and binoculars mounted. . . Orion 127mm Apex Maksutov-Cassegrain [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Lovro Palaversa The reason why I bought this scope was that most of the time I observe planets, Moon, and the Sun (from my balcony in a heavily light polluted area), and m. . . Astro-Rubinar 100/1000 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Otto Piechowski The Astro-Rubinar is a catadioptric design; but it is not a Maksutov or Schmidt telescope. The system includes three full aperture lenses, a primary mirror. . . Astroview 120ST [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Mark Mittlesteadt The Astroview 120ST is a 600mm, f/5 short tube refractor, with a 4.7", multi-coated objective lens that is meant for wide field viewing, not planetary or m. . . Celestron C8 OTA [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by So King Yan Oldfield I obtained my C8 from the local Celestron dealer. It was a part of the G8 package. I don't want the CG5 mount and so, I got the OTA only. The OTA package c. . . GSO 8" f/4 Newtonian + Baader Coma Corrector [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Dominique Dierick Collimation in an f4 telescope is extremely critical, so I took my time to do it right immediately. I took out the mirror from it's cell and put a mark in . . . LOMO Astele 180 EL [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Darren Drake At first glance it is obvious that this scope is built like a tank. It is very heavy with the tube and fork mount weighing in at 45 lbs. This differs from . . . Takahashi Mewlon 300 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Mark Keitel The specs say weight at 57lbs, for the tube only once you add the rings, I have the heavy-duty top plate on it so that I can mount another scope on top. Th. . . Meade 6” LXD 55 EMC Achromatic Refractor OTA [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Pico, Jr. As will be apparent throughout this review, the Meade had the benefit of some very nice eyepieces. But so did the comparison scopes so I believe that the c. . . The Orion Observer 70 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jerome Bigge The OTA is a 70mm F10 (700mm). The interior of the tube is both blackened and baffled, but the baffles do not cover any of the view of the objective from t. . . Parallax 20" Ritchey-Chretien and HD300C Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Dr. James R. Dire Parallax Instruments makes 4 models of Ritchey- Chrétien telescopes with primary mirror diameters between 10" and 20". They also manufacture Newtonian and . . . TeleVue Ranger [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by So King Yan Oldfield The wide field capability allows me to find objects very easily, essentially equivalent to find objects with a finder, but you can crank up the magnificati. . . The Sgr-4 Reflecting Telescope [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by John Bishop There’s a hand-knob on the altitude bearing to tighten the altitude friction and a screw on the mount to adjust the azimuth friction. The telescope is bala. . . Stellarvue SV85S APO [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Randy Roy Since I mentioned focus, I'll stop and mention the focuser. The two-speed JMI 2" crayford focuser Stellarvue uses on its premium scopes is simply a work of. . . Stellarvue 102EDT [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Steven J. Mack, Esq. The sliding dew shield is a nice feature for portability and is tight and smooth, feeling like it locks into place. The paint finish is smooth and glossy w. . . Tele Vue 76 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Neale Monks I ordered the scope from Astronomics to be delivered to my host in the US, partly for convenience but also to make some very real savings on cost. The same. . . Tele Vue 85mm APO & Accessories [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David McHarg In general I have found that whilst the little 85 may lack in aperture the contrast on objects is very good not to mention wide field views, portability an. . . DGM Optics OA-4.0 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tony Cannata I have owned the DGM Optics OA-4.0 unobstructed reflector OTA for several months. I wanted to wait to take it through the paces before writing a satisfacto. . . Intes MK-66 and MN56 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Milton Esquinaldo The MK-66 and MN-56 are Maksutov telescopes which are made in Moscow, Russia. The MK-66 is a Maksutov-Cassigrain and the MN-56 is a Maksutov-Newtonian tele. . . Intes-Micro MN66 Maksutov-Newtonian [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Andrea Tasselli What follows is a review of the Intes Micro Newton-Maksutov (or Maksutov-Newton if you like) MN66. This is the new entry of the Intes-Micro in its MN line . . . Intes Micro MN76 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Matt Brown I purchased an Intes Micro MN76 (7" f/6 maksutov newtonian) earlier this year and received it in June. I decided to write this review because when I was tr. . . Celestron Nexstar 8 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Paul Murphy Setup - About 3 minutes. Carry the OTA by the fork arm in one hand and the tripod in the other, three bolts later and four screws holding the eyepiece tray. . . Tele Vue NP101 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Chris Adamson Now that I have had my Tele Vue NP101 for 3-4 months, and so have kicked the tires appropriately, I thought I would share my thoughts on it. This is my "sm. . . PENTAX 75 EDHF [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Dan DuBal My first telescope was (ahem) a Skilcraft 40mm Newtonian, a childhood birthday present from my parents. Though hampered by a second-surface rectangular dia. . . The Novosibirsk TAL 200K Klevtsov Cassegrain [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Bill Brady At last I have a telescope that sees better than I do. This instrument is a carefully designed and built Cassegrain with a big difference, its tube is open. . . Mag 1 Instruments 12-1/2 Portaball [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Joe D. I remember long ago, I borrowed an Astroscan to take on a trip where an extremely portable telescope was a necessity. A positive experience that I derived . . . Mag1 Instruments 8" PortaBall [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Vincent Kee I received my new 8" Portaball from Mag1 Instruments about 2 weeks ago, so I thought of posting a review here for the benefits of everyone. When I first de. . . CM1100 Initial Review and 6 month follow-up [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Davis I received a Celestron CM-1100 11" SCT today in 7 boxes from UPS. It took about an hour to get everything unpacked and put together. Everything arrived in . . . Celestron CM1400 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Al Canarelli I began to realize how large this telescope really is when the delivery people unloaded 8 boxes including 2 huge containers and deposited them in my foyer.. . . Discovery DHQ 6" Dob [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Larry Janowicz Quite some time back I sold off 2 commercially made 8" reflectors ( f/4.5 and f/6) and two home assembled 6" ( f/8 and f/10) reflectors because it was beco. . . Zeiss Jena 100F (APQ 100/1000) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Kevin Barker It is very solid and rated to carry up to 16 kg loads. It rides on top of a 3VS tripod which is similar in construction to the astrophysics tripods of more. . . Vernonscope "Brandon" 94mm f/6.8 Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Clive Gibbons The first object I observed with this scope was one of the toughest color tests for a refractor-- Venus. At low magnification (63x), as seen against a dark. . . Orion 10" Premium DSE Dob [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Phillip Hosey It is unfortunate that Orion has discontinued this model. I think these are headed in the right direction for a better commercial dob, but it seems that no. . . Orion Optics Europa 150 F5 Newtonian Reflector [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Adam Rawlinson Have had my Orion Europa 150 for one month and as a newcomer to serious astronomy, feel that my first impressions may be useful. These are personal opinion. . . Celestron 9.25 SCT [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Violin Also I found that the mounting rail on the 9.25 and others of this type is bolted at each end leaving the underside unsupported causing some vibrations at . . . Takahashi FC-60 Fluorite Apochromat [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Keith Molkner For some time now I've been searching for the right small refractor to complement my ten-inch Teleport reflector. The key attributes sought were excellent . . . Helios Star Travel 102 f/5 Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Kenny Jones The focusing tube on this instrument comes able to accept either 2 inch or 1.25 inch eyepieces and the package I bought comes with 1.25 inch 25mm plossl , . . . Takahashi FSQ-106N 106MM F/5 "Quadruplet Fluorite Apochromatic Refractor" [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky The Takahashi FSQ-106 that just landed on my doorstep is an interesting entry into the most crowded section of the current refractor market - the world of . . . Orion Optics GX250 F/4.8 Newtonian [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Philip Cowley I've been a "serious" amateur astronomer for 15 years and a member of the Norwich Astronomical Society (NAS) for most of that time. Finally I thought it wa. . . Meade 8 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jan Owen While other scopes in varying sizes and specifications have come and gone from my collection over the years, the above scopes are among five which have sta. . . Leica APO-Televid 77 A sturdy widefield refractor you shouldn't overlook [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Nikhil Joshi Leica is well known for their outstanding cameras and many in the amateur astronomy community swear by their binocular line. Leica's optics provide some of. . . Meade LX-200 8 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Don Pensack The optics on my scope are good, though comparing them to excellent refractors makes them seem less than perfect. For a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, howev. . . Meade LX-90 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Eric Planalp After many years of Dobsonian telescopes and non-driven refractors and smaller SCT's, I decided to jump on the GOTO scope bandwagon. My observing time is s. . . Intes-Micro M603 Maksutov-Cassegrain [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Bill Brady The Alter M603 arrived a day ahead of schedule on June 21, Y2k in a very large cardboard box. Inside was a black nylon padded rectangular case which contai. . . Meade's 102mm Achromat on LXD500 Mount. A refractor for the budget-minded and a great telescope for the urban astronomer [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jay Michaels In today's age of computer controlled, micro-precision mounts, and expensive refractors with optics constructed from exotic elements to eliminate false col. . . Meade 12.5" Dob [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David Sherrod I purchased my Meade 12.5" dob about 2 years ago. The scope comes standard with only one 25mm plossl eyepiece. This eyepiece is one of Meades higher qualit. . . Meade 16" Dob [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by T. Spear I've been waiting 2 ½ months for this scope and it is finally here! Before deciding on this scope I had read quite a bit from the net and still after looki. . . Skywatcher 102mm f/10 Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jacques Putzeys The original tube in the box was a Helios Evostar 102 which I later exchanged for a Skywatcher tube with adjustable lens cell. The optical performance of t. . . The Virgo Sky/mount & Orion Paragon Plus Tripod [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jay Michaels There is nothing quite like observing with large aperture binoculars - star fields and planets take on an incredible three-dimensional quality. Such large . . . Two Fast and Useful Alt/Az Mounts: The Vixen Custom D Alt/Az Mount and Tele Vue Gibraltar Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky For those of you who know me, you know that I consider EQ mounts a necessary evil for purely visual astronomy. A well built, properly functioning Alt/Az mo. . . Borg Alt-Az Mount For Small Refractors [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Telescope mounts have become an obsession with me over the last year or so. Unless you are buying a Dobsonian, where the mount is part of the basic OTA, ev. . . Celestron’s CG-5 (aka “clone”) compared to Vixen’s Super/Great Polaris Line (with a few comments about Losmandy) [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Greg Nowell When I was a kid my mother gave me a 4.25” Optical Craftman telescope on a rock solid equatorial mount with a cast-iron pedestal. It was hard to move aroun. . . CI-700 Tripod Modification Adding Height & Level Adjustment [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Al Canarelli The CI-700 tripod is built strong enough and rigid enough to support Celestron's largest SCTs…I use it with a C-14. One of the features that make this trip. . . Synta 120mm Achromat [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Violin The views are sharp and very contrasty and a light yellow filter will help allot on false color. False color is there but only on bright objects. I was vie. . . Synta 150mm Achromat [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Violin First it is big setup next to my 120mm Skywatcher. As for the optics I can tell you that the optics in this one are very good, slightly better than my 120m. . . Sovietski 4" f/10 Achromat Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Damian Peach Racking the scope either side of focus several times, revealed what so many have reported about these scopes. An excellent star test, with only the slighte. . . Orion SkyQuest XT8 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Peter Argenziano The views provided by this telescope have been incredible. I have looked through other scopes, and it is my opinion that the XT8 has good optics. While I d. . . Mounting Rail Accessory For APM Tele-Optik Giro-2 Deluxe Alt-Az Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky One the most used items in my observing inventory is myTele Optik Giro -2 Deluxe Alt Az mount. It serves as a base for my solar work, and is the 'quick mou. . . TeleVue 85 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Clyde Crewey If you have any interest at all in nature viewing (and of course you do if you like astronomy), you really should have a look through a TV-85. Looking at c. . . Vixen 90mm f9 Fluorite Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jim Yang Mechanically, the scope weighs about 7 lbs, is fairly long (27.5" w/o focuser, w/ dewcap; 22.5 without dewcap) and mounts on anything. I have had it on . . . Vixen 102mm f-9 Fluorite Refractor a Brief Impression. [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Phil Barker Structure in the feature in the NEB above the GRS superb detail around the GRS and all 4 moons as disc as usual you get lost in space with the D&G. The Vix. . . Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Dobsonion Reflector [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Moreno This is an easy telescope to use. It has a rock solid mount, which moves easily, and is perfect for small observers. The uncommon correct image finder is t. . . Orion SkyQuest XT8 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Peter Argenziano The tube wants to swing upwards when you try to pick it up. I solved this problem by positioning a web belt around the base and tube while it is 'in transi. . . Orion 127mm Apex Maksutov-Cassegrain [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Lovro Palaversa There are two things I did not like about the scope: the prism and the finder. The prism is simply put - lousy. There is a huge difference between using th. . . Losmandy GM-8 Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Milton Esquinaldo I remember my excitement the day when my new 6" Maksutov Cassegrain telescope arrived. It was a thing of beauty - compact, beautifully designed, clearly we. . . Vixen GP-DX Equatorial Mount Vixen Sky Sensor 2000 PC GOTO System [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky A common question on most newsgroups and eGroups (pardon me, Yahoo groups) as well as elsewhere on the Net is where can one find a good, reasonably priced . . . APM Tele-Optic Giro-2 Deluxe Alt-Az Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Reviewed elsewhere on this site is the standard version of the APM Tele-Optic Giro-2 mount. After I reviewed that mount, I contacted Markus at APM and inqu. . . APM TELE-OPTIC GR-2 ALT-AZ MOUNT [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky As should be obvious to those of you who have read my prior mount and/or scope reviews, I consider EQ mounts a necessary evil for purely visual astronomy. . . . The William Yang GT1 Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Tim Morrill I bought the version that didn't come with the Vixen Skysensor as I already had one. It arrived in 3 boxes which contained the head, tripod, accessory tray. . . Ramblings of a Beer Drinking Astronomer Featuring the Light Speed Wagon and DSP Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David Tetreault The plan was to be a serious astronomer.After spending a couple grand on equipment I darned well better be serious and this called for a serious scope. Tha. . . Mountain Instruments MI250 GOTO Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David Tandy I haven't seen many reviews of the Mountain Instruments MI250 Goto German Equatorial Mount so I thought that I would share some of my experiences. My love . . . Nisur Systems "Taurus" Alt/Az Mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David Tetreault The Taurus mount resembles the Televue Telepod mount. As owner of a Telepod its advantages as a mount for small scopes such as the ST-80 became immediately. . . Pier-Tech 3 Electrically-Powered Adjustable Height Pier [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky What do you do when you have a large telescope and face the prospect of hoisting it up onto its mount, in the dark, particularly when the saddle plate of t. . . Takahashi 22x60 Bino's and Robotic Starchair [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Darren Minnikin Let me first start with a little about my geographical location. I live in the Eastern Coast of Australia and for those of you (I guess the majority) who l. . . How to Adapt the Vixen SkySensor to the G11 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Antonio Zanardo Some time ago I had the opportunity to buy a secondhand Losmandy G11 mount. The previous owner purchased it to use it on the field, but soon he realized th. . . Fixing the Takahashi Teegul: A simple adapter can remove the shakes from this otherwise excellent mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Nikhil Joshi The Takashi Teegul is a unique and elegant alt-azimuth telescope mount with very smooth, precise, slow-motion controls. However, much to the dismay of its . . . Vixen SS 2000 PC - GOTO system...and a "tweaked" Synta CG-5/EQ-4 mount [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Bob Berta Previously I had obtained one of the Chinese 6" achromat refractors and German mounts made by Synta and distributed by various companies with their company. . . 102mm F/5 Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Gary Hand I played with one for a week or so. Here is my impression. Its a nice scope, real light and versatile. I had a Celestron C80WA 3.15" F/5 and a Celestron C1. . . Celestron 102mm F/5 achromat and Tele Vue 102 f/8.6 APO [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Wing Eng In August of this year, I submitted a review article on the Celestron Wide View 102mm f/5 Spotter Scope that was published in Cloudy Nights (thanks to Alli. . . Celestron Firstscope 114 Premium [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Neale Monks For my first foray into amateur astronomy I was only able to spend a small amount of money. The decision came down to 70 to 80 mm refractors and 114 mm ref. . . Observing Report: 40" Reflector [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Stacey Thater Having been star-gazing for about 4 years now, I find that the rewards of astronomy are linked to my first views through my Orion short tube 80mm. Having b. . . Orion Explorer 90 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Wayne R. Crauder My first scope was a 3" reflector in my preteen days. Through it I looked at the planets, the moon, and Sputnik. I have had other many other scopes, and at. . . Celestron NexStar 80 GT [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Wayne Eidelbus Thought my recent experiences with the Celestron 80GT may be of use to Perspective astronomers. My background in astronomy is as follows: On a clear day I . . . Astro-Physics 5.1" (130mm) f/8.35 EDT (EDF) Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Eric Jamison For a number of years Astro-Physics (AP) offered a 5.1" f/8 refractor that utilized the EDT glass. With the introduction of shorter focal ratio refractors . . . Astro-Physics 155 F/7 Starfire EDFS APO Refractor vs. Takahashi FS 152 F/8 APO Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky This is a review and comparison of two of the larger and better currently available "APO" refractors. There are others that can be ordered, such as the Mea. . . ASTRO-PHYSICS 130MM F6 APO REFRACTOR [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky I purchased an Astro-Physics 130mm f/6 refractor this weekend. I was searching for a high-end refractor with the maximum aperture combined with minimum siz. . . Apogee 80mm ED refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Doug Hoy Given the requests for first-hand experience with the new Apogee 80 mm ED, I thought I'd go down to my local Apogee dealer and have a look. The following i. . . Borg Refractors: The "80 mm" Family: Part 3: BORG 100 MM F/6.4 ACHROMATIC & APOCHROMATIC REFRACTORS [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky The background discussion relating to the Borg 100 Achro and 100 ED is identical to the 50ED reviewed elsewhere at this site. If you have already read that. . . Borg Refractors: The "80 mm" Family: Part 2: Borg 76 mm F/6.6 Apochromatic Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky As I found out in researching the Borg products before purchasing my 125 ED, unlike virtually any other telescope, the Borg refractors are completely modul. . . Brandon 80mm F/6 Apochromat [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Keith Molkner The Brandon 80mm F/6 Apo is a most interesting telescope. Many people know that the manufacturer, VernonScope, sold an 80mm short focus refractor as an "ap. . . Brandon Master Birder [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Allister St. Claire Its an achromat, it's a semi-apo, no - its an apo. The opinions and confusion surrounding this harmless little scope is bewildering. One would think with a. . . Celestron C14 and Meade LXD750 [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Joe D. Oh Boy. Here we go again. There are just too many great toys in this hobby. Every time I turn around there is something else I want. Hopefully I have final. . . A Newbie point of view - Celestron 102HD [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Julio Colombo I decided to write this report because actually we are all tired of so many "experts" telling you what to do, how to do it, what to buy or where to So thro. . . Skywatcher 150mm F/5 OTA [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Ron Laieski The optical performance for this scope is also a mixed bag. So far, I’ve used this scope 6 times in the old back yard, and the views were typical of a shor. . . TMB 100/800 Lightweight Refractor with Feather Touch Focuser [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Paul H. Bock Jr. The 100/800’s tube length is such that the telescope will reach focus without any tube extension if the observer is using a 2-inch diagonal. If using a 1.2. . . TMB 8” F/9 Apochromatic Refractor [User Review]  | 04/17/03 | by Jim Phillips I would add that the ability of the focuser to be turned 360 degrees is a big plus. A telrad might work perfectly but I really don’t want to stick one on t. . . How-to start an introductory eyepiece collection on $50.00 [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Allister St. Claire What follows is one method for starting a quality eyepiece collection for $50. As in most things in life there are many paths to reach the same goal. Adher. . . On the subject of optical testing and rating: (How Astro-Physics Inc. rates their optics) [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Roland Christen Much controversy now exists between claims from various manufacturers about the wavefront rating of optics, especially apo lenses. Markus [Ludes] has asked. . . How To Build A Telescope And Retain Your Sanity [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Jeff Verona Like many amateur astronomers, I rediscovered my love for the stars in midlife. I owned a ubiquitous department-store refractor in my youth, and I followed. . . How To Measure TFOV Of Binoculars [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski TFOV is how much an area of sky you can see at once. FOV is measured in degrees. From horizon to horizon is 180 degrees. Human eyes can take in about 50° t. . . Binoculars, Astronomy, and Exit Pupils [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Bill Greer Binoculars are commonly described by their magnification and objective diameters. A pair of 7x50 binoculars have a magnification of 7 and objectives that a. . . What's the best 35mm SLR camera for astrophotography [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Al Canarelli "What's the best 35mm camera for astrophotography", is a question I've heard asked hundreds of times over the years. The answer is that almost any 35mm SLR. . . Schmidt-Cassegrain Collimation Issues [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Violin Hey fellow Schmidt-Cassegrain owners. I have done much research on all types of telescopes and own refractors and Schmidt-Cassegrains. I have seen many col. . . Improving the Celestron CG-5 Mount [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Mike McIsaac Those of you who lurk on the science.astro.amateur newsgroup and Astromart Equipment Talk Forum are familiar with the multitude of postings concerning prob. . . Poster Board Dew Shields for Any Telescope [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Jay Michaels Every amateur astronomer has likely dealt with dew at one time or another. The formation of moisture on surfaces that cool below the ambient air temperatur. . . A Homemade Dew Shield For the 10 [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by John R. Duchek I have been an amateur astronomer for the last 5 years or so. I owned a Celestron 9.25" as my first SCT, and made a "flexible dew shield" for it. I was nev. . . The Hardware Store Dewshield/Glareshield [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by John Ford As many other amateur astronomers, I have searched in vain for a good value in dewshields. Most of the manufacturer's shields seem to be disproportionately. . . A Homemade Sliding Refractor Dewcap [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Terry Alford A dewcap is usually a pretty easy item to construct. You can fashion one from almost any lightweight material that is round or can be made round. If this m. . . Seeing Double [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Stacy Jo McDermott Double, or binary, stars are some of the most fun and interesting objects to look at in the nighttime sky. Due to almost unlimited objects of this type, bi. . . How-to with an Extender-Q [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Rob Flye Here is what to do with your Extender-Q, which will miraculously turn your f/5.6 super-portable Sky 90 into an f/8ish by extending it as long as one, and, . . . In Search of an Eyepiece Case [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Rob Schell As my collection of eyepieces grows ever larger, I encounter the ongoing dilemma of how to safely store and transport them. Naturally, I don't need to keep. . . A Strong, Economical Eyepiece/Accessory Case [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Terry Alford Every amateur astronomer knows he/she must have an eyepiece case. Over the years I have used all of the following: coat pockets, re-sealable plastic bags, . . . Zero-Halliburton Type Eyepiece Case [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Danny Cobb Through good fortune, I was able to obtain all the materials I needed for my astro cases for a mere $10. This included four used Zero-Halliburton type case. . . "Dew Shield" Eyepiece Case [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Matt Heere I have discovered that three things are universally true about astronomical observing: 1. The farther you travel to get to your observing site, the mor. . . How-to Make an Astonomical Eyepiece out of Microscope Eyepieces [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Dane Courney One of the best eyepieces I have in my collection for astronomical use is a Zeiss E-PL 10x/25 highpoint microscope eyepiece ( Zeiss # 44 42 36 ). This eyep. . . How to get along with your wife when you're a SkyJunkie [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Jim and Debby Nadeau My wife Debby and I used to argue about my obsession with astronomy all the time. Especially when new moon weekend rolled around once a month. I tried the . . . An Underhanded Introduction To Astronomy [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Mark A. Fox The following is a fairly rambling and disorganized discussion of a set of problems that seem to plague anyone who has to balance a particularly strong ast. . . Astronomy and My Marriage(s) [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Terry Alford As a youngster in the early 1950s I delighted in reading tales about the "future". Isaac Isamov talked about robots. Arthur Clarke wrote about space statio. . . Communication is the key [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Blaise Serpas I am the type of person to become obsessed with interests that I have. The astronomy bug hit me one night while surfing the internet. I have always been in. . . Tips for Keeping both your Significant Other and your Astronomy Hobby [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Meredith Fane From the perspective of one who is betrothed to an astronomy aficionado, here's my advice on keeping the seas of your relationship calmer than Tranquilitat. . . Fluorite in Sub Zero Weather [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Roland Christen Crystalline Flourite, and to a lesser extent ED glass, is sensitive to thermal shock, but only under certain circumstances. You could take a 6" disc of Flu. . . How To Cut Holes in Camera Case Foam [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Eric Roel After reading Dane Courney clever way of cutting foam, I thought that my method of doing the same would complement his. I think that Dane's way is perfect . . . Unlocking The Mysteries of The Focault Test [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Bob Midiri Most amateur astronomers seem to fall in one of the four following categories The satisfied amateur who has purchased commercially made optics. They are. . . The FOVs of the SCT and Dob [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Greg Nowell While observing with a dob-owning friend recently both of us were somewhat surprised to note that my C14 SCT (schmidt-cassegrain) often had a wider field o. . . How-to tweak the GiroDrive [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by So King Yan Oldfield Disclaimer: I will not be responsible for any damages due to the modifications mentioned below. It includes, even if you have followed the instruction exac. . . How-to make Lumicon's Giant Guider and JMI's Motofocuser Interchangeable on 10 [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Joseph Donahue Through the years I discovered that taking the time to prepare an observing list makes for a more enjoyable and efficient observing session. More recently . . . Intes-Micro Mak-Newt Collimation Procedures [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Paul G. Hyndman People are sometimes intimidated at the prospect of aligning or tweaking these scopes, but should not be. The collimation process is relatively straight-fo. . . How-to cut Eyepiece Foam [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Ronald D. Sherman An easy way to cut soft to semi-rigid foam rubber for vertical mounting of 1.25" eyepieces is to use a 35mm plastic film can as a cutting tool. This will a. . . Pentax XL eyepiece protection. [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Tim Bouman The Pentax XL line is a nice line of eyepieces: high quality, easy to use because of their generous eye-relief, very sharp, large field, and para-focal. Si. . . How-to Grind and Polish a 6 [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Bob Midiri The best way to solve a problem is to admit there is one. Well, I admit it! I am addicted, hooked, can't get it out of my system, and worst of all, I am ge. . . Cheap and Easy fix for EQ 3/4/5 Mounts [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Violin First the head assembly. Nice piece of metal but assembled quite poorly. Lets take the whole thing apart. You will need a wrench/spanner 11/16 or 17mm depe. . . About Refractive Objectives [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Mike Palermiti The Achromatic objective typically uses two different glass types to cause the red and blue ends of the spectrum to converge towards a single focal point. . . . An Introduction to Planetary Drawing [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Eric Jamison I hadn't expected to see the feature on Jupiter that night. I had recently purchased a used Edmund 4-1/4" f/10 equatorial reflector (for $60, which was a l. . . An Introduction to Planetary Drawing [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Eric Jamison I hadn't expected to see the feature on Jupiter that night. I had recently purchased a used Edmund 4-1/4" f/10 equatorial reflector (for $60, which was a l. . . What is the Best Planetary Telescope [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Roland Christen You will get dozens of different opinions on what is best, but I will tell you that for any given type of scope configuration, be it Newtonian, Cassegrain . . . Plotting Summer Objects [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski In my previous "Plotting" article (see Cas-Per Area), I mentioned why I like to mark up my charts like this. It's my way of learning the sky. It prepares m. . . Plotting Deep Sky Objects [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski Many people have telescopes that are not Go To or computer driven and it is up to them to learn the sky and find objects on their own. Personally, this is . . . Rainy Weather and the Brand New Telescope [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Greg Nowell Contrary to popular opinion, the best thing that can happen is to have your new telescope arrive when it's raining. There's a lot you can do from inside a . . . Refractor Collimation Issues [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Violin First remove the focuser and housing. The draw tube will be loose and adjusting the allen screws only adjust the tube down and alignment could be worse. Ge. . . “Collimating” Binoculars [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski Cloudy Nights has been my primary conduit for sharing astronomical information. I am pleased to be a member of the Cloudy Nights community in that they hav. . . Cleaning your Newtonian's optics and keeping them that way [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Aries N. Fisher It was another December Saturday night, about 1:00am. I went on my roof (currently my observing site, since I live near the the center of Athens, Greece, w. . . Short Eye Relief Eyepieces Usable with Glasses [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Ed Zarenski I was out viewing a fairly close double star, Rasalgethi - a Her (3.0-5.4/4.6") recording the view in various eyepieces, looking for the upper and lower li. . . How-to tweak the GiroDrive [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by So King Yan Oldfield Disclaimer: I will not be responsible for any damages due to the modifications mentioned below. It includes, even if you have followed the instruction exac. . . Mark Harry 8" F6 Mirror [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Richard Beasley Well, I rediscovered the excellent performance of a classic Newtonian reflector. I promised myself no more buying, and selling telescopes, but that did not. . . How-to Collimate a Laser Collimator [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Hugh Bartlett The best images come from the best optics, and the most effective way of improving ones optics is to get them aligned properly. The most significant advanc. . . Useful Magnification Ranges for Visual Observimg [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by David Knisely Useful for finding objects and for observing ones of large angular size like open clusters, large faint nebulae, or some larger galaxies. For lunar work, i. . . Opticlean [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Roger Newman Editors Note: Neither Cloudy Nights nor the author takes responsibility for any problems that may occur from the cleaning articles posted here. If in doubt. . . Building a Cheap Effective Light Shield [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by John R. Duchek Like many amateur astronomers, I suffer from a light polluted neighborhood environment. We have a street lamp to the southeast, all night spots on houses t. . . Homemade Sun Finder [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Matt Mills Watching sunspots grow and fade as they cross the surface of the sun has been allot of fun for me. I’ll haul out my dob for a quick peak sun when the surfa. . . Testing Optics [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Violin We all know that various errors are likely to be present in mass-produced telescopes from Synta, Meade, and Celestron. Higher end scope makers do not have . . . Tips on Sharing the Sky with Children (of all ages) [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Trusock I have an advantage, I admit it. I work with kids in my job. I am the Director of Technology for a public school system. I have been doing astronomy for mo. . . How to Make a Tripod Dollie [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Matt Mills Wouldn’t it be nice if my large aperture telescope could also be my "quick peek" telescope. The weight of my vintage Celestron Ultima 8" SCT was preventing. . . Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.....How the Stars do Sparkle....Evaluating Seeing Conditions [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Jack Schmidling These words bring sighs to the romantic but, to the astronomer, they can mean a lost night of useful work. Contrary to popular belief, crisp, clear Winter . . . Building a Cheap Effective Light Shield [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by John R. Duchek Like many amateur astronomers, I suffer from a light polluted neighborhood environment. We have a street lamp to the southeast, all night spots on houses t. . . Some Thoughts On 'Portable' Multi-Use Refractors [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by David A. Novoselsky One thing that is often overlooked in telescopes is what I call the 'portability' or 'usability' factor. A telescope that can be quickly and easily used wi. . . How To Make a Solar Finder [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Eric Roel For Solar observing and imaging, I use an 6" f/12 that has a 4" f/9 refractor piggybacked and several finder scopes. To center the sun I point the telescop. . . Filter cell for Baader Astro Solar Material [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Joseph Donahue This cell holds the material without any adhesives. I can swap the various materials in seconds. There is no stress on the filter material: it can expand a. . . Star Testing Tips [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by PJ Violin Cloudy Nights ask me to explain what the spherical aberrations undercorrected and overcorrected mean and how to tell what you have as you almost always hav. . . How To Write a Product Review [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by David Knisely One of the best ways a person can get information about an astronomical product they are interested in is via a well-written review by someone who actually. . . On a Warm, Clear Summer Evening [How To]  | 04/17/03 | by Anders Johnsson It was August 25, 2001 and the day was ending with a deep blue, cloudless sky. The moon in its first quarter phase and scheduled to set at 11:55 pm. While . . . 9mm Pentax SMC Ortho vs. 9mm University Optics Ortho [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Albert Bellg I've seen a number of reviews lauding University Optics orthoscopic eyepieces and claiming that they have nearly the performance of the highest quality Zei. . . Takahahsi 225 SCT vs Takahashi Mewlon 250 [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Mike Boone As some of you know I own a Tak 225 SCT. I picked it up because I was planning on using it for ccd and as an all around scope. The extra aperture over my a. . . Intes MK91 (9" maksutov-cassegrain) vs Celestron 11" SCT [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Allister St. Claire Find below a comparative review of a 9" Maksutov Cassegrain (mak) and a new Celestron C11 Schmidt Cassegrain (sct). There is no rhyme or reason for the com. . . 8" Dob vs Celestron CR-150HD [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Kip Crawford I had the opportunity to compare my 8" Dobsonian (homemade) to the CR-150 HD concerning deepsky ,moon, and other objects. There were many differences and s. . . Meade 102 Achro vs. Tele Vue 102 APO [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Walter Lucas I now am of the opinion that not only are these scopes the epitome of optically perfect instruments, not just because of the elimination of CA, but for the. . . Tele Vue 85m and Celestron 8" SCT (a Comparison) [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Bruce Housey My TV85 is an 85mm f/7 refractor mounted on the Telepod mount and tripod. I have only owned this telescope a little over a month, and am currently using it. . . "Masked" Coulter 13.1" Dob Meets a Televue 102 [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Wing Eng I took out both scopes from my garage and waited no more than 5 minutes for them to equalize in temperture to the outside atmosphere before putting on the . . . Battle of the 5 inch f-15 Achromats [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Phil Barker In respect to this telescope the concave front crown surface has a shorter radius than the rear surface. It is approximately 2:3. The concave front surface. . . Celestron Nexstar 4 vs Meade ETX 105 EC with UHTC [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Samuel Ng Both scopes are of the Maksutov Cassegrain type. The Nexstar 4 is a 102mm f/13 with standard dark green coatings on the corrector and standard aluminum coa. . . SCT's Vs APO's - a NexStar 5 Vs a TV-102 [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Tom Trusock Somewhat frustrated with goto, and always in search of the perfect telescope I began to search for an upgrade/lateral transfer. I wanted something around t. . . A C14 Confronts an AP 180 [Shootout]  | 04/17/03 | by Jay Reynolds Freeman I took Harvey, my big white Celestron 14, to Fremont Peak State (California) Park on Friday evening, September 18, and again on Saturday. It was clear both. . . Telescope vs. Binoculars: Which Shows Faint Objects the Best? [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Terry Alford Take a pair of binoculars and a telescope of the same aperture and magnification and compare them on objects in the night sky. This is a project that I had. . . Astrophotography with a digital camera [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Alan Cayless Hi, my name is Jenny and I've been an astronomer for the past 6 months. Three months ago I spent £1500 on a 6" Newtonian telescope with motorised equatoria. . . Digital Astrophotography Beginner's Guide [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Pierre Vandevenne, MD Twenty-five years ago I abandoned astronomy to pursue other interests. Today, I return to the hobby and discover a booming field ripe with technological in. . . 35mm Astrophotography Basics [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Rick Offenbecher Hi, my name is Jenny and I've been an astronomer for the past 6 months. Three months ago I spent $1500 on a Celestron C8S-GT 8” go-to Schmidt-Cassegrain te. . . Eyepieces & Choosing an Eyepiece Set [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Jay Michaels Coming in all sizes, shapes, and prices, the shear variety of oculars in today's amateur astronomy market may make the selection of a good set quite diffic. . . Keep Looking Up [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Thomas Shmalberg It was a cool, fall night when I was laying outside on the trampoline and I saw something "ZIP" across the sky, what was that I thought to myself, not know. . . New Urban Astronomer: I've seen the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter. Now What? [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Kevin Harris Hello, my name is Kevin Harris I'm a new amateur astronomer. I live in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota where I do 95% of my observing right from my backyar. . . No Money Needed [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Anthony Lutton If you are a beginner astronomer reading this, then obviously you have all of the prerequisites to starting your new and intriguing hobby of astronomy. Man. . . Binocular Astronomy [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Daniel Mounsey With so many books on the market today, it's becoming increasingly difficut to figure out which ones are the best. We've all viewed photos of the Orion Neb. . . A self-made Novosibirsk TAL optics-based 4” achromat [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Hans Radowan In the early fall last year (2002), I acquired a MEADE 102/ACHR optical tube assembly (OTA) with rings for €235. This f/9 achromatic commonly has a not-so-. . . Bitten by the Astronomy Bug and What I did About It [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Jamie Seibert I got into astronomy about a year ago. It was an interest that had been building up since I was a child. When I was about eight years old, my parents gave . . . 4 Binocular Observing Report [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Ed Zarenski This is a list of the objects viewed for detail during the hours of comparing the Orion Ultraview 10 x 50, the Oberwerk 15 x 70 and the Orion Giant 16 x 80. . . Double Star Observing List (Epoch 2000.0) [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by No Author Double Star Observing List (Epoch 2000.0) . . . Star Hopping the Galaxies in Virgo-Coma [Article]  | 04/16/03 | by Terry Alford A few days later I studied my charts some more and realized the answer was easier than it seemed. All of my targets could be located with simple star hopp. . . AstroPlanner and the Planning/Logging Craze Or "Finally, a New Macintosh Astronomy Program!" [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Rod Mollise "Planning software," for want of a better name, is substantially different from both planetariums and deep sky programs. These programs are essent. . . Burgess Optical Model 200A 2 [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Sol Robbins This review is regarding the Burgess 200A focuser I had purchased for my 6" Skywatcher refractor.. . . Coronado SolarMax 90 H-alpha system [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Kevin Berwick As I watched a plane flew across the H-alpha disk. As it crossed the flaming limb, racked by prominences, the exhaust caused the solar limb to shimmer mome. . . Daystar Solar Filters [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Tony Grigsby Lately I've been enjoying my 3rd Daystar filter. My first a .6ATM, second was a .5 ATM, my third a .45 University. Since I began into this long road of ast. . . Bustin' Dew for Good with The Dew BUSTER [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Rod Mollise Many a promising Summer observing session has been ruined over the years by fogged, dripping, dew-SLIMEY optics! But with the release of the Dew Buster Con. . . Howie Glatter’s SkyPointer Green Laser [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Ed Moreno Well, I must say, that when I got the original laser, the beam was intense. I was amazed at the brightness. Even in dim early evening light, I could see. . . Baader Mark-IV Coronagraph [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Eric Roel The normally good day seeing, made me decide to buy from Mister Thomas Baader two more solar accessories; a Herschel wedge built around a Zeiss prism, and . . . Sirius Optics MV-20 Chromatic Aberration Suppression Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Tony Cannata The MV-20 is still relatively new, and many of the dealers may not yet have it on their websites, so you may have to call and ask. Just to get a few th. . . 70mm NearStar Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Telescope Tube Assembly [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Harold R. Suiter What is the purpose of the NearStar? It is basically an elementary hydrogen-alpha telescope that cannot easily be disassembled or otherwise made unsafe wit. . . Osypowski Tracking Platform [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Jeff Morgan Arguably the most significant development in amateur astronomy in the last 50 years has been the Dobsonian telescope. Go to any star party, and perhaps hal. . . Rigel Systems Quick Finder [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Terry Alford The first thing that you notice about the Quick Finder is that it is so small compared to the TelRad. Think of a TelRad reduced to one third of it's origin. . . Rigel Quick Finder and Telrad [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by So King Yan Oldfield Since I found that my Celestron Star Pointer (see another article) is inadequate for my C8, I proceed to search for better alternatives. The Telrad and the. . . Coronado T-Max Tuner 90mm with Tele Vue BinoVue [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Joseph Drapell H-Alpha System on a Budget Mount??? It looks like it will shake crazily - but it does not! The scope (thanks for the reviews, Dave Novoselskyi) is bliss. . . Coronado Instruments AS1-90 Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky After my recent purchase of a Coronado Instruments ASP-60 Hydrogen-Alpha solar filter system I found myself 'hooked' on H-alpha. . . Coronado Instruments ASP-60 Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky The Coronado Instrument ASP-60 Solar Filter is a Hydrogen-Alpha solar filter set designed for use with the Tele Vue Pronto. (It will work with other te. . . DayStar 0.3 Angstrom ATM Hydrogen-alpha Solar Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Gordon Garcia Recently Del Woods (DayStar Filters) sent me a 0.3 Angstrom ATM H-alpha filter to try. It is a prototype filter that is a narrower bandpass than the normal. . . Lumicon Cassegrain Easy Guider guiding eyepiece [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Phil Barker A friend with a C-8 told me had a Lumicon Easy Guider and he offered me the chance to try it out. Well the first night I had it out I easily mastered its u. . . Takahashi Extender-Q Image Amplifier [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Devices to increase the magnification and maintain and enhance the apparent field of a telescope are not a concept new to astronomy. Barlows have been avai. . . Useful Filters for Viewing Deep-Sky Objects [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David Knisely The broad-band "Light-pollution Reduction (LPR) filters are designed to improve the visibility of a variety of Deep-Sky objects by blocking out the common . . . Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Filters: Day Star And Coronado [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky There are currently several Hydrogen-Alpha solar filter systems available on the market. The best known system, and the one that has been the most sought a. . . The I3 Piece Image Intensifier Eyepiece [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Jack Kramer My interest was roused by an ad for the "I3 Piece" image intensifier eyepiece by Collins Electro-Optics. It claims an increase in the light grasp of a tele. . . JMI NGF-S (Auxiliary Crayford type focuser for SCTs) [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Al Canarelli SCT owners are aware of the image shift problem inherent in most of today's crop of Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes. When the telescope is used exclusively f. . . Takahashi Twin-View binoviewer (PR) [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Tim Bouman I always wanted a big bino, but never found exactly the perfect one. Chromatic aberration, lack of eye-relief, impossibility anyway to use it without mount. . . Focus knobs for a Synta Refractor (too drool for!) [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Richard Anderson Every so often a "surprise" comes along in the telescope world. Hopefully, the surprise will be a pleasant one. Sometimes, it's not; Like discovering you'v. . . Sirius Optics Minus Violet Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Curt Irwin Over the past year there has been some serious debate within the achromatic refractor community as to how to deal with false color. One company has propose. . . Who Needs a Crayford Focuser for an SCT? Maybe you do… The William Optics SCT Crayford [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Rod Mollise Crayford focusers, those no-gear super-smooth wonders so favored by the Big Dob folks, have finally started to make their presence known in the SCT communi. . . Lumicon Multiple Filter Selector [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David Knisely For those of us who have more than one filter in our equipment arsenal, it is frequently a hastle (and even a hazard) to keep screwing, unscrewing, or even. . . Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cloths [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Allister St. Claire "Where have you been all my life!". . . Baader Planeterium Moon & Skyglow Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Markus just sent me a rather interesting item on the basis of, "test it, and if you like it, keep it and send me a check. If you don't like it, send it bac. . . Opticon 10 [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Allister St. Claire Opticon was formed in 1985 in Belgium by a passionate, professional optician, Rik ter Horst. His self professed quest was to determine how well an SCT coul. . . 2" Adapter For Takahashi FS-60C And FC-60 Refractors [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky After reading my review of the FS-60C the dealer that sold me the scope, Mike Bieler of Astronomics, tried several approaches to getting the baby Tak t. . . TAKAHASHI QUINTUPLET TURRET HOLDER [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky One item of convenience that I stumbled on lately cruising through the latest Takahashi price list is their Quintuplet Turret Holder. It is pictured below,. . . Adapter for Takahashi Diagonal and Extender Q [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky In doing the review of the Takahashi Extender Q, I noted that in focus was still quite sensitive when using the Extender Q and Adapter Q with the Tak/Lumic. . . Tele Vue Powermate - 2.5X Barlow-like [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David Knisely There was a time when the negative lens system know as the Barlow lens was looked down upon by many amateur astronomers. Although they have been improved a. . . FOCAL REDUCERS [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Jan Owen Schmidt-Cassegrain catadioptric telescopes are a very popular hardware choice in amateur astronomy, for a number of reasons. They are good for visual obser. . . Bob's Knobs Collimation screws [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Don Pensack Replacement screws for collimation of (primarily) secondary mirrors in compound telescopes. They replace the screws that require a wrench or screwdriver to. . . Coronado [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Doug Finch When I heard about the new Solarmax H-alpha filter from Coronado I was a bit skeptical. 40mm aperture, modestly priced, sub-angstrom performance, sounded t. . . Takahashi 2" Star Diagonal [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky In my recent efforts to adapt the FS-60C Takahashi APO to work with my favorite 2" eyepieces, as detailed in the review of the so-called "Novoselsky adapte. . . Thermodyne Telescope/Mount Cases [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Sometimes your friends turn you on to some really good ideas. I bought a 203mm f/9 Apochromatic Refractor from Tom Back at TMB Optical. It was delivered to. . . Daystar T-Scanner - 0.7 Angstrom Solar H-alpha Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David Knisely The active face of our nearest star, the Sun, is interesting to watch with the proper white light solar filter. However, with a narrow band filter tuned to. . . TAKAHASHI QUINTUPLET TURRET HOLDER [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky One item of convenience that I stumbled on lately cruising through the latest Takahashi price list is their Quintuplet Turret Holder. It is pictured below,. . . Baader Planeterium Moon & Skyglow Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Markus just sent me a rather interesting item on the basis of, "test it, and if you like it, keep it and send me a check. If you don't like it, send it bac. . . Review of Baader Planetarium AstroSolar [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Gordon Garcia In 1981, with a newly purchased full aperture solar filter, I turned my C8 telescope to the Sun for the first time. I was absolutely amazed that one could . . . Borg Quadruple Eyepiece Turret [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Borg is (incorrectly) tarred with the image of producing scopes with plastic tubes, etc. Well, as I pointed out in my review of their 125 ED, Borg builds a. . . B-W Optic Binoviewer [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Mike McIsaac I recently acquired a Lumicon/B-W Optik Binoviewer and enough paired eyepieces for a selection of focal lengths. While I was home last weekend the clouds p. . . Chromacor Review [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Bob Berta I have always admired the wonderful images that a APO refractor can provide. I own a 8" SCT with the Celestron Fastar CCD imaging setup that is my main tel. . . Chromacor Review [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Tom Davis Up until now, the only options for reducing color on faster (focal ratios less than F/15) achromatic refractors were to upgrade to an APO (read expensive),. . . Celestron Collimation Eyepiece [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Neale Monks As most of the readers of these pages will know, collimation is the secret to getting good performance from a Newtonian telescope. The Celestron Collimatio. . . Coronado Instruments AS1-90 Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Filter/Takahashi Sky 90 Apochromatic Refractor: The Ideal Compact Solar Observing Package? [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky I have become a confirmed Hydrogen-Alpha addict since my purchase of a Coronado Instruments ASP-60/Prom-15 T combination last year to use on my Pronto, an . . . Getting Started in Astrophotography using a Webcam [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by So King Yan Oldfield Astrophotography is a very difficult subject in the past, but it has becoming easy. In this article, we introduce one of the easiest and cheapest ways to t. . . A 50mm f/12 Edu-Toys refractor [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Roger Vine I've been interested in astronomy for almost 30 years, though I had a long break where I didn't do much more than occasional observing. I've owned a number. . . Coronado Instruments AS1-90 Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Filter/Takahashi Sky 90 Apochromatic Refractor: The Ideal Compact Solar Observing Package? [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky I have become a confirmed Hydrogen-Alpha addict since my purchase of a Coronado Instruments ASP-60/Prom-15 T combination last year to use on my Pronto, an . . . Orion 130ST EQ [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Lee Savoy First let me preface this by letting you know my experience level. The Orion 130ST is my first scope on an equatorial mount. The only other telescope I’ve . . . 3 Star Atlas Comparison [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by John Lysiak This is a comparison of three star atlases. Actually its not so much a comparison as three separate reviews, based purely on my own experiences as an amate. . . Beginner's Astronomy Books [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Ed Zarenski This selection of books is intended for the novice beginner astronomer. The complete article from which this selection is a subset, Books for Astronomy, in. . . Books for Astronomy: For use by novice and avid intermediate astronomy enthusiasts [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Ed Zarenski I don’t remember the name of the first constellation guidebook I owned when I was a kid. What I do remember is the style of book was one that listed a char. . . Burnham's Celestial Handbook [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Curt Irwin The Handbook comes in three volumes with about 700 pages in each. They are arranged in the alphabetical order of the constellation names. Photographs are i. . . Orion DeepMap 600 [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Terry Alford OK, before I give my review it might be a good idea to describe my ratings system. Of course it is very subjective and is based primarily on my own persona. . . Deep Sky Wonders by Walter Scott Houston [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by John Ford Perhaps you are entering the hobby of astronomy with a small telescope (2-6 inches) and are wondering if there is enough worthwhile activity for you to be . . . The Great Atlas of the Stars [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Richard M. Jordan Maps hold a special fascination for me. As my interest in observational astronomy developed, my fondness for cartography extended to Star Charts and Star A. . . The Messier Objects Book Review [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Brian Tung A few years ago, Tele Vue began running a series of magazine ads in Sky and Telescope (and possibly in Astronomy as well) which featured Stephen O'Meara's . . . The Night Sky Observer's Guide [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Dave Mitsky In a relatively short span of time The Night Sky Observer's Guide (NSOG) has become the new standard reference for serious deep-sky observing, surpassing B. . . The Night Sky Observer's Guide [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Lon Dittrick One important aspect of amateur astronomy is planning your observing session prior to looking into the eyepiece. I find that preplanning saves me a lot of . . . "Nightwatch" by Terence Dickinson, 3rd Edition [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Stacy Jo McDermott "Nightwatch" by Terence Dickinson is one of those astronomy books that you know from the first minute you pick it up, will always be part of your library a. . . Turn Left at Orion (Orion Takes a Turn for the Better) [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Brian Tung There are a few astronomy books which, it seems, are nearly universal recommendations. One of them is Terence Dickinson’s Nightwatch, a beautifully produce. . . Choosing and using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Kevin Berwick No review of this book would be complete without reference to it's author, Rod Mollise. Rod has a colossal presence on the sci.astro.amateur newsgroup. For. . . SKY ATLAS 2000.0 Deluxe Version, 2nd Edition [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David Knisely Ever since 1981, when it supplanted Becvar's ATLAS OF THE HEAVENS 1950, SKY ATLAS 2000.0 has been truly one of the "standard" wide-field atlases for the am. . . E-Z Telescopes 2.25" NC-SCT Replacement Focuser Knob [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Don Pensack What is it? It is a replacement focus knob for the stock knob on a Meade SCT. The larger diameter offers greater sensitivity in focusing, and the sealed. . . Gary Wolanski's Fine Focus Adapter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Tom Trusock Last April, I was intrigued by the comments of friends who have fine focus or dual speed focusers on their scopes, and I began to wonder, what (if anything. . . Intes-Micro 2x and Orion Shorty 2x Barlow [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Otto Piechowski This report contains a side by side comparison of the 1.25 inch Orion Shorty 2X Barlow and the 1.25 inch Intes-Micro 2X Barlow. Both are inexpensive. Both . . . Baader Mark-IV Coronagraph [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Eric Roel A little about my Solar Observatory. The main instrument is an 6" f/12 Astro- Physics Triplet "Superplanetary" refractor, built with the NASA glass. Thi. . . Sirius Optics MV-20 Chromatic Aberration Suppression Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Tony Cannata The MV-1 (minus-violet) eyepiece filter, developed by Al Misiuk of Sirius Optics, has been available for some time now and has gained significant popularit. . . 70mm NearStar Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Telescope Tube Assembly [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Harold R. Suiter When most of us think of solar-system observing, we tend to imagine nighttime observing, generally consisting of planetary views of the cloud bands of Jupi. . . Tele Vue Visual Paracorr [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by John J. Cassella Based on weather reports throughout the week, it was suppose to be, if you'll pardon the pun, a stellar 4th of July weekend in southeastern Arizona. For an. . . Rigel Systems Quick Finder [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Terry Alford For a long time I have enjoyed the use of "unit power finders". I purchased my first TelRad almost two decades ago and have been modifying BB-gun red dot s. . . Rigel Quick Finder and Telrad [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by So King Yan Oldfield Since I found that my Celestron Star Pointer (see another article) is inadequate for my C8, I proceed to search for better alternatives. The Telrad and the. . . SCT Star Collimator Eyepiece [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Don Pensack What is it? It is an all-metal construction 25mm F.L. eyepiece with an internal reticle that aids the In-the-field collimation of a Schmidt-Cassegrain t. . . Trico Machine Products "Sky Window" [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Don Pensack What is it? It is the a reflecting mirror mount for the astronomical use of binoculars. Because of it's size, the largest binoculars that can use the mo. . . Star-Tek Eyepiece/Accessory Tray for Meade SCT's [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Don Pensack What is It? It is an eyepiece holder/accessory tray/carry handle for the Meade tripod for Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. I. . . Coronado T-Max Tuner 90mm with Tele Vue BinoVue [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Joseph Drapell A small and light 90mm set up: Takahashi Sky 90, TeleVue BinoVue, and Coronado H-Alpha filter on an AZ3 Mount with a counterweight and comfortable slow mot. . . Sirius Optics Variable Filter System (VFS) [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Sol Robbins This is one nice little piece of equipment. It has a simple and elegant design. It is anodized aluminum with a flat black finish. This housing has 1.25" in. . . Baader Planeterium Moon & Skyglow Filter [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by David A. Novoselsky Markus just sent me a rather interesting item on the basis of, "test it, and if you like it, keep it and send me a check. If you don't like it, send it bac. . . Baader Planetarium AstroSolar Film [User Review]  | 04/16/03 | by Rodrigo Garcia In 1981, with a newly purchased full aperture solar filter, I turned my C8 telescope to the Sun for the first time. I was absolutely amazed that one could . . . H-Alpha Showdown! CORONADO versus DAYSTAR [Shootout]  | 04/16/03 | by Doug Finch I have been a solar enthusiast for 12 years now, and have owned a Lumicon, and several DayStar H-alpha filters. I recently took delivery of a new Daystar 0. . .