At 10:21 AM 4/15/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Antonio,
>
>Here are some of my opinions on your comments.
>
>Antonio Otero wrote:
>>
>> Okay, got my new LX-200, my first scope after lots of reading and research:
>>
>> 1. scope is just portable enough
>> 2. why can' parameters stay in memory as saved options (like location
>> settings?
>
>All parameters should stay in memory. There is a small battery in the
>control panel.

It appears that under 'Object Library', 'Parameters', then the following:
Better or Higher or Brighter don't seem to hold from session to session. I
have to go back and set them every time I turn on the telescope.
>
>> I like to look at VG, EX, or SU objects and need to set minimum height
>> around
>> me to clear trees, etc. The constant input every time I turn up the
>> scope is a
>> pain in the booty.
>
>What input are you talking about?

Specifically the ' Higher' since I need to get over about 20 degress around
me when viewing in my back yard.
>
>> 3. did a quick tour of Messier objects up in the sky right now...all
>> disappointing.
>> A few showed as more than faint blurs but that was it.
>
>Some of the excitment in viewing deep space objects is in finding them
>at all, and understanding what you are looking at. The LX200 can take
>away all the excitment of finding objects and by just using the computer
>in it will not teach you anything about the sky. When I am looking for
>objects, I learned to find them by star hopping, and only use the GOTO
>when I know I am close but just can't find something. Usually it is
>because the object is too dim that evening. Don't let the scope ruin
>your fun of learning the sky.
>
>> Here's a few
>> things to consider: I live an hour due west of NYC. The moon was lurking
around
>> for part of the tour. I haven't seen many true black sky nights in my
area. MY
>> question is how much better is it going to get in a less lit area? FYI,
the best
>> were M35, M36, M37, M38, M81, M82, M3, M53, Star 133, Star 305, Star 316,
>> NGC2632, NGC3034, NGC3031, NGC5272. Again all these Messiers were still
disappointing.
>
>I never felt that way. The more you learn about the objects the more you
>will enjoy it.
>

Agreed...this was a marathon viewing to see objects on my third night out and
see if I could sight some that I caould later go back to and show friends who
were over tonight. I also wanted to be familiar with objects high in the sky
(as I said, higher that 20 degrees).

>> 4. Should I have bought the 10" which I was leaning towards but talked
>> myself out
>> of it due to the portability issue? Most say when indecisive opt for
>> the smaller
>> scope. I did...I know you get 40% more light but is lack of light
>> problem due to
>> the smaller optics diameter or due to the ambient NYC light?
>
>
>I had a 10" and would have traded it for an 8" anytime. The 10" would
>only be better under very dark sky. I see more with my 4" under dark sky
>than with my 10" under suburban sky. The 8" is more than enough to show
>detail under a dark sky.


That nakes me feel justified in my purchase. Thanks, it's been bothering
me a little.

>
>> 5. The double stars were neat...very sharp pinpoints in close proximity.
>> How do I
>> know if they are double stars gravitationally bound together or one
>> behind the
>> other just looking like a double star to our line of sight?
>
>You need to get charts and books on the sky to research. 'The Sky'
>software version 4 is excellent for all your sky chart needs. A sharware
>program called 'Skymap' is also good. All these will show all the
>planets. You can also make alignment star charts for your scope at your
>location.


I have bought Sky Map Pro 4 but having a few issues lowering all the stars and
objects so that I can see on the PC what I want. So, I am still working on it.

>
>> 6. no planets up now...when is a good time? When do I see Jupiter,
Saturn, & Mars?
>
>Jupiter and Saturn are the two most impressive objects in the sky, IMO.
>By July or August you should be able to see both in the evening. They
>will be up in the morning before that. I think Neptune is up now just
>before sunrise, with Jupiter to follow.
>
Can't wait...the first planet I saw on a scope was Jupiter on a 4.5" APO
and it
was very impressive.

>
>> 7. moon partly ruined my night vision even with a moon filter (Meade's)
>> just made my eyes feel like I was looking into the sun
>
>If the moon is up, you can forget looking at any deep space objects.

I know but, at home, this NYC glare is also bad. The moon was way down the
horizon and not near the objects I was viewing.

>
>> 8. Bought the Lumicon UHC filter for nebulas but it just seems to darken
>> things so it hasn't yielded noticeable results. Is this helpful to the
NYC glow?
>
>They work well, but only to a small degree. You really need to get to a
>dark sky sight. I would think the Poconos would be good?
>
I will take my scopr on trips and vacation. I hope to get much darker skys
there.
But for ease and every day enjoyment, nothing beats the backyard.

>.... (smip)
>
>
>> 16. How do you all feel about the 8" vs the 7" Masukov (?-spelling). I
>> notice since the F stop is higher it gets higher magnifications out of
the same
>> eyepiece. But doesn't the smaller diameter mirror limit the highest
usable magnification?
>> Therefore I would be better with the 10" F10???
>
>I had a 7" Mak, the optics are superior to the SCT's that Meade makes,
>but the small f ratio limits it's ability for any photography. The 7,
>8, and 10 are all excellent scopes, whose performance is limited to sky
>conditions.
>
Explain, again? Why are the optics superior on the (Meade) 7" Mak than the 8"
Cassegrein? >>

>> Thanks. For the record I'm a beginner whose researched this purchase over
>> the last 6 months.
>
>You made a good choice, now you need to learn how to enjoy it.

I will...like I said. This was my third night out just trying to see some
objects to identify and get back to later. I also wanted to use the keypad
and goto feature in order to get comforatble with it. >
>>
>> P.S.
>>
>> Was in Hawaii this summer and travelled up to Mauna Kea and saw the Keck
>> observatory, wow!!! Going to Palomar in two weeks to see Hale's baby
(1/3 the way
>> through the book
>> on building the scope).
>>
>> Great hobby!!!
>>
>> Guess I'll need a hundred inch scope next.
>
>I'll be the sky was dark and clear on Mauna Kea? You will be suprised
>at how good you see in your scope under the same conditions.
>

First time ever that I clearly saw the Milky Way and tons of stars (I'm from
Boston now living outside of NYC).
>Good luck

Thanks for your help!!!
>
>Steve
>
>

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