Who knows telescopes?

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Actually,it's a great price, and an amazing telescope (for someone who wouldn't want to go for a custom).
1) The wedge is included, so it can be single axis tracking
2) With the DSI, it's designed to work with the alt-az data from the scope, to take many short CCD images, auto-rotate them in the software, and co-add them, just like the big observatory scopes do it.
3) It comes with lots of great accessories, including the nice Losmandy dovetail mount, which means he could mount a widefield scope on top, image through that, and get great wide field CCD images.
4) It comes with all of the bells and whistles that one would normally want with that scope

$1600 for all that, assuming it's all clean and works well (no frayed cables, no scratches, etc) is a great price of someone wants a SERIOUS scope that will keep them busy for years.

But...a 10 inch LX-200 is a freak HANDFUL of telescope. I would not be comfortable putting that on or off the tripod alone in the dark. With 2 people, it's trivial.

That is the same scope I own, and we like it a lot. It has kept us busy for a few years. That price is about half of retail I believe.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by targa911S

That is the same scope I own, and we like it a lot. It has kept us busy for a few years. That price is about half of retail I believe.

The accessory list is like a "who's who" of standard high end stuff for the LX-200. If you've got the spare cash, it's exactly how I would outfit one (except for the CCD, but for anyone who doesn't have lots of experience, it's a good chip).

Considering a basic, stripped down 8 inch with no accessories is over $1000 new, it's a great price.

[targa911S]

I agree.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Actually,it's a great price, and an amazing telescope (for someone who wouldn't want to go for a custom).
1) The wedge is included, so it can be single axis tracking
2) With the DSI, it's designed to work with the alt-az data from the scope, to take many short CCD images, auto-rotate them in the software, and co-add them, just like the big observatory scopes do it.
3) It comes with lots of great accessories, including the nice Losmandy dovetail mount, which means he could mount a widefield scope on top, image through that, and get great wide field CCD images.
4) It comes with all of the bells and whistles that one would normally want with that scope

$1600 for all that, assuming it's all clean and works well (no frayed cables, no scratches, etc) is a great price of someone wants a SERIOUS scope that will keep them busy for years.

But...a 10 inch LX-200 is a freak HANDFUL of telescope. I would not be comfortable putting that on or off the tripod alone in the dark. With 2 people, it's trivial.

And that's why he's the expert and I'm the Amateur (yes, with a capital A)

[TerryH]

Hubble Space Telescope shows all four moons (and their shadows) transiting in front of Saturn.

[FrinkFrog]

Thanks for the knowledge on the LX-200. I don't really know anything more about this stuff than what I learned during a summer astronomy course in college, but I do recall the night we went out and got in the seat of the big telescope in the tin building with the slotted opening. I'd never seen planets so big and detailed as that night. That telescope was crazy big. The craigslist ad is from an area very close to me, wish I had more time to devote to a new hobby.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Hubble Space Telescope shows all four moons (and their shadows) transiting in front of Saturn.

Wow, that's really amazing!

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by masraum

Wow, that's really amazing!

I thought so too! I heard it only occurs once every ~15 years.

[cgarr]

Getting a lot of use out of the new telescope the past few days, got a great view of Saturn and the 1/4 moon tonight. One strange thing! Looked like a bright star, like Sirius but it was moving from west to east at a pretty good clip over head, I could get the scope on it for about 30 seconds, no sound, it looked like two afterburners out the back but no navigation lights on it then it went over the horizon?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cgarr

Getting a lot of use out of the new telescope the past few days, got a great view of Saturn and the 1/4 moon tonight. One strange thing! Looked like a bright star, like Sirius but it was moving from west to east at a pretty good clip over head, I could get the scope on it for about 30 seconds, no sound, it looked like two afterburners out the back but no navigation lights on it then it went over the horizon?

My first thought would be that you saw the International Space Station pass overhead.