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Bushnell 3" Telescope - Jul 13, 2007

The Bushnell 3" telescope #789669 is perfect for beginners. It is an affordable reflector telescope that comes with everything you need to view the heavens up close. The Telescope with tripod and two eyepieces start at $79.99, and packages including filters and other useful gear are available. For someone interested in stargazing for the first time, or as a gift for a youngster, this is an ideal item. Bushnell includes a limited lifetime warranty on this ALT-AZ telescope, and the rack and pinion focusing assembly is easy to use. There is nothing else needed to buy. Bushnell even provides a "Starry Night" cd for ease of initial use.

posted by Steve L @ 4:50 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

MySky versus Skyscout -

"Should I buy the Meade Mysky or the Celestron Skyscout? I plan to use one with my students during an astronomy class." Both do the same basic thing, but one of the things I like about the Meade My sky, compared to the Celestron Sky scout, is that the My Sky does not automatically shut so quickly if you haven't used it for a time. The Skyscout has an annoying tendency to shut down when it senses it hasn't been used in awhile. Don't recall the exact time, but it is soon enough that you don't want to be doing something else while using it. I presume this is to save on battery life and that is a good feature given the way the SkyScout eats batteries, but it also means you have to boot up and reacquire GPS positions, again. If you plan to integrate a sky computer with other activities, the MySky may be a more practical choice

posted by Joanie K @ 5:54 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Venus in Mysky - Jul 12, 2007

You won't need a Meade Mysky or Celestron Skyscout to find Venus, tonight. This planet is about as bright as it gets, tonight, July 12th and you can find it low over the southwestern horizon after sunset. Next to the sun and the moon, Venus ranks as the brightest object in our sky. Get out and enjoy. On the other hand, your My sky or Sky scout will be of more use on Jupiter and Saturn. Better hurry, though. Saturn will be gone by the end of the month.

posted by Joanie K @ 6:40 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Meade Mysky for planets - Jul 10, 2007

"Does the Meade MySky magnifiy images like a telescope? Can I use it to see the rings of Saturn?" No, sky computers such as the Meade Mysky and Celestron Skyscout do not magnify images like a telescope. (The My sky does have a zoom function that will allow you to enlarge the map to better pinpoint the object you are trying to identify). The function of a sky computer is to identify things you have located in the sky. If you want to see the rings of Saturn, then, you will need to get a telescope. For the basics and how to choose a telescope, see my article, How to choose the right telescope .

posted by Joanie K @ 6:05 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Budget Telescope Packages - Jul 9, 2007

The Celestron c130 Spotting Scope is now available in several packages that are great for amateur astronomy. It is available as either a 2 piece package with the scope and Alt-Azimuth tripod, a 4 piece set that adds a 2x barlow lens and 12mm OMNI eyepiece and a 5 piece set that adds the Celestron SkyScout. The C130 Spotting Scope comes with a nice padded case that is compartmentalized for the most frequently used accessories. The tripod will give you about 20 degrees of Alt-Azimuth control. This will not only work for basic celestial exploration, but will also give you very precise aiming for terrestrial viewing as well.

posted by Ryan W @ 3:22 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

My Sky GPS -

Another question I received, recently, on the Meade MySky, but the answer applies equally to the Celestron Skysout. "I understand that the Meade My sky has a GPS in it. Can I use this as a regular GPS if I get lost?" No, not really. The GPS on the Meade Mysky tells the astronomical computer where it is being used, but the GPS provides no waypoint storage or tracking features like a standard, handheld GPS. If you are worried about getting lost, a conventional GPS, such as the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx is what you need.

posted by Joanie K @ 6:55 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

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