Gear Galaxy Reviews - BEST Meade MySky Review, Meade My Sky Information

MySky connector cable 04549

2007-10-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

The long awaited connector cable for the Meade Mysky is finally available. You can use this 04549 coiled cable set to connect the MySky to any computerized Meade telescope equipped with either the 494 Autostar or the 497 Autostar. Pleade note that this connector will not work with the Celestron Skyscout or any other brand of computerized telescope. It is a Meade Mysky exclusive accessory.

Computerized telescopes

2007-09-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

"What the heck is a manual GOTO telescope? Is there such a thing?" The answer is, yes, though the use of the word GOTO is something of a misnomer in that the GOTO is a button on the hand control of motorized telescopes such as the Meade ETX-90. Manual GOTO telescopes should really just be called manual "computerized" telescopes since they do not have a motorized mount, or hand control or a GOTO button. On a model such as the Meade NGC-60, the computer tells you what direction to move the telescope, but you move the telescope, yourself. No motors or hand control, here, but you do get the computer.

Meade Autostar

2007-09-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Will the Meade LPI with Autostar suite give me GOTO capability if I use it with my Meade 114EQ? telescope" I get this question, frequently. The answer is, no. In order to have GOTO capability, your telescope first needs to have a computer. The 114EQ-A does not have a computer. The Autostar Suite is not a computer. It is a CD which interfaces with a Meade Autostar computerized telescope, but it is not the computer, itself. Meade packages it with the LPI and many other products, because it also offers a lot of useful and interesting astronomy data and information.

New Meade ETX accessory

2007-09-04T06:09:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to see Meade is now offering a back cell adapter for the Meade ETX telescopes. This adapter allows an ETX user to now use standard 50mm Schmidt-Cassegrain accessories, such as focal reducers and rear cell filters on their ETX telescopes. In the past, the smaller rear cell thread size of the ETX denied Meade ETX telescope owners the use of these useful telescope accessories. Nice going, Meade.

APO refractors

2007-08-29T05:58:00.000-07:00

Why would anyone one spend so much money on such a small telescope? This is a question I get in regard to small APO (apochromatic) refractors, which, by far, are the most expensive telescopes for their size. Do apochromatic refractors see fainter objects than larger telescopes? No. Do APO refractors see more detail than larger telescopes? No. Physics is physics and light amplification and resolution are still largely a matter of objective or mirror size. What, then, can these expensive, though small telescopes do that other telescopes cannot do? The answer is that an APO refractor can provide image quality that is unmatched in any other telescope design. Stars are tiny pinpoints of light against an inky black background. The edges on surface detail and the outline of the moon and planets are razor sharp. These telescopes provide a visual treat for those of us who are addicted to image quality. (That definitely describes me, by the way.) The good news is that there are now some less expensive (not cheap) options to consider, thanks to some new APO telescopes from companies like Meade. For those of you who want to image quality at a good price, you might want to consider the Meade 80mm ED APO. It's a third the price of some of the traditional names in the APO refractor market and it will do a nice job of getting you into the quality view game.

Telescope accessories

2007-08-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

One of the most common questions I get from customers when they purchase a telescope is, "What telescope accessories should I by?" The first thing you should buy for any telescope is more or better telescope eyepieces. Better telescopes come with only one eyepiece and you need more than one eyepiece for astronomy, since different objects require different magnifications and, hence, different eyepieces. On less expensive telescopes, you often need better quality eyepieces, since the eyepieces provided are usually of fairly low quality. I like eyepiece kits, even though you sometimes get more than you need or can use to good effect in an eyepiece kit. Kits are a good way to get started and will give you the experience you need to make decisions about more expensive eyepieces. One of my favorites has been the basic Meade Celestial Observer kit, which complements not only many Meade telescopes, but also many other brands of beginner telescopes.

Meade camera adapter

2007-08-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

Many of our customers want to know what adapters they need to mount an SLR camera (camera with removable lenses) to their Meade Autostar reflector, such as the Meade DS-2130. All you need for one of these or any other computerized reflector telescope that uses 1.25" eyepieces, is a basic camera adapter, such as the Meade 07356 and a t-ring for your brand and style of SLR camera, such as the Celestron t-rings. For more on the basics of astrophotography, see my article, Astrophotography in a Nutshell

Meade Star Chart Guide

2007-08-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

Here in the Midwest we've had nothing but severe storms and tons of rain filling rivers way over their banks. Many of our cities have been declared disaster areas. It's a disaster also for stargazers because their telescopes have been useless for quite a while now. This is a good time to open the Meade Star Chart Guide. Even experienced gazers and geezers might get some new information from this book. Includes a basic star map/star chart (The Glow-in-the-Dark Star Finder) that glows in the dark and can be rotated to find exact location of constellation at specific year and month. So buy one today for cloudy nights when your telescope is of no use.

Computers and telescopes

2007-08-21T06:05:00.000-07:00

A frequent request that comes my way is for a device that allows an observer to see real time images from a telescope on their computer. The good news, though not perfect news, is that there are some options. The best way to see real time images form a telescope on your computer is to mount a high resolution surveillance camera (we don't carry) over the eyepiece of the telescope and use it to feed images to a computer via an RCA cable or USB cable. This, however, is expensive and the camera, alone, can cost as much or more than the telescope. Not really a practical option for most beginners. If you are on a budget, an electronic eyepiece is an inexpensive option, but an electronic eyepiece can only produce low resolution, black and white images which will never equal the quality of what you see with a standard eyepiece in your telescope. They are fun and easy to use, however, and can be used in any telescope which uses 1.25" eyepieces. The most popular electronic eyepiece on the market is the Meade 902.

Connect a Meade telescope to a computer

2007-08-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

One of the questions customers frequently ask about their Meade telescope is if there is a way to connect their 494 Autostar equipped (DS series or ETX-80) telescope to a computer. The answer is , yes, this is easily done with the Meade 506 Astrofinder kit, which supplies a star map for downloading to a computer and the necessary cables. Just pull up the map on your laptop, click a mouse on the object you wish to see and the motors in the telescope mount move the telescope to the correct position in the sky. In other words, it's a fun and convenient way to bypass the standard hand control supplied with your Meade telescope. Note that this does not provide images - you need to still look through the telescope for that. Also, if your laptop does not have a serial port (most only have a USB port these days), you will also need the RS-232 bridge cable.

More MySky accessories

2007-08-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Even if you are using a sky computer, such as the Meade Mysky or the Celestron Skyscout, you should carry some basic observing accessories. This time of year, of course, you should keep the bug dope, handy, but one thing you should have, year-round is a flashlight with a red lens. Why? Red light is easier on dark adapted eyes and will not destroy your night vision to quite the extent as white light. You can either buy a red lens flashlight, such as the Celestron Night vision flashlight or you can easily make your own by painting the bulb of a small flashlight with red nail polish. If you go the nail polish route, it will take several coats. The trick is to get the light just bright enough to read a star map when your eyes are fully dark adapted, but no brighter. That's not much, but it beats fumbling around in total darkness when you drop something in the grass and it's a must for reading that star map, which you should also have with you.

Astronomy Teaching Tools

2007-08-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

One of the great astronomy teaching tools out there is the Astronomy Laser Pointer. Laser Pointers allow a more experienced astronomer to easily point to the object in the sky they are talking about. The Zhumell Green Astronomical Laser Pointer is a good example of one of these units. The Zhumell Laser Pointer uses a green laser instead of a red laser. The Green is a little easier to see in the night sky. A word of caution: When using a laser pointer, make sure you NEVER point the laser towards an airplane in flight. The laser will easily travel to the 35,000 ft altitude that planes travel, and the laser can distract the pilot and take away their night vision. If you are caught shining a laser at an airplane, think prison time. The Feds don’t mess around with this.

MySky accessories

2007-08-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

While you are waiting for the Meade Mysky, I would add a star map, such as the Celestron star map OR the Meade star map (actually, the same book). What you learn from the book will help when you finally get your Mysky and vice-versa. This also applies to other sky computers, such as the Celestron Skyscout. With both a book and a sky computer, you can have your cake and eat it, too, so to speak.

Big Bang for Less Bucks: Dobsonian Telescopes

2007-08-09T15:32:00.000-07:00

Dobsonian telescopes have long been recognized as the most cost effective large aperture telescopes available. A Dob telescope is basically a Newtonian Reflector on a fully manual tabletop (or floor depending on size) mount. Dobsonians are great for portability, as many of them can be broken down into separate parts for lighter lifting and smaller packing. For example: The Meade Lightbridge Dobsonian Telescope is broken down to three main parts. You carry the front cell with the secondary mirror, the rear cell with the primary mirror, and the base all separately. This is excellent considering the 16” Lightbridge weighs in at 128lbs when fully assembled. Some of the smaller Dobs Telescopes are even small enough that they come with a shoulder strap and you “wear” them when you look through them. The Celestron Explorascope 100 is a perfect example of this. Dobsonian telescopes are mounted on a floor or tabletop mount that is fully manual. Since they do not use a large, heavy tripod and equatorial mount like most Newtonian Reflector telescopes, the Dobs are much lower in cost. Many of the German Equatorial mounts alone cost $700 or more. Whether you’re looking for lots of aperture for low cost or a large telescope that is easily transported, the Dobsonian Telescope is a great purchase for any amateur astronomer.

Choosing the Right Telescope

2007-08-07T16:15:00.000-07:00

There are many types of Telescopes on the market. Those who have been into astronomy for a while have a good idea of what they like, but what about the people new to the hobby? How does one choose a scope to begin with? What is focal length? What is an eyepiece? What does Germany have to do with the Equator in a German Equatorial mount? There are many terms and definitions in Telescopes that can be very confusing to the beginning amateur astronomer. We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding telescope choices and telescope accessories. Take a look at our online article "How to Buy a Telescope" and see if this helps you make a decision as to which scope and accessories to purchase for your entry into the hobby of astronomy.

The MYsky is coming. Really.

2007-08-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

We've just received word that there has been a delay on the delivery of the Meade Mysky. If you've order a My Sky, take heart, you will still get one as soon as Meade is confident that they are ready for the market. In the meantime, if you've been thinking about getting a sky computer, we still have the proven and well-tested Celestron Sky Scout. The SkyScout, of course, won't add GPS capability to your Meade Autostar telescope and it doesn't have the fun software of the MySky. If you want those features, wait for the MySky.

Mysky versus star maps

2007-08-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

For a beginning astronomer, the hardest part of learning to use a star map or map of the constellations is translating the smaller scale of what you see on the map to the larger scale of what you see in the sky. For instance, once you've seen how much sky actually separates each star in the summer triangle (Vega, Altair and Deneb), the rest of the constellations in the night sky begin to fall into place. To my way of thinking, this is the best use of sky computers like the Meade Mysky and Celestron Skyscout. Rather than using them to avoid a star map, I recommend using the My Sky or Sky Scout as a way to understand a star map. As any experienced astronomer will tell you, even one who uses a computerized telescope, a star map is a basic and essential tool for all astronomers.

Meade Series 4000 Eyepiece & Filter Set

2007-08-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what size eyepieces to buy for your telescope? When you buy them all, where do you store them? Meade Instruments came out with the Meade Series 4000 Eyepiece & Filter Set to help you out with this situation. The Meade Series 4000 Eyepiece & Filter Set comes will almost every Series 4000 eyepiece from 6.4mm up to 40mm, except for the 26mm that comes with some of their nicer scopes like the ETX 125-AT. It also includes the Meade #126 2x barlow lens. The Meade Series 4000 Eyepiece & Filter Set also comes with the Meade Series 4000 Photo Visual Color Filter Set #1, which includes yellow, red, green, and blue planetary filters, and the Meade Series 4000 Moon Filter. To keep all of these accessories together, the set is packaged in a foam-filled aluminum carry case. The Meade Series 4000 Eyepiece & Filter Set is the perfect accessory to any telescope and a wonderful gift idea, too!

Apogee Beer Bottle Telescope

2007-07-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

I must admit I've looked through beer goggles before, but not until recently have I looked through a beer bottle telescope. The Apogee Beer Bottle telescope looks exactly like a green beer bottle. Pop the cap and remove the bottom lens cover and you have a 16 power telescope guaranteed to turn heads. Especially if you grab your opened green beer bottle instead of the telescope and try to look through it. But the Apogee 16x optic is good enough for some fun use. The eyepiece is easily focused, and the unit comes in a black nylon carry case for classy carrying at your next star party. Give them as raffle gifts or booby prizes, or a neat birthday or Christmas gift, preferably to someone over legal drinking age. Have some fun with one of these ridiculous optical contraptions at your next gathering. Fogging may occur if kept in the fridge.

MySky now available

2007-07-31T10:08:00.000-07:00

Now is the time to discover what stars make up the famous "summer triangle" of stars and, if you need help, you might want to try a sky computer. The new Meade Mysky is now available and we are currently filling backorders. We also have plenty of the Celestron Skyscout units in stock, ready for immediate shipment.

MySky updates

2007-07-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

"Is Meade going to provide updates for the computer data base in their new MySky?" I haven't received any official notification, but it would seem very likely, as it is possible to connect the Meade MySky to Meade Autostar telescopes and updates are a standard Autostar feature. Stay tuned. Meade will be adding more My Sky accessories in the near future.

MySky images

2007-07-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

"I've been told that the Meade MySky will even show me an image of the object I locate, just like a telescope. Is this true?" Not exactly. It is true that the Mysky will show you an image, but it will be a picture from the computer's database. It will not be a real time image, as you would see through a telescope. Remember, sky computers such as the Meade My Sky and Celestron SkyScout are designed to identify objects for you, not to see them. If you want to observe what these sky computers iidentify, you will need to use a binocular or telescope.

MySky location

2007-07-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

"We are going camping out west in next month and were wondering if the Meade Mysky will work out there. Do we need to reprogram it or something?" You can use a sky computer such as the Meade My Sky or Celestron Skyscout from any location. All you have to do is acquire the GPS, same as you do at home, and you're set and ready to go. Nothing to reprogram or adjust. The Meade Mysky would be a great addition to your camping gear, especially if you will be in a remote location. Sounds fun.

Mercury Rising

2007-07-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

For all of you astronomy folks who have never seen Mercury, this is the time of year to do it. Between July 18th and July 30th, Mercury will be visible early in the morning, between Orion and Gemini. The best viewing time is about 30 minutes before sunrise, so you may want to grab a light jacket before you head out. Set your alarm early, grab your telescope and star charts, and find youself a nice open view of the eastern skies. Your view may not be very exciting, but it is still a feat to claim that you've seen it since it is so close to the sun. Good telecope choices to view mercury include the Meade ETX 90 AT, or you can use a nice set of 10x50 binoculars.

Mysky with telescopes

2007-07-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

"I've heard that you can't use the Celestron Skyscout around metal objects. Is this true? Same for the Meade Mysky?" Yes, it is true for both the Meade My Sky and the Celestron Sky Scout. Both sky computers incorporate a magnetic sensor to help them locate north, which can be disrupted when in the vicinity of certain metal objects. However, this applies only to large metal objects such as vehicles and buildings and only objects made of iron. Doubt it will be an issue around the typical telescope, most of which are made of largely non-magnetic aluminum, anyway.