Thomas Burgess

Thanks for the help bud, will have a look, really useful.😁

Do you know if all Sct's are capable of attaching a DSLR and achieving focus? I have a ESO 350D knocking around and the explorer 5/6 would be certainly be more appealing if it was another string to its bow, however weak it might be. Trying to find meaningful reviews on these scopes is impossible. Only found one so far at https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/reviews/telescopes/celestron-starsense-explorer-dx-6-inch-schmidt-cassegrain/ and it's a little vague.

I watched an episode of Myth Busters, where they proved the validity that seamen could have actually used that technique to move between open and inner decks and maintain visual functionality.

Yeah, I say "proper mount" in the loosest Sense, as the Virtuoso's I was looking at are tabletops.😁

Hi guys and gals. As I mentioned in a previous post, looking at a new scope for a beginner. I was deciding between the SW Virtuoso GTi heritage 150p or the 127 Mak in the same line. I have gravitated towards the Dob for the (pun alert) "flexibility" My question is more out of curiosity than anything else, but... What are the Celestron Starsence Explorer's like, more specifically, the Sct's 5&6 ? I ask because I like the idea of a Goto middle ground of the explorer, where you have to do some of the work your self, learn and be more involved... ..but what gives with the Sct's in this range, are they a worthwhile investment over a cheaper Dob. ? What am I getting for more money, less aperture and less tech, but I guess a proper mount.

Isn't that the thing Starsky used to put on the top of their car?😏

Hi there. Just getting into astronomy and while walking the dog this evening and observing the clear sky against the street lights I met the age old issue of "light blindness" and it got me thinking. Going in doors during a session isn't recommend, but if like me, you have RGB smart lights, can you mitigate the effect by having them at 1% on a particular colour? If so I assume deep red as that's what the phone apps use, don't know the science behind it though.

I guess it's entirely possible to buy the 127 version, then buy the a secondary scope for it down the line, wouldn't be getting the kids involved anyway for a few months. I should know more what I'm doing by then and if the system worth investigating in.

Thanks for the heads up Zermelo, sure I can spare five minutes to access an "experimental feature", that's usually how long it takes.😏

Didn't mean to miss you out Captain Slog...hmmm a lot of captains on the forums here, handy for an alien invasion I suppose.😏😁 That's a great build, sadly, my skills are comparable to Homer Simpson's spice rack.🙄

Yeah, I guess so bud, you guys certainly know the market better than me. Coming from a tech background, I think it was this that blew me away.😁 https://www.firstlightoptics.com/slt-series/celestron-skyportal-wifi-adapter.html

Thanks Girders, great post. Brought sky Safari 6 pro last week any way as it was 50% off and figured it was a good club to have in my bag anyway. In regards to the issue of making adjustments while looking through the eye piece, that's a good point. I'm surprised these apps don't have a simple voice control function, that would by cool and sci-fi.😁

Also as my last reply "leap frogged" a comment. Thanks Cosmic G., Tbh, my astrophotography plans are very basic, if I fail at it and give up then all I've done is, avoid an expensive road.😁 My job is building high-end gaming PC's, I've become surprised and fascinated by stacking, never knew it existed, but that's a whole other subject. You astro guys are cleaver beavers. To M40, thanks for the positive reply, I'll be sure to let you know how I get on. I originally looked at the Celestron Nexstars and such, but wow, do they like to "nickel and dime" you on all the required extra's.

Thanks for the help again, I've heard that the Sky-Watcher az GTi goto models "Freedom find, Dual-encoder" tech is supposed to deal with wandering hands issue. The new Virtuoso has this (apparently) a toss up between this. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az-gti-wifi/sky-watcher-skymax-127-az-gti.html Or. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az-gti-wifi/sky-watcher-skymax-127-virtuoso-gti.html I thought the Virtuoso because I could mount it on a stand later down the road if needed.

Thanks for all the advice. Already have better eye pieces, I brought them for the "Amazon" telescope but never really used them before I saw it was knackered. The kids are 4,5,7, wife also just got a "mad" fox red lab, and a house that's a free for all. That's why a "stealth" scope is useful, also the wife is sold on it, and that's the most important "spec" when buying anything. Spent the morning looking at the 10" Sky-Watcher Dob, drooled over it but impractical for life at the moment. Yeah, I hear astro is a money pit, fortunately my wife has a good dslr as she's a hunter, so that helps a little. I will look at the 150p though, thanks Captain M.