parents wanting a GOTO scope that will show much

[Hootsitabernacle]

more than just the moon, they are only wanting a GOTO and nothing else as their health wont let thembend and fiddle with finderscopes etc..they just want to push a button and the image will be there for them..mostly our solar system but if they are able to see a few DSO then all the better.

Would this be a good purchase for them? http://www.firstlightoptics.com/maksutov/skywatcher-skymax-127-synscan-az-goto.html

i had a look at the Celestron version but the reviews of the mount were quite poor

[Russty]

Nice Scope IMHO but you still have to star align it though through finder scope before it GO'sTO.

[alanjgreen]

celestron sky prodigy?

will setup itself up (works well if you have plenty unblocked views around your horizon, no trees/rooftops etc)

[DOBBY]

Yep... the Prodigy seems to suit http://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-skyprodigy.html

[E621Keith]

If you want a self align mount, you need a Celestron Sky Prodigy or Meade Light switch. Both have plenty of problems - Flimsy mount for the Celestron, unreliable electronics for the Meade, and both are severely over priced.

Every other GOTO system needs to be manually aligned first.

The Skywatcher AZ-GOTO and the Celestron SLT uses the same mount, which also formed the basis for the Sky Prodigy. The AZ-GT/SLT is ok for the price given it has GOTO, but a non GOTO mount at that price will last much longer.

If you can wait a few months, wait for the Celestron Starsense accessory to reach market. This can be retrofitted to existing Celestron Nexstar scopes, such as the Celestron Nexstar SE, CPC or one of the equatorial model.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/slt-series/celestron-starsense-accessory.html

[starman1969]

The Skywatcher 90 as mentioned looks quite easy to set up, and is compact too. Pricey though.

[Hootsitabernacle]

thanks folks

[P_Monty]

Can they get it set up once (by you?) and then leave it untouched outside? If I've understood, the alignment only needs to be done if you move the scope...