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Main
Date: 06 Sep 2007 21:24:40
From: brucegooglegroups
Subject: orion sky view pro 8
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Any feedback on the Orion Skyview Pro 8 Newtonian? I am considering
the new GoTo mount or Intelliscope.
Also, how often would I have to collimate the scope?
Thanks.
Bruce
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Date: 07 Sep 2007 14:31:29
From: Steve Paul
Subject: Re: orion sky view pro 8
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"brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:1189113880.151856.144170@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com...
> Any feedback on the Orion Skyview Pro 8 Newtonian? I am considering
> the new GoTo mount or Intelliscope.
I'd question the stability of the OTA during focusing. A 40" focal length
Newtonian isn't exactly a "short" scope, and the shorter the better for a
CG-5 class GEM.
Not that I think the SkyView Pro isn't capable of handling the 8" F5
overall, but personally I'd prefer to try focusing at high power before I
buy. An electric focus motor might be something you'll need/want to
consider.
I'd take Intelliscope with a clock driver over GoTo. This has been argued
ad-nauseum, but we do each have an opinion, and this is mine: Digital
Setting Circles (Intelliscope) allows _you_ to aim the scope by grabbing the
OTA and swinging it where you will, while zeroing out the counters on the
DSCs to acquire a specific target. While this can be sometimes difficult
(more difficult than having GoTo do the work for you) because you have to
lock and unlock the RA and Dec axis, it does have the advantage that the
DSCs optical encoders keep track of where the mount is aimed, even if you
aren't looking at the DSC (Intelliscope) readout. For example, you know
where M8 is without aid, and you want to just swing the scope over there...
with DSCs you can, without the DSCs losing track of the mount's RA and Dec
position.
GoTo on the other hand uses its motors to provide the feedback to the
computer, and the RA and Dec axis must remained locked. That of course means
that you can never release the OTA to slew freely, and you become totally
dependent on the GoTo motors to aim the scope. Should you release the RA and
Dec axis to grab a quick look at Jupiter before it goes below tree-line, you
will undo the GoTo computer alignment, and have to re-align.
The choice comes down to whether you want the freedom to slew the scope on
your own, or if you forever want the mount to do _all_ of your aiming.
> Also, how often would I have to collimate the scope?
Frankly, Bruce, this isn't something that you should consider as a make or
brake on buying any scope. While it is nice to rarely have to collimate a
refractor (if ever), collimation is a maintenance process that everyone
who's interested in owning a scope needs to master, no matter what scope
design they choose. Hopefully the Orion scopes come with reasonable
mechanical components to hold collimation well (which is a reasonable thing
to consider/question), but, moving the scope around, expansion and
contraction due to heat and cold, all will have an impact on collimation,
and it will need to be adjusted sooner or later. Best to learn how and not
have to think about it as a scope buying criteria ever again.
Always expect to be frustrated a bit with the learning curve, and you'll
never be disappointed... (in theory). ;-)
> Thanks.
> Bruce
Best wishes,
Steve
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Date: 07 Sep 2007 19:46:01
From: William Hamblen
Subject: Re: orion sky view pro 8
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On Fri, 7 Sep 2007 14:31:29 -0400, "Steve Paul"
<smarshallpaul@gmail.com > wrote:
>GoTo on the other hand uses its motors to provide the feedback to the
>computer, and the RA and Dec axis must remained locked. That of course means
>that you can never release the OTA to slew freely, and you become totally
>dependent on the GoTo motors to aim the scope. Should you release the RA and
>Dec axis to grab a quick look at Jupiter before it goes below tree-line, you
>will undo the GoTo computer alignment, and have to re-align.
You can get goto mounts that have encoders, just not from Orion
Telescopes and Binoculars - also push-to mounts with encoders. I have
an old Celestron SP-C102 with an almost as old Celestron Astromaster
DSC. The Astromaster is good to about 20 minutes of arc. It will get
you within a low power field. I don't use the DSCs much.
Bud
--
The night is just the shadow of the Earth.
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Date: 07 Sep 2007 22:45:48
From: Steve Paul
Subject: Re: orion sky view pro 8
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"William Hamblen" <wrhamblen@comcast.net > wrote in message
news:qor3e3ptm4kqvhjhro6php5lo5tredlclr@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 7 Sep 2007 14:31:29 -0400, "Steve Paul"
> <smarshallpaul@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>GoTo on the other hand uses its motors to provide the feedback to the
>>computer, and the RA and Dec axis must remained locked. That of course
>>means
>>that you can never release the OTA to slew freely, and you become totally
>>dependent on the GoTo motors to aim the scope. Should you release the RA
>>and
>>Dec axis to grab a quick look at Jupiter before it goes below tree-line,
>>you
>>will undo the GoTo computer alignment, and have to re-align.
>
> You can get goto mounts that have encoders, just not from Orion
Agreed.
> DSC. The Astromaster is good to about 20 minutes of arc. It will get
> you within a low power field. I don't use the DSCs much.
>
Agreed again.
I've had both GoTo and DSCs. I prefered the DSC, for among other reasons,
primarily because I don't like the motor noise of GoTo at midnight in the
backyard. But, either one I used pretty sparingly.
When I had a mount that benefited from DSCs or GoTo (GEM/Fork-EQ), I used it
primarily for DSLR imaging where there wasn't a lot of slewing going on, so
neither got used all that much. Occasionally I would do some observing with
those mounts and the DSCs/GoTo were handy for that, but primarily I like to
hunt and observe with a Dob/Telrad, or head for well known targets with an
EQ mount. So I could easily live without either solution (as I do).
My interest in a GoTo system at this point is pretty much targeted at the
CPC-11 with a Denk binoviewer and StarSweeper accessory with a couple of low
power (50x), mid power (100x), and high power (200x) eyepieces. I have a
ScopeBuggy that I never parted with, and it's begging for a big scope to
carry. :-)
In a nearly perfect world, I'd have a small inexpensive Dome structure out
back with power and the CPC-11 with Denk permanently aligned and sleeping
during the day for immediate use at night. Carry out the laptop with
SkyTools 2, plug it into the GoTo system and have at it for a couple of
hours. Then again, with an out-building of some type, a Dob with Telrad and
charts would suffice. :-)
Rock on,
Steve P.
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Date: 07 Sep 2007 15:43:41
From: Jan Owen
Subject: Re: orion sky view pro 8
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"Steve Paul" <smarshallpaul@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:46e18cfa$0$10194$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...
>
> "brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1189113880.151856.144170@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com...
>> Any feedback on the Orion Skyview Pro 8 Newtonian? I am considering
>> the new GoTo mount or Intelliscope.
>
> I'd question the stability of the OTA during focusing. A 40" focal length
> Newtonian isn't exactly a "short" scope, and the shorter the better for a
> CG-5 class GEM.
>
> Not that I think the SkyView Pro isn't capable of handling the 8" F5
> overall, but personally I'd prefer to try focusing at high power before I
> buy. An electric focus motor might be something you'll need/want to
> consider.
>
> I'd take Intelliscope with a clock driver over GoTo. This has been argued
> ad-nauseum, but we do each have an opinion, and this is mine: Digital
> Setting Circles (Intelliscope) allows _you_ to aim the scope by grabbing
> the OTA and swinging it where you will, while zeroing out the counters on
> the DSCs to acquire a specific target. While this can be sometimes
> difficult (more difficult than having GoTo do the work for you) because
> you have to lock and unlock the RA and Dec axis, it does have the
> advantage that the DSCs optical encoders keep track of where the mount is
> aimed, even if you aren't looking at the DSC (Intelliscope) readout. For
> example, you know where M8 is without aid, and you want to just swing the
> scope over there... with DSCs you can, without the DSCs losing track of
> the mount's RA and Dec position.
>
> GoTo on the other hand uses its motors to provide the feedback to the
> computer, and the RA and Dec axis must remained locked. That of course
> means that you can never release the OTA to slew freely, and you become
> totally dependent on the GoTo motors to aim the scope. Should you release
> the RA and Dec axis to grab a quick look at Jupiter before it goes below
> tree-line, you will undo the GoTo computer alignment, and have to
> re-align.
>
> The choice comes down to whether you want the freedom to slew the scope on
> your own, or if you forever want the mount to do _all_ of your aiming.
>
>> Also, how often would I have to collimate the scope?
>
> Frankly, Bruce, this isn't something that you should consider as a make or
> brake on buying any scope. While it is nice to rarely have to collimate a
> refractor (if ever), collimation is a maintenance process that everyone
> who's interested in owning a scope needs to master, no matter what scope
> design they choose. Hopefully the Orion scopes come with reasonable
> mechanical components to hold collimation well (which is a reasonable
> thing to consider/question), but, moving the scope around, expansion and
> contraction due to heat and cold, all will have an impact on collimation,
> and it will need to be adjusted sooner or later. Best to learn how and not
> have to think about it as a scope buying criteria ever again.
>
> Always expect to be frustrated a bit with the learning curve, and you'll
> never be disappointed... (in theory). ;-)
>
>> Thanks.
>> Bruce
>
> Best wishes,
> Steve
Hi, Steve!
I agree where the SVP mount is concerned... It will often manage more
weight than you might think (for visual applications), and the Intelliscope
option should be a good one...
I have the Atlas G for some of my larger OTA's, and at this point, I only
have my Brandon 94 APO (Rolando objective) on the SVP.
Recently, Orion put the Intelliscope upgrade kit for the SVP mount on sale
for $99.00... I jumped at THAT, to be sure. Still haven't installed it,
but SAA will be the first to know when I do, and then have a good first
light... I started to put the ORION link here, but they're back to the
regular $249 price... Even at THAT price, it's a good deal. But at $99, it
was highway robbery, so I COULDN'T pass it up!!!
I've always prided myself for being able to find almost ANYTHING quickly,
and have wowed folks at star parties, or just neighbors, visiting in my back
yard, by my ability to just spin the scope around and pull stuff out of the
heavens (Sketcher's PAL system at work, here), but my WIFE has been my
harshest critic... She will come out several times during my all night
vigils, and ask to see what I'm viewing, only to find I'm still looking at
the Trapezium's six readily available stars (the same thing I was looking at
when she came out two hours earlier), or the whole Orion complex, or I'm
STILL looking at the Double Cluster... Ahhh, well!!!
GOTO has solved that...
No matter WHAT I may be looking at when my wife puts in an appearance, with
GOTO, OR PUSH-TO (Intelliscope), I can show her a BUNCH of stuff in a short
time, meet ALL her needs (and more), and let me get back to my original
(deadly slow, but heavily detailed) observation in a HEARTBEAT...
The old days were cool, if you had the RIGHT STUFF, but today, the RIGHT
STUFF is available for modest extra cost, and is generally WELL worth it...
Of course, the time-worn statement "your mileage may vary" applies, but I
think, in most cases, this WILL hold true...
--
Jan Owen
To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
Latitude: 33.6
Longitude: -112.3
http://community.webshots.com/user/janowen21
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Date: 07 Sep 2007 15:55:57
From: AM
Subject: Re: orion sky view pro 8
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Steve Paul wrote:
> "brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1189113880.151856.144170@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com...
>> Any feedback on the Orion Skyview Pro 8 Newtonian? I am considering
>> the new GoTo mount or Intelliscope.
>
> I'd question the stability of the OTA during focusing. A 40" focal length
> Newtonian isn't exactly a "short" scope, and the shorter the better for a
> CG-5 class GEM.
For the Dob, it's a non issue IMHO, as the
one's I've looked through were all stable
enough to focus easily.
On the EQ mount, they vibrate about as much
as a C8 fork mount, basically annoying to me.
But you get used to it quick, and after a while
just learn to live with it.
If it is GOTO, AND... you get a motorized
focuser than you are in heaven IMHO.
Still, it's not all that bad, and just a part
of the learning curve of owning telescopes.
My personal favorite for stability is a
C 8 on a G 11.
BTW, I am putting a motorized focuser on my DS 10
a JMI EV2nM. I am spoiled my motorized focusing,
(C 8) and it makes it FAR more easier and less
intimidating for people at star parties, and public
events to enjoy the views.
--
AM
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Date: 06 Sep 2007 21:16:39
From: Joe S.
Subject: Re: orion sky view pro 8
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"brucegooglegroups" <brucegooglegroups@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:1189113880.151856.144170@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com...
> Any feedback on the Orion Skyview Pro 8 Newtonian? I am considering
> the new GoTo mount or Intelliscope.
>
> Also, how often would I have to collimate the scope?
> Thanks.
> Bruce
>
My experience is with the Orion XT-8 (destroyed in Hurricane Katrina) and
XT-12. The XT-8 is the same as the Pro 8 except it's on a Dob mount.
I collimated both my scopes very carefully when they first arrived -- 20-30
minutes. After that, I only touched up the collimation when there was an
extreme change in temperature, or, when I transported it any distance (to a
star party, for example) -- 2-3 minutes tops.
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Date: 06 Sep 2007 16:24:49
From: goodnigh
Subject: Re: orion sky view pro 8
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> Any feedback on the Orion Skyview Pro 8 Newtonian? I am considering
> the new GoTo mount or Intelliscope.
No, but if it is like any other of their products, I would
highly recommend it.
> Also, how often would I have to collimate the scope?
As often as needed, really. If the scope is never moved, probably
not often. Check it before every use. You can buy a laser collimator
but the "film container cap" from Orion that comes with the scope
works just fine.
mike
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