TheSkySearchers

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Thu Jan 02, 2020 6:32 am Good to hear that it worked out well and the grandson enjoyed it.
At least with the longer focal length even the Kellners worked reasonably well and as you stated are a better choice for when others are viewing.
Next Christmas a nice Konig?

We'll have to see. I like Konigs myself. But it might be that some mount upgrade might be a better idea. I'm thinking about introducing celestial coordinates and perhaps an equatorial mount. (Don't tell his Mom! ) He seems to be interested in solar observing too. :yikes:

Thanks in particular for your reassurances about the scope. Your advice (and others) was helpful in making sure this was a good choice for now.

That sounds like a good step, by then he should be used to how the telescope itself works, an EQ would be a good step.
Baader film may be a possible birthday present?

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Thu Jan 02, 2020 7:24 am That sounds like a good step, by then he should be used to how the telescope itself works, an EQ would be a good step.
Baader film may be a possible birthday present?

I'm thinking so. Parents are not so helpful with supervising night time outings. They're busy professionals. My white light solar rig using a Herschel wedge is not as kid safe as a Baader solar filter rig.

Have you had any more chance to use it?
How well does it pack down for storage/transport? I need something to take camping with us. I was originally looking at the Celestron and Orion travelscopes because of there good portability but one of these might be better.

Sinerjee wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:10 am Have you had any more chance to use it?
How well does it pack down for storage/transport? I need something to take camping with us. I was originally looking at the Celestron and Orion travelscopes because of there good portability but one of these might be better.

No I haven't had a second light. I live about 2.5 hours away so it's non trivial winter driving. It packs fairly well but the OTA is ~ 2 feet (2/3 meter) long. It won't be as portable but the optics will be better since it's a slower scope.

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 9:21 am

Sinerjee wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:10 am Have you had any more chance to use it?
How well does it pack down for storage/transport? I need something to take camping with us. I was originally looking at the Celestron and Orion travelscopes because of there good portability but one of these might be better.

No I haven't had a second light. I live about 2.5 hours away so it's non trivial winter driving. It packs fairly well but the OTA is ~ 2 feet (2/3 meter) long. It won't be as portable but the optics will be better since it's a slower scope.

Thankyou for that. The length isn’t particularly an issue. Once we get a bag for it we’ll be storing it under one of the chairs in our camper trailer.
The video I watched had it look like everything was screwed together and needed unscrewing to pack it up though which might get a little annoying?

Sinerjee wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 11:57 am

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 9:21 am

Sinerjee wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:10 am Have you had any more chance to use it?
How well does it pack down for storage/transport? I need something to take camping with us. I was originally looking at the Celestron and Orion travelscopes because of there good portability but one of these might be better.

No I haven't had a second light. I live about 2.5 hours away so it's non trivial winter driving. It packs fairly well but the OTA is ~ 2 feet (2/3 meter) long. It won't be as portable but the optics will be better since it's a slower scope.

Thankyou for that. The length isn’t particularly an issue. Once we get a bag for it we’ll be storing it under one of the chairs in our camper trailer.
The video I watched had it look like everything was screwed together and needed unscrewing to pack it up though which might get a little annoying?

There would be some unscrewing needed to pack compactly. The optical tube and altazimuth head would need to be unscrewed from the tripod legs to make a compact package. That would take about five minutes, not a major concern. More worrisome to me would be repeated screwing and unscrewing with plastic parts. I don't think that will wear well with repetition. Replacement with more durable metal screws will wear on the tripod fitting.

Are you more interested in DSOs or the Moon and planets? Since my grandson lives in a light polluted area I picked this scope for lunar and planetary observation. For DSOs binoculars and a photo tripod with a pan head would be good and recommendable.

One issue we had with the ultra transportable travel scopes is the shakiness of mounts and short tripod legs. I'm not a fan of tabletop mounts with short tripod legs.

Keller EPS work fine on long focal length scopes, like f10 or longer.