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Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 3:12 pm
by notFritzArgelander
Once again the PT Barnum Memorial Prize goes to…..
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:18 pm
by GCoyote
Seems like that would suck most of the fun out of the experience. It's like showing up at a sailing regatta in a power boat.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:35 pm
by Greenman
Hmm, hyperbole central by the look of it these ‘citizen astronomers’ have very little input or need for understanding astronomy. To that end the description astronomer is very complimentary to what is essentially an IT exercise. Bland and boring astronomy for those with money to waste to appear to be amateur astronomers.
They have their place in the demonstration of the science to involve people in astronomy. But not for scientific advancement, that really is to overstate the usefulness of these ‘advanced’ telescopes.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:55 pm
by GCoyote
Greenman wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:35 pm
Hmm, hyperbole central by the look of it these ‘citizen astronomers’ have very little input or need for understanding astronomy. To that end the description astronomer is very complimentary to what is essentially an IT exercise. Bland and boring astronomy for those with money to waste to appear to be amateur astronomers.
They have their place in the demonstration of the science to involve people in astronomy. But not for scientific advancement, that really is to overstate the usefulness of these ‘advanced’ telescopes.
As usual, I thought of the proper analogy an hour after I posted.
Them: "I got a great video of the concert last night!"
Me: "What did they play?"
Them: "?"
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:14 pm
by Ruud
Did you guys ever see this video?
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:16 pm
by helicon
Ruud wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:14 pm
Did you guys ever see this video?
No I hadn't seen it. But now I am going to check it out.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:25 pm
by NGC 1365
The problem with these integrated technologies is that they are quickly superceded by newer tech, and in short course you end up with a very expensive outdated piece of equipment and at some point the manufacturer will stop supporting it and move on to the next latest and greatest. The idea sounds good in theory though.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:10 pm
by Ylem
I wouldn't doubt that several decades in the future many scopes will be like this.
Personally not for me, but I am kinda old school.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:36 pm
by helicon
One good thing that I will say is that it can be used in light polluted environments. Otherwise, not really my cup of tea.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:37 pm
by notFritzArgelander
I have two suggestions.
1) Please make this thread a sticky? That way it will be easy to direct a newbie to it if the question should come up.
2) Since the Unistellar is a reflector shouldn't the thread be under reflector type scopes not refractors? Or maybe at the top of scope types since it is a bit of an odd duck?
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:08 pm
by SkyHiker
notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:37 pm
I have two suggestions.
1) Please make this thread a sticky? That way it will be easy to direct a newbie to it if the question should come up.
2) Since the Unistellar is a reflector shouldn't the thread be under reflector type scopes not refractors? Or maybe at the top of scope types since it is a bit of an odd duck?
The video reference above is very biased against these types of telescopes though. It basically says we could do this all the time already for decades with much better telescopes. What the video author does not mention is the difficulty of polar alignment, finding and tracking the target and focusing which is a lot of nontrivial work for the archaic systems that we use. Just ask any astrophotographer how long it took them to get their system automated to the point where you can just enter a target and all these things are taken care of automatically, and how much time and money it cost them to get to that point. And, if you want to compare it with regular visual scopes, how many users have complained that all they see is faint fuzzies instead of a lively image in color, and drop out of the hobby. While it's not our cup of tea I think there's a legitimate market for it, and it is innovative.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:37 pm
I have two suggestions.
1) Please make this thread a sticky? That way it will be easy to direct a newbie to it if the question should come up.
2) Since the Unistellar is a reflector shouldn't the thread be under reflector type scopes not refractors? Or maybe at the top of scope types since it is a bit of an odd duck?
The video reference above is very biased against these types of telescopes though. It basically says we could do this all the time already for decades with much better telescopes. What the video author does not mention is the difficulty of polar alignment, finding and tracking the target and focusing which is a lot of nontrivial work for the archaic systems that we use. Just ask any astrophotographer how long it took them to get their system automated to the point where you can just enter a target and all these things are taken care of automatically, and how much time and money it cost them to get to that point. And, if you want to compare it with regular visual scopes, how many users have complained that all they see is faint fuzzies instead of a lively image in color, and drop out of the hobby. While it's not our cup of tea I think there's a legitimate market for it, and it is innovative.
Agreed! This should not be compared to visual scopes but rather to EAA/VA setup. EAA is an attractive option for someone under light polluted skies. But assembling EAA package is not a task for beginners, heck I feel intimidated by it! If this package works as advertised there could be a niche for it. As for the price, there are plenty of expensive things bought and sold in this hobby.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:38 pm
by sdbodin
SkyHiker wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:08 pm
And, if you want to compare it with regular visual scopes, how many users have complained that all they see is faint fuzzies instead of a lively image in color, and drop out of the hobby. While it's not our cup of tea I think there's a legitimate market for it, and it is innovative.
OK,I am going to agree on this point, and it maybe is not a minor point either. Faint fuzzies are just that at the eyepiece. Now, chasing faint fuzzies is a legitimate exercise also, but not in the context of the newbie wanting a 'Hubble' like view right out of the box.
So, bottom line, there is a market for this type of scope, maybe for the 'more-money-than-brains' type, but it is there none the less.
Just random thoughts,
Steve
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:57 pm
by Bigzmey
sdbodin wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:38 pm
So, bottom line, there is a market for this type of scope, maybe for the 'more-money-than-brains' type, but it is there none the less.
Just random thoughts,
Steve
That's a slippery slope there. Following the same logic GoTo scopes can be called 'more-money-than-brains' type.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 1:33 pm
by helicon
Per request I moved the topic to "reflecting telescopes" and made it a sticky.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
sdbodin wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:38 pm
So, bottom line, there is a market for this type of scope, maybe for the 'more-money-than-brains' type, but it is there none the less.
Just random thoughts,
Steve
That's a slippery slope there. Following the same logic GoTo scopes can be called 'more-money-than-brains' type.
That could be levelled, as an argument, but GoTo scopes take some learning - as I found out when I was gifted my SCT. On the other hand, walk outside, press a button is far less challenging and involving. They have their place for sure. But the hyperbole around them is disingenuous, that said Vendors do specialise in that As I have often said about scientific instruments - my this is pushing back the foreskin of science.
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2022 10:47 am
by OzEclipse
Sorry, I am very late to this thread which has been silent for 7 months.
My astro club does a lot of schools outreach. The president was loaned one of these scopes by the astronomy/ astrophysics dept of the university of southern qld. He worked for the dept for many years and had only just retired.
He found it very useful for school group outreach. All the kids could use the app and simultaneously see what the EVScope was imaging and I think they can save the image all while they were lining up for another visual scope.
Saves them getting too bored while waiting.
They found it was so useful that the club decided to buy one for the outreach group's use.
I agree that it may not be the best scope for many applications but it does have its uses.
Joe
Re: Overpriced Unistellar Gets Another Plug (not from me)
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2022 2:37 pm
by Greenman
I would agree for outreach, it would be a valuable tool. However the cost is an issue, this would only be viable for larger groups. I'm sure this would inspire people, but its use as a scientific tool is over-marketed.
It could be argued that something like an ASIAir in Live mode on a more conventional scope with a detector of your choice could be a more affordable alternate.
If this package works as advertised there could be a niche for it. As for the price, there are plenty of expensive things bought and sold in this hobby. 
