Q and A Number 2 - More reviews? Star naming services? Best/worst in my current collection?

Link to the IAU web site about why you shouldn’t buy star names :
www.iau.org/pu...
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Thanks for watching!

[@JamesEscobar]

Even though they are awkward to do, I love the mega tube walk ins!! Yes these videos do take a lot of work! Thanks for all you do, and take your time! I'm not going anywhere

[@matthewb8229]

That opening is fantastic! Got me laughing.

[@myfishingadventures1509]

I love it!!!

[@solarscopedunedin3853]

Hello Ed, great video as usual. Re the star naming - here's one way to get the stars to help through the grieving process and provide some solace. When my great uncle died earlier this year, we set out to find a star whose light that we were seeing around that time got emitted when he was born. Luckily for us, the star most suitable turned out to be Merak, Beta UMa, just under 80 ly away. Bright, easy to find, and being one of the pointers, among the most important stars in the sky. But any star has a story when you read up on it, especially those under 100 ly from us. Anyhow, we then captured those photons - emitted when he was born - by telescope and camera, and the resulting image is a wonderful keepsake.

[@stephenjonwolden1519]

Ed, thank you for your many years of hard work, contributions, and dedication. Because of you, setting circles and right ascension finally clicked for me, many thanks

[@gregwing6409]

Hi Ed...I have an old ATM’s 4.1” f/15 refractor that I purchased from the original maker about 1971. He likely made in the the 1950’s. The scope fell over one day when I was a teen and the aluminum tube broke in half at the weld. While we had it out to be welded back together I must have thought it was a good time to clean the objectives Crown and Flint. Anyway, when the tube was fix ant the cell objective replaced the scope was never as good. It was actually really bad optically. I blamed the welding job back then. Nope! I put the objectives back together incorrectly!!! I still have that old scope and have since restored it and corrected the positions of the objectives. It works fine again. I bet that is the issue with your 4” f/15 Unitron. Cheers -Greg W

[@leonardvorhis838]

Thank you Ed for sharing over the years all of your knowledge and experience. Re the Unitron: When the objective set is disassembled, check for penciled reference/alignment markings. All refractor objective elements/components have a wedge (at one position the perimeter's edge thickness is greater than at the opposite point). Not only must the elements be placed in the proper order front to rear, each must be flipped correctly front to rear, AND the elements should be spun and set relative to each other to best compensate for each element's wedge. Disassembly would be an opportunity to blacken the edges of the components. None of my refractors from that era have had the element's edges blackened. L

[@ceejay0137]

Ed, I don't know if you're familiar with Leslie Peltier's book 'Starlight Nights'? Towards the end, he describes a similar problem with a 12-inch Clark refractor that he was given. On first use the stars all had haloes. He found that the objective had been disassembled at some point, and although the front element appeared to be equi-convex, he tried putting it the other way round and the haloes vanished. You didn't say what the optical problem with your Unitron is, but it's not impossible that something similar has happened, and if so it might be easy to fix.

[@xyzzy177]

Ed - Thanks for the videos. I have 6" f5 Meade reflector from about the same time frame as your 8". It sat for a long time due to the spider being broken. The end bolts of the spider were die cast zinc (pot metal), and they broke in two. I finally got around to machining 4 new ones and it is back in operation. It's good to know mine wasn't the only one. Thanks for your inspiration, I'm back learning about the night sky after many years of not looking.

[@astronomybob]

I'm a member of the RASC Niagara and a few years ago, I had the same experience as you with someone who had a star "named". It too was in the southern sky. In addition the certificate stated that the star was magnitude 15.4 , so even if it was in the north, my 12 inch dob wouldn't see it.

[@Robin-Visser]

Always great stories/reviews. For some reason listening and watching your clips lets me think im watching an eighties show😍

[@dks13827]

Ed I bet your wife was happy when that huge UPS package arrived!!! 😊

[@esquared232]

LoL...Ed, keep em coming. Great informative videos! And dry humor in spades!

[@neiltonks]

I realize there are many videos out there about scopes, but I think a mid range scope, set up and use video would be really good. Maybe a video on what people should look for when they are buying a second hand reflector/refractor. Should we avoid Bird-jones style reflector's etc

[@travisdevendorf3177]

Just bought your book Ed, I’ve been really enjoying it! Thank you!

[@edting]

Thank you so much, that book consumed me for almost a year at Dartmouth!

[@damiengalanaud3817]

Hello Ed Thanks for your reviews which are a pleasure to read and watch. I would only slightly disagree with you about the Takahashi 60 not being a beginner's scope. It may be true for visual astronomy but I think that on the contrary it's a great first scope for astrophotography. I can tell you since I bought one for this purpose, thanks in great part to your reviews. The reasons it makes a great scope for astrophotography is that it is extremely sharp, reasonably fast, has a wide field and is very light, making accurate guiding much easier than with a bulky newtonian. In fact, it works extremely well even with an ultraportable mount such as the AZGTE. And man, as you said, it's such a beautiful piece of hardware ! I can't help spending an unholy amount of time just looking at it. Best Damien

[@mikeisss79]

I happened to watch this video with my friend who aligns optical instruments. He thinks your Unitron telescope's rear element might be flipped. So maybe it was taken apart and then not reassembled properly.

[@markihde4381]

Ed, your videos are informative as well as entertaining. Could you comment on using filters for visual observing sometime?

[@martinwarm4041]

Great video! I agree with you on the Tak fs-60, its my sharpest scope too. 👍

[@solarscopedunedin3853]

Go the FS60. My first proper telescope, and my last one (or that's the plan anyway)

[@chrisstrobel3439]

So the 6” f/8 behind you is a Meade too? I thought it was a Criterion RV-6 Dynascope .. but yeah the tube end rings and focuser aren’t Criterion so my bad, disregard the comment I made on another video saying it was a RV-6. Btw the optics in my RV-6 that are now mounted in a Parks tube are excellent, I’ve had it next to a 5” Starfire in the past on Jupiter and the views that night were equal in quality.

[@danielboyar8016]

Ed the Unitron objective crown element may be flipped. Try that. Then look for a bullseye pattern of interference (Newton) rings under flourescent light. ,I can help you with it if the spacers are out of whack, which will throw off the rings . Dan B., FL (Friend of Joe D.) BTW your videos are excellent and entertaining.

[@nadirteymurov1]

Wow, that Unitron definitely deserves to be checked and rebuilt !

[@danieljohnkirby9412]

How does the quality of that Orion 6" Newtonian compare to the SkyWatcher Heritage 150P, you seemed pretty keen on that scope but mostly based on the price point and the portability. On paper they're optically the same.

[@martynh5410]

While most astronomy gets does devalue, I’ve. Priced that used high-end eyepieces retain their value very well. This is especially true of anything with the Tele Vue label on it. Most of these seem to still be selling for 80% or more of their initial price even after 5 years.

[@jrpstonecarver]

Ha! Love the intro and outro! Well done!

[@cienciapopular8485]

Good video. You are a great communicator. I have a question, I hope you can answer. Is this one a good beginner telescope? Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope

[@realemolga6306]

More Q and As!

[@BlueTrane2028]

Profit and astronomy gear. It’s possible, but it’s rarely a big win. Best probably was my found on Facebook $100 Celestron 8” SCT that I sold the fork for that same $100, a free OTA is always welcome.

[@NG-VQ37VHR]

Nice. That's a heck of a find for $100.

[@TheSwimmeruk]

Ed Killing me with the dob carry...

[@mzmagister]

Love the intro!

[@WilliamBlakers]

Ed did you ever sort out the optics issue in the 4" Unitron.

[@lfcdan1]

Ed, I have a question if you do another of these. Is there any difference between 1.25" and 2.0" lenses? I've just bought myself an XT8 and I already own a decent selection of 1.25" lenses but I'm wondering if I should replace them for the same magnifications in 2.0" now that I have that option available to me? Keep up the good work!

[@edting]

Hi - Eyepieces are a highly personal decision, so what I like may not match what you like. There is no right or wrong answer. 2" eyepieces offer a couple of advantages compared to their 1.25" counterparts. First, they will show you more of the sky at the same power (obvious, the barrel diameter is larger) which some feel makes for a more immersive experience. Also, because they show you more of the sky, if you have a Dob like yours, you will have to push it around slightly less. The downsides are weight and cost (try pricing one of the larger TeleVue Ethos eyepieces). Hope this helps.

[@russellhawkins2723]

Mr Ting, you tickle me and really enjoy you're videos. Would never miss one. Take care Sir P.S. on that f15 refractor, was the mount any good

[@edting]

Wow, Russell!

[@russellhawkins2723]

@@edting 😰so sorry

[@johnangell1524]

Can I have that 12.5" nested truss dob?? LOL ... I WANT ONE!!!!

[@jktz122]

what would you suggest for a first time scope a refractor or cassegrain?

[@majorskepticism7836]

Naming stars… Almost twenty years ago I named all the stars in the Universe “Bullwinkle.” Pointing out that I have as much right to name stars as any bogus star-naming outfit, and they should ask me for permission to change a star’s name from Bullwinkle to Tim (or Becky, John, Howard, Debbie…). For $1 each. About the same time there was an ad online for a “Unitron Equilateral Retractor.” I wish I had saved a screenshot. Does that black water heater work better than a white one?

[@cgaftofcenter]

Can you do a stellarvue svx review?

[@cienciapopular8485]

Dear Ed Ting. I am a big fan. I am ready to buy my first telescope, after a year of learning the night sky with binoculars and a spotting scope. I was going to follow your advice and buy an 8 inch Dobsonian, but I moved to Terrace, BC, Canada. We have unpredictable clear skies one to four times a month, and it often stay for only 2h. Once collimated and acclimated, the clear skies may be gone. If you add the crude winters with feets of snow, I do not think a Dobsonian is going to be practical. Looking around, I found this refractor, Celestron Omni XLT 120mm, which apparently is good for "grab and go". What do you think? Is it a good first telescope? I would appreciate your answer. Best regards.

[@edting]

Get the Dob. That Omni 120 is hardly "grab and go". That thing is huge. The optical tube is too heavy for that poor mount. I'd argue the Dob is more portable. If you must get an Omni series refractor, go no larger than the 102.

[@adrianvalella6854]

how about eyepiece reviews? also you didnt answer my question about the painting(not the photos) in the background.

[@mitrovarr]

Was that a Celestron Starhopper being walked through the end of the video? I have one of those! It's the only telescope I've had to disassemble and literally hammer on in the field (to push the tensioning bolt holders back in to the altitude bearings).

[@edting]

Yes, Starhopper 12" - The "Water Heater."

[@3_Gold_Coins]

I have a Meade LX85 with a M6 OTA. My question is should my focus knob slide in and out a bit as well as turn?. Thank you.

[@rodneyjohnson4794]

i love these!

[@gabrielrobles5288]

I own an orion StarBlast 6 inch newtonian just like your second worst and it is great. I can get pretty decent views on planets with pretty good details (moon transits on Jupiter and the Cassini gap on Saturn), most of the messier objects are within its grasp and it does split some stars. I wonder why yours does not work properly.

[@edting]

Ah, good for you! Alas, I did not get one of the good ones.

[@larryfisher5198]

Any ideas on 2" eyepieces that wont break the bank? I've seen some favorable reviews on zvbony. Something in 14-15 mm and another 20-15mm I think would be a good start. Will be assembling a 10" f/6.4 dob in the near future. My current 1-1/4 fav is a meade 25mm plossel. Fairly overwhelmed at the sheer volume of choices.

[@edting]

It's hard to go wrong with any of the TeleVues. They are the gold standard, but they cost more than the others. As for the cheaper 2" eyepieces, try the Orion Deep View series. They are low power.

[@larryfisher5198]

Thanks. I'll start looking there.

[@charlessands6933]

Mr. Ting, how do your receive your questions for these segments?

[@chettdavidson1812]

Thanks for all you do. Could you please recommend a good lunar atlas. Thanks in advance

[@edting]

People are telling me the new "21st Century Atlas of the Moon" is quite good. About $34. A cartographer once told me it is very difficult to make an atlas of the moon. No matter what you do, it doesn't look quite right. I like the Rukl and Legault/Brunier moon atlases, but I believe they are both out of print.

[@chettdavidson1812]

@@edting thank you sir...

[@poggergen1937]

Hey ed!! I had asked if the Orion XT8 was a good upgrade from a Celestron powerseeker 127EQ. but you saying it’s a beginner telescope is a little concerning… say, how much better is the view of saturn from a 20mm plossl eyepiece when it’s in both telescopes? is the view better in the Orion? is there more zoom in the Orion? is there more quality in the Orion?

[@edting]

If you have the money, get the XT8. There is no contest. Sadly, the PowerSeeker 127 is, shall we say...not well regarded by the astronomical community...

[@poggergen1937]

@@edting I do actually have problems with the powerseeker 127EQ… planets are fuzzy smudges at higher powers, deep sky is out of the question due to the light pollution where i live, the slo-mo screw for turning left and right is stripped, i fight the telescope to get it pointing high enough to even view jupiter and saturn. the finder scope seems to be misaligned every time i use the telescope.

[@poggergen1937]

@@edting I also err… made a rookie mistake… i went ahead and purchased a 5x barlow lens which i thought would work great at the time of purchasing… It works… just everything i look at races out of my view immediately and it is overwhelmingly overpowered for the telescope to handle..

[@ultrametric9317]

If your Unitron just has the elements in backward/flipped/both, no big deal to fix it. But at least one element, the convex one (crown) should have blue MgF2 coating. I think the concave (flint) element was sometimes left uncoated in achromats of that era because the brittle glass is easily damaged. It is also possible you are not even dealing with a genuine Unitron objective. I never saw a Unitron/Polarex > 76mm without a branded, adjustable lens cell. PS, the flatter side of the crown faces the sky and the flatter side of the flint faces the observer. I have seen multiple examples of incorrectly assembled achromats. I have a Royal Astro derived 60mm from 1959 that I got in an antiques store which was flipped - once that was corrected it went from horrible to superb.

[@edting]

Hey, thanks for that! When things get back to normal I'll get the guys over and we'll check that out. We can also use the one my friend has as a model to see if anything is amiss in mine.

[@TheZabbiemaster]

This telecope channel came a week before I got my old hobby back. I found a perfect for my budget telescope, but then I found out I still need to find a tripod, and I can't mount it to my high quality phototripod

[@edting]

Welcome back! I'm hearing a lot of stories like yours - re-entry hobbyists kindling their childhood passions.

[@andyweeks2216]

I also worked in fast food in 1981 for ~$2.85. I never made minimum wage with tips. LOL.

[@sofjanmustopoh7232]

Every single time I bought a telescope . I always lose money 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I’m lucky with couple Cave mirror that was signed . But all in all I spend way more than I could ever recover by selling them

[@rashie]

👍👍

[@ryanyoder7573]

Just an idea, maybe do some terrestrial scope reviews. No need to be at the mercy of seeing conditions.

[@astrotechnique1]

.7 reducer on the price 😁

[@davidparadis490]

These star naming services are a scam, but I did just buy an acre on Mars...something I have a chance of visiting one day.

[@BennyColyn]

To my knowledge the only guys making money of astronomy/astrophotography are the ones selling the gear.

[@martynh5410]

And the manufacturer!

[@808d0l3]

I've viewed several of these videos, and always catch the part where you explain your club "tricks out" a telescope you donate to libraries. I work for the city of Santa Fe in NM, and would love for our libraries to be considered for that donation. We have beautiful skies devoid of light pollution, and I know we would spark so much interest with a donation like that. Please let me know what I can do!!! Please feel free to contact me for my personal contact information!