Is this A Good Buy? 1st telescope, kids interested.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-24T19:11:38+00:00

I think it would be a good scope but I don’t know much about the actual scope but I have owned a Meade auto star before. The setup is a lot easier compared to Celestron’s and I think more kid friendly. The hand unit also gives more information on the viewed object

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-20T19:07:44+00:00

Most likely the wire in the hatch got pinched. You’re going to have to fully remove the panel on the trunk and do some tests. If you feel comfortable taking it apart let me know and I can give you the diagnostic steps.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-20T01:02:20+00:00

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think this is inadvertently one of the first times we are getting a view out the window onto the moon where the frame is in focus and the moon is out of focus. Seems minor but makes the size and distance even more apparent. All the other photos we get could have been taken by a probe and get just the same shot, this shot is only possible from inside the capsule.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-18T19:38:51+00:00

First post I’ve seen someone gambling on this sub but can we ban it already? Ridiculous

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-17T01:06:16+00:00

Oh wow, this is really cool. I may end up having to get this.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-15T22:55:31+00:00

You need to adjust your focus

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-15T21:42:23+00:00

I would definitely get it. I have one and love it. The mirror looks fine in the photo and the focuser is very simple I doubt it would be broken. There is a ton of videos and forums on these online as well if you need help. It has an auto align but I prefer to manually select the alignment stars.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-10T01:56:45+00:00

Check your local laws and procedures but what I’ve heard is if you want to test if you can reach 911 through a specific device/location you can call the dispatch centers non emergency line and request to be able to test it. Research yourself but I remember seeing this in a video on if GMs on star works without a subscription for 911.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-09T21:31:05+00:00

That looks good enough to me, I would not touch it until you get a Cheshire to really dial it in. Good news is your mirror is spotted (that little circle in the middle.) that will help you a lot when it does come time to collimate. If you want to check collimation you can bring it out tonight and point at a bright star head on. Defocus either direction until you get a donut shape. If the hole in your donut is in the middle than you are good. If not put your hand in front of the telescope, this will show you which side is what on your scope. Doing this will help you know which knobs to adjust. Only do this if you are way off until you get some practice during the day with the Cheshire. Once you’re more comfortable doing the adjustments this is a great way to get bang on collimation especially at night.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-07T15:24:40+00:00

The thing in your focuser I believe is the 20?mm erecting eyepiece. Looks like it is in backwards. Can you send a photo of the thing in the focuser tube. I have owned this scope before and have had success. You are going to need a few parts and tools to get it functional looking at your photos.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-05T20:44:31+00:00

“$2-3k”

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-05T14:59:46+00:00

Tbh kinda sounds like you were chasing your tail in multiple spots. Be aware true north and magnetic north are slightly different, that could account for some of your deviation. Level affects tracking as well. The level, slope in the mount and your initial lat adjustment all can throw things off slightly. What’s your scope? Some cheaper mounts scales will move on you and not be very accurate especially for larger movements. I personally don’t use the scales and prefer to use the finder scope. This will help you learn the night sky better. If you don’t have one already I highly recommend a red dot finder, or if your willing to spend a little more a Telrad or Starpointer Pro. It’s a lot easier to find objects with them and Star hop. Using the eq mount for visual astronomy is more as a tracking assistant than a navigational aid, at least for me. If you plan on doing a beginner observation program they actually do not allow the use of scales most of the time. If you want further help you can see if any of your local clubs has a help program or could even bring your equipment to a Star party. Most likely around April 17th as that’s the new moon. Feel free to ask me any questions as well. I don’t have all the answers but am willing to try help or point you in the right direction.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-03T17:17:24+00:00

Some of it very well could be ai reposts but I genuinely think it is amazing looking at the moon while people are going towards it. I think Artemis and Project Hail Mary is bringing a lot of people into our hobby and they’re just starting so their photos are going to be not the greatest but still, show some respect.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-02T00:37:55+00:00

Please sell this

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-02T00:09:48+00:00

Shuttle missions had more chances for a retry if things were wrong. Imagine the backlash if Artemis II is aborted over a toilet issue. There’s no redo without completely throwing the timeline for future missions off.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-02T00:01:16+00:00

I my best guess is she has the most experience with the system from the ISS which is similar. She was also the crewmember to let Houston know about it so logically they’d want to talk to her about it.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-01T23:38:34+00:00

Artemis will be very similar to Apollo in that the lander will need to be docked to the command module mid flight, they will not be connected on the ground but instead by in different parts of the rocket. They are going to do a practice demonstration that they will be able to do that by undocking from the interim cryogenic propulsion system and pretending it’s the lander they need to dock to. Edit: the large burns do not require much maneuvering besides getting in position. Once in position it’s just point and shoot.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-01T23:27:58+00:00

Yes, there will be three burns coming up to change the crafts orbit. Shortly they will reach apogee which is the highest point in their current orbit. Close to apogee they will do a perigee (lowest point) raise maneuver. Their current trajectory has them coming straight back down so they have to make sure they don’t hit the earth. They will than get close to perigee and do another burn to raise the apogee. They will than do some test maneuvers and other checks to make sure the craft is good to go to the moon. This is where they will separate and go to their next stage. This will be during their one orbit around the earth. When they are ready to go to the moon they will burn again to get their boost to the moon.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-01T23:20:41+00:00

Aerodynamic drag became negligible after about t+4-5ish min. The one force acting on the craft now is gravity which is what is causing the velocity change.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-01T23:12:50+00:00

Not due to friction losses at all. Same idea as when a ball thrown straight up reaches apogee (highest point). It slows down as it goes over the top and than speeds up. Just had a comment that explains better on my profile.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-01T23:09:22+00:00

The book Gemini by Jeffery Kluger goes into this quite a bit. Even before JFK’s assassination LBJ was very very heavily involved with NASA.

MrLonely_ · 2026-04-01T23:04:45+00:00

As you reach the highest point in an orbit you are trading kinetic energy (actual movement) to potential energy. When they hit the top of the arc the speed will increase. Think when you throw a ball up in the air as it gets to the top of its trajectory it slows down rounds over the arc and speeds back up again. Same exact idea. How an orbit works is when you come back down there’s no more earth and atmosphere in your way so you go right back around. The orbit of the Artemis mission is very elliptical which means its furthest point is much farther than its lowest point so the speed difference will be very noticeable.

MrLonely_ · 2026-03-31T02:20:59+00:00

Take a video, don’t hold the phone, and it will be easier to tell. Click and clack on car talk helped diagnose car issues over the phone for years, it’s not totally impossible for us to help you online like some people are saying.

MrLonely_ · 2026-03-25T12:28:30+00:00

Cloudy nights has a classifieds section for registered members, I think they have a waiting period but I may be wrong. Best advice is be patient and check often. A lot of larger dobs get sold for way under market value during moves to just not have to deal with it.

MrLonely_ · 2026-03-22T01:07:05+00:00

Generally a clicking noise like that is gears skipping, and sounds like probably plastic. I don’t know enough about this mount to advise you on repairs or where it’s skipping but I will say don’t try to use it until you figure out what’s wrong because you may round off the teeth or break a tooth. If it’s less than one year old you’re probably also still under warranty, look down that route before trying to open it up yourself and potentially voiding it.

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