The telescope is about five years old and I am debating whether or not I should just buy a new one. Is it possible to buy a GPS for this telescope? Do you have any recommendations for the best telescope?
2007-11-17 02:36:09 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
If your XT10 is 5 years old, then it can't be upgraded to GPS. Actually, I think you have your terminology wrong. All GPS does is tell a GoTo telescope where it's located and what the time is. I think what you really mean is DSC (digital setting circles) which will tell you where to point your scope or GoTo, which will actually point it for you with motors.
You can buy DSCs for your scope from JMI or Argo Navis. For GoTo you will need a whole new mount, because it will require the correct motors and a computer to drive them. Most GoTo scopes are fork mounted catadioptics, though Orion sells GoTo German equatorial mounts. In fact, you could mount your XT10 tube on one of their GoTo Mounts, probably the Atlas:
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=mounts_and_tripods/~pcategory=accessories/~product_id=24338
2007-11-17 10:07:04 · answer #1 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear gab -
Well - I may be a little old-fashioned, but I need to ask - why do you want GPS? You have a pretty nice dob - and whatever you find, you will have to track by hand anyway. I have found over the years that half the fun is in knowing where to find things. When I started in the hobby, I had a tough time finding the moon! But now the night sky is a familiar friend, not a dark, strange place that I need a computer to guide me through. You will be happier in the long run (I believe) by spending the money on either better eyepieces for the scope you have (this makes a bigger difference than you might think in terms of your enjoyment at the site) or in a really nice scope with tracking capability - and even then I'd spend what money I had on optics, not GoTo technology.
Have you visited a local astronomy club observing session? If you do, you can see and try all of these options before you invest.
2007-11-17 02:57:04 · answer #2 · answered by Larry454 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The latest Orion catalog Has a new toy. An add on GPS, fairly nice price too. You dont really need it with a Dob though.
It also has some very attractive SCT's and that GPS would work very nice on them.
I am an Orion fan so stick with them and you will be happy.
Sell the old scope on astromart to help with the cost of the new scope if you go that way.
2007-11-17 03:20:40 · answer #3 · answered by B. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some find GoTo technology a little hard and frustrating to work with at first, but your technique will improve with effort, don't be intimidated by it.
In the long run, I am sure you will find buying a scope with GoTo technology to be well worth it and it will save you a LOT of valuable observing time. You will appreciate this on cold observing nights.
Being able to "track" is especially helpful if you have Plossls or other narrow FOV eyepieces.
2007-11-17 03:17:11 · answer #4 · answered by Eratosthenes 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd check out this site if I were you - http://homepages.accnorwalk.com/tddi/tech2000/
They can turn your dob into a smart tracking go-to scope for alot cheaper than it would be to buy a GPS scope with same diameter.
2007-11-17 02:45:28 · answer #5 · answered by rep25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋