From: TerryMoselaol.com
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2005 19:44:19 EST
Subject: Lidl Telescope offers, Correction
Hi all,
I've now checked out the details of the Lidl telescope offers, available
from Monday 12 Dec.
1. 70mm Skylux F10 refractor 39.99 sterling or 59.99 euro.
The usual pre-Xmas offer - only this year it's even cheaper! Details:
70mm achromatic lens, aluminium tube, F.L. 700mm (F. 10) Two eyepieces, 4mm
(x175) & 20mm (x35). 3x Barlow (max mag = 525x, but this is totally
impractical. Be happy with x175!). Star diagonal. 6x30 finder. Astronomy software on
C.D. Equatorial mount with slow motions on both axes. Adjustable aluminium
tripod. 5 year guarantee.
Assuming that it's the same as last year, this is incredible value, with
the price being substantially lower than last year!
NB: The high power eyepiece is not of great quality (going by previous
year's models). But you can pick up a good HP eyepiece for around £30-40. That
still makes it superb value.
2. 70mm ETX-70 GoTo telescope. 119 sterling or 169 euro.
This seems to be the actual Meade model of that name, at a much reduced
price compared with usual outlets. Details:
70mm aperture, achromatic lens, F.L. 350mm (F. 5). Three eyepieces, on a
rotating turret, giving mags from 14x to 262x, including the 3x Barlow. Tripod,
carry rucksack. The 'GoTo' details are not given, but if it's the standard
model it will have about 1200 astronomical objects in its database. Once
properly aligned, it should 'go to' and find any of those objects by itself.
BUT: it must be properly aligned first, and I have heard of some people
having problems with that.
Somebody asked if it would be suitable to bring on the Eclipse Trip next
March. I'm not sure, but I think that it would be very difficult to align it
during daytime. Normally one needs at least two astronomical objects to align
it, as far as I know (I haven't got one), and during the day, there's only
one!
ALSO: although there may be 1200 objects in the database, bear in mind
that with only 70mm aperture, you'll only be able to see the brighter ones. And
in some cases, even if it finds the object for you, you won't be able to
recognise it as such in the low power eyepiece, and if you switch to a higher
power (and therefore smaller field of view), it may no longer be in the field of
view. So, it would be OK for finding the planets (except Pluto), and
brighter deep sky objects, but don't expect too much.
CORRECTION: Re the EAAS lecture, I've now been informed that the speaker was
in fact provided with directions by email, and a map via their website, so
I'm happy to make clear that correction.
But it just shows that even so, people can get lost in unfamiliar
territory, at night, in the rain. More advice: If in doubt, arrange to meet the
speaker at some well-known unmistakeable location nearby, and then bring him/her
to the venue.
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley
aol.com Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2005 19:44:19 EST Subject: Lidl Telescope offers, Correction Hi all, I've now checked out the details of the Lidl telescope offers, available from Monday 12 Dec. 1. 70mm Skylux F10 refractor 39.99 sterling or 59.99 euro. The usual pre-Xmas offer - only this year it's even cheaper! Details: 70mm achromatic lens, aluminium tube, F.L. 700mm (F. 10) Two eyepieces, 4mm (x175) & 20mm (x35). 3x Barlow (max mag = 525x, but this is totally impractical. Be happy with x175!). Star diagonal. 6x30 finder. Astronomy software on C.D. Equatorial mount with slow motions on both axes. Adjustable aluminium tripod. 5 year guarantee. Assuming that it's the same as last year, this is incredible value, with the price being substantially lower than last year! NB: The high power eyepiece is not of great quality (going by previous year's models). But you can pick up a good HP eyepiece for around £30-40. That still makes it superb value. 2. 70mm ETX-70 GoTo telescope. 119 sterling or 169 euro. This seems to be the actual Meade model of that name, at a much reduced price compared with usual outlets. Details: 70mm aperture, achromatic lens, F.L. 350mm (F. 5). Three eyepieces, on a rotating turret, giving mags from 14x to 262x, including the 3x Barlow. Tripod, carry rucksack. The 'GoTo' details are not given, but if it's the standard model it will have about 1200 astronomical objects in its database. Once properly aligned, it should 'go to' and find any of those objects by itself. BUT: it must be properly aligned first, and I have heard of some people having problems with that. Somebody asked if it would be suitable to bring on the Eclipse Trip next March. I'm not sure, but I think that it would be very difficult to align it during daytime. Normally one needs at least two astronomical objects to align it, as far as I know (I haven't got one), and during the day, there's only one! ALSO: although there may be 1200 objects in the database, bear in mind that with only 70mm aperture, you'll only be able to see the brighter ones. And in some cases, even if it finds the object for you, you won't be able to recognise it as such in the low power eyepiece, and if you switch to a higher power (and therefore smaller field of view), it may no longer be in the field of view. So, it would be OK for finding the planets (except Pluto), and brighter deep sky objects, but don't expect too much. CORRECTION: Re the EAAS lecture, I've now been informed that the speaker was in fact provided with directions by email, and a map via their website, so I'm happy to make clear that correction. But it just shows that even so, people can get lost in unfamiliar territory, at night, in the rain. More advice: If in doubt, arrange to meet the speaker at some well-known unmistakeable location nearby, and then bring him/her to the venue. Clear skies, Terry Moseley
