Newbie Jimmy wrote:Hi,
I'm looking to buy a telescope and really like the idea of the Sky-Watcher Star Discovery 150i f/5
It has Wi-fi (which I wouldn't normally go for) but it also has the capability to be manually moved to look elsewhere and afterwards it will slew back to where you were originally looking.
Other Wi-fi enabled telescopes I've seen such as the Astro Fi series do not have this capability and can only be moved by the Wi-Fi connected tablet or laptop.
My question though please is that in it's description it says "NOTE: The 150i telescope has a non-collimateable primary mirror"
Would someone be able to explain to me please what if any the pitfalls of this could be?
Thanks
Jimmy
Newbie Jimmy wrote:
My question though please is that in it's description it says "NOTE: The 150i telescope has a non-collimateable primary mirror"
Would someone be able to explain to me please what if any the pitfalls of this could be?
Thanks
Jimmy
Gfamily2 wrote:Hi Jimmy
There's a discussion on the Cloudy Nights forum about this very telescope - with a video review.
Without having watched the video, or read all the comments, it seems as though the intention is that it is made such that primary collimation should not be necessary, but small primary mirror adjustments are possible.
The secondary can be collimated in the usual way.
Aratus wrote:
'Collimation' is the process that does all that. It normaly involves 3 screws on the main mirror which you can adjust to bring the mirror to right angles with the tube. Different temperatures acting on the mirror mount, simply moving the telescope about, or knocking it can upset the collimation. From what I understand, Skywatcher have mounted the mirror in such a fashion that it will never move, whatever happens to it. Thus having lined it up at the factory, it no longer needs to be collimated.
Newbie Jimmy wrote:I have been thinking about this scope and am not sure if the Wi-Fi aspect really appeals. I imagine I'll have to look at my bright phone or tablet in a dark field which will cause eye glare. Plus I'll be relying on phone/tablet battery life too.
I am unable to find online a version of the non Wi-Fi Sky-Watcher Star Discovery 150p currently for sale as new as i think it's been discontinued and replaced by this Wi-Fi version.
However, i have managed to find an Orion Starseeker IV 150p telescope that looks almost identical? (this thread wont allow me to post the link to Amazon)
Is this scope the same do you think as the previous Sky-watcher version?
Jimmy
vega1972 wrote:
Therefore I can't see why a Newtonian telescope can't be made to keep a decent image throughout its lifetime. Or is this simplistic?
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