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Space Forum / Astronomy / December 2006Meade ETX-80AT or DSX-90AT
I have a choice of a Meade ETX-80AT for $150, or a DSX-90AT for $215. Which of these, if any, would you choose? > I have a choice of a Meade ETX-80AT for $150, or a DSX-90AT for $215. > Which of these, if any, would you choose? Well they're both GOTO scopes as I recall.... Any particular interest? Planetary observations? Moon?  SignatureFor me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. Carl Sagan -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > I have a choice of a Meade ETX-80AT for $150, or a DSX-90AT for $215. > Which of these, if any, would you choose? Here's a review of the DSX... http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1240 SignatureFor me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. Carl Sagan -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com Thanks, I saw that. Overall, is there one of these two scopes that is significantly better than the other for general use (moon, planets, deep space, etc.)? I'm guess that the 90AT would be better because it is slightly larger, and I believe the focusing mechanism might be better, but I just don't know. I'm an astro-noob. :-) > Thanks, I saw that. Overall, is there one of these two scopes that is > significantly better than the other for general use (moon, planets, > deep space, etc.)? I'm guess that the 90AT would be better because it > is slightly larger, and I believe the focusing mechanism might be > better, but I just don't know. I'm an astro-noob. :-) I'd go for the slightly larger aperture one, but don't be too disappointed when your views don't rival Hubble ;-) Saying that, the 10" Newtonian one I had was awesome, but still you'd read "Astronomy" or "Sky and Telescope" and be very,very envious... Your views of the Moon though will be good. There is something breathtaking about the craters through a telescope... SignatureFor me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. Carl Sagan -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com Before buying ANY telescope you should read this first: Telescope Buyers FAQ http://home.inreach.com/starlord SignatureThere are those who believe that life here, began out there, far across the universe, with tribes of humans, who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians, or the Toltecs, or the Mayans. Some believe that they may yet be brothers of man, who even now fight to survive, somewhere beyond the heavens. The Lone Sidewalk Astronomer of Rosamond Telescope Buyers FAQ http://home.inreach.com/starlord Sidewalk Astronomy www.sidewalkastronomy.info The Church of Eternity http://home.inreach.com/starlord/church/Eternity.html > Thanks, I saw that. Overall, is there one of these two scopes that is > significantly better than the other for general use (moon, planets, deep > space, etc.)? I'm guess that the 90AT would be better because it is > slightly larger, and I believe the focusing mechanism might be better, but > I just don't know. I'm an astro-noob. :-) > Before buying ANY telescope you should read this first: > Telescope Buyers FAQ > http://home.inreach.com/starlord Thanks. But it doesn't answer my question. Well, the manager of this trailer park didn't read it and he got an ETX80 and it's was a total waste of money, it's goto will not aline right and it will just not work as per the inst sheet says it should. he read the FAQ and the next time out with what he learned, he was able to by a meade 210 EQ mounted scope and it works as it should too. SignatureThere are those who believe that life here, began out there, far across the universe, with tribes of humans, who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians, or the Toltecs, or the Mayans. Some believe that they may yet be brothers of man, who even now fight to survive, somewhere beyond the heavens. The Lone Sidewalk Astronomer of Rosamond Telescope Buyers FAQ http://home.inreach.com/starlord Sidewalk Astronomy www.sidewalkastronomy.info The Church of Eternity http://home.inreach.com/starlord/church/Eternity.html >> Before buying ANY telescope you should read this first: >> Telescope Buyers FAQ >> http://home.inreach.com/starlord > > Thanks. But it doesn't answer my question. Thanks again. I actually did read it, but I also needed to read around other website too. It's a slow process but I am learning. Here is the extent of my knowledge so far... The ETX-80 is a refractor, and the DSX-90 (similar to the ETX-90) is a "Mak-Cass". The EXT-80 is a wide-field scope (focal length ~350) and the DSX-90 is not (focal length ~1250mm). The ETX-80 seems suitable for someone looking for some terrestrial viewing as well as some general astronomy (moon, planets), and isn't a good choice for deep space. On the other hand, the DSX-90 is not suitable for terrestrial viewing because of image reversal, but is suitable for modest deep space use. I also found the following info at the Yahoo! DSX group... "Meade Instruments Corporation produced a line of telescopes between 2003 and 2005 known as the DSX series. These telescopes included the 90mm and 125mm ETX optical tube assemblies mounted on Meade's DS GOTO mount. In the Summer of 2005 Meade stopped production of these instruments, and placed the remaining inventory up for sale through the company's factory outlet store on eBay. These represented a tremendous value: For less than $500 the purchaser received an ETX-125 or ETX-90 optical tube complete with optical finder, AutoStar #497 controller, and the DS GOTO mount and tripod. Many experienced amateur astronomers bought one these for use as a second, highly portable telescope." (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DSXTelescopes) So it would seem that the DSX-90AT is definitely the better astronomical telescope, possibly rivaling the ETX-90AT. Does that sound fair? > Well, the manager of this trailer park didn't read it and he got an ETX80 > and it's was a total waste of money, it's goto will not aline right and it [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> >> Thanks. But it doesn't answer my question. I meant to ask, do you think the problems were specific to his scope, or do you see them as being inherent to the model? > Well, the manager of this trailer park didn't read it and he got an ETX80 > and it's was a total waste of money, it's goto will not aline right and it [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> >> Thanks. But it doesn't answer my question. |
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