Hi there. You posted:

> Does anybody out there know of a manufacturer that makes anything today
> that's a close equivalent of the Celestron C90?

Yes, there are various approximately 90mm aperture Maksutovs which are sold by
outfits like Orion Telescopes and Binoculars. The StarMax 90 is a nice
example. Clear skies to you.
--
David W. Knisely
Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/

**********************************************
* Attend the 11th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY *
* July 18-23, 2004, Merritt Reservoir *
* http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org *
**********************************************

Hi there. You posted:

> Does anybody out there know of a manufacturer that makes anything today
> that's a close equivalent of the Celestron C90?

Yes, there are various approximately 90mm aperture Maksutovs which are sold by
outfits like Orion Telescopes and Binoculars. The StarMax 90 is a nice
example. Clear skies to you.
--
David W. Knisely
Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/

**********************************************
* Attend the 11th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY *
* July 18-23, 2004, Merritt Reservoir *
* http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org *
**********************************************

>Celestron C90? Supposedly, a C5 spotting
>scope is about the closest from Celestron. I don't need the fancy
>computerized mounts.

How about an ETX 90 spotting scope or RA model (you can still buy these)?

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto <http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html>

>Celestron C90? Supposedly, a C5 spotting
>scope is about the closest from Celestron. I don't need the fancy
>computerized mounts.

How about an ETX 90 spotting scope or RA model (you can still buy these)?

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto <http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html>

>How about an ETX 90 spotting scope or RA model (you can still buy these)?

I had a Meade 97ER there for a spell, i think it was essentially a C90 clone,
1000mm focal length and was focused by twisting the body much like a camera.

These new modern MAKs seem to be slower, (F14 as compared to F11) and have
decent optics, something that was not always the case with the C90 and the
97ER.

jon isaacs

>How about an ETX 90 spotting scope or RA model (you can still buy these)?

I had a Meade 97ER there for a spell, i think it was essentially a C90 clone,
1000mm focal length and was focused by twisting the body much like a camera.

These new modern MAKs seem to be slower, (F14 as compared to F11) and have
decent optics, something that was not always the case with the C90 and the
97ER.

jon isaacs

>
>These new modern MAKs seem to be slower, (F14 as compared to F11) and have
>decent optics, something that was not always the case with the C90 and the
>97ER.
>

Hi Jon:

Yep. But I must admit that I have seen some terrific C90s over the years. I
wish the big C would ditch the NS4 and bring back the C90...it's optics were
at least better than that import's...;-(

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto <http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html>

>
>These new modern MAKs seem to be slower, (F14 as compared to F11) and have
>decent optics, something that was not always the case with the C90 and the
>97ER.
>

Hi Jon:

Yep. But I must admit that I have seen some terrific C90s over the years. I
wish the big C would ditch the NS4 and bring back the C90...it's optics were
at least better than that import's...;-(

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto <http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html>

"High Flight" > wrote in message
...
> Does anybody out there know of a manufacturer that makes anything today
> that's a close equivalent of the Celestron C90? Supposedly, a C5 spotting
> scope is about the closest from Celestron. I don't need the fancy
> computerized mounts.

The Meade ETX-90RA (the non-computerized ETX-90) is still abundant used;
check www.scopetronix.com and other dealers who may have some of them new.
It is removable from its mount for use as a spotting scope.

There is a C90 available used from www.charlottecamera.com, I think.

"High Flight" > wrote in message
...
> Does anybody out there know of a manufacturer that makes anything today
> that's a close equivalent of the Celestron C90? Supposedly, a C5 spotting
> scope is about the closest from Celestron. I don't need the fancy
> computerized mounts.

The Meade ETX-90RA (the non-computerized ETX-90) is still abundant used;
check www.scopetronix.com and other dealers who may have some of them new.
It is removable from its mount for use as a spotting scope.

There is a C90 available used from www.charlottecamera.com, I think.

>Hi Jon:
>
>Yep. But I must admit that I have seen some terrific C90s over the years. I
>wish the big C would ditch the NS4 and bring back the C90...it's optics were
>at least better than that import's...;-(

I think the big C was pretty smart in adding the 130mm F5 Newtonian to the
line, hopefully replacing the Nextstar 114GT. This OTA is essentially a scaled
down version of the 8 inch F5 Synta so imagine those optics on a small Nextstar
mount for under $400. For my money it's a winner.

I am not sure if the mount is sufficiently robust to hand the OTA but optically
I think these scopes are pretty decent and provide some real light gathering, I
am pretty impressed with my Orion SpaceProbe 130ST. With a 32 mm Plossl their
650mm focal length is about 20X with somewhere near 2.5 degree FOV.

If they would add a 2 inch focuser, (mine has one) then things would get pretty
interesting, a 32 widefield gives a better than 3 degree FOV and the summer
Milky Way is pretty amazing.

Jon Isaacs

>Hi Jon:
>
>Yep. But I must admit that I have seen some terrific C90s over the years. I
>wish the big C would ditch the NS4 and bring back the C90...it's optics were
>at least better than that import's...;-(

I think the big C was pretty smart in adding the 130mm F5 Newtonian to the
line, hopefully replacing the Nextstar 114GT. This OTA is essentially a scaled
down version of the 8 inch F5 Synta so imagine those optics on a small Nextstar
mount for under $400. For my money it's a winner.

I am not sure if the mount is sufficiently robust to hand the OTA but optically
I think these scopes are pretty decent and provide some real light gathering, I
am pretty impressed with my Orion SpaceProbe 130ST. With a 32 mm Plossl their
650mm focal length is about 20X with somewhere near 2.5 degree FOV.

If they would add a 2 inch focuser, (mine has one) then things would get pretty
interesting, a 32 widefield gives a better than 3 degree FOV and the summer
Milky Way is pretty amazing.

Jon Isaacs

"Rod Mollise" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Jon:
>
> Yep. But I must admit that I have seen some terrific C90s over the years.
I
> wish the big C would ditch the NS4 and bring back the C90...it's optics
were
> at least better than that import's...;-(
>

I've got one of the rubber coated C90s; it's a great "throw it in the car
and take it anywhere" scope, and fabulous for terrestrial use as well as
astronomy. I've had it for many, many years and would never part with it!
It's waterproof too, so no worries about using it the rain for terrestrial
purposes!

Regards,

Chris

"Rod Mollise" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Jon:
>
> Yep. But I must admit that I have seen some terrific C90s over the years.
I
> wish the big C would ditch the NS4 and bring back the C90...it's optics
were
> at least better than that import's...;-(
>

I've got one of the rubber coated C90s; it's a great "throw it in the car
and take it anywhere" scope, and fabulous for terrestrial use as well as
astronomy. I've had it for many, many years and would never part with it!
It's waterproof too, so no worries about using it the rain for terrestrial
purposes!

Regards,

Chris

>
>I've got one of the rubber coated C90s; it's a great "throw it in the car
>and take it anywhere" scope, and fabulous for terrestrial use as well as
>astronomy.

Hi Chris:

I always meant to pick up a C90 Astro...now I'm sorry I never did...:-(


Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto <http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html>

>
>I've got one of the rubber coated C90s; it's a great "throw it in the car
>and take it anywhere" scope, and fabulous for terrestrial use as well as
>astronomy.

Hi Chris:

I always meant to pick up a C90 Astro...now I'm sorry I never did...:-(


Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto <http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html>

High Flight wrote:
>
> Does
> anybody have any experience with Celestron's recollimation (sp?) work on
> an old scope?

I had my C5+ recoated and recollimated by Celestron last Summer. They
did an excellent job.

Phil

High Flight wrote:
>
> Does
> anybody have any experience with Celestron's recollimation (sp?) work on
> an old scope?

I had my C5+ recoated and recollimated by Celestron last Summer. They
did an excellent job.

Phil