Thank you everybody for your continued help. I went up to Oceanside
Photo and Telescope (OPT) today and bought a telescope. If anybody is
in the marked for a telescope, I highly recommend them. Very nice
people who do not try to sell you something you don't need.

Congratulations on your new scope. Of all the advice one can give to someone
in San Diego, recommending OPT is the only one necessary...

You do know that it has been scientifically established that buying a new scope
results in cloudy nights in the region for approximately 3 weeks. You
probably should have taken the chance last night to get some viewing in before
the weather gods discovered your purchase. g

The real lesson here though is that one must never believe because it is clear
tonite, it will be clear tomorrow. If the skies are clear, get that scope out
and do some looking...

Sorry Jon, but I ended up with the 9 1/4 SCT. I really liked the 10
inch Reflector but it simply wasn't going to fit into my car (well, at
least not and let me drive).

Probably could be done, I could fit my 12.5 incher in my 1989 Nissan Sentra,
but I wouldn't recommend it.... One needs room for passengers and sitting in
the back seat behind the driver makes for awkward conversation and an oddly
balanced car. The scope you choose should be a good one.

As for accessories, they talked me out
of the dew heater system at first (I did get a nice Dew Shield), out
of the focal length reducer....

In San Diego, a dew shield will handle most situations, we don't have that
dripping humidity that folks have in many other parts of the country...

Regarding the focal reducer, I think that focal reducers are a good thing, I
have one for my C-5 and that wider, flatter field of view is a good thing.
The one that fits the C5 also fits the C-8 OTAs and probably the 9.25 incher as
well. If you wanted to try it out sometime, you could. I don't use the C-5
much except for eclipes.



Instead, he told me that what I really wanted was at least 1 good
eyepiece. My plan was to use the "accessory kit" eyepieces to decide
what I really needed but, after having them save me so much money, I
let myself be talked into a Teleview 8mm Radian.

Having a really good eyepiece is nice. But having a selection is nice as well.
Did you still purchase the accessory kit, or did you pass on it?

Best wishes, I am sure all will work out. Those guys at OPT will make sure
that it does.

And when it comes time to upgrade that SCT to a DOB, they'll be ready to
help....

Big Grin

jon