Starry-Nite wrote:
"Shirish" wrote in message news...
Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron product. I
have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries plugged in the
teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for suggestions...
-s

Howdy!

I bought the same scope for show & tell and as an easy travel scope.

The power socket on my scope failed the 2nd time I inserted the plug
from the AA battery power pack. There is a small clip inside the
socket, kinda like the clip on a pen that holds the pen to a pocket.
This clip was (to use a highly technical term) "Smooshed" down into

Can also be caused by operaor error, of course. For a new scope

Also, you will quickly find that the AA batteries are not up to the
task. I use a battery pack that has a 12 volt (cigaret lighter type)
plug going out. The battery pack is the type that has a built-in
jumper cables and light. I have found just as useful for jumping cars
as for powering the scope.

I have one I bought in the camping department at Target. Good jumpstart
packs also at Wal-Mart and Costco.

The eyepieces that come with the scope are pretty poor (other language
comes to mind, but I'll hold my tongue). For this scope I have
enjoyed using the Celestron Eyepiece Set that retails for ~$100.
Check with the place where you bought the scope, or on Amazon.com.

The 20 mm SMA eyepiece that comes with the scope is OK. The Eyepiece Set
(retails for around $125-$140 now) is much better.

Be aware that this is a minimum-quality telescope. As long as your
expectations are within the scope's ability, you should find it fun to
use.

Mine's nice (better than the bigger telescope I used in high school many
years ago), but it came well collimated from the factory. Collimation
helps a lot. Note: the 114GT has a "barlow" mounted in the eyepiece tube
that has to be removed temporarily to collimate the scope. For more
money but less hassle, the 130GT is a good alternative.
--
Pat O'Connell
[note munged EMail address]
Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints,
Kill nothing but vandals...