S.A.A Telescope Questionnaire - beta 1

Rather, ask:
After having read the telescope buyers FAQ [give the URL}, what additional
questions would you like to ask us about your own situation and needs?
Bill Meyers

Starlord wrote:

#4 Have you read the Telescope Buyers FAQ?

--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Freelance Writers Shop
http://www.freelancewrittersshop.netfirms.com
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
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"Bill Ferris" wrote in message
...
As for me, I'm sticking with the three questions which have served well over
the years...

1. What's your budget?

2. Where will you use your telescope and how will you get it there?

3. What kind of observing would you like to do: lunar/planetary (Moon,
Jupiter,
etc.); deep-sky (star clusters and nebulae; or a little bit of both?

Regards,

Bill Ferris
"Cosmic Voyage: The Online Resource for Amateur Astronomers"
URL: http://www.cosmic-voyage.net
=============
Email: Remove "ic" from .comic above to respond


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That is a good one too.


--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Freelance Writers Shop
http://www.freelancewrittersshop.netfirms.com
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
Ad World
http://adworld.netfirms.com

"Bill Meyers" wrote in message
...
Rather, ask:
After having read the telescope buyers FAQ [give the URL}, what additional
questions would you like to ask us about your own situation and needs?
Bill Meyers

Starlord wrote:

#4 Have you read the Telescope Buyers FAQ?




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.528 / Virus Database: 324 - Release Date: 10/16/03

--
To reply, remove the "z" if one appears in my address
"Bill Meyers" wrote in message
...
Rather, ask:
After having read the telescope buyers FAQ [give the URL}, what
additional
questions would you like to ask us about your own situation and needs?
Bill Meyers


Hi, Bill!

I think all that's necessary is exactly what you have above and nothing
more. My rationale for that is in the first installment of this thread
further back in the pack a few days...

Just can't get over the summer here. Yesterday made it the latest date in
the year ever over 100 degrees. And today extended that. This is the
hottest July and August ever on record (probably September, too, but I
haven't seen the hard date yet that supports that one), and the third
hottest year ever on record (the second hottest was last year)... And on
and on it goes...

These are good questions but I think that more questions would be helpful.
A good rule is to avoid questions that ask for a "yes" or "no" answer. Try to
elicit longer answers.
Bill Meyers

Bill Ferris wrote:

As for me, I'm sticking with the three questions which have served well over
the years...

1. What's your budget?

2. Where will you use your telescope and how will you get it there?

3. What kind of observing would you like to do: lunar/planetary (Moon, Jupiter,
etc.); deep-sky (star clusters and nebulae; or a little bit of both?

Regards,

Bill Ferris
"Cosmic Voyage: The Online Resource for Amateur Astronomers"
URL: http://www.cosmic-voyage.net
=============
Email: Remove "ic" from .comic above to respond

"Stephen Paul" wrote in message ...
"Victor" wrote in message
...
QUESTIONNAIRE

10) Do you enjoy assembling and maintaining your equipment, or would you
rather not?

Or perhaps, "How much time and effort are you prepared to spend
assembling and disassembling yuur telescope? Are you prepered to spend
30 minutes, an hour?"
Clear skies,
Shneor Sherman

Good question, in principle, but give a greater range of times on on the low end, for example, 5
minutes, ...etc.
Bill Meyers

Shneor Sherman wrote:

"Stephen Paul" wrote in message ...
"Victor" wrote in message
...
QUESTIONNAIRE

10) Do you enjoy assembling and maintaining your equipment, or would you
rather not?

Or perhaps, "How much time and effort are you prepared to spend
assembling and disassembling yuur telescope? Are you prepered to spend
30 minutes, an hour?"
Clear skies,
Shneor Sherman

Good theme.Maybe ask also how much they enjoy fixing up and improving
equipment, and to what extent tthey have carpentry or mechanical skills and
interests, and what kind of workshop facilities.
In general, avoid questions that can be answered "yes" or "no". Try for
questions that elicit longer answers.

Stephen Paul wrote:

"Victor" wrote in message
...
QUESTIONNAIRE

10) Do you enjoy assembling and maintaining your equipment, or would you
rather not?

After reading a bunch of the responses to this thread, I can only conclude
that it's purpose is to:

Force the respondent to prove he or she is worthy of a new scope.
Make sure the person has the "right" reasons for wanting to buy a scope.
Make sure they can take a test which has NOTHING to do with buying a
scope.
Ensure someone understands the importance of owning a pair of binoculars.

If it's a questionnaire for the purpose of helping someone chose a scope,
it should be VERY short and to the point. And probably start out with
referring the person to the FAQ, which is the REAL source document, and
not a demographics questionnaire. or the Spanish Inquisition revisited.

--
To reply, remove the "z" if one appears in my address
"Victor" wrote in message
...
I liked Bill Greer's questions a lot and just thought Question number 9
should be added (see below). More suggestions are welcome!

When we have 'consensus' on its contents, we should keep a copy of it
somewhere. So if a regular S.A.A poster sees someone with the normal
"Which telescope should I buy?" question, then he or she can reply with
the questionnaire.

Hopefully the original poster will go through the effort of answering it
and send it back to the newsgroup. Then we can unleash our informed
advice onto the poor soul! ;-)


QUESTIONNAIRE

Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability.
Your answers will greatly assist us in directing you to the right
telescope for your needs.

1) What price range are you considering? Would you be willing to
spend more in order to get the performance you desire?

2) What would you like to be able to see? What specific details
would you want to be able to see in those objects?

3) Would you eventually want to use this telescope for photography,
CCD imaging, or any other specialized purpose?

4) What is the nearest city/town to the area in which you plan on
using the telescope? How far from this city/town do you intend to set
up and use your new telescope?

5) If size and weight are important factors, what are your
approximate limitations?

6) Do you want the telescope now; or are you willing to wait for the
right telescope?

7) Are there any specific features or capabilities you think you
would want or not want in your new telescope?

8) Is there anything else that would be important for us to consider
in order to direct you to the right telescope?

9) In which country do you stay? Some equipment manufacturers may not
have distributors there.


--
25° 45' S
28° 12' E

So far one important question that has been left out:

44. Is it important that your telescope be bigger than that other guys? Would
you be satisfied to own a long thin telescope or a short fat one as long as it
was satisfying?

jon

42. What is the answer to life, the universe and everything?

trane ;^)
--
//------------------------------------------------------------
// Trane Francks Tokyo, Japan
// Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.
// http://mp3.com/trane_francks/