Celestron NexStar 11" GPS

Something to consider down the road. Some of the sharpest, most vivid
deep-space astrophotography I've seen has been achieved via modest
aperture refractors.

Most of those "modest aperture refractors" by themselves probably cost more
than a 11 or 12 inch SCT complete with GOTO and the mount might well have cost
as much or even more.....

If you want to build a scope, I think a Newtonian is the way to go, Edmunds is
not the place to buy. In either case. One can buy a simple Chinese Achromat
for less than it would cost to build the same thing, optically these are as
good as one will probably get. One can by an APO objective from someone like
TMB but it is not a cheap thing....

Sitll wondering if you have looked at the Nextstar 11 GPS in person, sometimes
those nice catalogs and webpages do convey size very well.

jon

On 12 Aug 2003 12:34:21 GMT, (Jon Isaacs) wrote:


If you want to build a scope, I think a Newtonian is the way to go, Edmunds is
not the place to buy. In either case. One can buy a simple Chinese Achromat
for less than it would cost to build the same thing


Yeah, but it wouldn't be as fun! I still think it would be great to
attempt a rather large refractor. Back in the 1960s I seem to recall
that Edmund had optical glass grinding kits (??).


Sitll wondering if you have looked at the Nextstar 11 GPS in person, sometimes
those nice catalogs and webpages do convey size very well.


Yes, and the Meades as well. They seem to be everywhere. Even a local
Ace Hardware stocks Celestrons. I've not had a chance to use one for
night viewing. Alas, if Celestron and Meade are my only budgetary
choices in a 10-12" GPS SC scope, and if all the positive comments
I've heard so far are accurate, then I think my chances are pretty
good. And given the XLT improvements, I have great anticipation.

A Celestron tech support guy finally called me back and confirmed that
NexStar 11 optics all meet minimum spec (1/4 wave?), but also
confirmed that certain scopes off the line can be better than others.
He knew of no way to order "select" optics.

BTW, FWIW, one of the Celestron dealers told me that, for the last 2-3
months, Celestron has been shipping XLT coated scopes (9.25, 11, 14)
as non-XLT scopes. Something to do with assuring "real world" process
and quality control. Apparently, you can tell if it's XLT by a small
pink sticker on the telescope and (of course) the color of the glass.

Paige Turner wrote:
On 12 Aug 2003 12:34:21 GMT, (Jon Isaacs) wrote:


Apparently, you can tell if it's XLT by a small
pink sticker on the telescope and (of course) the color of the glass.


"(of course) the color of the glass"

What color should it be?

Phil

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 03:35:08 GMT, Phil Wheeler
wrote:

Paige Turner wrote:
On 12 Aug 2003 12:34:21 GMT, (Jon Isaacs) wrote:


Apparently, you can tell if it's XLT by a small
pink sticker on the telescope and (of course) the color of the glass.

What color should it be?


I have no idea, but I'm guessing that if you visually compared an XLT
lens vs. non-XLT lens, you could detect a color difference.

Anyone?

Paige Turner wrote:
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 03:35:08 GMT, Phil Wheeler
wrote:


Paige Turner wrote:

On 12 Aug 2003 12:34:21 GMT, (Jon Isaacs) wrote:


Apparently, you can tell if it's XLT by a small
pink sticker on the telescope and (of course) the color of the glass.

What color should it be?



I have no idea, but I'm guessing that if you visually compared an XLT
lens vs. non-XLT lens, you could detect a color difference.

I cannot (I have an NS 8GPS with XLT coatings and a C5+ without).

There is a pink sticker on the cap for the rear aperture. And the box
has an XLT coatings label on it.

Phil

Hi Paige, Yes, I believe most good dealers bear similar prices On
Meade, and Celestron SCTs. The wisest choice I think all will give you
here then, is to buy from a good reputable dealer, with a good track
record that will back YOU up in case there are problems.

I think once the dealer has said scope in hand, probably quite a few
would ship any way you desire, Fed-Ex next day if you wished.
You naturally foot the bill. :-)

Edmund Scientific doesn't really have much in the way of ATM Telescope
Parts anymore, but there are a slew of companies/vendors present at the
Astromart Home Page www.astromart.com

Yes, I agree too Paige, some of the most beautiful Astro-Images I've
ever seen, has come from highly experienced amateurs, armed with a very
modest "Sized" instrument. A gentleman by the name of Ray Graylak comes
to mind. The Deep Sky images Ray has done with just an AP 105mm
Traveler are just awesome! Mark