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[headdunce]

Alright, I was very annoyed last weekend trying to get the IntelliDob set up on two stars so I could use the intelli push to finder thing. Since I don't know my stars well yet, I try and cheat with some app on my wife's phone (my phone isn't fancy, it just makes phone calls.) But with the blue moon making it so I was seeing way way more stars through the spotting scope than with the naked eye, my lack of knowledge of stars, the phone always going into hibernate mode, and the app on the phone not really lining up with your eye sight - I failed. Honestly I think I've got the Intelli part working well only once so far (not sure what that says about my intelli.. )

So sorry for the clouds, but I bought some more tools today ;D

One of these SkyScout things, which I know all the guys who know what they are doing make fun of
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CNPAAA/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

And the laser so I can at least get in the general area of what I find with the SkyScout before I try and use the spotting scope -
www.telescope.com/Orion-SkyLine-Deluxe-Green-Laser-Pointer-amp-Telescope-Bracket/p/24780.uts
(got the bracket so I could mount it too)

And a case because I can see I'm quickly acquiring a lot of expensive delicate things with this hobby
www.telescope.com/Orion-Pluck-Foam-Accessory-Case-Black/p/5977.uts

[Paulie pchris00]

How funny. I hadn't read this thread in months, but was going through some old ones this morning. This was one of them.

CA Steve ha(s)(d) a Sky Scout. All I really remember was that it told stories, and that metal dome at Adler screwed up it's orientation.

[headdunce]

Yeah, I had read about the magnetic problem. I thought I'd be able to mount the SkyScout directly to the telescope, but I guess the steel in the tube of the scope will throw it off. I guess good stainless steel, or plastic, basically anything that a magnet won't stick to doesn't mess it up.

There are some mounts for them -
www.astronomy-shoppe.com/ScopeScout.htm
With something about a "Disrupter" that negates the steel...?

With the price drop on them from $400 to $150 and me cashing in some reward points, I kinda got it for free - should be interesting to try.

[headdunce]

Got the SkyScout and was just in my building's parking lot trying it out - IT"S AWESOME ;D EXACTLY WHAT I NEED!!! ;D

(yes, I know I don't know much about the stars, I read my monthly Astronomy Magazine, and some books, but eeshhh... it'd be like me trying to teach you guys how to write Perl or be a Linux admin as a hobby after work )

So after about 15 minutes of playing around, I'm all jazzed up on how this will help me figure things out a LOT! But I had to get back inside to watch the show on the new Discovery Channel Telescope, oh WOW does that thing look AWESOME!!! ....I'm thinking road trip to Arizona for New Years to check it out...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Adler bought that SkyScout and intended to use it for our public star parties...but yes...the Adler building prevented it from working properly. I had to take it to the beach in order to get it to accept the GPS signal.

When C.A. Steve got it from the Adler, we tried it on the C11...but again, the massive metal of the telescope prevented proper usage and it was delegated to a stand-alone instrument. It works fine when used solo and he got the external speaker that goes along with it.

Good acquirement Jim.

[headdunce]

I wonder if this "disrupter" thing solves the metal problem like I think it's suppose to -
www.astronomy-shoppe.com/ScopeScout.htm


I'll have to play around with all this some more, but may have to give them a call about that...

My brother says he's got the same problem with the GPS on his boat if something magnetic comes near it. He told me a story about a magnetic screwdriver being near it, he didn't realize it, but that's why he couldn't figure out where he was in the lake.

[headdunce]

Had the BEST time yet with my scope on Saturday night! The SkyScout did exactly what I was hoping in letting me quickly find the widest distance between two bright stars to set up the Intelliscope with the most accuracy. And the laser let me aim the scope in the general place at the stars I found with the SkyScout, then I used the spotting scope to get it perfect to set the Intelliscope. --- I was able to get the Intelliscope thing working on the 12" Dob in a couple minutes!!! (there were many nights I tried before but never could figure it out, I kinda got it working once before)

So I was able to see a WHOLE BUNCH OF DEEP SKY THINGS OUT THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! Andromeda Galaxy, Ring Nebula, M2, Wild Duck Cluster, oh the list goes on and on! IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!

...now I can't wait until next weekend to look at the sky again, oh how I hope the sky is clear! 3.5 hours north at my camper the sky was just amazing this past weekend!

[patrickm]

Jim,
Congrats! That's a huge breakthrough, and I remember mine like it was yesterday, which it almost was. I had different issues, but the first night that I felt like I kind of got it and that stuff finally worked, I was floating on air. I could hardly wait to get out there and see if I could do it again. I still have an enormous wish list, but very little will likely top that first night of seeing DSO's through my own teeny scope.

Salut!
p

[headdunce]

Thanks, I'm totally hooked now!