--- In starmaster_scopes@egroups.com, altraco@w... wrote:
> Randy
>
> I just ordered an Astro Caddy as well. Do you have yours yet? If so
how
> do you like it? I would like to share your experiences with the
> Obsession. E-mail me privately if you care to entertain this
subject.
>
> Dan

Dan,

I have the 2-toned Astro-Caddy ( Para-Ply with Cupay top).

I elected to go with the 11/6 arrangement for the eyepiece shelf.

The craftsmanship is outstanding -  the case is both beautiful and
functional.

I really like it.

Jerry

I just wanted to say how excited I am to be receiving my Starmaster
16" f/4.3 telescope with all the "bells and whistles" and that "sweet
musical" goto system.

Rick shipped it on Thursday (6/8) and the expected delivery date is
6/13. Once I get it, I don't know if I can leave it alone and go back
to work. Oh ya --- I have to work to pay for my toys.

I don't know how I can express my graditude to Rick and his wife
Carol for their help in this project but they have been great! All I
can say is "THANKS"!

Is it Tuesday yet?

-----Original Message-----
From: Markus Ludes <ludes@...>
To: starmaster_scopes@egroups.com <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2000 7:48 AM
Subject: [starmaster_scopes] Starmaster-GOTO-Zambuto combo

Hi Guys,

 

Rick and Zambuto are the best, never saw such good 20" Dob with GOTO as this year at RTMC. This impressed me so much, that I am, a guy who dont like dobs at all, ordered a 20" Starmaster GOTO with the unbelievable Zambuto mirrors.

At WSP 2001 Rick, Zambuto and I am will christening this scope with german Whitebeer

 

steady sky

Markus

---

---

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
starmaster_scopes-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Well, I'm a new member and I tried to post a message from the index of
messages page but it never came through so this time I'm replying to
someone else's message and just changing the subject line.  Hope this
works as I lost my other message completely.

I got my 10" original design StarMaster with a great Nova mirror at the
end of 1997, if I'm remembering correctly.  Rick doesn't make the 10"
scope anymore but it's a wonderful scope and I was lucky to get it the
way I did.  I had written Rick an exploratory e-mail asking about his
scopes and he just so happened to have *my 10" scope* just sitting there
waiting for me.  (How often does that happen????)  I knew it wouldn't
last long and I had to decide quickly.  We exchanged several e-mails
that afternoon and I found that Rick had once lived (many years ago)
only 4 miles from where I live.  That did it -- there were too many
things telling me that this was the scope for me.  Seemed like a long
time until it arrived (really only about 3 weeks) and it was a love
affair from that moment on.  I observe a lot out here in Colorado - I'm
lucky enough to live in dark skies and at 9350 ft. elevation about 35
miles west of Colorado Springs.  I really have no need for *go to* and
really prefer star hopping.  I enjoy the hunt almost as much as the view
-- unless I'm really tired and then *go to* sounds really good.  Our
local club does a lot of star parties and many folks have looked through
my scope at the Sun and Moon, planets, and deep sky objects.  I like to
think about all the little and big kids who have gotten their first
views of the night sky through this scope.  The best two accessories
I've ever gotten for it were my TV binoviewer (wonderful) and last fall,
a Tom O. platform (worth every penny I paid for it).  I had Tom make it
bigger than I needed just in case I decided to move up in size.  Every
couple of months I go to the StarMaster site and look at the 12.5 EL and
think about it.  I have a line of folks who would like to buy the 10"
but I would really hate to part with it.  Of course, the larger aperture
sounds great too.  One of my best observing buddies has a 15" Obsession
and he gets wonderful views and the extra aperture is really obvious on
some of the fainter objects.  I think StarMaster and Obsession are both
great scopes but being able to really talk to Rick and work with him
makes a big difference to me.  Rick came out to Colorado last summer and
we got to do some observing together at the Rocky Mtn. Star Stare.  What
a great guy and a real observer - like us.

Am looking forward to reading all the old messages and getting to know
you all but it will take a little time to catch up as I really got
behind on mail this week with all the solar activity going on -- I
belong to several lists.  Will be fun to talk to other StarMaster folks.

Ginger Mayfield
Divide, CO

Hi guys -

I joined this group after seeing the announcement on s.a.a.

I ordered an 18" last December, and expect delivery in July.  I'll let
everyone know how it goes.  I'm upgrading from a 10" Orion dob.

I ordered a Starmaster because:

1. I liked the mirror cell,

2. I like Rick Singmaster's engineering background,

3. I like the fact that I can remove the mirror from the mirror box,

4. I liked what Rick had to say on the website about thermal
considerations being a limiting factor in scope performance (having
also noticed this myself with a very bad mirror cell design that I
ended up replacing), and taking steps to minimize this.

I didn't know anything about Zambuto mirrors, and I was pleased to
learn of his legendary reputation!

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about this!

Derek,

Thanks for your input.  It sounds like maybe I should wait and see
what I might want rather than get EPs ahead of time.  Except for a
small handful all my EPs are 14mm or less (several Pentax XLs,
Radians, and a Zeiss).

- Bill
............................................................
William Schwittek - - syzygy@...

----- Original Message -----
From: <dawong@...>
To: <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 6:32 PM
Subject: [starmaster_scopes] Re: Eyepiece advice


> > AS I mentioned before, I am currently awaiting the delivery (in
the
> > fall) of an 18" Starmaster (no GOTO).
> >
> >
> > What eyepieces do people on the group use most?
>
> I have an 18" f/4.2 with Paracorr.  I find that I use the 22 Nagler,
> 12 Nagler, and 9 Nagler the most for DSO's.  Occasionally I will use
> the 4mm Radian, but most nights a 5-6mm eyepiece would be better.
>
> The 31 N5 is very nice, but there is always a bit of light pollution
> at the sites I visit and the best wide field views are with the 22.
>
> For planets with big scopes, I like to use a binoviewer.  The
Televue
> unit reaches focus easily, and see Todd Gross' review for eyepiece
> selection www.weatherman.com.  I use 18mm and 12mm Pentax orthos on
> this scope, although the planets were very low by the time I got it.
> By the way there is quite a bit of debate on binoviewers vs.
> monoculars, and it is personal preference.
>
> Derek
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
----
> Take 20 friends to Vegas on New Year's courtesy of Expedia.com.
> Win the airfare, a suite at Bellagio and $15,000. Or win 2 roundtrip
> tickets anywhere in the U.S. given away daily. Click for a chance to
win.
> http://click.egroups.com/1/5294/2/_/_/_/960589953/
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
----
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> starmaster_scopes-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>

HI Eric,
    Thanks for starting the Starmaster Egroups. I am waiting for the call
to pickup my 14.5 GOTO.
      Ken
>
> For those who couldn't guess - Starmaster@... is the man responsible for
> the great scopes we talk about here - Rick Singmaster.  I'm honored to have
> him reading the group and am sure he will be happy to answer any questions
> that the group can't handle.
>
> Eric
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <starmaster@...>
> To: <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 4:29 PM
> Subject: [starmaster_scopes] Glad to see this group!!
>
> > Thanks to all who are taking part in this group. I will not post
> > often, if ever and welcome any questions via direct email anyone may
> > have. The free flow of info is vital for all who wish to learn and
> > move forward. I will enjoy reading the messages and will pay
> > attention to what is said so I may be better able to serve my
> > customers now and in the future.
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> > starmaster_scopes-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> >
> >
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> more each month? Join beMANY! Our huge buying group gives you Long Distance
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--

Kenneth Schmidt                                        /|    ^
sailorboy@...                           ^ / |)
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/8214              \=====/
    May the wind fill my sails.                  ^^^^^^   ^^^^

Hi Dan, I got the large astrocaddy with oak finish to match the Starmaster.
I talked to Portia (Susan Carroll, Steve's wife) who said she mailed it
yesterday, so I should get it next Tuesday or so.  My ep's are sitting on
the dining room table right now, to my wife's consternation.

I will mail to you my thoughts on Obsession privately.
Randy

----- Original Message -----
From: <altraco@...>
To: <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 5:54 PM
Subject: Re: [starmaster_scopes] Re: Starmaster scopes


> Randy
>
> I just ordered an Astro Caddy as well. Do you have yours yet? If so how
> do you like it? I would like to share your experiences with the
> Obsession. E-mail me privately if you care to entertain this subject.
>
> Dan
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Take 20 friends to Vegas on New Year's courtesy of Expedia.com.
> Win the airfare, a suite at Bellagio and $15,000. Or win 2 roundtrip
> tickets anywhere in the U.S. given away daily. Click for a chance to win.
> http://click.egroups.com/1/5294/2/_/_/_/960591243/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> starmaster_scopes-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>

Randy

I just ordered an Astro Caddy as well. Do you have yours yet? If so how
do you like it? I would like to share your experiences with the
Obsession. E-mail me privately if you care to entertain this subject.

Dan

Hello group!  I, like Dan Kleppner, sold my 20" f/5 Obsession to by a
bit smaller 22" f/4.1 Starmaster with the Startracker drive and
Zambuto mirror.  I understand Carl is grinding the glass right now on
weekends, so mine will be the first Carl has done over 20" aperture
(from scratch)!  I'm hoping (Rick are you reading this???)that it's
finished sometime in next month.  I already bought a Paracorr from a
friend and ordered an Astrocaddy eyepiece case to match the scope!
There are so many things that are great about Starmaster scopes!  I
first saw Van Robinson's 22" f/4.1 at Atoka OK (Texas Astronomical
Society of Dallas) dark sky site.  It was wonderful and had a premium
Pegasus mirror. Van had the startracker drive added on then moved
into retirement near Ft. Davis (lucky guy!).

I, like others have been silenced on the Obsessionusersgroup, but as
a former 20" Obsession owner, felt that I had reason to post there.
I thought also about starting a Frequently Unanswered Questions
Obsession Owners page (FUQ Obsessionowners), but decided it might be
taken the wrong way. ;-)

I have found Rick to be a friend to all amateur astronomers and never
had him badmouth my telescope even when it was the "competition".

Next month should be showtime, I hope.  I'll continue to spread the
word and agree that it should be posted on SAA.
Clear skies,
Randy Rogers
St. Louis,  MO
stardot1@...


--- In starmaster_scopes@egroups.com, "dan kleppner" <altraco@w...>
wrote:
> Hello groupI too am delighted to see the birth of this group and
intend to keepit filled with posts as often as I can. I am an
Obsession owner 20".Well I'llsoon to be an ex Obsession owner thanks
to that GD RickSingmaster. My mistake was going to the Texas Star
Party. I thought Iwas content until I saw the 24" with GOTO. What a
freakin heartattack I had!!!!!!!!! Well you fellow scope junkies know
about thatsickening feeling that comes creaping into the gut. Sayyyyy
Rick,howww about putting my name down for one of these babies.So the
restis history. I'm not going to be an Obsession basher but
theStarmaster is so so superior in so many ways, mirror cell,
lightshroud, focal ratio, friction control,etc. Plus Rick is a super
guybefore, during and AFTER the sale. I'm not saying this because He
isreading this but because I truly believe this from first
handexperience. That said the Obsession is a good scope, but
Starmastersare in a different league. I own an 11" EL and I love this
scope forthe same reasons. Plus the scope sings a CUTE little tune
when itfinds the object. That's enough to keep a simpleton like
meentertained for the night. Fight the lightDan KleppnerPittsburgh Pa

> I take that to mean
> he didnt expect the goto drive to be more accurate
> that about 3/4 degrees (ie. half his field at 55mm).

I find my accuracy about 1/3 degree, although it can degrade over the
night and require recalibration.

That being said, when I saw Rick with his 20" it appeared that his
unit had great accuracy.  I would like to hear from others on how to
improve accuracy in the GOTO.

For me the biggest benefit from this system is not the GOTO but the
smooth tracking which allows better viewing of both faint objects and
planets.

Derek

> AS I mentioned before, I am currently awaiting the delivery (in the
> fall) of an 18" Starmaster (no GOTO).
>
>
> What eyepieces do people on the group use most?

I have an 18" f/4.2 with Paracorr.  I find that I use the 22 Nagler,
12 Nagler, and 9 Nagler the most for DSO's.  Occasionally I will use
the 4mm Radian, but most nights a 5-6mm eyepiece would be better.

The 31 N5 is very nice, but there is always a bit of light pollution
at the sites I visit and the best wide field views are with the 22.

For planets with big scopes, I like to use a binoviewer.  The Televue
unit reaches focus easily, and see Todd Gross' review for eyepiece
selection www.weatherman.com.  I use 18mm and 12mm Pentax orthos on
this scope, although the planets were very low by the time I got it.
By the way there is quite a bit of debate on binoviewers vs.
monoculars, and it is personal preference.

Derek

Hello groupI too am delighted to see the birth of this group and intend to
keepit filled with posts as often as I can. I am an Obsession owner 20".Well
I'llsoon to be an ex Obsession owner thanks to that GD RickSingmaster. My
mistake was going to the Texas Star Party. I thought Iwas content until I saw
the 24" with GOTO. What a freakin heartattack I had!!!!!!!!! Well you fellow
scope junkies know about thatsickening feeling that comes creaping into the gut.
Sayyyyy Rick,howww about putting my name down for one of these babies.So the
restis history. I'm not going to be an Obsession basher but theStarmaster is so
so superior in so many ways, mirror cell, lightshroud, focal ratio, friction
control,etc. Plus Rick is a super guybefore, during and AFTER the sale. I'm not
saying this because He isreading this but because I truly believe this from
first handexperience. That said the Obsession is a good scope, but
Starmastersare in a different league. I own an 11" EL and I love this scope
forthe same reasons. Plus the scope sings a CUTE little tune when itfinds the
object. That's enough to keep a simpleton like meentertained for the night.
Fight the lightDan KleppnerPittsburgh Pa

For those who couldn't guess - Starmaster@... is the man responsible for
the great scopes we talk about here - Rick Singmaster.  I'm honored to have
him reading the group and am sure he will be happy to answer any questions
that the group can't handle.

Eric


----- Original Message -----
From: <starmaster@...>
To: <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 4:29 PM
Subject: [starmaster_scopes] Glad to see this group!!


> Thanks to all who are taking part in this group. I will not post
> often, if ever and welcome any questions via direct email anyone may
> have. The free flow of info is vital for all who wish to learn and
> move forward. I will enjoy reading the messages and will pay
> attention to what is said so I may be better able to serve my
> customers now and in the future.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds!
> 1. Fill in the brief application
> 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds
> 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR
> http://click.egroups.com/1/5195/2/_/_/_/960582576/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> starmaster_scopes-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>

Thanks to all who are taking part in this group. I will not post
often, if ever and welcome any questions via direct email anyone may
have. The free flow of info is vital for all who wish to learn and
move forward. I will enjoy reading the messages and will pay
attention to what is said so I may be better able to serve my
customers now and in the future.

Another new member here...

I have a 14.5" Starmaster with Zambuto mirror and also have the Sky
Tracker. I have been absolutely thrilled with it for the last year
and a half I have owned it!  Observing planets and small objects like
planetary nebulae at high power is a real joy with this scope. I can
stop to take notes, have coffee, go converse with fellow observers
and come back to find the object still in the center of the fov.
Like Jeff I also tend to use a 16mm Nagler to align the Sky
Commander, and most of the time it will then goto an object and place
it at least at the edge of the fov.

I have to agree with an earlier post too, I detest scope wars and see
no point in them.  I almost bought an Obsession 15", but then I met
Rick...Then came the Zambuto mirrors, along with their instant
reputation for excellence, and then came the Sky Tracker.

Still, there are a LOT of attributes in the Obsessions to make their
owners, well, obsessed!

Doug Culbertson
Midway, FL





--- In starmaster_scopes@egroups.com, "Jeff Setzer"
<jeffrey.setzer@g...> wrote:
> I think he was being a little bit conservative. I routinely use a
> 16mm Nagler in my 22" f/4.1 and usually the object is in the field.
> Maybe about 30% of the time it's not, but then I just use the hand
> controller to cruise around a little bit until I find it...in most
> cases, if the object isn't in the field, it's less than a field
away.
>
> So I'm lazy! :-)
>
> BTW, the next time you see Jim, ask him about how he crash-tested a
> few Starmaster's in his old trailer.
>
> -Asstrosetz

AS I mentioned before, I am currently awaiting the delivery (in the
fall) of an 18" Starmaster (no GOTO).

I currently own refractors and because of their relatively short focal
length I have fairly short focal length eyepieces (most are under
10mm).  I do have a 27mm Panoptic and will be getting a Paracorr with
the Starmaster.

What eyepieces do people on the group use most?

- Bill
............................................................
William Schwittek - - syzygy@...
http://www.inourfamily.com/sites/B&H/

Rick is one of those people who "think outside of the box" very well.
Having a detachable mirror cell, employing f/ratios faster than 5,
using a cotton shroud, and keeping truss tubes in pairs are all
things that are just not done by anyone else. The GOTO system is just
another example of "why not?" innovation.

-Astrosetz

I think he was being a little bit conservative. I routinely use a
16mm Nagler in my 22" f/4.1 and usually the object is in the field.
Maybe about 30% of the time it's not, but then I just use the hand
controller to cruise around a little bit until I find it...in most
cases, if the object isn't in the field, it's less than a field away.

So I'm lazy! :-)

BTW, the next time you see Jim, ask him about how he crash-tested a
few Starmaster's in his old trailer.

-Asstrosetz

At TSP, I watched (with some envy) Jim Ketchum slew his 18" GOTO
Starmaster around. Jim was always pleased with the GOTO
accuracy, but he would always confirm the object was in
the field with a 55mm eyepiece. I take that to mean
he didnt expect the goto drive to be more accurate
that about 3/4 degrees (ie. half his field at 55mm).

Was Jim just being conservative?

I'd like to hear from other goto owners about their
expierences with the drive.

-ad.

ps. I still find it pretty amazing that Rick S. thought to use
     velcro as a precision component.

Hi folks,

Just found this group. I was on the Obsession group, replying to
a "Starmaster slam," when I was told they don't want to talk about
Starmasters. Interesting...the same guy that slammed the Starmaster
doesn't want to hear a different point of view. I think I was very
polite and non-confrontational, but they just didn't want to hear
anything.

Anyway, I was about to make my own "Starmaster" group when I found
this one. Why don't you announce it on sci.astro.amateur? There are a
lot of Starmaster owners out there! I think we could have an
excellent resource to collectively share info about these scopes.
It's hard to keep up with just the innovations and tweaks Rick
Singmaster comes up with, let alone what the owners do.

For the record, I have a 22" f/4.1 Starmaster with the Sky Tracker
system. The scope was actually Rick's own scope, which he took around
to star parties in the mid-90s. The Sky Tracker didn't exist when I
bought the scope, but during the few months before delivery Rick told
me about the concept and I said "put it on." He showed it off at the
Winter Star Party of 98, and that spring I took delivery.

He's changed the scopes since then, and I've pretty much kept up. But
I know there are a lot of cool things users are doing, and I hope to
find out about that stuff in this forum.

-Astrosetz

I spent several years drooling over Mike Harvey's 18" Obsession and wanted
to buy it
from him when he upgraded to a 20" Starmaster with GOTO and Stabilite
mirror.
Alas, my financial position was not such that I could have bought it at the
time it went
on the market.  That was one sweet scope!

When it was time to buy a new scope, I decided to go with Starmaster for
several reasons:

1. I had met Rick at several star parties and he is an extremely nice guy.
2. Liked the mirror cell rather than the sling and the fact that the mirror
and cell travel
     securely tucked away in their own wooden box.
3. Really liked the way Rick built enough friction into the system so that
you could go
     from a 1 1/4" 4mm Plossel to a 20mm Nagler with Paracorr and never have
to add or
     remove any counterweight.
4. Liked the fact that the Telrad, shroud, truss-tube cover and secondary
cover came as
     standard with the scope.
5. Liked the fact that the scope came with a Zambuto mirror.

For the Obsession, I do like the altitude bearings.  Those cast thingies are
as cool as
anything looking!  And, of course, the finish on an Obsession is so fine you
could probably
convince the wife it would look good in the living room.

The real deciding reason was that I really wanted a 16 rather than a 15 and
the fact that Rick had a 16 ready to ship.  Instant gratification took over
and as soon as I heard that.... the credit card number was immediately
electronically blipping its way to Kansas.

I DETEST scopewarz!  While I run the Unofficial C-8 Homepage
(www.america.net/~erg), there have been many times I've suggested a Meade
SCT over a Celestron.  I believe recommending the instrument that best
fulfills what the potential owner wants/needs is far better than going with
a brand name.  The same applies to Obsession vs. Starmaster vs. Tectron vs.
Starsplitter - none are poor telescopes and each have their fan club and
supporters.  Far more important that what type telescope you have is what
you actually end up doing with it.

Eric


----- Original Message -----
From: "Attilla Danko" <attilla.danko@...>
To: <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 9:15 PM
Subject: [starmaster_scopes] Re: Gee, its quiet here.


> --- In starmaster_scopes@egroups.com, "Eric Greene" <ergreen@m...>
> wrote:
> > Well... I just started this listserv as some fun and have not
> advertised it
> > anywhere.
> >
>
> Well when you decide to tell the world. Consider the example of
> the obsessionusers group. Doug Finch annouced it on sci.astro.amateur.
> 48 hours later there were >40 subscribers. In three days there
> have been 98 postings.
>
> I think Starmaster will generate similar interest.
>
>
> > And - of COURSE Starmasters are better than Obsessions!  Can you
> buy an
> > Obsession
> > with GOTO?
> >
>
> Nope. Cant even get a commerical retrofit.
>
> But there are other things that I think are better about
> Starmaster too.
>
> -ad
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Remember Father's Day Is June 18th
> Click Here For Great Gifts!
> http://click.egroups.com/1/5037/2/_/_/_/960340523/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> starmaster_scopes-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>

Yes, I agree - why not announce this group on SAA?  I'd love
to contribute to the group but I'm waiting for my Starmaster
and don't really have much to contribute, yet.

I'd be appreciative of any advice, tips, hints that anyone
wanted to pass along about Starmasters in general and how I
can get up to speed a soon as possible once the scope
arrives.

I ordered the "plain vanilla" 18" scope without GOTO or DSC.
The only extra I ordered was a Paracorr-everyone I talked to
felt this was very worthwhile.

I have a pretty good set of eyepieces but they are more
oriented towards my 6" and 4" refractors--in other words
they tend to be short focal length (5.2mm & 14mm Pentax, 4mm
Zeiss, 3mm Radian, full set of Brandons).  I do have a 27mm
Panoptic.  Any recommendations about eyepieces?

Any info about your own modifications or things to watch out
for?

- Bill
............................................................
William Schwittek - - syzygy@...

----- Original Message -----
From: Attilla Danko <attilla.danko@...>
To: <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 9:15 PM
Subject: [starmaster_scopes] Re: Gee, its quiet here.


> --- In starmaster_scopes@egroups.com, "Eric Greene"
<ergreen@m...>
> wrote:
> > Well... I just started this listserv as some fun and
have not
> advertised it
> > anywhere.
> >
>
> Well when you decide to tell the world. Consider the
example of
> the obsessionusers group. Doug Finch annouced it on
sci.astro.amateur.
> 48 hours later there were >40 subscribers. In three days
there
> have been 98 postings.
>
> I think Starmaster will generate similar interest.
>
>
> > And - of COURSE Starmasters are better than Obsessions!
Can you
> buy an
> > Obsession
> > with GOTO?
> >
>
> Nope. Cant even get a commerical retrofit.
>
> But there are other things that I think are better about
> Starmaster too.
>
> -ad
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
--------------
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> Click Here For Great Gifts!
> http://click.egroups.com/1/5037/2/_/_/_/960340523/
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> starmaster_scopes-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>

--- In starmaster_scopes@egroups.com, "Eric Greene" <ergreen@m...>
wrote:
> Well... I just started this listserv as some fun and have not
advertised it
> anywhere.
>

Well when you decide to tell the world. Consider the example of
the obsessionusers group. Doug Finch annouced it on sci.astro.amateur.
48 hours later there were >40 subscribers. In three days there
have been 98 postings.

I think Starmaster will generate similar interest.


> And - of COURSE Starmasters are better than Obsessions!  Can you
buy an
> Obsession
> with GOTO?
>

Nope. Cant even get a commerical retrofit.

But there are other things that I think are better about
Starmaster too.

-ad

Well... I just started this listserv as some fun and have not advertised it
anywhere.

And - of COURSE Starmasters are better than Obsessions!  Can you buy an
Obsession
with GOTO?


----- Original Message -----
From: "Attilla Danko" <attilla.danko@...>
To: <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 4:46 PM
Subject: [starmaster_scopes] Gee, its quiet here.


> There is a lively debate on whether Starmasters are better
> than Obsessions happening nearby at
>
> www.egroups.com/group/obsessionusers
>
> Look for the "New poll for obsession users" thread or search
> for 'starmaster'.
>
> Attilla "Obsession owner, but envious of Starmasters" Danko
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Big Groups = big savings @ beMANY!
> http://click.egroups.com/1/4112/2/_/_/_/960324386/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> starmaster_scopes-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>

There is a lively debate on whether Starmasters are better
than Obsessions happening nearby at

www.egroups.com/group/obsessionusers

Look for the "New poll for obsession users" thread or search
for 'starmaster'.

Attilla "Obsession owner, but envious of Starmasters" Danko

Hi Eric,

I found the e-group just by chance by looking to see if
there was anything about Starmaster scopes and there it was!
And, it appeared to have started today!  In on the ground
floor...

You've been doing an amazing job with your scope.  Very
impressive!

I did not get the GOTO option.  Rick assures me that if I
want it at a later date it won't be that hard to install.
My real interest, at least up to this point, is
astrophotography.  I have a 6" AP f/7 refractor with the
AP900 mount.  Great for photographing faint fuzzies but not
so great for viewing them.  So, I decided I'd like to see
what it is I'm taking pictures of!  I figure I can be
imaging (autoguiding using an ST-4) while I'm viewing with
the Starmaster.

Right after I got my 6" AP (mid 1996) and, just as I was
starting to make some progress with my astrophotography
technique, we moved.  We moved 3 times in less than 3 years
and built a house in the process.  But finally we have what
we want: we have 71 reasonably "dark sky" acres about 30
miles west of Charlotte, NC.  It's not a great sky but it's
not bad and most of my viewing can be done in the back yard.

I have a permanent pier waiting in the basement for me to
install it out back and then I'll build a roll-off-roof
observatory for it.  Of course, that will be for the 6"
scope.

As I mentioned, I don't have the 18" Starmaster yet but Rick
tells me it should be in September sometime.  I'm in no real
rush because I have plenty to keep me busy but I am looking
forward to receiving the scope.  It was a tough choice
between the Starmaster and the Obsession (and they are both
good scopes) but Rick's help and responsiveness made the
difference.  The Zambuto mirror helps too!

- Bill

P.S. My website is pretty crude and somewhat dated but it
has some of my early photo efforts on it.
............................................................
William Schwittek - - syzygy@...
http://www.inourfamily.com/sites/B&H/


----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Greene <ergreen@...>
To: <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2000 8:10 PM
Subject: Re: [starmaster_scopes] New member!


> Welcome, Bill!  I just opened up this Egroup to see if we
could get some
> conversation going about Rick's fine telescopes.  It
hasn't been advertised
> anyplace and I was surprised to see your message.
>
> I have a 16" Starmaster bought last July.  I have really
enjoyed using the
> scope and it was a huge step up from my old orange tube
C-8.  Right now I am
> in the middle of making it into a Bartels' computerized
instrument.  It's
> almost finished and you can see the progress at:
> http://www.america.net/~erg/intro.html.
>
> Did you order the GOTO with the scope?
>
> Eric

Welcome, Bill!  I just opened up this Egroup to see if we could get some
conversation going about Rick's fine telescopes.  It hasn't been advertised
anyplace and I was surprised to see your message.

I have a 16" Starmaster bought last July.  I have really enjoyed using the
scope and it was a huge step up from my old orange tube C-8.  Right now I am
in the middle of making it into a Bartels' computerized instrument.  It's
almost finished and you can see the progress at:
http://www.america.net/~erg/intro.html.

Did you order the GOTO with the scope?

Eric


----- Original Message -----
From: "Wm. Schwittek" <syzygy@...>
To: "Starmaster Users Group" <starmaster_scopes@egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2000 5:07 PM
Subject: [starmaster_scopes] New member!


> I just wanted to let the members of this group (is it really
> new today?!) know that I have an 18" Starmaster on order
> since late February and hope to get it sometime this fall.
> I never owned or used a Dob before so any input, advice,
> etc. you care to pass along would be greatly appreciated.
>
> I do own a 6" refractor that I hope to build an observatory
> for in the not too distant future.  I'm also something of an
> eclipse chaser (8 total so far) if that's of any interest to
> anyone.
>
> - Bill
> ............................................................
> William Schwittek - - syzygy@...
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Failed tests, classes skipped, forgotten locker combinations.
> Remember the good 'ol days
> http://click.egroups.com/1/4053/2/_/_/_/960152824/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> starmaster_scopes-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>

I just wanted to let the members of this group (is it really
new today?!) know that I have an 18" Starmaster on order
since late February and hope to get it sometime this fall.
I never owned or used a Dob before so any input, advice,
etc. you care to pass along would be greatly appreciated.

I do own a 6" refractor that I hope to build an observatory
for in the not too distant future.  I'm also something of an
eclipse chaser (8 total so far) if that's of any interest to
anyone.

- Bill
............................................................
William Schwittek - - syzygy@...