Customer Reviews

Choosing and Using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope : A Guide to Commercial SCTs and Maksutovs (Practical Astronomy.)

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The book has great information, including, how to set up your scope, tips on filters, how to collimate the scope, how to transport and care for your telescope, choosing a telescope, and much more. The book is targeted toward owners of Meade and Celestron telescopes with fork mounts, but this should not dissuade you. Much of the information in the book is useful for owners of equatorially mounted scopes, as well. Examples of tips are-- to reduce tripod vibration, hang a gallon jug of water from the bottom of the mount or the tray. Or, to safely transport your scope to a dark site, use a foam-lined cooler. Very comprehensive, well-written, and far reaching in its coverage of all aspects of telescope ownership and use. Highly recommended!

The author provides a complete review of SCT and Makstovs covering all the basics of operation. The chapters on setup, testing and observing are much clearer then the manuals that come with a new scope. If you are considering spending a $1000+ on a new scope you should get this book first. The section on "keeping Your Cat Happy" shows ways to improve your scope's operation without spending a lot. This is stuff that works from dew shields to warning lights. The only limit I have seen in the book is that the goto technology described is changing yet again with new scopes. Celestron has just introduced units with a built in GPS & electronic compasses that find their own location and time. I am sure that Meade can not far behind in introducing their own version. Exploring the stars with SCTs has never been easier, but don't start the trip without this book.

This is an awesome book. It answered about a million questions that I had about equipment, accessories, a bit of telescope
history, etc.. It held my hand step-by-step during the search for a new telescope and then again once I had my new telescope in my hands. I found the author's writing style to very very good for the person brand new to Astronomy. I've already recommended this book to 5-6 other folks. It contains enough information that it will be useful for quite a while as there are many aspects of my new telescope that I'm not ready to try yet.

This book is pretty darn expensive but worth every penny. With good telescopes costing from [X], the price of this book isn't much.

The tips alone on new telescope assembly, setup, checkout,
etc.. are invaluable.

This is the book I wish I had read before I purchased my SCT (to understand what I was getting into) and that I wish had come as its user's guide. While it provides great explanations and many useful tips on setting up and using an SCT, it also honestly describes potential drawbacks (e.g., weight, transportability). Mr. Mollise also understands -- and wryly comments on -- "reality" for many amateur astronomers: At one point he descibes the many amateurs who talk about astrophotography but never quite get to the point of taking a picture -- which is true of many amateurs.

I am in the market for a new SCT and this book came in handy in helping me make my choice. Having direct access to the author through a user group helped also, which leads me to the only negative remark I have to make...time for a second edition! My the times are changin and there are new scopes which need reviewing and explaining. So please Mr. Mollise, come out with a revised edition! Thanks!!

If you're an SCT (CAT) owner, you definitely need to read Ron Mollise's book. His decades of experience with this telescope will help you in realizing why this is such a capable - and fun - instrument. I've also benefited from a few of his ideas that have paid for the purchase of this book. He takes you from assembling your CAT to astrophotography - great read.

Learning about telescope,how they work ,what you will spend, this is a great first time /review of things you forgot and thing you just didn't know how book.very helpful.

Simple: If you are looking to purchase, use, rent, own, lease, research a telescope, then buy this book. This book is, probably, the best, most concise, and helpful book on the subject of "choosing" and "using" a SC Telescope. No kidding. 5/5 stars.

Rod Mollise is an excellent writer who keeps the reader's attention from cover to cover. This is a good resource to own regardless of your level of expertise or interest level. I enjoy Rod's posts and SCT-USER discussion Group on the Internet and this book is a good extension of his encyclopedic knowledge of all things SCT.

This is a good book with lots of valuable information. The book is divided into logical sections, and includes enough information about all topics to be useful for a long time. The telescope information is outdated already, of course, but the basics have not changed in years. I was pleased to see that the book had a very useful section on the practical aspects of Astrophotography, without diving into too much jargon. The author, Rod Mollise, has a great deal of historical knowledge that he presents in a well organized way and in a plain english writing style that is easy to understand. Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in buying a new or used "Cat" scope.