I received my January Astronomy magazine today. Inside the front cover is a two page ad for Meade's new Lightbridge telescope - a large dobsonian scope that comes apart into smaller pieces for transport. The ad features a picture of the scope with the words, "Space is infinite" and a MINI with the hatch up and the words, "Your back seat is not." The funny thing is, I actually measured the back seat of an MCSC to make sure I could fit the components of my telescope back there before I ordered one!

 

This is the year the Marino Family gets a telescope, so I've been perusing the scope websites and stumbled across the add.

I'm thinking of the Orion ST8, but I'm ambivalent about paying up for the Intelliscope features.

 

My son has an XT8 - and the Intelliscope computer unit is awesome. In addition, the tension adjustment system on the XT8 scope is far better than the base model scope, IMHO. Just to keep this kind of on topic... The XT8 fits fine in our MINI with half the back seat down.

 

ST8 is a nice scope... I'm looking to get a LX200 10".... Probably going to have to use the wife's forester for that.

 

I was not sure if the Intelliscope was better in any other way save for the ability to add the $130 locator computer. Now I know that the $120 extra you pay for the intelliscope is for the tension adjustment.

 

The Intelliscope comes with the digital encoders built in so all you have to do is purchase the hand controller. Most aftermarket encoder & controller kits start around $400 so the cost of the Intelliscope & controller is pretty reasonable. I've got a friend who recently sold his 13" Coulter Dobb for a 12" XT Intelliscope and loves it. More accurate that our buddy's Hardin Dobb with the aftermarket Sky Commander (and Sky Commander is the best aftermarket guiderIMHO)...

 

Based on what I read here I decided to go for the ST8 Intelliscope because the mount is better and having the option of adding the controller seemed reasonable. If it turns out that I never get the controller, I probably will have paid too much for mount alone, but not way too much.

Who knew NAM was the place I should go for telescope advice?