Google Sky
 

Disclaimer: I own Google stocks and am not pushing this...

But, you have to check this google site: http://www.google.com/sky/

It's pretty cool! Only baby steps but, they will get there...:thumbup:

Major,
I've been oogling that GOOG site for a few weeks...short of the
Hubble shots from:
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/

and, Astronomy Pic of the Day from:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

the GOOG Sky is pretty titz,imo.
BR,mD

I can't wait to pull this out for some stunning summer viewing. Nothing like hitting a button to get it to point at what you want to see in the viewfinder. Lazy I know but you get to see so much more in an evenings viewing session.

http://www.astro.cf.ac.uk/observatory/meade.gif

LabGuy,
I really want one of those bastards down here in our Mtns...
most nights are crystal clear, with the Milky Way directly
overhead and so "noisey" and full, it's amazing...

Maybe I need to go back to work to keep my "wants" funded, lol!
BR,mD

I'm not in the city so my night sky is not so bad but compared to your view I might as well be under a street light. With that telescope and your sky I might not get any sleep on warm still nights.

The Meade LX series of telescopes are really top notch. With a 64,359 deep sky object library built in and GPS for easy setup makes for some great viewing nights.

Sadly, I don't pull it out near enough. When my son gets older I suspect it will get used more.

LabGuy, et al...And, here's another entry into the "Sky" sites:
Microsoft's new WorldWideTelescope, which just
opened up today...(I don't own Softie or GOOG.)

http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/

LabGuy: Which Meade LX do you have? I looked and
they are a couple grand and up & up...this fixed income thing
and the crummy Mkt is making me a cheap bastard these
days.
BR,mD

LG - that's a cool scope. Can you install a camera in that scope and take pics of the night sky?

mD - being a gEEk, those websites total rocks. Couldn't get enough looking at them. My co-workers were all on those sites. Thank you!

Great site just added to my favorites when I can find some time to thoroughly check it out.

My scope is a 12" LX200. Pretty big to carry around especially with the Super Wedge pictured on the photo above. The 10" Meade LX200 is great as well and can be had for a deal on the used market. A good friend of mine sold his for $900 on Craig's list and he had all kinds of eyepieces that went with the scope.

The new LX400 is even better but you are talking multiple thousands and I don't want to even think about what I paid for mine when it was new.

Funny you should ask that today...I just picked up the adapter today for my new Nikon. The telescope tracks the object star or planet so I can use long exposure times and get a sharp photo.

I'll have more time to play with it this summer.

I've come to realize, the older I get, that being a dork or a geek
is seldom criticized, esp. by my geezer peers. :rofl:

I've got the itch again, so I'm going to start perusing the sales
boards for used Meades; my sense is that there should be some
out their, at bargain prices, as times get tougher.
BR,mD