Choosing and using a new CAT : getting the most from your Schmidt Cassegrain or any catadioptric telescope

Choosing and using a new CAT : getting the most from your Schmidt Cassegrain or any catadioptric telescope / Rod Mollise.

Commercial astronomical telescopes are increasingly complex, with sophisticated computers now the norm. This guide is designed to help astronomers understand these complex new instruments. The author has a proven track record in helping people enjoy astronomy.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mollise, Rod, 1953-
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Cham : Springer, [2020]
Edition:Second edition.
Series:Patrick Moore's practical astronomy series.
Subjects:
Reflecting telescopes.
Catadioptric systems.
Astronomy, space & time.
Popular astronomy & space.
Science > Astronomy.
Catadioptric systems
Reflecting telescopes
Online Access:Click for online access
Table of Contents:
  • Intro
  • Acknowledgments
  • Contents
  • Chapter 1: Why a CAT?
  • 1.1 Deep Sky Visual Observing
  • 1.2 Solar System Observing
  • 1.3 Imaging
  • 1.4 Advanced Applications
  • 1.5 SCT Liabilities
  • 1.5.1 Contrast Problems
  • 1.5.2 Collimation
  • 1.5.3 Small Aperture
  • 1.5.4 Portability
  • 1.6 Is a CAT for Me?
  • Chapter 2: What's a CAT?
  • 2.1 The Refracting Telescope
  • 2.2 Birth of the CAT
  • 2.3 The Schmidt Camera
  • 2.4 Putting it All Together: The Schmidt Cassegrain
  • Chapter 3: Inside a CAT
  • 3.1 The Commercial SCT
  • 3.2 Meade
  • 3.3 Which Is Better, Celestron or Meade?
  • 3.4 Anatomy of an SCT
  • 3.4.1 Optical Tube Assembly
  • 3.5 Mountings
  • 3.5.1 Fork Mounts
  • 3.5.2 The German Equatorial Mount
  • 3.5.3 Hand Controls
  • 3.5.4 Tripods
  • 3.6 Who Makes SCTs?
  • 3.7 Other Members of the CAT Tribe
  • Chapter 4: Which CAT?
  • 4.1 Telescope Buyer's Guide
  • 4.2 A Few Words about GPS
  • 4.3 Entry-Level 8-in. SCTs
  • 4.4 Basic 8-in. Models
  • 4.4.1 Celestron Advanced VX Series C8
  • 4.4.2 Meade LX85 ACF
  • 4.4.3 Celestron NexStar 8SE
  • 4.4.4 Meade LX65 ACF Series 8-in.
  • 4.5 Mid-Level 8-in. SCTs
  • 4.5.1 Celestron Evolution 8
  • 4.5.2 Meade LX90 ACF 8-in. SCT
  • 4.5.3 Celestron CPC 800 GPS
  • 4.5.4 Meade LS 8 in. ACF f/10 LightSwitch Telescope
  • 4.5.5 Celestron CGEM II 800
  • 4.6 Top-of-the-Line 8-in. SCTs
  • 4.6.1 Meade LX200-ACF 8-in.
  • 4.6.2 Celestron CGX Equatorial 800
  • 4.7 The Big CATs
  • 4.7.1 Celestron C9.25 and C11 Advanced VX
  • 4.7.2 Celestron CPC 925 and 1100
  • 4.7.3 Celestron CGX-L 925, CGE 1100, and CGE 1400
  • 4.7.4 Meade LX90-ACF 10- and 12-in.
  • 4.7.5 Meade LX200-ACF 10- and 12-in.
  • 4.7.6 Meade LX200-ACF 14 in.
  • 4.7.7 Meade LX200-ACF 16-in.
  • 4.7.8 Meade LX600-ACF 10-, 12-, 14-, and 16-in.
  • 4.7.9 Meade LX850-ACF 10-, 12-, and 14-in. GEM SCTs
  • 4.8 Little Kitties: Smaller SCTs
  • 4.8.1 Celestron NexStar 5SE and NexStar 6SE
  • 4.8.2 Meade LS 6-in. ACF f/10 LightSwitch SCT
  • 4.8.3 Meade LX65 6-in. ACF SCT
  • 4.8.4 Celestron Advanced VX 6-in. SCT
  • 4.9 Here Come the Maks!
  • 4.9.1 Meade ETX90 Observer and ETX125 Observer 90-mm and 125-mm MCTs
  • 4.9.2 Meade LX65 5- and 6-in. MCTs and 6-in. SCT
  • 4.9.3 Questar 3.5
  • 4.9.4 Questar 7
  • 4.9.5 Celestron NexStar 4SE
  • 4.9.6 Synta (Orion) 90-, 102-, 127-, 150-, and 180-mm Maksutovs
  • 4.10 Buying an OTA Only and Rolling Your Own CAT with a Third-Party GEM
  • 4.10.1 Synta
  • 4.10.2 iOptron
  • 4.10.3 AZ Mount Pro
  • 4.10.4 iEQ30 and iEQ45
  • 4.10.5 CEM25P, CEM60, and CEM120 Center Balanced Equatorial Mounts
  • 4.10.6 Losmandy
  • 4.10.7 GM8G
  • 4.10.8 GM811G
  • 4.10.9 G11G
  • 4.10.10 G11T
  • 4.10.11 Astro-Physics
  • 4.10.12 Software Bisque
  • 4.11 Mounting CAT to GEM
  • 4.12 Dealing with Dealers
  • 4.13 Buying a Used CAT
  • Chapter 5: Making Friends with a CAT
  • 5.1 Initial Inspection
  • 5.2 Assembling Your Fork-Mount Telescope
  • 5.3 Assembling Your German Equatorial Mount

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