| Author | Message | ||
     Patty |
Sorry, (and I hope this is okay to do on the board...) but I just must tell anyone who is into astronomy that items that are NEVER on sale are at huge discounts at Natural Wonders (860 561 5068) in Farmington, Conn. (Westfarms Mall). That chain's store at the Short Hills Mall discontinued their Meade telescope stuff and sent it there. Just got one of those computerized autostar thingies (dial your star/nebulae, etc. and it points the scope for you) for half-price. This never happens; prices don't fluctuate for this stuff no matter where you go. Anyway, pass it on. Thank you, and now I'll check my pocket protector for leaks and then go make dinner. | ||
| Dave |
Not only is it ok, it is appreciated. Do you know what models they stock and does it include Celestron models (whom they acquired a year ago)? I'm calling tomorrow, but any further info is welcome. How did you learn about this? Thanks! | ||
| Nakaille |
Patty, I love geeks like you! Or is it nerds? Whatever! Sheesh, I didn't know that pocket protectors could leak, too! I have a 4 year old who is entranced (always has been since we met her in China) by the moon and the stars. Do you have suggestions for intro to astronomy for the younger set? Bacata | ||
| Patty |
Dave: I was seeking a reflector for Christmas and, since World of Science disappeared from the Livingston Mall and I found that Natural Wonders acquired them, I headed for the Short Hills Mall (am never quite dressed for the place, but...) and learned from the Meade web site before I went that Meade's vendor in the area was the Nature Company which, I discovered ha ha when I got to the Mall, had been appropriated by the Discovery Channel store there. OK, so I perused both stores and Natural Wonders had this 10-15% sale; they said they were discontinuing Meade. I bought an EC 114mm reflector (DS series) for $350 instead of $399. I returned a few weeks later and found the handbox autostar attachment (orig. $100) was reduced to $75. A few weeks ago I rechecked and found that they sent it and other items to this Conn. store, and they kindly gave me the number. I called today and they quoted the item at $50. (+$5. 2nd Day Air shipping). That did it. (They still had reduced Meade stuff at Short Hills (DS 60mm and 70mm refractors and 114mm reflectors, and ETXs: 60 and 90mms, I think, and these may have reductions now beyond the 10-15% from before the holidays. They now also have the new [I think full-priced] Celestrons.) I'm not sure how much Meade stuff is in Connecticut, but on the chance that their prices are better than Short Hills, it's worth a try. They were very friendly and extra helpful. (Sorry, this was probably more than you wanted to know.) Good luck! | ||
| Dave |
Thanks for the info. I've had my eyes on one of the Schmidt-Cassegrain models (Celestron)for a while and plan to land one this year. Meade bought Celestron last year. Or I can sneak into CHS and grab the 11" Celestron that I helped to fund by selling raffle tickets back in '81. ;-) Actually, lots of generous people on Walton, Ridgewood, Kendell,Wyoming and the streets in between helped to fund it. I just ran from house to house pointing at the sky and quoting Carl Sagan: "We need billions of dollars!" | ||
| Dave |
Bacata, Here's an astronomy link for kids: http://www.astronomy.com/content/static/AstroForKids/default.asp And the NASA site for kids: http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html 4 yrs. old is too young for a telescope, but if you get some good binoculars, you can see seas and craters on the moon very well - especially if you tie the binoculars to a tripod to keep it still. | ||
| Patty |
Bacata: Thanks for the geek-friendly greeting. Golly gee. I just got smitten 2 years ago by this hobby, and I just love it. So soul-satisfying. And the sky's always up there. I'm trying to think of kid-friendly ways to start your little one. What I did first was to learn maybe one or two constellations per season, and just one reference point like that really gets you going, even tho' it seems complicated. I started in the winter with Orion, which is so big and gorgeous and overhead now at about 9pm, and used binoculars, which is a GREAT first tool; it's easy and gives you the whole constellation or so at once, the way a telescope can't. By the way, Jupiter and Saturn are in Taurus now, overhead just before Orion but a little higher up. Its slightly red star Aldebaran is a landmark. If you check the Sunday Ledger star maps in the Accent Section, and the Sunday Times, second section, last page, there's good info. The Newark Museum Planetarium always has a night sky guide on Thursday eves. which would be a good orientation. An adult could help with Peterson's Guide to the Stars, which has charts but also color pix's of each constellation; and the Eyewitness Guide to the Planet and Stars (I think that's the name) is concise and probably the easiest to peruse. Also one of those wheel charts which reflect each month's stars would be fun and clear on what's up there when, i.e., Rand McNally Star Finder. Also, any Astronomy Magazine issue will show that month's stars with respective color hues--that helps a lot. I'd still love to get a star party going somewhere soon before the big planets disappear for a year. Oh, well. Hope this helps! | ||
| Patty |
Bacata: Another thought, if you have no binoculars. A 7 x 50 pair is standard for astronomy. I got my pair for $35. on eBay (they're camouflage coated; I make quite a funny picture in my backyard looking skyward. I looked even funnier with them when I took one of my kids to a rock concert). Anyway, that's my bargain tip for the day. | ||
| Nakaille |
Thanks, Patty and Dave. We'll check out these great suggestions. Bacata |
