Society for Popular Astronomy

A couple of weeks ago I purchased my first telescope since I was a child. The scope that I decided on was an IOptron Smartstar R80. In the initial confusion of making the purchase, knowing absolutely nothing about modern equipment, I inadvertently purchased the scope without GPS. I subsequently orde...

I haven't ruled out getting a reflector. The only thing is that the environment of Southwest Mississippi is very humid.

By the way, I am in the Southeastern United States. Brookhaven, Mississippi to be exact. Thank you fine folks for having me.

I am able to afford at least $1000 U.S. Please explain to me about thermal equilibrium. I'm not set on using refractors. The IOptron is just so easy to use that I thought that I might want to stick with this type. But of course, I realize that the ease of use is because of the mount mostly. I was am...

I have just recently gotten back into the hobby after a long hiatus. My first scope is an IOptron Smartstar R80. I am pleased with this telescope, but I also crave a more powerful scope to be purchased in the near future. The iOptron is a refractor scope, and I believe that I would like to stick wit...