Parks Jovian 90 WP

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Brand and Model:Parks Jovian 90 WP
Price ($USD):699
Type:Maksutov-Cassegrain
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:90mm (3.5")
f Ratio:f/13
Focal Length:1200
Finder:8x21
Electric Power:
Mount:
Tripod:Parks
Weight (lbs):10
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Parks Jovian 90 WP
Very good choice if you are looking for a small telescope to watch planets or landscapes. The optics are really good because I reach a X300 magnification with a proper occular, and I still have a very good image.
This is unexpected for a 90mm.
It is easy to use for beginners and fast to install. In his case, it really fits for travellers.

The big problem of this telescope is the mount. It is clearly not stable enough and I clearly suggest to get another one.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Mount:3 Ease of Use:8 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=566050

Parks Jovian 90 WP
My sweet friend, reniadg your story brought tears to my eyes every child is a blessing, yours is simply divine .May God bless you and continue to bless your beautiful family!love ya, Marirosa

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:2 Mount:5 Ease of Use:7 Value:4
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=600184

Parks Jovian 90 WP
I have just got a Parks Jovian 90WP telescope and using it with a "heavy camcorder" Velbon tripod (viscous head).
Despite mostly bad weather since then (this is a record breakin wet season here), I was able to have 2 good observation nights so far, and also some daytime peeking into the surrounding hills.
I am very happy with the scope. Now looking into chart assists, and then might either get a real mount (equatorial?) or a camera adapter.

From a city sky I was able to see easily Jupiter's bands and colors and 3 then 4 moons too, was much surprised noticing moons moving from night to night. I can't describe how much thrilling this was as this first-hand astronomy is new to me --I had to call a friend even late that night to vent some of the excitement and share my "discoveries". Looking at the full moon was good, perhaps too much so... image being so bright. Weather has not allowed me to look at it since then, but image was crisp and detailled.

Optics appear very good to me, but then I am new to this. I ahve not noticed any strange color shift or rings nor variation in any area of the field of view. The above Jupiter observations was done with the 26mm and Barlow eyepieces, using both the direct and side eye-pieces (scope is 1200mm focal, 26mm and Barlow, so 92x).
While the sky was covered at night, I did some looking around at the hills (live in the California Santa Clara valley) and that was quite fun. Very impressive to go read a street sign that is just a dot to the unaided eye.

My mount is not a Parks, but for now good enough for me. It was advertised as being for "heavy" camcorders. It does have the annoying feature of shifting when locked tight, but in a manageable way. Tracking moving objects is possible but curbersome.
The telescope is not that heavy and the mount attachment screws are slightly to the back, which makes the whole pretty much in equilibrum when looking at the sky so that generic tripod (lack of) stability is not that bad.
At high magnification the tripod is not very stable and difficult to point, so this has prevented me to do anything at 150x (using the 16mm and 2x Barlow).

I have found the Jovian 90WP to be very easy to use and quick to setup. The scope is fog-proof and water-proof. While I have left it rest for a short while (20 minutes) each time so far, I now think this might not be required. The focus knob is easy to operate, although a bit on the small side but no by much. The flip-mirror works well and having both eyepieces location is very handy.
What seems to work fine for me so far is to target an object with the target finder, then have finer targetting with the 32mm eyepiece attached on the top, and then sit down, flip the mirror and observe with the 26mm and 2x Barlow. All with no need to replace any part.

For value, the scope came in a zippered carrying case with well-protected area for the 3 included eyepieces (16, 26, 32mm) the 2x Barlow, the 45° erect, the target finder, and the scope of course. Padding is thick and I will not have any worry carrying it around for off-site observations.
On the telescope and eyepieces, all mounts and securing screws appear to be of good quality, so is the whole telescope construction, there is nothing flimsy in any parts of it.
The case is well padded and the top stays in place when opened, so no playing around using it. Everything is well protected inside. Only thing about the case is that the dual-head zipper of my case already has a bad head, so I can only zip it one way after a couple of weeks.
Very definitively worth what I paid for it.

Overall, this appears to be just the right fit for me: great optics, sturdy and easy to use, easy to carry. Features will let me use it anywhere and I will certainly get to use it for photography.
In my opinion, highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Ease of Use:10 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=436724

Parks Jovian 90 WP
[Note: Vote moved from description by webmaster]

My Parks Jovian 90 WP package is a tale of two boxes. One box came with the scope, three eyepieces, finder scope, 45 degree diagonal, and the 2x barlow all neatly tucked in their custom fitted, hard sided, canvas type case. All of these are labeled with the Parks logo, and if your convinced of Parks quality, this box is truly impressive. It continued to impress even out of the box, delivering clear images at 150x, with promise of more. I am very pleased with the contents of the first box.

The second box however is a different story. The tripod and the tripod case, although labeled with Parks logo, lack in expected quality. When trying to lock the tripod onto an image, the tripod wants to flex, this of course shifts the image out of view. Locking onto a planet takes alot of trial and error. Often it is easier to leave the knobs a bit loose, and just hold the handle to keep image centered. This of course effects the image stability. The tripod case zipper isn’t much better, it broke on only the second closing. Overall the contents of the second box are a bit suspect.

If and when the tripod gets locked down on image, there are some very sharp images to see. The moon at 150x is crystal clear. From amongst some bright city lights Jupiter’s bands and at least 4 moons were clearly seen. Saturns rings came through very sharp and clear. I’m fairly new at all this so not sure how this compares with other scopes.

I have a budding interest in astronomy, but also wanted a good terrestial scope that could handle a hunting trip or two. Experience with assorted binoculars, monoculars, and rifle scopes leads me to say this is definitely a high quality scope. In good lighting it delivers very clear, very detailed images. At its higher magnifications the images are still sharp and full of detail. I’ve already ordered a 3x barlow to see how it does at even higher mags.

The Jovian 90 WP package attracted me because of its portability, quality of optics, completeness of package and cost. The tripod performance is disappointing but otherwise give a high rating for the telescope and accessories.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=357936

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