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Everything posted by dweller25
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Refractor considerations
dweller25 replied to Nikodemuzz's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Nice glass π -
Great target π
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Hmmmmpphhh βοΈβοΈβοΈ
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Pentax XF eyepieces and double stars
dweller25 replied to azrabella's topic in Discussions - Eyepieces
I also have the Pentax XF 12mm which I use at x240 on the planets - itβs very good, both sharp and contrasty and with good eye relief. -
Astrobaby site back up.
dweller25 replied to Astro_Baby's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Hello Mel, welcome back π -
HELP - SCT Extremely out of Collimation.
dweller25 replied to GalaxyHunter's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
This is a good procedure and will get you very close, you may possibly need to do the final tweak on a star. -
Yes, the Perseverance feeds are amazing to see π
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@John I was also out Wednesday 17th March at around 19:00GMT Seeing was much steadier than on the 16th and I also saw a thin dark band running across the southern hemisphere and a phase and maybe a hint of limb haze at x160 but nothing else. I will keep looking for a little longer..... weather permitting
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Those are excellent images @Skipper Billy π Not trying to rub it in but I have had my best year for a while VISUALLY with my lightweight, quick to cool down 4β APO π
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Refractor versus Reflector
dweller25 replied to NGC 1502's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
I have a bad back and find Newtonians very uncomfortable to use in both Dobsonian and equatorial modes because of it - if it wasnβt for the back I would only have a Newtonian as they perform well, cool quickly and donβt dew up. I always recommend them when a new members asks about which scope to buy. Great scopes π My back likes short tube folded scopes the best as there is less eyepiece movement. I have had a Mewlon 210, an Orion Optics OMC200 and an Intes Micro 715 - all were VERY comfortable to use BUT proper cool down took a long time and once cooled the correctors would dew up and they seemed more susceptible to poor seeing, so gradually they were all sold π So that leaves me now using a refractor - small aperture and expensive but sharp views, quick cool down, an extra long dew shield slows dewing up and a reasonable eyepiece position - best compromise for me π -
A nice clear evening so took the 4β refractor out for a look at Mars. Seeing was initially very poor at twilight but got better by 19:15GMT so went straight to x384 to get a tiny disk that clearly had a phase and a bright preceding limb (mist/haze) but I could not detect any dark surface markings. I think thatβs it for me and Mars now this time around - roll on 2022 π But first letβs see what Jupiter and Saturn have to offer in the Autumn π ..............
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New setup for planets
dweller25 replied to Leatherfoot's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Hello @Leatherfoot and welcome to SGL. I think a Dobsonian is a great scope for visual planetary - they are very capable and offer the best value for money. Some come with a fan in the back for rapid cooldown - or one can easily be added. I would suggest an 8β as it will give enough resolution for you to really see good planetary details - but NOT like the photos you see. Dobs do need collimating occasionally but itβs easy once you have practised it - you donβt need a laser but it does make it easier. You will have to push the scope to follow the planets but if you buy a wide angle eyepiece you will have to push less π Venus will show cloud markings and a phase at low powers - around x100 Mars at around x240 will show itβs polar ice caps, dark surface details, dew/mist on itβs early morning limb and the occasional dust storm. Jupiter at x190 will show itβs major bands and different colour markings and features associated with them, along with the Great Red Spot. Itβs largest four Moons will show as tiny disks which will cast a shadow on the planets surface as they cross over it - an eclipse on Jupiter. Saturn at x190 will show itβs rings, polar and equatorial bands and the occasional storm. Your first word when you see Saturn may be βWowβ π Uranus and Neptune at x240 will appear as very small but nicely coloured disks. The Moon at x80 upwards will probably amaze you with the detail it shows. Brighter deep sky objects - galaxies, globular clusters and Nebula will also be visible as small smudges in a 8β scope, along with many double/multiple star systems. So, yes, an 8β Dob may be the way to go π -
Eyepieces befitting a Takahashi!
dweller25 replied to Nicola Fletcher's topic in Discussions - Eyepieces
I use the Baader BBHS Zeiss Prism with T2 connections and it is superb, it also has the advantage of being able to screw in lightweight glass path correctors that act as x1.24, x1.6 or x2.6 multipliers. This would be my first move and I would then re-asses the performance of my current eyepieces. This may help with the eyepiece choice. -
Eyepieces befitting a Takahashi!
dweller25 replied to Nicola Fletcher's topic in Discussions - Eyepieces
But seriously, the eyepieces you have are quite good. What kind of observing do you do ? -
Eyepieces befitting a Takahashi!
dweller25 replied to Nicola Fletcher's topic in Discussions - Eyepieces
This is going to be expensive....... -
Hello @saw9 and welcome to SGL. During the day find a distant object - at least half a mile away- in the finder. Now put the highest number eyepiece you have in the focuser and see if the scope will focus - you may need to remove an extension tube in the focuser to do this. When it does come to focus pick an object and place it centrally in the view, then without moving the scope adjust the finder to centralise the same object on the crosshairs. You are now good to go.
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Yes, the central shadow will become offset as the star moves across the field of view - that is normal and why you should always collimate with the star in the middle of the field of view. I do not image but the two scopes you mention are very popular in imaging circles.
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Collimator for Mewlon 180c
dweller25 replied to Fedele's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Iβm sure @JeremyS has a handle on the situation π -
Collimator for Mewlon 180c
dweller25 replied to Fedele's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Itβs just the same as an SCT BUT it remains stable π -
Collimator for Mewlon 180c
dweller25 replied to Fedele's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
?????? Perhaps I expressed myself badly. In my opinion there is no need to buy expensive collimation tools to collimate a Mewlon 210. All that is required is a night with good seeing so you can see the in focus airy disk, a cheap 7mm Orthoscopic eyepiece (x303 and a narrow field of view) and you are good to go. Make VERY small changes and do not worry about the squeaking noise - really ! -
Collimator for Mewlon 180c
dweller25 replied to Fedele's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Best tools/method.... Good seeing, 7mm eyepiece and a star π -
My scopes over the last 36 years...
dweller25 replied to dweller25's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
For me - maybe π But we are all different π -
My scopes over the last 36 years...
dweller25 replied to dweller25's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
A Mewlon 180 or C8 keep calling to me.......π -
My scopes over the last 36 years...
dweller25 replied to dweller25's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Yup, itβs called getting old and wise π