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Everything posted by dweller25
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How an AZ4 really copes with a big frac
dweller25 replied to parallaxerr's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Strap is a very good idea - Iβm guessing you have a big metal screw in the ground ? -
The history of my telescope collection - whatβs yours?
dweller25 replied to RobertI's topic in The Astro Lounge
Here are mine...... 1985 - Astro Systems (Bedford) 8.5" F/5 Newtonian - A brilliant first scope - should have kept it - sold 1986 - Beacon Hill 6" F/8 Newtonian - Hinds optics, very nice but kids came along so no time - sold 2007 - Celestron 102SLT refractor - not really good at anything - sold 2008 - Celestron C9.25 SCT - very disappointing - sold 2008 - TAL 125R - very nice but too much CA - regretfully sold 2008 - Skywatcher 127 Maksutov - a bit too small - sold 2008 - Skywatcher 8" F/6 Dobsonian - superb optics - should never have sold it - sold 2009 - Skywatcher 120ED refractor - pinched optics - returned 2009 - Takahashi TSA102 refractor - 4" perfection - KEEPER 2009 - Helios 6" F/8 refractor - too much CA - sold 2009 - Takahashi FS128 refractor - superb scope - KEEPER 2010 - Celestron C102ED refractor - excellent lightweight travel scope - should have kept it - sold 2010 - Skywatcher 180 Pro Maksutov - would not cool down - sold 2010 - Skywatcher 8" F/6 Dobsonian - disappointing optics - sold 2010 - Skywatcher 10" F/5 Dobsonian - superb optics but this scope did my back in, otherwise a keeper - sold 2012 - Takahashi Mewlon 210 - this brand new scope from Tak Europe was actually three years old! and had bad mirror shift - returned 2012 - Celestron C8 SCT - Nice optics but the OO 8" was better - sold 2012 - Orion Optics 8" F/6 Dobsonian 1/10th wave - superb optics - Sadly sold as it bothered my back. 2013 - Intes Micro 715 Maksutov - Superb optics - views match the FS128 - relatively light/compact - KEEPER 2014 - Orion Optics OMC200 F/20 Maksutov - Carbon fibre beauty - would not cool down - sold 2014 - Lunt 60 H-Alpha solar scope - always at work when the Sun came out! - sold 2014 - Skymax 127 Maksutov - still a bit too small! - sold 2017 - Tal 100RS - objective tilted, focuser tilted, sold with full disclosure. 2018 - Celestron C6 - VERY light and when wrapped in reflectix is truly grab and go. 2019 - TS 152mm Classical Cassegrain - challenging to collimate but once done it is very sharp and does not dew up π -
Excellent choice for a scope, very capable and a good all rounder π At a later date the telescope tube can be put on a motorised mount for automatic tracking if required. For best results you need to put the scope outside to allow the mirror to reach ambient temperature before you use it. You will also need to collimate the scope which involves checking and adjustIng the mirrors occasionally to make sure they are in alignment to give the very best views. There are loads of guides online to show you how to do this and itβs easier than it sounds. The Planets will look great in this scope in the Autumn/Winter π
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New TAKAHASHI DZ arrived
dweller25 replied to mikeDnight's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Thought you would have been out with the scope Wednesday night @mikeDnight looking at Venus and the very high Moon. Or did the wife find out and kill you ? πππ -
Mewlon next then ?? πππ
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New TAKAHASHI DZ arrived
dweller25 replied to mikeDnight's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Thanks Mike, Thats how I do it - my scales are also wrong πππ -
Thatβs excellent π
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New TAKAHASHI DZ arrived
dweller25 replied to mikeDnight's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Congratulations Mike on the new addition to the family π I am still on the mend but look forward to getting our Scopes together on the planets. Out of interest how much does the DZ weigh with clamshell, finder, 71L extension tube and diagonal ? Clear tonight too π -
@Fozzie Was it at 9:25pm if so I saw it too - it burned red to green ?
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Yes it is possible to collimate your scope π @Captain Magenta posted this correct procedure earlier and it worked perfectly on my 6β CC...... I took 3 steps: 1. lined up the focuser axis to the primary axis, a la kitchen table collimation, 2. pointed the primary directly at the centre of the secondary (I also used a Glatter) 3. adjusted the secondary to "symmetricize" the reflection of the laser onto the primary, in my case getting the reflected dot back onto the laser source
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C6: How Bad Is My Collimation?
dweller25 replied to Ags's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Yes it needs tweaking for best results -
Great sequence of images π
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Sct cassagrain flocking is it worth it !!?
dweller25 replied to Supernova74's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
It may be worth flocking the primary baffle if you see a halo when observing bright objects otherwise do a jigsaw π -
Takahashi TSA 120 arrived
dweller25 replied to JeremyS's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
I changed from the clamshell to rings so I could add a carry handle - feels much safer when moving the scope onto the mount. -
When the planets are low you are viewing through much more atmosphere to see them hence the poor views. Altitude wins. Well done for getting up though π
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As a visual only planetary observer I am thinking about changing from my Vixen GP equatorial mount to either the Ercole or current Skytee altaz mounts. I only use one scope at a time, which would be a 4β F/8 or 5β F/8 refractor or a 7β F/15 Maksutov, weighing 6.4, 8.5 and 7 kgs respectively. Does anyone have real world experience of these two mounts in relation to the scopes I have ? Is the Ercole overkill for my scopes ?
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What do you find to be your most usable scope?
dweller25 replied to Tiago's topic in Getting Started General Help and Advice
In my opinion the best all-round telescope and the best performance/value for money is a Newtonian on a Dobsonian mount. Ideally it would have an open back and a cooling fan to allow for faster acclimatisation. Check collimation every few uses for best results. However - my most used scope is a 5β Refractor as my back does not like Newts. -
What do you find to be your most usable scope?
dweller25 replied to Tiago's topic in Getting Started General Help and Advice
Hi Tiago, What objects do you observe the most ? -
Telescope for a beginner
dweller25 replied to Gary1975's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
A perfect starter scope that is also very capable is a Dobsonian like this 6β ...... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html Or this slightly heavier 8β which is still manageable by an adult as it splits into two parts like the scope above ..... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html First Light Optics are a very good supplier. Also you can download free software for your PC or tablet called Stellarium which helps you navigate around the sky and shows you where thousands of objects are for observation You can also mount these scopes on a motor driven equatorial mount at a later date if you want to do photography. -
Great photos π
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Jupiter & Mars
dweller25 replied to Scooot's topic in Imaging - Widefield, Special Events and Comets
Well done π -
I went through quite a few filters before settling on the Neodymium for the planets.