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dweller25

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Posts posted by dweller25

    If You Could...

    in The Astro Lounge

    Posted · Edited by dweller25

    Another vote for Jupiter.....

    Usually around every year

    Usually at a reasonable height

    Shows good detail in smaller scopes

    Doesn’t need high magnification

    Always changing surface features

    Major moons add interest too

    Takahashi or Other?

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted · Edited by dweller25

    Hi @Martin13 and welcome to SGL.

    We can spend your money easier if we know what kind of viewing you want to do 😆

    You don’t need GOTO to track objects - simple motor drives will do that and they are much cheaper.

    Taks are very nice scopes and perhaps an FC-76 might be worth considering as it quite portable.

    For the planets you would be better off with more aperture so the FC-100 will show more detail - but is a little less portable on a plane.

    There are other non Tak options too - Vixen is one manufacturer that gets good reviews.

     

     

     

    • Like 1

    Intes 6” Mak Collimation Screws

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted · Edited by dweller25

    @Captain Magenta

    I have the Intes Micro 715 which has just three adjustments screws on the secondary, however I suspect the info @Sunshine  offered is good.
    I had to take great care with the collimation bolts as they used very soft metal and could be easily damaged - they have all been professionally replaced now with stainless steel.

    My 715 also has a collimatable primary - does yours ??
     

    • Thanks 1

    Celestron C6 or 150mm Newtonian.

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted · Edited by dweller25

    3 hours ago, johninderby said:

    Right now at the offer price this looks like an alternative.

    https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p10748_TS-Optics-6--f-12-Cassegrain-Teleskop-154-1848-mm-OTA.html

    Focuser is poor though and needs upgrading which probably expains the sale price. Pity the focuser isn’t the same as the 8” version. Most refractor crayfords will fit. 

    @Grumpy Martian I have just bought one of these and am very impressed with it, although I did have to collimate the focuser.

    I was looking at Venus and the Moon tonight at x300 and the views were very very good.

    I used a Vixen GP and a height adjustable observing seat on wheels and was very comfortable - A must for me as I have a bad back - I cannot stoop at all as it causes me too much pain.

    Well worth considering and no dewing up 👍👍👍😀

     

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Celestron C6 or 150mm Newtonian.

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted · Edited by dweller25

    I have a very good thermally lagged C6 that does very well on the planets and is very comfortable to use.

    Unfortunately I struggle to use Newtonians as I have a bad back - if this were not the case I would choose a Newtonian as the performance to price ratio is excellent - although that’s not quite the case if you buy a new Orion Optics Newt.

    Do you need an F/5 ? an F/6 or F/8 will have a smaller secondary that will be a little better for the planets.....

    https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p11239_TS-PHOTON-6--F6-Advanced-Newtonian-Telescope-with-Metal-Tube.html

    I had an OO 8” F/6 with 1/10th wave optics and to be honest I think with our UK skies 1/8th would have been fine.

    TS-Optics 6" f/12 Cassegrain Teleskop, very first impressions.

    in Member Equipment Reviews

    Posted · Edited by dweller25

    Hello @Greymouser,

    That looks like a nice scope and it’s certainly very good value for money.

    I was also out last night with my C6 and as I don’t live two far from you was similarly affected with poor seeing and heavy dew, so I am not surprised your secondary dewed up - all my open fronted scopes have suffered from this issue and I still had to use a dew shield on them to avoid the problem.

    The focuser can be adjusted if you are handy, see here......

    https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/647093-fixing-my-gso-cassegrain-focuser/

    The mark on the primary - could it be a loose paint fleck ??
    If it is mould then pointing it at the sky for a good dose of UV will kill it - or you could speak to TS and return it - they have excellent customer service.

    Don’t think the dust specs on the primary will be an issue and as the tube is open the dust will get worse - my advice is to not point a torch down there.

    Hope that helps.

     

     

     

    • Thanks 1

    Dew on triplet refractors

    in Getting Started General Help and Advice

    Posted · Edited by dweller25

    18 hours ago, Richard136 said:

     

    Hi.

    I am getting a second hand triplet refractor. It's air spaced. 

    I am concerned about the potential effects of dew between the elements of the objective.

    Concern is along the lines of:

     - dew builds up on all cold surfaces, including presumably the inner surfaces in the overall objective.

    - dirt, water marks etc condense on the inner faces.

    - it's not practical to clean these inner faces.

    - potentially leaves an uncleanable lense

    Is this concern grounded or off base?

    I don't have a dew heater yet. I'll get one of course. The question is do I need one for the care of the objective in terms of dew, or just to extend observing sessions.

    Thanks for the advice. R

    You could buy a thin black foam camping mat and some elastic webbing to fashion a long dewshield for very little money - it will keep dew off the objective for much longer than just the standard dewshield.

    Dew on triplet refractors

    in Getting Started General Help and Advice

    Posted · Edited by dweller25

    27 minutes ago, Space Hopper said:

    A precautionary warning with refractors......and more so if it has a Fluorite elememt

    Be careful not to induce 'thermal shock' ie taking a refractor outside from a warm 20ºC house into sub zero temperatures, and then vice versa afterwards.

    My routine is :

    1. Take scope in its closed case outside

    2. Leave 30 mins

    3. Open case an inch or two and leave for another 30mins

    4. Mount scope and begin observing (Leave case outside in cold. Not closed, just ajar to stop interior getting dewey)

    5. After session put scope back in cold case and close it up.

    6. Return case indoors to a cool room and leave for 30 mins

    7. Open case an inch or so and leave for another 30 mins

    8. Open case some more, let scope gradually reacclimatise and then check the objective for dew. If it is still dewey, i'll remove the covers and let it evaporate off.

    9. Always let the scope dry out completly. Don't leave a wet cold dewey scope in a locked case.

     

    Never rush the above process. Maybe i'm being a little over cautious here, but its better to be safe than sorry.

    Its only an issue really if its winter and you have a 20º to 30º temperature differential.

     

    Enjoy your new scope ! Let us know how you get on with it ?

    Clear skies  😀

     

     

     

     

    I think you are being overly cautious when taking your scope out.

    I have a 5” 22 year old Fluorite telescope and have been taking it from the centrally heated house straight outdoors often in freezing mid winter temperatures without issue.

    I think the fluorite thermal shock issue is fake news - although rumour has it that Roland Christen once dropped cold water on a very hot fluorite element and it shattered - as glass would - but even that may be a myth 😂

    But each to his own 😉

    As you say making sure the OTA dries out well after a session is very good practice.👍

    • Like 1

    Help with a telescope as a gift.

    in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice

    Posted · Edited by dweller25

    Hello Sphenoid and welcome to SGL.

    As others have said the Skyliner 150P Dobsonian is great value for money, easy to setup and use and very capable.

    First Light Optics is a good place to buy them if you want a new one.

    If you want a free starmap to show you where things are you could try downloading Stellarium - it’s very good.

    Clear skies

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