spacegalaxy

Okay, honestly I have reverse apeture fever. That's why I am asking how good a 40mm and 60mm refractor are. I am obviously going to look at the moon with it.

(P.S. Also what else can you with both of them except the moon and Sun?)

Starry nights

6 hours ago, NGC 1502 said:

Sounds like your scope is like the Shortube 80, an 80mm objective with 400mm focal length.  It’s far from useless, I once had a very similar scope and can confirm it’s great👍

A short focal length achromat does have false colour (chromatic aberration) but don’t let that discourage you.  For deep sky observing that’s often not a problem.  You can enjoy great low to medium power views.

On brighter objects like moon and planets the false colour is seen, but again you can get great views if you don’t use too high powers, perhaps up to 100x or possibly a bit more.

So, to get back to your original question, how stable is that mount, at low to medium powers it will be fine.  If you don’t fully extend the tripod legs that helps, a lower mount is more stable. If the eyepiece is low then use a chair for seated observing.

If you can get away from a brightly lit town that helps greatly especially for deep sky observing.

Enjoy your astronomy. Best wishes from Ed in the UK👍

Thanks for the answer, but I was looking at 120x magnification for Juipter and Saturn, so is it okay for that?

1 hour ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

Does the scope look like this?

Yep, it looks like that, but the finderscope is a bit smaller (or maybe just a trick of light)

Just as the title, I want to ask just how stable is 80mm refractor with 400mm diameter on a EQ 1 mount and is it good (The mount) for visual observation? Any help is appreciated!

(P.S I am looking for a good grab n' go scope, so please no comments like 'The telescope is useless!!')

Starry nights

That's a really good photo! The stars in the core of the cluster definitely look sparkling diamonds! 

Starry nights

9 minutes ago, Astronerd76 said:

I would advise against the Skymaster 15x70. Quality control is non-existent. I have the Skymaster 15x70 and 20x80 and both were out of alignment when they arrived.

Celestron is very hit and miss. Most (if not all) their binoculars are made in China -- some are good (like the Nature DX models and the more expensive roof prism binoculars, or the Celestron 8x30 Ultima which I just bought and which is also sold under the Opticron brand as "Adventurer") -- but others not so much.

Depending on light pollution I'd prefer something like a Nikon Aculon 16x50 -- less aperture and therefore smaller exit pupil which will lead to a slightly darker sky. But I never had any issues with quality control on a Nikon Aculon -- I got the 7x35 and 16x50.

I am from India, so what do you think of these:

https://tejraj.com/celestron-upclose-10x50-binocular.html

https://tejraj.com/bresser-hunter-10x50-binoculars.html 

https://tejraj.com/celestron-upclose-20x50-binocular.html

3 hours ago, Davesellars said:

+1 on the binoculars - However, not sure I'd recommend the Celestron Skymaster -  I bought them because they were really cheap at the time but honestly I don't actually like them and many reports of them very easily going out of collimation.  The focus seems to go out very easily as well needing constant adjustment suring the session.

Was it first hand or second hand? I am asking because some people have a really good time with it and also thanks for all for the suggestions! Bino vote are 3, UHC are 0, I would like to see the reason for binos! (Could you please elaborate @Peter Drew?)

Starry nights

Hello! I was looking at an UHC filter as my next upgrade for my 70mm f/10 refractor, but at the same price I found that I could get a Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binos w/a tripod(Having weight capacity of 5kgs max). SO, having same aperture isn't consider an upgrade but the large FOV will let me see the wide nebula and star cluster BUT I could get UHC filter which will improve my views, but the FOV will be tiny, so what would you do in this situation? (Also, other upgrades are welcomed)

Thanks for reading my query!

I am thinking of an upgrade, and the binos are so cheap that I am drawn to them, so what can I see?

Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (4.4 deg fov):

https://tejraj.com/celestron-skymaster-15x70-binocular.html

Also, can I make a tripod for these or should I buy them?

Tripod:

https://www.amazon.in/PRO-Tripod-Camera-Operating-Height/dp/B095WFFMB1/ref=sr_1_5?crid=37FG43JW6R9HH&keywords=binocular%2Btripod&qid=1648274102&sprefix=binocular%2Btripo%2Caps%2C477&sr=8-5&th=1

Also, what about these book:

https://tejraj.com/night-sky-observation-book.html

All comments are accepted, thank you!

Starry nights

1 hour ago, SuburbanMak said:

Just in from a lovely long session with the ST80 on an AZGTi & Manfrotto 55 - a much more bikeable rig! 
Transparency a mixed bag, better overhead than of late though I’d say.
Hunted in vain for a few UM galaxies and then gave in to a favourites tour. Looked at lots but M13, M3 M81/2 & M57 the highlights tonight. 

Took out the BCO 18mm and 10mm plus a 32mm Plossl & 2.25 Barlow.  All worked really well in the ST80, especially the 18mm which is a cracking eyepiece giving a 2.25 degree field & 22x in the 80mm f5. 

Racked up the magnification on M57 and was able to resolve the inner ring at 90x with the Barlowed 10mm BCO. 

Rode home through the woods with Hercules & Bootes looking stunning through the branches. 

One of my teenage sons had failed to finish his American Hot pizza - results all round! 

 

This is the favorite observation report I have ever read! The idea that you can see many thing in that small scope, which is ultra portable is really good. I am looking forward to seeing more observation reports from that ST-80, it inspires me to bring my 70mm out and observe! and finally nicely written post!

Starry nights

On 07/03/2022 at 01:07, timwetherell said:

Much easier to buy one, but kinda fun to make a finder from an old binocular objective  5x 50mm with nice sharp 8.6° FoV

That tube holding the lens looks like a bottle! Also, plain aluminium is the best tube material, it looks very nice!

(P.S. Can you add some more pics? I would like to see them!)

5 hours ago, davidc135 said:

spacegalaxy,

Nice idea.

You might find a 2nd hand Barlow cheaply and use its negative achromat. In removing the business end of a Celestron x2 Barlow and screwing it into the nose of a 7.5mm Plossl it amplified by x1.3.

David

Thanks for the comment, I can't thank you enough! Also, a bit of confusion, which Celestron Barlow do you mean? The cheap one or the Omni Barlow or some other one?

Other than that, there are no doubts and once again thanks you!

14 hours ago, Peter_D said:

Smallest is a Tasco 9VR 60mm refractor. Very nice Vixen optics from the mid 1980s.

Lightest OTA is a Bresser Pulsar 80mm Mangin Cassegrain. It is mounted on a really well built alt-az mount.

The look of the Bresser scope..... It looks amazing! I wonder ho it performs on major planets and double, and are those setting circles on the mount? This scope with its mount just looks elegant

Starry nights!

35 minutes ago, Debo said:

Got this little beauty a week ago off Ebay, for not too much money 😉

It's a 60mm Carton which I've never heard of before, the build quality is superb and looks almost brand new. I haven't tried it under dark skies yet but I sure it's going to be good. 

I am pretty sure it will be a beauty on deep sky (Widefield!) 😉

Clear nights

5 hours ago, johninderby said:

The mighty Svbony mini mak. 😁

A huge 70mm aperture with a 6x30 finder and a Sybony micro focuser added. Converted to take any 1.25” eyepiece instead of the stock zoom. Surprisingly capable little scope. Just need to sort out a solar filter. 

I just love the look of small maks! This one looks definitely cool and I love how the finder is like 1/2 the size of the mak! Would love to know it's peformance though

4 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

All by Baader Planetarium. I've always liked Baader diagonal, good quality and well made and with a nice short lightpath thats beneficial for two eyed viewing.

2x prisms, on fitted with a 2.6x GPC for binoviewing

1x Amici prism (for binoviewing)

2" mirror diagonal - for mono viewing with heavier 2" eyepieces + Powermates.

A Herschel wedge for Solar.

Theres room for one more ; i'm after a smaller T2 mirror to be used with my new Zeiss binoviewer.

 

I didn't knew that Baader made a Herschel wedge, and tbh it seems like you are growing a massive diagonal group 😉

4 hours ago, Andy ES said:

Using a Baader ClickLock 2" DiElectric Star Diagonal, very happy with it especially the click lock system 😁

That Diagonal looks just like the Bresser 2inch diagonal, are they same?

3 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

For normal viewing, a 2" Revelation.

For solar, a 1.25" Lunt.

Is the Lunt diagonal a Herschels wedge?

Also it looks cool!

What's the smallest scope you have own? Also, please include performance and details (Like aperture, focal ratio etc)

Clear nights!

Show us which diagonal you use! (Company and type)

Starry nights!

8 hours ago, vlaiv said:

Making a Alt-Az mount is really not that hard at all.

Do internet search for "pipe mount" to get the idea of what is involved (most of them will be EQ type - but difference between Alt Az and EQ is just in how you put it - on a flat surface or inclined plane / wedge).

Here is one article on how to build one:

https://www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/how-to/how-to-make-an-alt-az-pipe-mount-r1873

Slow motion controls will be much more difficult to make as you need to get / make worm and worm gear.

You can in principle make worm and worm gear with standard bolt and tap for same thread and hand drill - look at this video for example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19jKlq8Ofd4

 

Thanks @vlaiv I was thinking of a pipe mount, but it is very hard to make the slow motion controls, so can be able to do planetary observing w/o slow motion controls?

Again, thanks!

After a response from a few people, I am thinking of getting a alt-az mount w/slow-mo controls but the prices are very high, so can I make one at home? Also, the other reason is that the one I was looking at was suspicious looking like it could be displaced by a simple breeze, so can I make a slow-mo control mount or will it be an uncompleted dream?

Yes, I know it is a stupid title, but mainly I wanted to ask that I am getting a new mount and I looked at Mount which has no slow-motion controls, but then I saw a telescope (Which has same specs as my first scope) has a EQ wedge and slow-mo controls into it, so are the slow-mo controls worths spending 120$?

Ok, I am seriously looking for a upgrade, and so I am looking at this scope:

https://tejraj.com/70-700ng-telescope.html

It is the same as my current scope but with a different mount.

So, my first telescope's mount is broken, So I might get this, with slow-motion controls which will help me or I can get this:

https://tejraj.com/az-mounts.html

Which is a only mount for my telescope. So what should I do?

Also the second product I mentioned only shows a mount head not a tripod. So will I have to build it?

38 minutes ago, johninderby said:

OK I’ll start with my Rowan AZ100 Alt-Az GOTO or manual mount on a Planet trippd.

There's only one word to describe it - COOL!

Seriously that mount looks so sturdy, that I could mount a 18inch Newtonian!

(May I also ask what telescope that is? It looks good with that mount!)

(P.S.Also, you misspelt tripod, you wrote trippd)