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Everything posted by johninderby
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Just got my scope
johninderby replied to Bob Fotheringham's topic in Getting Started General Help and Advice
Hi and welcome to the forum. Have you downloaded the full synscan hand control manual yet? The manual that comes with the scope is pretty limited and doesn’t give much info. https://inter-static.skywatcher.com/downloads/Synscan_V4_Hand_Control_Manual_SSHCV4-F-161208V1-EN.pdf If you have an Android phone or tablet this app will give the gps and date / time info in the correct format for the mount. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.RapidoDroid.synscaninit2&hl=en_GB&gl=US -
The main reason I sold my Skymax180 was the long cool down time. Now replaced with an 8” Classical Cassegrain that delivers great lunar / planetary views and has has similar cool down time to a refractor. Perhaps a SW ED120 would be a good choice as it’s not too expensive? Also have Big Red the 100mm f/13 planetary scope with Japanese optics but needs a solid mount but amazing planetary views.
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It’s the flexibility as well as build quality of the AZ100 that is making it so popular and being able to upgrade with new optional parts so you can create the mount that best suits you.
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The AZ100 is sort of a heavier duty version although more expensive. You can get the optional internal encoders and DSC or fit them yourself. Also has a full GOTO option coming soon than can be installed on an existing AZ100.
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The AZ100 is a lot bigger than the Losmandy AZ8. You don’t realise how massively built the AZ100 is until you actually see one.
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Have a look for thread adaptors so you could use one of the bars you allready have. I did this with a Skytee mount with M12 threads in the saddle but the Skytee bar was M16.
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Ioptron does cheaper counterweights with a 28mm bore so perhaps so perhaps those would do?
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The counterweight shaft uses counterweights with a 25mm bore.
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You can buy the flange with counterweight shaft or just the counterweight shaft on it’s own which you would want if fitting saddle to both ends. The shaft screws into the saddle .
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The AZ100 fits an EQ6 tripod so if fitting to the Berlebach you will need a new top plate or modify the top.
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On the subject of the 180 usable aperture. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/737321-sky-watcher-skymax-180-pro-mct-gold-tube-vs-black-tube-optical-performance/
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Like this police officer dealing with a phone scammer.
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The old blue tube version. The 127 hasn’t changed but the 150 and 180 were altered to correct the less than truthful actual aperture of the older versions.
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Short term ideas
johninderby replied to Powdergnome86's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Not a problem with coma. Nice little review here. https://astronomytechnologytoday.com/2020/01/03/gso-eight-cassegrain/ -
Short term ideas
johninderby replied to Powdergnome86's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Doesn’t need a corrector. From the TS website. ”Large corrected and illuminated image field due to parabolic primary and hyperbolic secondary mirror with less field curvature than with SC telescopes.” -
Short term ideas
johninderby replied to Powdergnome86's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
The f/12 Classical Cassegrain has less field curvature than an SCT and being a planetary specialist the off axis performance isn’t that important and it has better on axis sharpness than an SCT. The SCT is a better all rounder but prefer the CC for lunar / planetary. Horses for courses as they say. -
Rigel on Mak 127
johninderby replied to davyludo's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Telrad...............AKA The Brick. -
An 8mm 12,mm and an 18mm would be a good starter set. The BST starguiders are a very good line of budget eyepieces that would work well. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/starguider/ I like the Nirvana 82 degree eyepieces but sold out at the moment. The ES 82 degree eyepieces are better but more expensive. Of course there are loads of premium eyepieces out there but £££££ and being f/12 the scope doesn’t need premium eyepiece really. You would need a finderscope. This one is pretty good and not exoensive. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/astro-essentials-
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Carrying the Skywatcher Skyliner 200P Classic
johninderby replied to Spile's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
I can see removing the tube and then screwing in the handles to the tube might lead to bending of the handles as they wouldn’t be screwed in all they way. If carried complete the handles wouldn’t have the threaded part sticking out to bend. Or at least that’s how I interpret OVLs reply. -
Mine is the TS 8” Classical Cassegrain but identical to the StellaLyra version which wasn’t available at the time. Yes the scope and a Skytee mount would use up most of your budget. You might look for a second hand Skymax180 as they do show up quite often in the SGL sales section or on Astrobuysell.