Jump to content

Banner.jpg.b89429c566825f6ab32bcafbada449c9.jpg

JG777

Members
  • Posts

    947
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by JG777

  1. One thing that cropped up from time to time was the amount of slop in the dec axis with these mounts, it was the reason I didn't buy one. Quite a few threads on this here and CN if you google.
  2. I use a dew controller with my C9.25, generally have it set as low as possible, just enough to keep dew at bay. If you turn it right up you risk seeing thermal currents. Use it in conjunction with a home made dew shield. Never needed one for my refractors, they all have dew shields built in or retractable. Cats and Maks are more at risk of dewing as the corrector plates are very exposed, it also depends on local conditions where you are observing from. Most weather apps will give you the dew point as well.
  3. Great video, not sure about the squeaking noise when he was cleaning the primary!
  4. I won one of the Vixen ones in their competition a few months back , always comes on with a red light, is variable and can be switched off without activating the white light. Very solid build quality, I would buy one if I lost it, not cheap though. https://www.astroshop.eu/instruments/vixen-astro-lamp-led-sg-l01/p,54003#tab_bar_0_select
  5. The OP does mention GOTO and it actually flags up the glaring gap in the mid range price bracket circa £500 and 5 to 10 kilo payload for ALT AZ mount only.
  6. I remember comparing a number of my EPs with and without the FR and although you get a wider field it was a brighter one as well, and some objects just didn't seem to stand out as well for me. Also on my cat I wanted to use a 2 inch diagonal, which if you use with a focal reducer can introduce vignetting with some EPs, so if you go down the FR route then depending on your EPs you might need to stay with a 1.25 diagonal. If your imaging then the FR is a must have I would have thought, but for visual my personal thoughts are the scope operates better as it was intended. For widefield I have an F5 newt! No right or wrong way here, maybe if you could borrow one to try before you purchase if your just visual.
  7. I think if your imaging you might notice more, its been a while since I used mine on the 9.25 but I think I recall slight improvements around the edges. If I can find mine I will sell it as I prefer the native view, darker background and objects to me stand out a little more.
  8. As a visual setup the Evo is excellent, reliable GOTO and tracking and 9.25 delivers great results. I don't do imaging with mine, or at all really, but I don't think it would be most peoples first choice as an imaging rig.
  9. Interesting question, personally I wouldn't leave a scope or any parts clamped up or connected for long term storage as I would be concerned about things locking up or seizing up, or clamps getting stressed. My 9.25 cat is stored on its side in a padded bag, and periodically just shift it around and run the focusser through the full range to keep the grease distributed. Also is there a risk of kids, pets that might bump into it? What about dust settlement, spiders, other assorted creatures?! Is the room damp, too hot... a few things to consider.
  10. I have the ES.6.7 82mm and used it the other night for the first time in a while viewing the moon with one of my 80mm Apos. On nights of good seeing and conditions the 6.7 is nothing short of excellent, a really decent performer so no complaints from here. If however conditions are not near to very good I find the 8.8mm 82 is a much better choice. Haven't used or seen the OVL ones so can't comment on those.
  11. My Evolution is not too bad on slewing a tad quieter than a HEQ5 Pro but still a bit too noisy if close to neighbours in the dead of night, pretty much silent on tracking. The speed on a goto can be adjusted down by using rate in the HC but still a bit noisy. Apparently the ioptron AZ pro is very quiet due to having stepper motors, I've never heard one myself though. Spend more time in silence with a push to.
  12. Its not unusual for scopes to be in a warehouse for a year or more before being sold, nexstar+ had 5 updates in 2019 alone, some of these more important than others and sometimes bugs are chased out by previous updates that didn't go quite right. In the light of any issues the OP might have ,the first thing Celestron will say is update the firmware before we can help you! On the other side of the coin if your scope is doing all you want it to do without issue there is a good case to leave it alone. I usually update a while after the last release if no issues are reported.
  13. I always found auto 2 star the most reliable on my Evo, skyalign offers little or no advantage really, you can fine tune your alignments during a session anyway. You can update the firmware, if it needs it, check your version in the HC against the fixes onCelestron web site. https://www.celestron.com/pages/firmware-update-history Your looking for Nexstar+ hand control. Updating firmware is a whole load of other fun and games.
  14. I think your answer to CPWI and Starry night were answered in another thread. As for Starsense this is a camera you mount to your scope in a view finder bracket and connect to a new handset which is supplied in the package. It basically automates the alignment process. Upon start up you add a few details like date, time, location as you would normally, then starsense takes a few images of the night sky in an automated process, you will see your scope slew automatically, once done you will be aligned. A few things, its a bit of a luxury, it just automates the process. On my Evo 9.25 I can get just as accurate alignments using auto 2 star if I'm careful and take the time. It just takes a little longer. The starsense handset menus are different and missing some of the features an Evolution has , nothing critical, so this may not affect your SE. Also the text is smaller as there are more lines in the display harder to see with older eyes! Last time I checked you can't alter the scroll speed for example. Finally the tour feature on the HC is a car crash, not as intuitive as the standard one with nexstar. Lots of info here https://www.nexstarsite.com/ So yes its useful, but not essential, some get more from it than others, remember though it cannot be used for general imaging, only alignments.
  15. I use a Nexus DSC with my AYO II mount and the very portable Tecnosky Elle mount. The Nexus DSC is a very good system but important to remember that is is not necessarily better or more accurate than a Synscan system. Accuracy is more about the encoders and the efficiency of the mount than the Nexus itself, that is the data going in needs to be good for the Nexus to decode. You can speak to Serge as mentioned and also Gary Kopff at Wildcard who is extremely knowledgeable. (Also in Oz) It is worth getting the best encoders you can afford as they are certainly not all equal, better quality lower count encoders can be far more accurate than higher count encoders of less quality. I am sure both Serge and Gary have a system for the mount you have. Although I like the the Nexus DSC there a few things to consider. If you want to control your dob with Sky Safari then you do not need the full blown DSC unit. Just get the WiFi Nexus box. There seems little point in having the full unit and then connecting a phone or tablet to it, it just makes it a very expensive WiFi box! Using the DSC stand alone can be very liberating as it is a one stop solution and one that can be customised to your hearts content. The GPS facility is useful if you are going to many different locations, the rechargeable internal battery has a very good standby and usage time, and the display is very clear and modern. The last firmware update also added a 1 star align although I have yet to test it. Two star works as well as anything else I have used based on decent encoders I know are not slipping! Accuracy can be improved using various commands in the system or even the MPOINT analysis feature. I think there is enough in there to keep you occupied. You can download the manual from the web site https://www.astrodevices.com/Support/ManualsandGuides/index.html Things I am not so keen on, the keyboard is small and wearing gloves in the Winter makes it very difficult to dial anything in. This is where the Argo Navis wins hands down due to the big scrollable wheel. The menu system is not altogether intuitive enough at times, I think like most the way an arrow points on the keypad should be the direction of travel in the menus, but in the DSC it is not like that and can mean it gets a bit fiddly to find what you are looking for jumping between menus. If you use it enough you will probably get used to it. If you get one ensure you mount it solidly, the units feel a bit fragile and will probably not survive a drop onto concrete, also ensure cabling is neat and tidy without any stressing when you use the mount, easy to damage the encoder port. The thing about all this is that this manual push to system is generally more expensive than a full GOTO with the perceived outlook that it does less for you. However it does mean observing in relative silence, it does give you a lot more direction about catalogues and how you choose to set up a session. It cuts down the issue off power requirements and once set up feels like there is a lot less than can go wrong. The overall user experience of using a Nexus or an Argo is one of a lot more control and a faster way of finding targets than waiting for a GOTO to slew around. So in essence it will appeal to some but not others it is neither better or worse than GOTO, its just another way of finding what you want to see. Good luck on your choice and keep us updated!
  16. The two I currently use, The AYO II and the Tecnosky Elle 2. Since these pics the AYO is now double clamped, the Nexus has a proper bracket and the Argo bracket is fixed as well.
  17. Great scope, I have one as well and use it for air travel. Optically and mechanically its a very high standard.
  18. If the C9.25 is not in use sometimes I use a small refractor 80mm class on the Evolution mount and its very useful and easy to set up. All my other scopes are mainly used on a AYOII with encoders because like yourself star hopping here is difficult with LP skies. I like the silence of it all and the minimal power needed, no need to drag power out with you. I also prefer the much greater options and choices you have with DSC than with Nexstar or SW. You do still however need good alignments on two stars for accuracy. I would say from my own experience accuracy is about the same as Nexstar. I can get a lot more done with push to than without. I nearly went for the SW AZ EQ5 but what put me off was the play reported by many in AZ mode. I don't think one system is better than the other, its really just preference. If you want tracking then goto is the way forward, I think if I was buying today I would seriously consider the Ioptron AZ Pro. I'm not sure there is a great deal of choice with encodered mounts, the new Rowan one will have the option and with slow mo controls but total cost will be a lot higher than a SW AZEQ5 or the AZ pro. £1585 with encoders, Nexus and a saddle, you may also need counterweight bar and weights depending on set up, more dollars. My AYO was just shy of a grand with encoders, then you need to factor in the cost of the DSC unit £430 for the full beans version but less for the wifi non keyboard Nexus which you can then link to Sky Safari. Or the Argo Navis, about £215 if customs don't pick on you, add another £70 approx if they do. Ultimately what it tells you is that goto is cheaper than push to in almost every single case and with some obvious advantages if you require them. Not all mounts and push to's are equal, AYOs and Rowans being hand built are bound to have some sample variation, there may be a requirement to delve deeper into the DSC systems to correct fabrication or alignment errors. I recommend you see a set up before progressing, if you passing by let me know and drop in to have a look.
  19. No surprises here, will people ever learn though? Light pollution is key 'bringer of insect apocalypse' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/22/light-pollution-insect-apocalypse?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard
  20. I sometimes use one on my Evolution mount as the original wi fi is not that great in some places, just plug it in to an AUX port and connect to the signal, I use SS6 pro. Ensure you are getting a later v2 module as the v1 were not too clever, still a few of those floating around second hand.
  21. Have a look here https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/596500-evolution-with-a-celestron-power-tank/ in particular post 11 from Michael Swanson. Full articles here https://www.nexstarsite.com/OddsNEnds/EvolutionExternalPower.htm probably most people who had a battery issue had them replaced under warranty, but yes I also recall Celestron stating a battery replacement kit would be available in the future, how old is your mount?
  22. I travel with the TS 72 in hand luggage, and most of the rest of it in checked luggage. The scope is very good , build quality is very good and the rack and pinion focusser is excellent. Optically very good as well witn FLP 53 glass it has become my aircraft friendly scope due to being so easy to carry on to aircraft. Expect a lot of suggestions here, including a visit from squadron "Tak Attack". 😄
  23. I would suggest asking the advice of Serge at Astro Devices once you have all the dimensions of the dob, he will make you a bracket and tray and help locate a suitable place. He does have some examples of installation https://www.astrodevices.com/Products/NexusDSC/ExamplesOfInstallation/index.html Your encoder location and cable length will need some consideration depending on set up its important not to have a stressed cable into the encoder port.
  24. Just in case you missed this site http://binocularsky.com/index.php
  25. The cricket field is ok if Reading still use it and you want to join, but access to the field is a bit tricky from the road especially with a lot of gear. When I used it a few years ago, you need to contact someone who then contacts the owner and then they have to text you back, and then Reading would advertise that on the FB page, so anyone whom you don't know might turn up. They seemed to want to turn any visit into a group visit. I did manage to secure independent permission for use but never bothered in the end. As mentioned Swallowfield and the area between Reading and Basingstoke might turn something up, skies are a bit darker there although at the Reading end of things the LEDs on the M4 have made things worse. One of our dark sites are there, permission from an angling club I use with a gated car park, but I am only visual so the occasional angler turning up with lights on is not really an issue, think it might be for imaging. I recommend looking at the OS Explorer maps for the areas and going out in the daytime to identify safe places, see them at night as well then draft a letter up asking for permission for anything that is suitable. Car parks, farms, small holdings, allotments, church car parks, etc. Its worth the effort to find somewhere.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.