Jump to content

Banner.jpg.b89429c566825f6ab32bcafbada449c9.jpg

rwilkey

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4,302

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by rwilkey

    Sky-Watcher Evostar 100ED mount and tripod advice

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted

    23 hours ago, saturnian said:

    Thanks for the reply.I did look at the Porta 2 it s just that the tripod looks a bit light to me but yes it looks like a good mount.

    Yes, the Porta II does look a bit light compared to the AZ4 but it is as solid as a rock.  My wife has the AZ5 which is quite good for her small scope (a Startravel 102), but to be honest, the AZ4 is a much stronger affair.  One of the things I liked about the Porta II compared to the AZ4 was that you didn't have to set up the tripod, ie. screwing the ep tray on etc to stabalize it, with the Porta II you can just collapse the tripod without any fiddling about and so on. Here is my scope on its Porta II:

     

    027b.jpg

    • Like 1

    Sky-Watcher Evostar 100ED mount and tripod advice

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted

    19 minutes ago, Alfian said:

    When I had my 100ED I mounted it on An AZ4 with the 1.75" steel legged tripod and in terms of stabilty was perfectly adequate. The pillar extension made it even better, avoiding some back ache, but makes the whole plot heavier. An az4 second hand can be picked up for £100 ish.

    I agree with Ian above, the 100ED will sit vey well on an AZ4, I did this with the Bresser AR102 for a friend (who had bought this great scope for his 8 yo son).  For my scope I chose the Vixen Porta II mount which is equally up to the task and having tried both, I prefer the Vixen.  The only advantage it has over the AZ4 is that it has got good slo-mo controls, which the AZ4 does not.  I like my slo-mo controls.  Good luck and clear skies!

    • Like 1

    Help me find a good scope

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted

    18 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

    Dobsonian design which I believe to be the OP's best option.

    I totally agree, with hindsight I would have bought a Dobsonian rather than an EQ5.  However, not happy with this I changed it to a SkyTee II AZ mount which I much prefer, esp. as I became disabled on my left side after a stroke shortly after buying the EQ5.  You learn as you go along, I think.

    Help me find a good scope

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Peter Drew said:

    With respect, this can be done successfully with a Dobsonian mounted Newtonian.  Commercially through the Orion "Intelliscope" system or an inexpensive DIY modification as outlined on this forum a few days ago.      🙂

    Hi Peter, I agree, but the EQ mount suggested by the OP is not accurate in my opinion, it can get you to the right part of the sky but that's all

    Help me find a good scope

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted

    13 hours ago, AstroNtinos said:

    You are right, but there are some objects that they can't be seen with naked eye, despite the fact that you are in the black light pollution zone. So I need either an equatorial mount so i can find the object through coordinates or a GoTo for automatic tracking.

    Speaking about finding objects through co-ordinates, this is virtually impossible with the type of mounts generally available, you will not find this a successful method, I believe.

    Celestron 102AZ

    in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice

    Posted · Edited by rwilkey

    Hi Wicksee, I have the C100 ED and the first thing I did was to replace the diagonal (with a 2" Sky Watcher one), I also bought a Vixen Porta II mount, expensive but solid as a rock, as is the Sky Watcher AZ4.  Just some thoughts about what I did.  Good luck and clear skies!

    Planetary eyepieces in 10" f4.7

    in Getting Started With Observing

    Posted

    Hi Simon, I have never been successful at maxing out but if you want to try it then try it you must, with experience you will find the lower powers more useful even on solar system objects.  However, if you want to go down that road then the XF 8.5mm is a good eyepiece, but my opinion is that at that high magnification the image will be diminished and you will subsequently blame the eyepiece.  Jupiter, for example, is best at around 150x I have found, Saturn a bit more at 200x and so on.  Good luck in whatever you decide!

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Hello from Ulm, Germany

    in Welcome

    Posted

    Hi Michele and a warm welcome from me.  We have friends in Augsburg and have been there a few times, but never found our way to Ulm, it looks very pretty on the River Danube.  Good luck and clear skies!

    Accessories for 6 inch dob

    in Discussions - Eyepieces

    Posted

    56 minutes ago, Daf1983 said:

    3 months ago, I was in exactly the same position as you, trying to decide between the 150p and 200p skyliner. I eventually ordered the 150p....then cancelled the order and ordered the 200p instead. I'm so glad I did, as I'm very happy with the 200p, and if I had gone with the 150p, there would always be nagging feeling I should have stretched my budget that little further.( The jump in price from 6 to 8 inch is not that big). However, I'm sure you'll be more than happy if you decide to go with 150p.

    As for accessories, as merlin says above, the bst starguiders ar very good, I have bought the 8mm and 12mm. I also have the vixen npl 30mm which is also very nice, and not too expensive. 

    I found the scope quite hard to use with only the original 8x50 finder, so I would highly recommend getting the telrad to complement it. It's made observing so much easier and pleasurable in my (limited) experience. This would probably be the first thing I would buy if I had my time again.

     

    Nair al Saif, you can't beat first-hand experience, go for the 200P Dobsonian, highly recommended.  BTW, welcome to the forum!

    • Like 1

    Good evening from Ireland

    in Welcome

    Posted

    Hi Slingshot and a warm welcome to the forum.  The Sky Watcher 130P is ceretainly a good place to start.  I have been to your part of the country (Co. Cork), a lovely area I have to say, you are so lucky.  Good luck & clear skies!

    What's needed next?

    in Getting Started With Observing

    Posted

    Hi Joe and welcome to the forum, one of the best guidebooks around is 'Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas' by Roger W. Sinnott, this is the one I use and is a good guide to DSO's (deep sky objects), through this you will learn to navigate the sky, found here:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Telescopes-Pocket-Sinnott-30-Mar-2006-Spiral-bound/dp/B011T83TX6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=201ZXLWVM8LPI&keywords=sky+%26+telescope's+pocket+sky+atlas&qid=1597395824&sprefix=sky+%26+%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-4

    Highly recommended!

    • Thanks 1

    Where do you take your telescope?

    in Getting Started General Help and Advice

    Posted

    Hi Hutch and a warm welcome to SGL.  I am not so far away from the Cotswolds here in Swindon.  You have a club in your area found here: https://cotswoldas.org.uk/

    At our club in Swindon for observing sites we use anything from a lay-by to a nature reserve (never go out alone BTW!), here is a list of our main sites with photos to give you ideas, however, the best thing you could do is to join a local club:

    http://www.swindonstargazers.com/noticeboard/noticeboard04.htm

    Also, note that new telescopes come packed with clouds, so open the box carefully!

    Good luck and clear skies!

×
×
  • 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.