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Jimmystargazer

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Everything posted by Jimmystargazer

  1. Hi Dave. after a little advice please. on your advice I bought a 2" dielectric diagonal with an 8mm planetary eyepiece. managed to get a clear night so used it! the diagonal made it so much easier to use but I think it needs setting up and collimating. the image I got wasn't great. I used the 8mm on the moon and then had to revert back to the 26mm.. parts is of the image we're pretty clear but overall I'd say 70% off a great image. just wondered what the best way forward is.. seeing that you also have a Meade sct.. cheers jimmy
  2. Hi Joc et al. Thanks for the input you've given. All input is great and joining this forum just shows me how many great astronomers there are out there with the dedication to help a new boy like me.. To clarify... I did a lot of research before buying my Meade LX90 8" SCT. I didn't want to pay the full retail price, as it was my first scope so bought mine used.. paid less than half retail price.. So when it arrived I had already paid a decent amount for it and it didn't come with the extras that it would have if new. Being a compete new comer I had and still have pretty much no idea about using it.. hence the 3 pages of questions.. Going forwards I want to buy quality but value to really get the most from my sct. I know it has sooooo much potential and I can't wait to utilise it! Hence the lack of diagonal, decent eps and my inability to realise the telrad was on back to front and the LNT was plugged into the wrong port. Only by asking questions and everyone here being so helpful am I getting to grips with the whole space thing and what will make my slightly hindered amazing SCT deliver what it is capable of.. I have ordered a 2" sct star diagonal with 1 1/4 reducer plus a 60° field 12mm gso eyepiece, all thanks to input from this forum. Just pondering about the dew shield and mains power supply.. On my first use I did see the craters on the moon in amazing detail. However due to the lack of supplied diagonal and my incompetence of setting it up if wasn't a fair first use of the telescope.. hence the initial disappointment when I had read up and seen what it is capable of. I am just awaiting delivery of the aforementioned items and a clear sky to really see what the telescope is capable of... Watch this space... Again... Thank you all so much for your input, time and effort in getting me to a place where I feel more comfortable with my new hobby and I can't wait to stargaze! Cheers. Jimmy
  3. Hi all. Assume this is a better value option? http://www.365astronomy.com/Dew-Shield-Lens-Shade-with-Dew-Heater-for-Celestron-8-Schmidt-Cassegrain-Telescopes-with-Controller.html
  4. next job is a dew shield... https://www.altairastro.com/Kendrick-Celestron-C8-Meade-8-SCT-Dew-Shield-225-240mm.html assume this is the kind of thing i need? worth buying one or better to make one myself? cheers jimmy
  5. Hey. Is this a totally stupid purchase? http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/FMC-1-25-SPL-Plossl-Eyepiece-6mm-12mm-25mm-48-Degree-4-Element-2x-Barlow-Sets-/361927907939?hash=item5444959a63%3Ag%3A1zYAAOSw2gxYx0j2&_trkparms=pageci%3Ab21a62ff-209c-11e7-b55d-74dbd180314f%7Cparentrq%3A6989ff9415b0a357ebae6c9afffd22a6%7Ciid%3A24 Jimmy
  6. Would this be a good buy? https://www.altairastro.com/dewzapper-dew-heater-for-7-8-telescope-celestron-nexstar-8-evolution-meade-8-skywatcher-180-mak-87cm-length-20w.html Do I need a collar as well or just this?Cheers Jimmy
  7. Hey... Would this do the same job... Just cheaper? https://www.altairastro.com/altair-2-meade-celestron-sct-dielectric-diagonal-99-reflective-coating.html?cat=255 Looks like it will.. Will then give me more to buy a 12mm eyepiece too. Cheers Jimmy
  8. Thank you such much for your input.. Can't wait to get a diagonal, New eye piece and a clear nights sky!
  9. Hi all. This is my SCT. Push fit 26mm plossl with thumb screw to hold in place. So assume I can buy any 90° push fit and just use the thumb screw to hold in place?. Then the new eyepiece will push fit into that and thumb screw again.. I assume that's correct?.. I've held off buying anything as a tad unsure what will and what won't fit. ? Already cost me a pretty penny.. want to make the right choices.. 90° to make viewing easier then probably a 12mm eyepiece to wow the kids!.. and me ? Cheers. Jimmy
  10. Thank you for your amazing advice and input.. Lots to take on board but getting an idea of essentials I must buy to get more out of my scope... Mainly 90° tube, 12mm eyepiece and a few shield... Cheers. Jimmy
  11. Thanks Geoff.. Just managed to get the LNT module working.. had plugged into the wrong hole... So from set up I had the telrad the wrong was round, so didn't do anything and the LNT plugged into the wrong hole.. So didn't work either.. Got rather frustrated trying to use my phone app to level and find magnetic north at 12.30 am! LoL... Been cloudy skies since so just waiting for a decent evening to try the telescope out again.. LoL... Learning curve in deed.. the school boy errors don't help. Thanks for your input. Jimmy
  12. Thanks Alan... Kind of none the wiser of which I need to buy LoL... Think I need to measure the eye piece aperture and check if it has a screw attachment too before ordering. You are all GREAT! Cheers Jimmy
  13. Thanks Anne. I was literally just about to order the diagonal.... I'll wait off and wait till home after work to check the scope.. Appreciate your input. So basically I need to check that the eye tube bit as a screw attachment and need to measure the tube bit too? Thank you..
  14. http://www.365astronomy.com/12mm-GSO-Plossl-Eyepiece.html Assume this would be a decent first buy? Or other poster has suggested 25mm, 15mm and 8mm options.. The 12mm will allow for a close view of the moon but will it also be useful for planets? Or would I also need to buy an 8mm option too? cheers jimmy
  15. Thanks Dave.. Will buy today.. Next thing to buy is a better eye piece. Would love to show the kids close up of the moon's craters and Saturn and its rings if that's possible on my scope. 2" 8mm option? Thoughts? Cheers. Jimmy
  16. Hi Dave.. hmm.. but of a variation in costs out there... Would this do? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007RTTLUW/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1491863412&sr=8-14&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=2"+star+diagonal Or anything else you'd advise? Cheers. Jimmy
  17. Thank you all so much for your help and advice..

    1. I asked for advice about the 45° prism to use on the telescope.. I suppose this I'd more to help with looking through the eyepiece rather than having to lie on the floor when pointing straight up.

    Any advice where and what to buy in UK please.

    2. I also asked about eye pieces.. I read all responses. I only have a 26mm plossl eyepiece. I would like to see more detailed things, especially planets.. would love to show my kids!.. again any advice on what to buy and from where. UK again.

    Thank you all.

    Jimmy

    1. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      If you primarily want the diagonal to do astronomy, then a better choice than a 45 degree diagonal is a 90 degree one. This makes it much easier to see views with, especially when close to zenith. 

    2. Jimmystargazer

      Jimmystargazer

      Thank you. Will order one now.

      Jimmy

  18. @Crose01 Hi.. assume collimation out as when looked at moon it didn't have Sharp edges.. blurred at side.. craters looked ok just not very sharp.. may be I'm expecting too much?.. Star gazing is tough work...
  19. Another question.. I only have a 26mm eye piece. I assume I need another to view planets? Like a 12.4mm.. would love to view Jupiter and Saturn rings etc.. used the other night and literally saw nothing like I know the telescope is capable of.. if I do need other eye pieces what are your thoughts on a zoom eye piece? 8-30?.. or some thing similar? Again thank you all for you help and in out. Jimmy
  20. @Alan64 I have a 26mm straight eye piece that I insert and holds in place with a grommet screw. Just need advice on something that lets me view easier, rather than having to get on the floor to look through the eye piece and also turn everything the correct way up.. ?
  21. @John.. Telrad, wrong way round.. LoL.. Yes figured that out.. works ok now.. just need a day off with out kids to get aligned. Also Lnt module doesn't seem to work do next job is new battery..
  22. Very interesting to a total beginner!.. need to buy a Hubble.. ? or spend more time on a comfy chair looking at the stars! Appreciate your time to post.
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