SIDO
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Clear finally! Set the gear up at 2pm, get to test my new eaa rig again tonight... Excited? Yea ?
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I was a telecommunications engineer for a couple decades and almost got into amateur radio a couple of times, still a shortwave radio fan and these off the grid communications networks are important backup systems for society and those who take part indeed provide a service to the rest of us I do hope we never need. The goal of ISS with a low amplitude signal is a lofty one, best of luck...Kn4fty
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Another promised clear night turned into a foggy fogfest, just getting the moon and planets before the clockwork midnight fog rolls in and soaks my optimism. Better nights ahead I hope ?
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Just completed an ultralight friction fit waterproof paperboard dew/light shield for My Z200, black flooring underlayment, 2" stickon velcro, 2" stickon felt and a Razer knife...One more to go ?
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Next forecasted clear night here in Wisconsin is Saturday, I have a flocking job on my old C150-HD Newtonian to complete as well a dew shield for the scope. By then the moonlight will be creeping back in to be seen.
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Just read this very interesting space weather article from phys.org
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Awesome paint/scope refurb, looking fantastic.
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Last night I bagged 9 of the brighter Perseids, M31, M32, M110, Saturn, Mars transparency about a 6 so not much worth going after but it was worth getting to be outside all night, My favorite part. Andromeda and it's companions were quite detailed though for the seeing dust lanes just hinting, maybe some colour to be seen this year I hope. Tonight is my final attempt at the Perseids ?
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Third try for the Perseids tonight, Comet 21p and the last night I'll attempt Jupiter as too much atmosphere has come between us. All this and more if the midnight fog that has been the last two nights does not roll in. High pressure systems usually this time of year have better returns and getting night fog before September here in Wisconsin is odd in itself. Optimism slightly fading ?
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Finally, clear sky's after 8 days of cloud and rain, a whole lot of catching up to do ?
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I already stated the 390/395's can only be bought used, all scopes have mixed opinions it's why we have forums. I shared ? Best of luck....MSammon -
Here is a cool thread on classic telescope rescue from CN pertaining to the 390/395 Meades, some good reading for sure whatever you should decide or find. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/485234-meade-90mm-f11-model-390-395-question/
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The Meade 390/395 scopes still do come up for sale used, the four that I bought where all useable scopes better optically than today's cheaper achros. The cheapest of the four I bought was $40 and the most expensive $125, the 390/395 scopes originally sold for $500 az and $600 eq twenty years ago. These had way better optical figures than the cheap achros they are selling now, they are a real steal and very upgradable if you can find one.
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I would go EQ as it allows for single handed long period observations wich is a requirement for planetary observations, one can always add a drive motor even on a single axis this will get you hands free.
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My profile picture is that scope it's a 1990 Meade 390 90mm F11.11 x 1000mmfl, I tossed the original mount, focuser, rings and dovetail in the trash and replaced them so the only original components are the tube, lens cell and dew shield. Last year I bought three more of these used Meade 90mm scopes for the lens cells and sent the four lens cells in for optical testing, pairing, alignment and respacing now I have an extremely mint almost optically perfect 90mm F11. About $1100 US invested so far and very very happy with the results, awesome achro for sure. The base componants are indeed used though ?
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Build quality on these lower priced achromatic mid focus refractors are similar and you are correct in wanting a 2" 2 speed focuser in my 90 f11 I get a 2 1/2° field or about 5 moons wide with a 2" 40mm eyepiece. The Celestron 90az has good optical reviews and bad mount reviews, but I can tell the difference between f10 and f11 at the eyepiece and the amount of extra CA that brings is quite noticable so that being the reason I suggested the f11. One can stiffen the mount but the optics are set in glass and more difficult to correct. Limited funds always makes for harder choices the used market can sometimes come thrue with a bargin or at least a better scope in hand.
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I use a 90mm F11 Achro for planets on a eq5 Exos2 with a 58mm aperture mask and like it a lot. Shows less detail than my 200mm dobsonian but nice contrasting views indeed. I fully flocked the tube as the baffles are designed for a 90mm aperture not a 58mm one. Good 90mm F11's are hard to come by these days, I would go F11 before f10 as you would get above minimum colour correction for a 90mm Achromatic Refractor. My 58mm aperture mask gets me a 17.2 FR and a Conrady scale of 7.8 making for some very nice veiws using my 90mm for planets.
