Hello All!

i am considering buying a Celestron Auto Focuser for my 180mm Maksutov. When focusing at high power the image is very sensitive to touch and wobbles when trying to focus. Have any of you used one and how do you like it?Hello all

I have a Celestron 180mm Maksutov and am considering installing the Celestron Motorized Focuser. Do any of you use one and if so, how do you like it? I have found that when using high magnification the image wobbles making manual focus very difficult!

difficult!

4 minutes ago, johninderby said:

They say it’s so you can record the temperature while observing. Is it any real use? Not sure.

I guess it could also tell me when it’s near dew Point?

Hello all!
I have been observing for a couple of years and just upgraded my diagonal on my Celestron 180mm Maksutov to the Williams optics 2” SCT Rotolock dielectric. The thing is, it has a thermometer on the side, but no explanation of what it’s for! Any ideas?
 

I went out last night and tried using my iPhone XR to take some moon pix.  I am currently using a Celestron NexYE phone adapter. The mechanisms are constantly coming loose and moving. So, I am considering the Tele Vue adapter, GoSky adapter or Phone Skope adapter. Do any of you use one of these adapters?

30 minutes ago, Stu said:

Great pictures Greg, it's not as easy as people might think! You've got really good focus and exposure which are the two key things, nicely done!

Check out the Smartphone and Tablet imaging section for lots of hints and advice.

https://stargazerslounge.com/forum/279-imaging-smartphone-tablets/

Thanks Stu! I eventually want to get a starter camera for my scope. What would you suggest?

Hello all! I had my first go at photographing the moon last night, using an iPhone XR with my Celestron 180mm Maksutov on an Advanced VX mount. I am fairly pleased but it was much more difficult than I had anticipated! Any pointers would be appreciated!😀

     I have decided to add a Mak to my scope collection and am really leaning towards the Skywatcher SkyMax 180mm. The reviews I have read are quite good and the new model has a 2” back and diagonal. I’m wondering, though, about my wide 100 degree two inch eyepieces. Will they work with this scope? I am using Explore Scientific and Baader Morpheus eyepieces and would like to know some comparably priced eyepieces that would also work well with this scope. What say you all?☺️

So, all...tonight I’m taking the dob out for a planet viewing on Jupiter and Saturn and, hopefully, a few Messier objects if the clouds cooperate!  

12 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

I'm sorry Greg6498, maybe I used the word "chaffed" wrong, I meant to say I recall how excited you were, I hear my British buddy throw that word around and maybe every time he says "im so chaffed" I understood he's excited about something when maybe it means one is not so happy lol.

Haha Sunshine you are right! It means stunned or impressed! It also can mean teasing What I got frustrated with was constantly having to reorient the dob to keep everything in view! Left is right, up is down and it was making me crazy! I found later, with a little practice, it got much easier! LoL!

2 minutes ago, Alan White said:

Give it longer than a year Greg and it will teach you more than just patience.
You will develop the patience of a saint after another year.
I have no idea how the weather in Lexington, USA compares to Thundersley, Essex, UK, 
but living where I do the weather tests the Patience of a Saint sometimes.

Your scope mix sounds great, refractor for nice pin sharp tight stars,
Dobsonian for the fainter or bigger objects.
I own a Vixen ED103s Refractor and a 10" OOUK Dobsonian, this has taken a number of scope upgrades to get here.

Thanks Alan! Astronomy has certainly helped me with my frustration levels LoL! Sunshine was right. When I first started I was pretty frustrated but now I’m taking it in stride! I’ve had some really good nights and some really bad ones but now when they go bad I just pack up and look forward to another night! Everyone’s support here is a huge help!

16 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

I remember how chaffed you were about that dob when you first got it, that’s a sweet little light bucket!

Haha Sunshine! You are so right! If Amateur astronomy has taught me one thing over the last year it’s patience! My learning curve has been big. I’m really glad I kept the dob and didn’t sell it! Now that I understand more about optics (from all of you!) I think selling would have been a big mistake! At least I try to learn from my mistakes, LoL!

13 minutes ago, laudropb said:

The magnification is given by dividing the focal length of your telescope by the focal length of your eye piece. The focal length of your dob is twice that of your refractor, so the image of the planet will be twice as big in the dob. The image of the planet will not be huge but the resolution given by the larger aperture will allow you to see plenty of detail if the seeing conditions are good. The longer you spend viewing the more you will see, so you have to be patient.

Thank you! That makes perfect sense! I’ve just never tried the dob on planets so I’ll give it a go!

I’m in a bit of a quandary. I have 2 scopes, a Skywatcher Evostar 80mm and a Skywatcher 8” Collapsible Dobsonian. Both are good scopes. The problem is when using the the refractor to view planets the image is tiny. It’s clear, but tiny. Haven’t tried the Dobsonian yet for planets but probably the same result. Is there any way to make the image bigger? I’m using a 6.7 eyepiece now. Please excuse me if this is dumb question LoL!

After receiving great advice from this group, I decided to purchase this TeleVue 2x Barlow! It's going on my Skywatcher Evostar Pro 80mm. I have an ES 6.7 eyepiece I want to use with it. Can’t wait to give it a go!

This was a big deal for me tonight! I got a great view of Jupiter and it’s for moons for the first time! Also got a good view of Saturn and its rings! I’m using a Skywatcher Evostar Pro 80mm 7.5 on an Advanced VX Mount. The most powerful eyepiece I have is a 6.9 mm. If I get a 5mm will I get a better view or should I go with a 2x Barlow?

Hello all!

iI know there is a way to calculate this, but I’m not sure what it is. I have a Skywatcher Evostar Pro 80mm f7.5 What is the highest magnification eyepiece I can use? I would like a 5mm but not sure it would work. I even saw a 4mm!

Thanks!

On 09/06/2019 at 21:09, Sunshine said:

Figured I would post a not to shabby iPhone shot, I don’t have my bracket so holding steady was a pain but, the eyecup helped a lot, I converted it to B&W within the phone editing software.

 

That is an AMAZING shot with a handheld iPhone,Sunshine! I have been doing the same with the NexYE phone mount!

3 hours ago, SIDO said:

Ok Greg...Now that the equipment bits have been sorted it's time to get busy gearing up for your first light report, due to be filed here as soon as clear skies allow ?

The link will connect you to 3 videos...

How to Align an eq mount.

How to use an eq mount.

Observing the Sun Safely, now that you have a nice frac solar observing is a natural next step.

                  Enjoy ?

                               Freddie...

 

 

Ok Freddie will do! Wee had our first week of clear skies since last July 22nd so ill have the new scope out real quick! Full report to follow! ??

First, thank you all so much for your great advice! Now, this is what I purchased ?

Sky-Watcher Evostar ProED 80 mm f/7.5 ED APO OTA

For my mount I chose this Mead LX 70 German Equatorial Mount! ?

15 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

Hi Greg,

If you're looking for a simple grab and go set-up, an altazimuth mount is probably the way to go. Providing you mount it on a solid tripod or pier it will be steady enough for most purposes even when using high powers, although this is where altazimuth mounts can become a little more difficult to use. Even with manual slow motion controls you'll have to continually adjust both the altitude and azimuth axis, so if you're trying to sketch what you're observing at high power, you can feel like you need three hands.

A simple equatorial such as the SW EQ5 is a better option if lunar and planetary observing is your thing, as the mount will track the Moon or planet easily by adjusting just the RA control, with only occasional adjustments of the Dec control. Also, the EQ5 mount can be motorized enabling the mount to track your target, allowing you to observe in comfort. They too are light weight and portable, though the do require a counterweight, so not as light as a AZ4 or giro Altaz.

Below are a SW Equinox ED80 and a 100mm apo both mounted on AZ4's making them very portable and easy to use. And the 100mm apo mounted on a portable motor driven equatorial. Also very portable!

Thanks Mike! I like the Skywatcher mount located here: https://www.highpointscientific.com/telescope-accessories/mounts/telescope-mounts/alt-azimuth-mounts/sky-watcher-az5-mount-with-steel-tripod-s20110

The price is right and the scopes I am looking at are in the 11 lb range. 

I am looking at various refractor telescopes (I already have a great Dobsonian!) and was wondering which mount would be best to start with. I'm not interested in computer control but not sure which type mount would be best to consider. 

1 hour ago, cletrac1922 said:

Dan

Comes down to personal choice

I use a 9 X 50 right angle spotting scope on my SW 10" collapsible dob

Right angle saves having to lay on the ground, when observing  something directly overhead

John

I also use a right angle 8x50 Explore Scientific finder scope on my dob. Had a Telrad and a Rigel and just got tired of contorting myself into uncomfortable positions! Life is MUCH more pleasant now!