Apprentice

I will definitely upgrade to Plus version then I am actually going to use it as a "push to" on my scope, or at least I intended using the Skeye app, which has a feature to align. I am hoping it will help me get started, since I am having trouble star hopping in my Bortle 6 (or worse) skies.

Hmm, I am looking at Skysafari and there is no "observe" section, and I can't find the scope part as well. Is it possible that because it's a free version of the app?

Hello, so far I only use the red dot finder, which came with the scope. It's useful for pinpointing in the eyepiece, but doesn't help much in finding stuff. Heard that a Telrad would be of tremendous help, so I might purchase one soon.

Thank you all for your suggestions, as a total novice in the field I am struggling to find a good DSO which I can actually observe in my scope. I have tried finding the M13, but the other night, had a 2 hour clear window, and the some clouds to spoil the view, but no luck. I will have to study star hopping, as I tried to find it from Vega, but got lost midway 😛 Thanks @Louis D I took a look at the Caldwell catalog, and it might be more interesting for me, due to its systematic approach. I was familiar with it, but some how the Messier is thrown around so much, that it grabs ones attention easily. And @bomberbaz thanks for the tip, this filter is quite affordable, hope it does the trick. I bought the Baader Neodyimum, since I understood it is one of the more used all rounders by many amateur astronomers, and was really weighing between a good nebulae filter. This will most likely be in my next purchase. Do you have any experience in stacking filters, I heard some doing it, but I am guessing the filter needs to have a thread on both sides, which judging by the images this one doesn't (and neither does the Baader). If that would be possible, it would be interesting to see what would be the result. Clear skies to you all (since I picked up astronomy, we had the worst May and beginning of June since I can remember, so hoping for a first real clear night of observing for me)

So an update, I marked the mirror, cleaned the tube interior while at it, blew the dust off and finally got the motor. Unfortunately the bracket doesn't fit on the focuser, so I tried some DIY methods, and apparently the gear track on the focuser tube got damaged, so now I am left with a bogus focuser with really bad focusing movement and no motor installed. Will see what I will do next. But for this scope, this motor doesn't fit out of the box, if you have a different bracket it might work, but I suggest you save your money on this purchase..

Thanks, the worst part of it all is that tonight is the first truly clear night in weeks, and I will not be able to play hope that the weather sticks for a few nights.

Thanks for the advice. I chose not to clean it, successfully marked the center spot (within a millimeter or two ) Tomorrow I'll be strapping on the focus motor, and off we go

And here is the primary, its really hard to show the scratch as its so subtle and thin, length around 1cm. There are more of these spots which I marked here. But also don't show well on the photo. Really makes me want to just smudge it off with a fiber cloth

I tried taking a photo, but its hard to focus.. I guess its not that big of a deal. But are these spots (drop residue) on the secondary problematic? This is the photo of the secondary through the focuser, i marked the stains, there are more but don't show on the image well. I guess they aren't that big.

I apologize for having a second thread similar to the one I already created. I have a specific question regarding the mirrors. I have just received some gear for modifying my Newtonian. And I would like to center spot the mirror. I have taken it out, and noticed that there a few stains (like mini droplets smaller than 1 mm in diameter) on both my primary and secondary mirrors. I have used the jumbo blower to blow of dust, but noticed one subtle scrath, I thought it was a lighter hair, but it seems its a scratch. Do these things matter much for observations, I really wouldn't want to clean the mirrors. I also received the Baader wonder fluid bundle today, with their cloth included. I intended only cleaning the eyepieces with it, not sure if it would be smart to clean the secondary mirror with it. Thanks in advance!

I agree with that, that is why I bought the eyepiece set from baader, which includes barlow. It is a value purchase and will benefit any other scope I might buy in the future. I would suggest new eyepieces as a first purchase though, I found the stock EPs to be of low quality. The motor focuser should improve shaking significantly, so I will let you know when I try it (still waiting for the delivery). Did you get around to placing a center dot on your primary mirror? I am planning on doing that tomorrow, and also made a collimation cap to assist me with collimating my secondary mirror. I find the collimation to be the most frustrating thing, at least until I get the hang of it. Also a question, can I ask you to explain the focal extender, why did you decide to buy it? And of course when you get, let me know what is the benefit

Hi Spyros, I still haven't received the motor focuser, but this is the one that I ordered: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/skywatcher-auto-focuser.html I should get it on Monday or Tuesday, so when I attach it I will let you know how easy or not it was. I do think that it should fit with no problems. Which scope do you own?

I actually already ordered the Skywatcher from FLO, they mentioned that Skywatchers and Celestrons share many parts, so it should fit easily I am already looking forward to little to none shaking while focusing. The price was also quite affordable, only set me back around 45GBP. @ShimrodWish I was that technical 😛 I tried fixing my RA Motor, which for some reason doesn't turn, but produces all the noise as if it would, and had little luck opening it. Hope that they can do something in the repair shop, wouldn't want to shell out another 40-50 notes for a new one.

Thank you very much @Waddensky! This is pretty much what I needed, some sounds advice as to what might be easiest for me to find So I am guessing that spoting the gas giants might be problematic in the beginning of June for me at 46deg location.

Right forgot to mention that I live in a Bortle- Class 5 area. My observation will be done from a field but not too dark I guess.

Hello all, I am a total rookie to astronomy, only so far caught glimpse of the moon, venus and a couple of bright stars. I am now modifying my scope to allow for better observation and collimating it to the best of my knowledge and skill. I am eager to view the planets for starters (Saturn and Jupiter) and hoping to move on to some DSOs in the same session. Could anybody point me in the right direction, I really want to create a list of Messiers objects and I want to start with the "easiest" and proceed down the list. I know that I might not be able to view the entire Messier catalog with my scope (check my signature). So I want to prepare a comprehensive list I can actually observe. Thank you all for suggestions and clear skies.

Hello all, I have a Celestron Astromaster 130EQ. And I noticed that manual focusing produces shaking which lasts for more than a couple of seconds. I noticed some people use motor focusers, so I am thinking of getting one myself, it should help since my hands are not so steady. All I can find from my local dealer is the "Skywatcher Foc-Mot" at least the dealer says it is for Skywatchers and not sure if it will work with Celestron. Does anybody have any experience with this?

Hi John. I am actually trying to center spot my primary mirror, so that can help me with colimation. I have a laser collimator, which obviously needs collimating itself. So I created a collimating cap from the dust cap that came with my scope. Thanks Mark, that would be really helpful. I will PM you.

So I gathered the courage to center spot my primary on my Astromaster 130 EQ. Got me the round paper enforcer stickers. I saw some great tutorial on youtube, where the guy was using a template on acetate (I hope thats how the transparent sheet is called). I wanted to find the templates for download, which I would then try to print on in a local copy shop, but I had no luck. The reason I want to use this template is because its premade and hopefuly I can actually print it on a transparent sheet. Does anybody know where I could download the template. And if there is any other good tehnique for a newb like me besides using the acetate. A note though, I don't feel comfortable using tweezers and a cutout paper of the exact diameter.

So I ordered the Baader Wonder Fluid along with their cloth. Guess its best, and also all my eyepieces are Baader (qturret set though). So I guess that is that. Will have to buy the air blow separately.. Thanks again all!

Can anybody tell me if this would be a good choice: https://www.astroshop.eu/lens-cleaners/lacerta-reinigungsset-fuer-optiken/p,62923 I am leaning towards getting this, as it contains the air blower which I would need to blow the dust and other particles from my primary mirror as well as eye pieces. Thanks!

Thank you guys for all the quick replies. I will take your advice and leave the mirrors for now, will only blow off the dust from the primary, and center spot it. So having aceton or perhaps 70% ethanol will do the trick for the eye pieces? With cotton buds of course (lots of them). I have the Baader Q-turret set that are multicoated orthos + 32mm plossl. EDIT: I also have questions about the mount. It seems poor quality, and the slow-mo controles a bit tough to turn, while it isn't very smooth. Do you reckon I can use WD40 for the R/A and Dec worms? And I noticed that the plate with the degree markings for the DEC is freely turning, is that something that is supposed to happen?

Hello StarGazers community! I have just recently decided to pursue my long lasting passion for astronomy. I have had the Astromaster 130EQ scope for over 2 years, but only used it a couple of times when I bought it was lying there because I got discouraged by collimation. I have recently decided to take it on, and had my first outdoor session. Needless to say that it got me hooked. I started out with purchasing some modifications such as the accu focuser. Since I want to put the center mark on my primary mirror, I thought it might be best if I clean the primary the mirror while I am at it. I will order the accufosuer from Astrohop.eu, and I would like to buy a cleaning set while I am at it. Could you guys push me in the right direction when it comes to buying the right set on their store, which will help me clean my primary as well as eyepieces? I am quite afraid that I didn't clean my eyepieces and they see to have some spots on as well as the slight fingerprint on the barlow lens. Is there any time limit as to when should that be cleaned? Thanks in advance!

Thank you all for your replies, you have been very helpful! @Nebula It's very Star Wars-y, I do like reference So was reading a lot on the topic and saw the planetary filters being suggested for newbs like me. I will most likely start out with the Baader Sky and Glow, and add a Lumicon 82A which seems to be a good choice for my 130mm aperture. I will definitely buy the OIII as all of you suggested but later and probably buy the Baader Contrast Booster along with it. That will most likely complete my filter collection for quite some time. Thanks again and clear skies to you all!

Hello everybody, I am a novice when it comes to astronomy. I have recently set up my first telescope - Celestron Astromaster 130EQ MD. I also have the Baader Q-turret bundle which includes 2.25 Barlow and 6,10,18mm orthos and 32mm Plossl. I am trying to get the hang of it and learning how to align properly and of course collimate it! I already had my first session and I really enjoyed it, even though it seems that my scope needs more adjustments before I can get the best observing. I am mostly interested in visual observations. And I would like to explore the solar system primarily, but I also want to see some DSOs in the same session. I have to add that I live in Class 4-5 level of light pollution and really want to explore such filters. So I am looking for a filter or 2 of them which will give me the most compared to the investment. I read a lot about filters and it seems I will get the improvement which is most sought after for the beginner. I tried observing the full moon, and it was a strain on the eyes, but I am looking forward to observing it again with a filter. I am also trying to get prepared for the upcoming Saturn, Jupiter and Mars seasons. I am willing to invest around 100-120€ for 2-3 filters, but could manage with a lesser investment. I do want to buy the highest quality, to last me a long time and provide the best viewing. So the filters that I looked at were: Planetary - 80A and 82A - I read that 130mm aperture will benefit from the 82A, but this apperture is at the limit, so bigger should benefit from the 80A. What would I gain by purchasing this filter? Which brand would you recommend I am looking at Lumicon 82A or Baader 80A? Other filter that I was checking include: - Baader Moon & Skyglow Neodymium - ND (12,5%) but I am thinking that 25% will suit me better, I think the other will be too dark. Would the blue filter mentioned above be a better investment at this stage for me, rather than ND filter? Which filter would you recommend for my telescope. Clear skies to all and thanks!