Deadlake

On 06/05/2023 at 12:14, Highburymark said:

The Borg is F/6.4 - in retrospect probably too fast to be my main telescope, as I mostly use it for Sun, Moon and planets. But it shows what’s possible in terms of weight - it’s roughly half as heavy as most modern 5” refractors.  
 

I”be been running the 130 mm at F 4.75 using a AP TVPH. 
The brightness when viewing H-Alpha emission nebula makes the extra speed worth it.

I can share the TVPH accross all of my scopes, fits inside a FT3545 or directly to a C11.

7 hours ago, LDW1 said:

What combined weight of 5.5 kg ( 11 lb ), I must have missed the combo, what scope ? Your definition of grab n go must be a lot different than mosts ?

That was for the mount and tripod, I have manual mounts like a ScopeTech Zero and tripod that weigh more. Such is progress. 
 

Put what scope you want on it, but for a lighter setup the reduction of weight in the mount and tripod is what I’d look to reduce.

1 hour ago, LDW1 said:

At low powers probably but at higher powers when you really want to make the 130 or higher scope zing, I don't think so unless you don't mind waiting for the shaking to subside. This is from my personal, actual experiences, I hate to underestimate the actuality to a fellow astronomer. A 130 or larger is / are a big heavy scope ! My Porta II 's don't cut it and my AZ5 with the 1 3/4-2" ss legs is okay, when it gets in to those size refractors an AZ mount at a decent price are hard to find !

It's all in the tripod, the super mount tripod used above can take 150 kg, an alternative would be a Planet of TPod tripod which are also very rock solid.

The above works at 200x with no wobbles and great tracking.

As I stated it's hard to tell the difference with a Panther mount.

I'd start researching a light AltZ harmonic mount. The HAZ31 plus a carbon tripod (combined weight around 5.5 kg) makes a 130 mm grab n go.

See:



Not my scope, but I understand the tracking and stability is so similar to a Panther you would go with the weight saving every time.

The AP130GTX is around 9 kg, and the scope I have in mind a 130 LZOS is around 11.k kg, but I understand from other scopes used on the mount that the HAZ31 can accommodate that.

I would estimate the combined weight of the above scope, mount and tripod is around 15 kg.

This is making me think twice about adding motors to my AZ100. 

On 30/04/2023 at 12:51, Highburymark said:

New Borg 125FL. All that aperture and under 4kg, if early reports are accurate. I’d happily trade in my perfect TSA-120 triplet for the Borg if CA is well controlled, purely because it’s nearly 3kg lighter. But the price is likely to be prohibitive. 

What is the speed of the scope?

I spoke to TS and  they would build a 10" F3 newt using ONTC (just need to provide the mirror), which using Gavstar PVS-14 to prime conversion adapter should give you some amazing view's in H-Alpha.

7 hours ago, Stephenstargazer said:

Not yet is the answer! The Rowan website says it will be able to work with a Nexus DSC.

The Motor Drive System Manual states : Connections:  RS232 - For Nexus DSC

@Dek Rowan Astro e-mailed me in January "Firmware coming soon for the AZ100 to work with the Nexus DSC, which we should be able provide a Beta version for testing. "

The firmware has not been updated since version V1.0.4 issued in November. So this is still a work in progress.

What about with motor kit fitted and no DSC.
Still possible perform push-to with the motors off using sky safari tp choice target?

1 hour ago, Stephenstargazer said:

Not at all - the serial connection is for a Nexus DSC. I have the cable and patiently wait to use it. (The Nexus and  Nexus DSC are two different products from Astro Devices, and do not have the same functionality.)

Hope that clears the misunderstanding . 

PS there are in fact a Nexus, Nexus II, Nexus DSC, and Nexus DSC Pro.    https://www.astrodevices.com/

Ok, I meant Nexus DSC, presume that works?

16 minutes ago, Stephenstargazer said:

The software to use a  motorised AZ100 with a DSC (and perhaps a Nexus?) is not available yet. There would be no gain in adding a Nexus to the motor controller which already has a WiFi output, which is all the Nexus does. You would need a DSC or ano to avoid using Sky Safari. The Web browser Rowan built in software is not at present a complete alternative, though someone may be using a mount with that alone???

The why sell the serial connection to connect the motor controller to the Nexus?

Connects the AZ100 motor system to Astro Devices Nexus DSC. 
Search for objects in the Nexus databases and issue goto commands to the mount. 
This lead must be connected to the RS232 socket on the AZ100 motor controller. 

Guess a @Dek Rowan Astro question?

From what I've read the AZ100 will be fine in general with a 130 mm APO and C11 on the other side.

I'll be able to tell you soon as have a C11 in bound.

If I was buying from scratch I would go straight for the motor kit and have it fitted at the factory. 

The Nexus is great however I usually use sky safari and the only real use case against SkySafari is to deal with an wifi issues (which I think are rare and not really a decision point) or more importantly for dark site trips where the red colour and low light level of the Nexus will not effect dark sight adaption. The final point is really the only justification for getting the Nexus and of course the Nexus attaches via a serial cable to the motor controller so it's not one or the other.

Might be easier to just get the motor kit and then add the Nexus depending on how you get on with using Sky Safari?

The other point with the motor kit is it sips power, might be good to see what other CN observers have done in attaching the battery pack to the top off the AZ100 mount so no cable wrap and better portability.

Going with the motor's of course doesn't stop you using the slow mo controls, you just need to turn the motor's off.

I think most of what you are considering for the AZ100  has been discussed on this thread on CN:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/851729-rowan-az100-with-motors-first-light/

If you want to avoid wireless the Nexus DSC can drive the mount in push-to or goto configurations. 

1 hour ago, Adam_Wade said:

If so how quickly can you transition between powered and manual mode? 

It's in the manual linked above, however you can turn the motors on and off from the web app.

Personally I'd use the handle to move the mount and then the motors for fine adjustment. 

Due to the encoders the mount does not lose its position.

No need for the telescope to wobble with manual adjustment.

if needed the slo mo cables can be fitted quickly, just leave them in the bag/case.

What is your tolerance to weight versus manual controls?

You could look at the HAZ31 that is around 3.7 kg and can take an AP130GTX easily.

Almost grab n' go and with great tracking at the loss of manual controls.

If you want manual controls and possibility of tracking (GoTo guidance) then AZ100 is unbeatable,

The Panther if you need a top loader however twice the price for that feature, no manual guidance,  I'm not sure it is worth it.  

I'd be interested to know if the Leica is worth the extra over the APM. 

The Leica is meant to be a step up, but so far with the APM EP's I own I've not seen the need to jump to TeleVue (XWA 20 mm vs E21 for example).

Is the Leica really that much better?

Main use would be to fill a hole in the 7-15 mm range when portability is key.

I'd take a TOE 4 mm, Zoom (insert name) , 20 mm XWA and 30 mm UFF.

Actually either the 20 mm XWA or 24 mm UFF depending on weight or if I was bringing a smaller diagonal.

In case people don’t go across the pond, Steve has posted a great YouTube on new Y balancer for the mount:

Wonder what other items Derek has tucked away?

13 hours ago, John said:

The middle one arrived this morning and later I found the book in the local National Trust book shop.

Comparing these high power eyepieces will be very interesting 🙂

 

That will work very well with your LZOS on Jupiter/Saturn and the Moon. 
I find using a BBHS mirror diagonal will bring out the reds on Jupiter a little more than a normal mirror diagonal like the MaxBright.

Enjoy!

1 hour ago, John said:

Is the availability of high spec NV sensors still impacted by technology export restrictions, primarily in the USA, or have things moved on from there now ?

 

In the EU fabricated by Haarder, ITAR prohibits the export of NVD’s from the US.

3 minutes ago, ONIKKINEN said:

Im sure you can figure this one out quite easily?

Lets just say there is more demand for night vision kit at the moment for some places in Europe.

It has always been like this going back some years....

It might simply be due to hunters in the US using NVD's and hence there is a bigger market...

Also the best tubes for astronomy have low EBI's, not really used for other applications as far as I know.

21 minutes ago, Paz said:

I stopped following posts about NV quite some time ago as it was just so far out of my league financially but if it gets cheap enough in my lifetime I would give it a go in the same way that the Quark has brought Ha observing within reach for me.

In Europe the price has gone up, however the cost of a good L3 MVD in the US is half the price including taking taxes into account.

I guess the question is why the NVD kit is twice that in EU compared to US?

Also all relative, the cost for a 20" dob set of mirrors in the EU is around EUR 10,000 excluding the frame, focuser etc.

A 10" BS Newt + an EU NVD is less and you will see more and can use the NVD in more scopes.

 

4 hours ago, jetstream said:

I would presume the difference between the TOE and HR to be very small and the difference between those two and others like XW and Delos to be easily noticeable.

I just need some good seeing to try out the HR 1.6 mm, no TOE to compare with there. 😃

The main reason for the HR range being discontinued is Vixen was not happy with the QA they could do on the EP’s. 
Having said that APM have ordered a new run of Doctor EP’s, maybe Marcus could be convinced he could do the same for the HR line?

2 hours ago, jetstream said:

??

Blueish warmth? is this a colour tone of the eyepiece? you see it in your other frac? This is not scatter IMHO, but really no clue to what it is or causes it, never heard a TOE doing this before.

Maybe back scatter, it’s there will every scope I’ve used the TOE EP with.

1 hour ago, jetstream said:

Do you mean scatter with the TOE?

If this is a blueish warmth to the presentation then yes, not present on the HR.

I’m think the main difference in use is the TOE add a brightness to the object, however this really only pops up on the moon and a moon filter can control this.

With average seeing the 3.4 mm HR and 4 mm TOE are the most used EP.

11 hours ago, John said:

The scope that I feel most affection for is my Vixen ED102SS. I've owned it for 16 years and it is a very versatile workhorse being able to show 4 degrees of sky and also perform sharply at over 200x magnification. It also sits happily on a lightweight mount such as a Porta, AZ-4 or even the AZ-3.

It is not my best performing scope but that's not the point of this thread as I see it, the Vixen always puts a smile on my face when I look though it and having done lots of outreach sessions with this scope, more people other than myself have got to look through it, which I feel is important as well 🙂 

 

I like my small scope too for the wide fields of view.

Very versatile as I can move it around the garden for tree dodging duties.

Works best with XWA 20 mm or 30 mm UFF. 

Also very good for looking at the moon a x500.

A great swap...

24 minutes ago, John said:

It seems crazy that most of my observing tonight has been done at 300x plus but it's been that sort of night 🙂

Yep, helps with high Strehl scopes around 0.98 to 0.99 to pile on the magnification.

I have used a BRAVDA and 10 mm UFF on other nights, but comparison of performance is as ever seeing limited…

If I had done my research based on CN feedback a high quality Barlow mounted ahead of the diagonal and a good 10 mm EP might give more contrastly views then some high end EP’s.