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This dear.....? New dear.....?

Stu

By Stu
in The Astro Lounge

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Laurie61

Laurie61

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Nice to see it arrived, more or less, in one piece Stu  :smiley: When I bought mine originally, 2009, I bought a cgem to mount it on and it manages surprisingly well for visual and planetary imaging. I bought a dob base from OO with the scope and have recently invested in an eq platform and I think the cgem will now be used exclusively with my C 11. :smiley:   

300 mm f6 + dob base/platform

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Its original home on the cgem.

post-30467-0-72275800-1390837489_thumb.j

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SnakeyJ

SnakeyJ

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Its original home on the cgem.

attachicon.gifIMG_2218.r..jpg

I'd love one, but think an observatory extension would be required to have it on a GEM - what a beast.

I saw this also on ABS and was sorely tempted, though decided not to risk the divorce ;)   Perhaps an F5.3 on a CGEM DX or EQ8 at some point in the future -  though I think a dome would be almost essential with an ota of this size/length.

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Stu

Stu

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Well I have 'on paper' approval from the CEO for a dome observatory. Trouble is, it forms a distant, future strategic objective with much to do in between :-). I'm not sure how I allowed her to get promoted from fixtures secretary but I believe I may regret it :-).<br />

<br />

My temporary solution, as I've alluded to, is the AYODigi, may even try it on the EQ6 tripod not extended and with the half pillar removed. It is very solid and may just cope for the moment.<br />

<br />

<img src='http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/28/a4uhunu8.jpg' alt='Posted Image' class='bbc_img' /><br />

<br />

<img src='http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/28/abugudeb.jpg' alt='Posted Image' class='bbc_img' /><br />

<br />

Stu

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Stu

Stu

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Remarkably, the skies are clear, and because I've been a good boy and done some painting today, Mrs Maksutov seems quite relaxed about an impromptu session, particularly as it gets the scope out of the lounge!!<br />

<br />

Have had a quick peak. Not cooled at all, and the collimation is way out but just had a peak at M42. For the first time ever, I've seen a definite green tinge to it, quite noticeable, shows the benefit of the extra aperture.<br />

<br />

Almost forgot to say, it is on the AYODigi/EQ6 tripod and seems to be quite stable, certainly useable.<br />

<br />

It's such a different view to the Mak, not as nice in some ways but I think once it is cooled and collimated it should be amazing. Rigel split easily even in its current state.<br />

<br />

Dinner now, with have another look after when it should have cooled more. Might have a tweak at the collimation too.<br />

<br />

Stu

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John

John

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Sounds promising Stu.

I used to use my 10" F/4.8 OO newt on a Giro-style alt-az mount similar to the AYO. I don't think I'd put my 12" on it though although the mount would take the weight.

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oldstout

oldstout

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Nice one, looks megga!

I have an ace photographer friend who is on a local forum, his sig says ' When I die I hope my wife doesn't sell my toys for the same price she thinks I paid for them!' He loves his gear and pays some BIG bucks for some of his bits and pieces - unknown to his Mrs of course.  'This latest Canon dear?  Oh around fifty quid......'  :Envy:  :Envy:

:laugh:

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Stu

Stu

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Nice one, looks megga!

I have an ace photographer friend who is on a local forum, his sig says ' When I die I hope my wife doesn't sell my toys for the same price she thinks I paid for them!' He loves his gear and pays some BIG bucks for some of his bits and pieces - unknown to his Mrs of course. 'This latest Canon dear? Oh around fifty quid......' :Envy::Envy:

:laugh:

Nice one :-). I keep a list of my kit with values on which I must make sure is accessible to Mrs Maksutov when I shuffle off up to the skies finally.

This purchase has been fully approved though, which is refreshing :-)

Stu

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Stu

Stu

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Well, just a little update on last night.

I fixed the secondary holder well enough to get it into a good position. All appeared square and central to the focus tube but I will check more when properly fixed.

Lugging the scope out was a shock to the system after the 'little' Mak! I managed to get it mounted and balanced on the AYODigi, it was actually surprisingly stable and smooth with a counterweight bar and weight fitted. On the EQ6 tripod it was a bit high! Needed to be on a short step ladder at the zenith. The pedestal mount will be better in the interim.

Once cooled, bearing in mind I didn't have the fan running as I don't have the cable yet, the views were excellent. I tweaked the collimation over the course of the evening and had it reasonably good by the end. Need to dig my Cheshire out to do it properly though.

So, problems....

.....I could not reach focus without an extension tube (which is coming with the motor used focuser and larger secondary). Fortunately I had one on an old focuser so was able to get sorted.

Biggest ep I had to hand was a 24mm Panoptic as I couldn't use 2" eps in that extension. This was giving a 0.9 degree fov. I didn't have my Telrad fitted, just a 9x50 right angle finder, so finding things was challenging!

Biggest problem? Everything's the wrong way round!! :-) Having used fracs and the Mak for years, it is going to take some getting used to the view. Actually, I'm so used to it that when I use my RACI finder, I move that in the wrong direction too!

So, I failed to find many objects. Couldn't find M81/2, couldn't find the Double Cluster! Felt like a true beginner :-).

I managed Jupiter, which despite very average seeing looked very nice. GRS was there, heading off but still very obvious, with some nice detail in the belts visible. This was at x180 with a 10mm Delos.

M45 looked lovely, what I could see of it in the fov ;-).

M42 was 'star' of the night. A lovely green tint to it, and the trapezium sharply resolved. E was clear, with hints of F although it was over houses so the seeing was not great.

Rigel was a nice clean split too, although what are those funny spikes sticking out of bright stars? ;-). Must get used to them, never had to before.

So, that was it for the night. A nice surprise clear night, and the scope performed well. Plenty to do to tweak it, but am very pleased.

Cheers,

Stu

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