Celestron Inspire 90AZ

[Rohit]

Hey, success at last!!  Had a great view of the moon tonight.  Just at the right angle.  Could see it all nice and clear.  No problems with the telescope.  Just the user.

[Dave In Vermont]

That's what I like to hear! Congratulations!

To celebrate your conquest of the Moon, how about one of the finest Moon software programs?

https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualmoon/

Virtual Moon Atlas has very detailed maps & images of our Moon. If I were stranded on the Moon, it's the "road-map" I'd want along. FREE - of course!

Enjoy -

Dave

[Rohit]

1 hour ago, Dave In Vermont said:

That's what I like to hear! Congratulations!

To celebrate your conquest of the Moon, how about one of the finest Moon software programs?

https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualmoon/

Virtual Moon Atlas has very detailed maps & images of our Moon. If I were stranded on the Moon, it's the "road-map" I'd want along. FREE - of course!

Enjoy -

Dave

Very very cool!!  Thanks a lot!  Really appreciate this.

[happy-kat]

My experience of my 80mm refractor is stars focus to a pin point (atmospheric conditions allowing) and once at that focus point switching to the Moon should be pretty much in focus.

Edit - I read you are now sorted but what happened to the thread starter Raazor are they sorted?

Rohit how did you sort your Moon experience it might help another user?

[Alan64]

14 hours ago, Rohit said:

Hey, success at last!!  Had a great view of the moon tonight.  Just at the right angle.  Could see it all nice and clear.  No problems with the telescope.  Just the user.

For the OP, Raazor, in addition...

It appears that Costco is the only vendor of the Inspire 90mm kit.  The specs...

http://www.cochaser.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Costco-1089293-Celestron-Inspire-90AZ-Telescope-spec1.jpg

...a 90mm f/10 achromat, with a 900mm focal-length, and for minimal false colour when viewing brighter objects at night; excellent, and a very good buy if it was had for US$150.

Synta Optical, who produces these kits, equips them with a rather curious ball-shaped diagonal.  The diagonal supplied is a 90° Amici, or erect-image, prism.  Such is really only suitable for use during daytime/terrestrial observations, and when the overall optical quality is not as important.  For astronomical use, at night, a star-diagonal is preferred and recommended, and for the ideal observing experience...

http://agenaastro.com/celestron-1-25-telescope-star-diagonal.html ...and with free shipping.

I have a 45° and a 90° Amici-prism diagonal...and that same Celestron 90° prism star-diagonal...

Note the generous aperture of the 90° prism star-diagonal, at left.  That of the one included with the Costco kits is narrow and constrictive; like observing through a drinking straw, for the lack of a better analogy, and with its aperture being very similar to that of the 45° Amici-prism, at right.

This individual traded the same, bundled, ball-shaped, 90° Amici-prism diagonal, and for the Celestron 90° prism star-diagonal...

http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/543510-grab-n-go-scope-various-questions/?p=7366176

Simply read on for their improved observing experience... 

http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/543510-grab-n-go-scope-various-questions/?p=7368124

Observing at night is all about larger apertures and wide fields-of-view.  Open up the light-path of those refractors, and start really enjoying what the telescope has to offer.  Why, the word "star" alone informs the user as to which  type to use at night...

I have a couple of eyepieces like the ones that come with said kits, which came with one of my own...

The larger 17mm isn't bad, but the 10mm is not very good.  The design of these eyepieces, Kellners, or modified-achromats(MA), are a bit dated and uninspiring.

The manufacturers of these entry-level kits tend to provide good telescopes; but the eyepieces and accessories, not so much.  Only the barest minimum is provided.  

Plossls are regarded as the minimum standard here in modern times, and are economically-priced...

http://agenaastro.com/eyepieces/1-25-eyepieces/shopby/gso.html

Out of that GSO line-up, and for a useful set with which to observe most any object, I would suggest...

32mm Plossl(28x)

20mm SuperView(45x)

12mm Plossl(75x)

9mm Plossl(100x)

...and a 2x barlow to combine with the 12mm, and for simulated 6mm(150x)...

http://agenaastro.com/gso-1-25-2x-achromatic-barlow-lens.html

The 9mm can also be barlowed, and for a simulated 4.5mm(200x), and for the Moon especially which tends to take even higher powers quite well.

Plossls shorter than 10mm to 9mm have tight eye-relief, the shorter the tighter, and where you would almost have to touch the eye to the eyepiece to see the full view.

This Vixen 6mm Plossl of my own has very tight eye-relief...

If prescription eyeglasses are needed whilst observing, then eyepieces with much greater eye-relief will be required.  The eye-relief measurement of an eyepiece for sale online is usually included within the specifications of its listing, with 15mm to 20mm being chosen, generally.

The Vixen line of Plossls are very nice, yet still reasonable in cost...

http://agenaastro.com/eyepieces/1-25-eyepieces/shopby/vixen_npl/vixen_optics.html

I have the Vixen 30mm as well, and with an adjustable eye-cup for ease in eye-positioning, and an enormous lens through which to observe...

The nice thing about purchasing eyepieces, barlows, diagonals, et al for an existing telescope is that they can be used with other telescopes that may be acquired in future. Such are like luggage, and for life.  Telescopes may come and go, as one upgrades or sells off, but a set eyepieces and accessories can have a much greater longevity, if chosen sensibly.

Eyepieces are one with the telescope, for you can't use one without the other.  You can even use a telescope without a diagonal, but a viewing-lens of some sort, whether an eyepiece or camera, is not optional.

[Rohit]

Sorry for the delayed response.  As far as what worked for me that did not work before, I don't think I changed anything as far as the telescope itself is concerned.  I had been trying to focus at objects during the day.  But perhaps this time I chose a more appropriate object to focus on and perhaps at a better time of the day that brought the object into better focus.  So, I could read a license plate off a car that was quite a distance from my house :-)  

On the moon, I think there were two things that influenced the better experience.  The first time I did this the moon was right above. This made it hard to get it in focus and to look at it. But I think it may have to do with the brightness of the moon and the sky conditions as well.  There was no question that looking at the moon where I can stand and point the telescope straight at it in the horizon in a comfortable position, instead of having to sit and tilt my head to try and focus, made a big difference.  Also, the moon was not as bright and I could even see the surface with my bare eyes whereas the first time I could not.  

Also, my wife had sent me a USA Today article in its ScienceFair section saying "Get ready for a amazing show in the night sky" which clued me into the fact that it would be a full / snow moon, and that there would be a lunar eclipse.  I did not see the lunar eclipse but I was prepared a couple of days in advance to time it just as the moon was rising above the roof of my neighbor's house.  So if there is a source that can let you know ahead of time about opportunities for viewing, that is certainly very useful as well.

So time of the day in the position of the moon for a more comfortable viewing experience, and the visibility conditions of the moon itself made a big difference.  Sorry for the long explanation but that goes along with my reputation of never being accused of being succinct.

[happy-kat]

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