Testing the balance and focus of the Meade SN-6

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Just set up the Meade 6" F/5 Schmidt-Newton on the GP-DX mount. Looks rock solid, and finding balance is easy. I tried focusing the scope, with 2" extension tube and the Nagler 31T5 "Panzerfaust" on some lights at about 200 m distance. That I managed and the image quality looks good, but I might need a slightly shorter extension tube to reach infinity. The other EPs seem fine. The Nagler 31T5 gives a magnification of 24.6x and a field of view of a whopping 3.34 degrees, 2.5x the maximum field I get with the C8. I saw no obvious vignetting with either this EP, or with the Vixen LVW 42 mm. The latter gives 18.1x magnification and 3.75 degrees FOV, at a rather large exit pupil. 

As can be seen, the EP is quite a bit of a beast, and does perturb the balance, but the motors of the Vixen GP-DX mount don't complain. I really hope the skies clear soon. 

[Alkaid]

Which bit is the scope and which bit is the eyepiece? (Grin!)

I’d really like to hear how the Meade performs Michael, thanks Steve.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

19 hours ago, Alkaid said:

Which bit is the scope and which bit is the eyepiece? (Grin!)

I’d really like to hear how the Meade performs Michael, thanks Steve.

Very brief first light report here: