Accessories

Will a 9x50 finderscope help?

FurtherThanTooFar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:17:18 GMT

Hi I'm new here and I'm also new to amateur astronomy. I'm a student in my late teens who just bought a telescope and is still left in the dark over a certain question...Should I get a 9x50 finderscope and scrap my 6x30 finderscope or is my money better spent elsewhere with eyepieces, filters, barlow lens etc. Currently my budget restricts me from buying the finderscope and accessories. Any advice would be greatly appreciated because I'm eager to purchase these accessories ASAP. Oh If it isn't the 9x50 finderscope, would you be able to make a list of necessary accessories for a beginner telescope user?

My telescope is an Celestron Omni XLT 150 6" Newtonian Reflector.

Ortho+barlow

Alex_S — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:35:41 GMT

Did anyone try using an ortho eyepiece with a 2x barlow lense? Does the image quality suffer in this case?
I am planning to get Planetarium Genuine Ortho 9mm, however its eye relief is too small, so I am also considering using Baader Planetarium Genuine Ortho 18mm with 2x barlow lense (probably TeleVue). Could you please share your thoughts/experience about this?
Thanks in advance.

The Dam Has Broken - More 100 Degree AFOV Eyepieces

DaveMitsky — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:50:28 GMT

TMB is now offering somewhat familiar looking 100 degree apparent field of view eyepieces.

TMB

Dave Mitsky

Would a Celestron Skyscout help me?

Novae54 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:19:20 GMT

As an amateur, I was considering purchasing the Celestron Skyscout to help me identify celestial bodies. But because I live in the city and have a problem with light pollution while using my telescope, would the Skyscout have the same problem? Would light pollution affect its effectiveness, or is it still a good idea? Can anyone help with this question?

Orion Plossl Eyepieces, Sirius or Highlights?

billy — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:30:37 GMT

I have a question about these Orion Plossl Eyepieces.

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=eyepieces/~pc...

and
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=eyepieces/~pc...

The difference in the Eyepieces are that the Sirius Plossls are Fully Coated and the Highlight Plossls are Fully Multi-Coated. Is it worth it to spend more on the Highlights because of the better coatings? Will there be that much of a visual difference between the Sirius and Highlights in a smaller Telescope?

Scopetronix Alive?

Paul Moffat — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:48:30 GMT

I was wondering if anybody out there, has had ordering difficulties with Scopetronix. I have now placed two orders with them, over the last 4 months, have received confirmation of the order(s), but nothing has arrived; last being November 20 (also no charges on my credit card, thankfully). They do not answer inquirys by email, and they have buryed their phone number deep in their website (they list several retail locations), so it is almost impossible to contact. Any answers? Or should I strike them off my list as a source of components?

Is the CG-5 big enough??

Marc1980 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:18:27 GMT

Having spent soem time researching, it seems to be common opinion that the CG-5 mount that comes with the Celestron C10 N-GT is not really man enough for the job especially for astro photography. Can any one with experience with this scope comment or perhaps suggest different mounts that might be more suitable.

Thanks

Marc

Zhumell Enters the 100 Degree AFOV Eyepiece Game

DaveMitsky — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:53:47 GMT

http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-eyepieces/2-inch-eyepieces/zhumellz1009mmeyepiece.cfm

http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-eyepieces/2-inch-eyepieces/zhumellz10016mmeyepiece.cfm

Dave Mitsky

A couple of quick questions :)

Kyle Allaire — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:46:27 GMT

Hi. I have a starter scope, so I am brand new to all of this.

So far it is quite exciting, and I'm having a good time. My first question is this - Are cheap 10$ "economy" Meade 2x Barlow lenses on eBay just knockoffs of the real thing? Is there a noticeable difference between the model I mentioned and the pricey 45$~ one on most trusted websites? Second, my aperture is 114mm. I believe if I double it , that is my maximum magnification, so using a 9mm lens with 2x Barlow lens will be 220x magnification, which is pretty much as high as I can go, correct? ( If I am correct about my maximum magnification being 228). I would like to acquire some decent, affordable, accessories to maximize my experience on my starter scope.I have about 90$. I was focused on getting a 2x Barlow lens until I saw that eBay had similar ones for 10$, thus my question about lens quality. I did a bit of searching but found no relevant information pertaining to my questions ( or at least specific clarification to satisfy my concerns) Thank you for your help!

edit: I have a Meade DS-2114 and I am putting in brand new batteries into the computer but it will not turn on. uh-oh?

Here is my model.

http://www.shopatron.com/products/productdetail/Meade+DS-2114AT-TC+Altazimuth+Reflector/part_number=20128/1323.0.1.1.28926.45510.0.0.0?

A simple GPS device?

KeepAustinUgly — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 05:14:25 GMT

Does anyone know of a cheap simple handheld/watch gps device that displays long/lat/time? Of course, for setting up a GOTO system.

$200 seems a little overboard for such a small set of data, but having to lookup parks/dark spots on google earth and remembering to bring the coords along is getting difficult to do in my old age as well.

Seems that all the simple GPS devices have been replaced with Garmin systems that do WAY too much I want to pay for.

Stellarvue F80M2 Finderscope

twilight99 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:29:03 GMT

Hi Guys

I am considering purchasing the Stellarvue F80M2 finder scope to replace my Celestron 9X50. Does anyone have any experience with this scope and its performance. I would be mounting this scope on a Celestron 11" CGEM

Thank Phil

plans for alt/az mount

thud — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:59:01 GMT

I have a cr6-r,6 inch refractor and would like to build an azimuth mount for it. Any ideas on how or where I should look for ideas?

F/6.3 Focal Reducer - What exactly does it do for visual observing?

Nebulocity — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:44:58 GMT

I am fairly new at owning a telescope (got it last month!), but disregarding photography, what exactly will an F/6.3 Focal Reducer do for a 2032mm Focal Length (203.2mm Aperture) F/10 Celestron NexStar 8SE, visually? I am years away from doing photography (i don't even own a DSLR), so that's not my concern. I have the opportunity to buy a used Celestron F/6.3 Focal Reducer (for 5"-16" SCTs) from a well respected member in another community.

My eyepiece set that i ordered with the scope a month ago, came with 4, 6, 9, 15, and 32mm EPs and a 2x Barlow...the 8SE comes with a 25mm EP already. Now, from what I understand, putting a Barlow in with a Reduser just counters them out (to a certain extent).

What I'm looking for, is for example looking at the Pleiades through either my 25mm or 32mm EP, i have to slew around a bit to take in each of the prominent stars. It seems like i'm seeing about 1/3 to 1/4 of the total cluster at any given slew location. Would a Focal Reducer increase the FoV to take it all in?

The reason i ask, is that upon doing some research, a lot of people recommend getting a Focal Reducer/Corrector. Reading the details, everything says that it mainly just increases the FoV and increases the Brightness....so what could go wrong?

Will this give me a wider view and make some of those "faint and fuzzies" seem a little brighter (still haven't convinced my wife that the Andromeda galaxy is "cool", because all she sees is a little bit of fuzz and goes back inside).

Oxygen III Filters by Lumicon and Thousand Oaks

kepheus — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:31:59 GMT

Hi everybody!

Do you know, which one of the following OIII-Filters is the "better" one?

Lumicon OIII

Thousand Oaks OIII

Both of the filters have recently been renewed, so I'm not sure about old test reports. The prices for each filter are almost equal. In german astronomy boards, the (old) Thousand Oaks filter has a higher reputation than the one of Lumicon.

It would be great, if someone had tested both of them and could tell me his/her experience.

Greetings from Germany,

Bernard.

turning declination setting circle

Marc1980 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:57:19 GMT

My declination setting circle is turning is this supposed to happen?

Refractor drawtube Question

lothar22 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:54:53 GMT

I purchased a Meade Telestar 60mm refractor the other day.

I wish to be able to insert eyepieces/CCD directly into the end of the focuser, without a diagonal.

The drawtube is threaded (male) at the end, and has an adapter screwed onto it (female), that adapts to a smaller diameter than a 1.25" eyepiece. I assume .936 or whatever for a diagonal.

I unscrewed the adpater and inserted a 1.25" eyepiece, but the fit is loose, and the drawtube doesn't have any thumbscrew to hold an eyepiece. It would fall in/out. I have a DSI CCD camera, and it fits, but a loose fit also.

Noob question:

Is there a 'visual back' or some type of adapter for eyepieces/CCD cameras that I can/should get?

It would have to be a female (inside) threading to fit the male threading on the focuser tube.

The outside diameter of the focuser tube is greater than 1.25". maybe 1.5".

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Baader Scopos ep

Nazgul — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:03:50 GMT

Any one heard of these or tried one. They are the Baader Planetarium Scopos Extreme Wide telescope ep. Just saw them on telescopesdotcom for the first time. 2" format in 30mm or 35mm with 70 degree apparent FOV. They cost 160 and 180 bucks. They state that they are based on a similar and now discontinued design of a former supplier- but who? I don't know.

Just curious,

Eric

HoTech laser arrived

Nazgul — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:32:20 GMT

The Hotech laser collimator arrived and I am well pleased with the "fit" in the focuser. It seats and adjusts nicely, and seems well made. I rotated the unit in the focuser tube and watched the laser crosshair. It didn't make any big circles, so it appears collimated.

Before turning the unit on I loosened the 3 tilt screws on the secondary by about half turn. Being my first collimation job I thought this was proper. I then turned the unit on and was suprised to see the crosshair dead on the primary's center mark- what luck! I tightnened the screws slightly to observe the effect and was able to center the laser with the screws tightened just a little more.

I then moved onto the primary. The crosshair was missing the center target face only by a bit. I loosened the lock screws and it moved a little. I adjusted the tension screws slightly and tried to do them uniformly and was able to quickly get it on the mark as well. I then snugged up the lock screws a little.

I guess in reality the lock screws are simply additional collimation screws at different points around the primary, since they inadvertently adjust the primary as well.

I threw the Zhumell GSO laser collimator in the tube this morning to see if it hit the primary at the center mark. I was surprised to see that it did hit center after applying a given amount of tension to the tension screw. This amount, without the previous HoTech adjustments, would simply be a guess. This ambiguity is the reason I ordered the HoTech to begin with. However, despite this downfall, the Zhumell is very well collimated- I rotated it in a jig and it draws a circle less than the size of a dime at 20 ft. Maybe I should set it up in a barlow configuration or give it to a fellow forum member to play with......hmmmmmm?

Any way, so far so good, can't wait for some clear nights. We have had maybe 2 in the last month.

Any advice on cold weather viewing tips would be appreciated. I plan on storing mt Zhumell in the cooler garage this winter so that it doesn't have to freeze and thaw so much. But any advice otherwise would be appreciated because I definitely want to use it this fall and winter.

Thanks,

Eric

Baader Planetarium Contrast Booster Telescope Filter

steve421 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:47:59 GMT

Does anyone have any experience with the Baader Planetarium Contrast Booster Telescope Filter. It was suggested too me by Tim to get a combo shyglow and fringe killer to reduce glare and enhance contrast and detail. Is this filter the same as using those 2 filters?

Thanks

Steve

Collimation tools

Nazgul — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:32:57 GMT

Having read much about collimation of Newtonian scopes, I now realize that I know very little and will probably never know it all.

I have a Zhumell laser collimator that came with my Z10 scope, and I found it to be very well collimated after spin testing it; however, it does shift in the 1.25" adapter while being snugged in place. This is evident as the laser dot shifts over an inch of center after being tightened.

Having said this, I am curious if the Orion Precision Centering Adapter will eliminate this slop and let the laser do its job. I know that the Hotech laser centers itself using rubber compression rings and I wonder if the Orion piece would compliment the Zhumell laser which otherwise seems fine.

I read Astrobaby's simple guide to Newtonian Collimation and it seems well written and helpful. However, I have a hard time believing that I need to adjust the spiders on a new scope. I also wonder how much the secondary is out of center relative to the focuser draw tube on a new scope.

I measured the spiders from the inside of the scope's tube to the center of the main phillips screw holding the secondary mirror and they are equal to within 1/16 in.... Not sure that I can loosen them and do any better. I assume that the Zhumell Z10 has a centered secondary mirror system and not an offset one?

I haven't bought a sight tube or collimation cap yet to check to see if the secondary is centered relative to the focuser tube, but wouldn't that be set at the factory using a similar tool by the assembler?

Once these steps are complete, then I guess it is safe to proceed to secondary mirror adjustment, which can be accomplished with the laser. (once I am able to center it properly).

I would like to have advice on collimation tools, brand specific of course, and technique. And, of course, the utility of the Orion precision centering adapter with my supplied Zhumell laser collimator.

I haven't collimated the scope yet; however I have only used the scope a couple times. I wonder how safe it is to assume that the focuser and secondary are aligned from the factory and the centering of the secondary with the spiders and so on.

I am happy to say that despite poor viewing condtions, I was able to see my first Messier Object, M13 globular cluster in Hercules. I found it with a spotting scope while debating on whether or not to get the Z10 out- the moon was extremely bright. It looked like a little speck of cloud. With the Z10 it looked awesome perfectly framed and centered in the 13mm Hyperion. I can only imagine the clarity once I get a dark, dark night and the scope's collimation fine tuned.

Thanks for everything,

Eric

GSO 2" SuperView Eyepiece - 50mm

Starwolf — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:26:00 GMT

I was lingering on purchasing this ep (50mm) from Aegena Astro but, as always, I am super cautious. I wanted to know if anyone out there already has one of these ep's. The testimonials seem real enough but I don't seem to find too terribly much info about the scopes these are used on. I already own a few of GSO products. I have a 5x APO Barlow and a 0.5x Focal Reducer which I am extremely pleased with, so I trust the GSO name.

My question is this: Can this ep be used on an Orion XT10? (specs found here: http://www.agenaastro.com/GSO-SV-50-mm-SuperView-Eyepiece-2-inch-p/e-gs-sv50.htm )

My scope's FL is 1200mm. The last 2" ep I owned was a few months back that I sold on A-mart. It was a Celestron 42mm with a 50° FOV. The reason I sold it was that I didn't have enough near focuser travel to accomodate and I was not about to "trim" the ep nor unscrew the focuser and place it closer (it would throw off 3 CCD cameras as well as every single 1.25" ep I own as well as my binoviewers). It wasn't worth it to me to mess up using any/all of these things for a single 2" eyepiece.

However, I am drooling at the idea of a 2.5° AFOV. (if my math serves me)

Being that my scope is 1,200mm / 50mm (ep focal length) = 24

The EP's FOV is 60°

60° / 24 = 2.5° Apparent Field of View

That's 5 times what the full moon is not to mention the superior contrast of such a wide field eyepiece. I just need to know if I will have enough near focuser travel w/o having to modify anything in order to use it.

Any ideas?

Question about moon filters

kepheus — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:49:47 GMT

Hi all,

I'm Bernard from germany. I am looking forward to buy a 10 inch dobsonian telescope (f/5, 250/1250).

Right now I am looking for some filters that I can use watching the moon or Jupiter. I'm not talking about color filters but about polarizer filters and neutral density filters.

I have some question about that filters. First of all, I do not really understand the difference between them. The next thing is, that I don't know, how much light should be filtered.

I read that some guys use filters that block 50% of the light. Others wrote, that they use filters, that only allow about 13% or 25% of the light to pass the filter.

I'm not sure what filter to select right now. There are some variable transmission filters, which can be set up between 1% and 40% transmission. If 13 to 40 percent transmission would be the right scale, such a filter would be a great deal. But if 40% is not enough, and about 50% are needed, those variable filters do not cover this scale.

So my question is if I should buy a neutral density filter with 50% transmission or to buy a filter that is variable between 1% and 40% (there is a second one with 5%-35% transmission).

I'm not sure, if anything below 40% transmisson might be useless, because too much light will be blocked. Remember that i want to use the filter not to observe the sun, but to look at the moon, Jupiter or Venus.

It would be great if someone could tell me the difference between a neutral density filter and a polarizing filter. Furthermore I would like to know, what the right scale of transmission is, i.e. what of the introduced type of filters (1 to 40 or 50 percent transmission) to buy.

Thank You.

Bernard

Newbie needs help mounting a new refractor OTA

ordocastus — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:22:50 GMT

Hello,

First, Thank you for taking the time to look at this. I am new to these forums and new to this hobby. I recently became the owner of a new meade 90mm refractor OTA. Specifically this refractor was an old DS-2090 and it was attached to a single arm goto mount. I do not have the mount, just the clamshell ring that connects to that mount.

I am trying to mount this to a simple alt az mount (that I do not have yet). I am assuming I need to buy mounting rings and a tripod. I would appreciate any advice on the equipment and brands to get this thing mounted as I am dying to start observing! So far I found some antares 90mm mounting rings http://www.agenaastro.com/3-5-Antares-Cradle-Rings-p/pama-an-cr3.5.htm. Would these work for me? I was also looking at a hvy duty celestron alt az tripod. http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?ProdID=374

Would I need anything else? Thank you again for any light you can shed on the subject!

Dan

MER30 - ERFLE eyepiece

kepheus — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:55:09 GMT

Hello.
This is Bernard from germany :-)

I'm looking forward to buy a ten inch dobsonian telescope. That means a ration of f/5, i.e. 250/1250.

Looking for some eyepieces I found the Antares MER30. It is introduced as a good 30mm eyepiece.

Does anybody know something about it? It seems to be an modified ERFLE eyepiece.

I'm not sure if there could be focussing problems using it with a f/5 newton telescope.

It would be great to hear your critics.

Greeting from germany :-)

PS: The other eyepieces that I want to buy are a 13.4mm Antares Speers Waler and a Antares Speers Waler Zoom 5-8mm. But I don't need information about that eyepieces.

Made Collimation cap

Nazgul — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:32:14 GMT

I made a collimation cap using the 9mm plossl barrel supplied with my Z10 and a black lens cap as recommended by CraterDavy. I put a piece of white paper between the primary and secondary mirrors as shown by astrobaby's site. I found the secondary to be very circular and it seem to be aligned very well underneath the focuser.

I then removed the white paper to determine the alignment of the secondary mirror to the primary. When pointed at a bright wall, I can easily distinguish the 3 primary mirror clips and it looks well centered.

At this point, I should be able to align the primary to the secondary using the adjustment knobs, correct?

I don't have a chesire tool yet, so here comes a question. At this point in the operation, with the collimation cap still in place, when I point the scope up toward the living room light fixture I can see the reflections of the cap's peep hole and the primary's center mark in the background of the secondary mirror. I can only see them when the light reflections are just right. Is it possible, by using the primary mirrors adjustment knobs, to simply align the primary center mark with this small peep hole reflection to complete the final collimation step? The cap's peep hole and the primary center mark reflections are off by about inch or less. It seems plausible to me, but I am a noob collimator.

Curious as always,

Eric