Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Asha'man · 02-07-2003, 05:22 PM

Hey Gringo,

Good to hear about the scope. And yes, the curse of the new telescope is exactly that: bad weather. Usually in direct proportion to the cost of the scope.

Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

And find your local astronomy club!

crazyfingers · 02-07-2003, 07:04 PM

And be sure to subscribe to either Sky & Telescope or Astronomy Magazine. I get both.

Autonemesis · 02-07-2003, 07:28 PM

I've heard many good things about the XT-8 and XT-10 from Orion. I have my eye on the XT-10 for a medium sized Dob (I have never owned a Dob, all my scopes have been equatorially mounted). I'm sure you'll not have any problem with the scope's quality, just make sure you understand how to collimate it, and you'll get very good, very sharp views of just about anything in the sky you can point it at.

I wish I had seen this thread when it began. I am an experienced amateur, and I happen to own a Nexstar GT-80. I use it for quick looks. The Nexstar mounts are amazing for what they cost and what they can do.

Of course as a long-time amateur, I was not happy with some things about the GT-80, so I upgraded those things. I had a machinist friend in my astronomy club (joining a club has many benefits

) make me a small adapter plate so I could attach the mount head to a sturdy Bogen tripod. The Bogen tripod has a center column that can be raised so the scope doesn't bang into the tripod legs near the zenith. This is a major improvement over the stock tripod, which won't allow the scope to point directly overhead.

Then I got BORG's Nexstar 80 adapter sleeve for my BORG 76 refractor, so it can fit into the clamp in place of Celestron's stock 80mm Chinese refractor. I also sometimes install my BORG 100ED objective, but it's really too heavy for the GT-80 mount for anything but very low-power viewing. You don't need Goto for low-power viewing.

Have a look:

I no longer use the heavy diagonal mirror and other attachments shown in the photo. It's too heavy for the Nexstar mount, even with the BORG 76 objective installed. Instead, I use BORG's nifty lightweight eyepiece turret:

crazyfingers · 02-07-2003, 08:18 PM

Well, I still like my 6" Meade Equatorial Reflectior w/clock drive.

Old style star hopping. The hunt is half the fun.

Shadowy Man · 02-07-2003, 08:42 PM

Here's a pic of the most recent telescope I've used.

It might be a little bit difficult for you to pick one up for yourself though.

fando · 02-07-2003, 08:46 PM

Hey, while this thread is visible, this month and next have some great viewings! Check out Astronomy or Sky&Telescope for details.

crazyfingers · 02-08-2003, 11:25 AM

I'm looking forward to big Mars this coming summer. It will be closest to the earth for the next 50K or so years.

Starboy · 02-08-2003, 11:39 AM

Gringo, you got a great deal of good advice on this thread and the scope you bought is a good compromise of price and performance. The next most important thing you can do now is to join your local astronomy club. Also you might want to check out the Astronomical League Messier Club.

Clear skies!

Starboy

The Admiral · 02-09-2003, 05:16 AM

I have a very good quality 7 inch reflector on a Dobs mount. No electronics. Problem. When looking at high elevations, which is where the best viewing is, I have trouble getting down behind the telrad to locate my target. Also, 7 inches isn't big enough. I'm either going to get a new scope or put an electronic finder on my present one. I'm not sure how this is done.

The Admiral

Asha'man · 02-09-2003, 05:44 AM

Hey Admiral,

Putting electronics on a Dob mount isn't difficult. You attach two optical rotation sensors to the scope and plug those into a small computer box.

One sensor is usually placed in the center of the rocker box, at the point that it attaches to the ground board. That sensor measures rotation around the azimuth. The other sensor is placed on the side of the scope, in the center of the circular altitude bearing. That sensor measures altitude changes.

Installing these sensors can be pretty easy, depending on how your scope was designed. I know that they can be retrofitted to a Starmaster in under an hour, for instance.

You can buy a package from Sky Commander that includes both the computer and the optical sensors. I now have a Sky Commander on my dob, and it really works well. There is also a new brand, Argo Navis that looks like a good design.

If you are feeling brave, you can attach those same sensors to a palm pilot or a laptop. I haven't done much research on that path, but I know it can be done.

02-09-2003, 05:44 AM	#20
Asha'man Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: southeast Posts: 2,526	Digital Setting Circles Hey Admiral, Putting electronics on a Dob mount isn't difficult. You attach two optical rotation sensors to the scope and plug those into a small computer box. One sensor is usually placed in the center of the rocker box, at the point that it attaches to the ground board. That sensor measures rotation around the azimuth. The other sensor is placed on the side of the scope, in the center of the circular altitude bearing. That sensor measures altitude changes. Installing these sensors can be pretty easy, depending on how your scope was designed. I know that they can be retrofitted to a Starmaster in under an hour, for instance. You can buy a package from Sky Commander that includes both the computer and the optical sensors. I now have a Sky Commander on my dob, and it really works well. There is also a new brand, Argo Navis that looks like a good design. If you are feeling brave, you can attach those same sensors to a palm pilot or a laptop. I haven't done much research on that path, but I know it can be done.

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02-07-2003, 05:22 PM	#11
Asha'man Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: southeast Posts: 2,526	Hey Gringo, Good to hear about the scope. And yes, the curse of the new telescope is exactly that: bad weather. Usually in direct proportion to the cost of the scope. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. And find your local astronomy club!

02-07-2003, 07:04 PM	#12
crazyfingers Contributor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 13,699	And be sure to subscribe to either Sky & Telescope or Astronomy Magazine. I get both.

02-07-2003, 07:28 PM	#13
Autonemesis Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: I've left FRDB for good, due to new WI&P policy Posts: 12,048	I've heard many good things about the XT-8 and XT-10 from Orion. I have my eye on the XT-10 for a medium sized Dob (I have never owned a Dob, all my scopes have been equatorially mounted). I'm sure you'll not have any problem with the scope's quality, just make sure you understand how to collimate it, and you'll get very good, very sharp views of just about anything in the sky you can point it at. I wish I had seen this thread when it began. I am an experienced amateur, and I happen to own a Nexstar GT-80. I use it for quick looks. The Nexstar mounts are amazing for what they cost and what they can do. Of course as a long-time amateur, I was not happy with some things about the GT-80, so I upgraded those things. I had a machinist friend in my astronomy club (joining a club has many benefits ) make me a small adapter plate so I could attach the mount head to a sturdy Bogen tripod. The Bogen tripod has a center column that can be raised so the scope doesn't bang into the tripod legs near the zenith. This is a major improvement over the stock tripod, which won't allow the scope to point directly overhead. Then I got BORG's Nexstar 80 adapter sleeve for my BORG 76 refractor, so it can fit into the clamp in place of Celestron's stock 80mm Chinese refractor. I also sometimes install my BORG 100ED objective, but it's really too heavy for the GT-80 mount for anything but very low-power viewing. You don't need Goto for low-power viewing. Have a look: I no longer use the heavy diagonal mirror and other attachments shown in the photo. It's too heavy for the Nexstar mount, even with the BORG 76 objective installed. Instead, I use BORG's nifty lightweight eyepiece turret:

02-07-2003, 08:18 PM	#14
crazyfingers Contributor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 13,699	Well, I still like my 6" Meade Equatorial Reflectior w/clock drive. Old style star hopping. The hunt is half the fun.

02-07-2003, 08:42 PM	#15
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	Here's a pic of the most recent telescope I've used. It might be a little bit difficult for you to pick one up for yourself though.

02-07-2003, 08:46 PM	#16
fando Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Los Angeles Area Posts: 1,372	Hey, while this thread is visible, this month and next have some great viewings! Check out Astronomy or Sky&Telescope for details.

02-08-2003, 11:25 AM	#17
crazyfingers Contributor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 13,699	I'm looking forward to big Mars this coming summer. It will be closest to the earth for the next 50K or so years.

02-08-2003, 11:39 AM	#18
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	Gringo, you got a great deal of good advice on this thread and the scope you bought is a good compromise of price and performance. The next most important thing you can do now is to join your local astronomy club. Also you might want to check out the Astronomical League Messier Club. Clear skies! Starboy

02-09-2003, 05:16 AM	#19
The Admiral Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Racine, Wi. USA Posts: 768	I have a very good quality 7 inch reflector on a Dobs mount. No electronics. Problem. When looking at high elevations, which is where the best viewing is, I have trouble getting down behind the telrad to locate my target. Also, 7 inches isn't big enough. I'm either going to get a new scope or put an electronic finder on my present one. I'm not sure how this is done. The Admiral

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