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T-minus
Feb 17, 2011 19:28:01 GMT -5
Post by istarmullet on Feb 17, 2011 19:28:01 GMT -5
I only had about one hour to use the scope since its arrival as I had to leave town, and now that I am back...clouds and rain.
What I did view Monday was Moon, Jupiter, and M42. The latter two were absolutely colorless, no purple at all on Jupiter (like my explore scientific) or yellow on the moon, really nice crisp views. Detail on Jupiter is great, but my CPC1100 is still the better scope here for magnified views.
M42 was spectacular, split the doubles without a problem and the nebula was clear and bright.
WRT the focuser, yes it is a motorized Moonlight, I had read that with scopes this long they were essential to keep vibration down, I think I made a great choice.
I still need to align the mount and do so more viewing, but I think Sunday will be my next opportunity.
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T-minus
Feb 17, 2011 22:22:12 GMT -5
Post by Watcher3 on Feb 17, 2011 22:22:12 GMT -5
Sounds like a winner to me! Better get all the viewing you can, cause once I get my scope built, clouds will cover the whole world for months on end!
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T-minus
Feb 27, 2011 20:49:32 GMT -5
Post by istarmullet on Feb 27, 2011 20:49:32 GMT -5
Just an update, I switched the 2" diagonal I was using (dielectric) to a regular ole 2" non-dielectric and I was able to obtain focus without the extender.
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T-minus
Feb 27, 2011 21:16:52 GMT -5
Post by Watcher3 on Feb 27, 2011 21:16:52 GMT -5
I wonder if it's just the specific dimensions of the particular dielectric you were using?
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T-minus
Feb 27, 2011 22:38:03 GMT -5
Post by istarmullet on Feb 27, 2011 22:38:03 GMT -5
Weird huh? Another note, bright stars like Sirius have a purple hue but it's not a distraction. No halo, just a slight purple. Stars are pinpoint. M42 in this scope is almost as good as in my CPC1100. Awesome dark, black background. This is a nice scope. The mount is a work of art. The scope has almost zero settle time. Tracking is perfect. Balancing the scope on the mount is all about fine tuning, it is real sensitive. What I did was to put two of those things women put around their heads to keep the hair out of their eyes (head bands) on opposite ends of the OTA, balance is achieved by tucking a small hand towel between the scope and the head band where the "weight" is needed...that's how sensitive the mount is with this long scope attached. I switched eyepieces and balanced was reachieved by the addition of a small hand towel on the lens end of the ota....what, 6 ounces?
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astrosean
Full Member
Jack and Jill
Posts: 50
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T-minus
Mar 19, 2011 8:19:36 GMT -5
Post by astrosean on Mar 19, 2011 8:19:36 GMT -5
Any updates? I am working on my mount and I am itching to get back in the saddle, I'd like to here your current impressions!
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T-minus
Mar 19, 2011 15:59:12 GMT -5
Post by istarmullet on Mar 19, 2011 15:59:12 GMT -5
Both the scope and mount fulfill my needs. I have had really poor seeing so I have not been able to push the scope yet, but color is almost nonexistent. The moon has a very, very tiny purple ring but you have to look for it and it is so small it's almost unnoticeable. Otherwise, crystal clear. I love using the long scope. I was viewing the moon at zenith from the comfort of a relined beach chair and was loving it.
The mount works perfectly and handles the scope without any problem, it dampens almost instantly. It took me awhile to learn how to work the mount but I have that wired now. It tracks perfectly. I found out after the fact that I could have ordered the mount with manual slow-mo controls in addition to the drive motors, that would have been a nice feature but I can always add for 3 to 400 more should I want to. Fine adjustments are really easy to make without the controls anyway.
I need to get a 365 cover for the scope and mount, that will be about 450 so it can wait.
Any questions let me know.
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