Dion's videos are very informative.

 

I'm guessing you'll probably use the ST80 more than the Meade, why not just transfer the WO to the ST80?

 

Ray - thank you for jogging my memory regards focusers. Since I installed the Crayford's on most of my scopes, I've lost the video I linked addy. from my top-files for easy retrieving. I keep a file of material to give to the many newcomer's who ask me 'How-To' questions. That link should be in the top-list. Same for the Helical-Focuser material - by BORG.

Since I installed the Crayfords, I've had no need to use my Helical. I was amazed at what an improvement those GSO-Crays. make. The costs, though, will deter wide-spread purchase & installation. No need to go insane and buy a Moonlite or Feathertouch, though. You need to have a 'school-boy' crush on your telescope to justify the madness of a GSO-upgrade - or spend the money on a therapist!

I know I'm forgetting something. I hate that feeling. But I'll be back whenever it surfaces!

Here's a shot of the Crayford on my SW ST80 (since removed & transferred to the new Orion-model).

til' later -

Dave

 

Well, I'm a bit gobsmacked. I have been observing the waning gibbous Moon around transit (04:22 GMT). It was very clear with a crisp, frosty but not particularly cold night. The Moon was high at 53.7° (Cancer).


I set up the ST80 relatively quickly and got around 40 mins before the clouds came. The thing that surprised me was that I put a 6mm ortho' into the 3x Barlow by mistake and didn't realise for a good 10 mins I was viewing at 200x!


I changed down to 171x and it was sharper but it looked really good at 200x. Technically only 11x over the 60x per inch limit. I'm impressed. I wasn't impressed when it rained on me though.

 

Let me be sure I got that right: You put a 6mm Orthoscopic in your 3X TeleVue® Barlow in the ST80. That's 199.99999999X!

Holy Moly! Now that's a trick I've yet to try. How did the 'seeing' seem to you? Something must have been going just right.

Unreal -

Dave (expecting snow - for real, not just my usual cynical-side)

 

I used the Celestron 3x as it sits lower in the diagonal. I honestly thought I'd put the TSO 2.5x Barlow in. The transparency wasn't bad, only a faint haze around the Moon. Where I live I can get really good magnifications on the Moon regularly. The 199.9x was a tad darker but quite enjoyable. I eventually realised my mistake and changed to a 7mm. I did look briefly at M42 at 199.9x. Looked terrible lol. I suppose it's only 3.49x over the 60x per inch theoretical limit (63.49x) for the Moon. So quite within the capabilities of the ST80. I'm impressed though.

 

Oh right, I see. A lot of people leave the diagonal in the OTA for a quicker grab'n'go. The ST80 focuser isn't terrible but I appreciate the fine focus ability of the WO. Although it's worth pointing out that on very bright objects (like Jupiter) you can sometimes see the roof of the Amici prism looking through a refractor. It's like a dim band of light either side of the target. I've never seen it on a Mak or SCT. It's no biggie though.

The right side of my body is slowly improving. Although there is still pain from compensatory muscle use and cramping due to muscle shortening. I switched a torch (flashlight) on and off with my right hand and thumb a couple of days ago. I couldn't do that previously. It's little things like that keep you going. You have to set yourself goals. I had a lot of psychological counselling immediately after the strokes. This is standard practice and the psychologist stressed the need for setting and attaining goals. So, astronomical viewing and using astro gear is good therapy!

 

You're welcome Ray. We've both been through some hard times health wise. I find astronomy keeps me going. Mind you, I'm also hoping to play my Fender Strat again some day lol.

The 6x30 would probably work OK. If I get my 102mm Skymax sorted (I think I may be able to sort the dewing problem) I'll use the 6x30 on it. Mainly as the Skymax is really only good for the Moon and bright planetary objects. Some bright DSO's are good as well but it is f/12.7 and I struggle to get a large enough exit pupil.

I'm hoping the ST80 is fast enough at f/5 for some DSO's previously difficult with the Mak. So the 9x50 RACI will be better suited. It is 500g though, 280g heavier than the 6x30. The ST80 OTA is 1400g on its own bringing the total weight close to 2kg with the diagonal and eyepieces. It is weird though using a finder only 30mm bigger than the telescope lol.

 

Yeah, it's not unlike my Skymax. I'm pretty sure the threads are a universal size. Are those Allen keys holding it onto the OTA itself? That's pretty standard too. I don't know what the actual size of the Allen key is, but the one for my Charles Eames Eiffel inspired dining chair fits my ST80 tube rings perfectly lol.

 

Okay - it's my turn to be confused!

Are you speaking of a William Optics 'focuser' in your scope, Mak? I'm seeing the use of 'WO focuser' as well as 'WO diagonal.' So I'm not sure what 'focuser' are you referring to. A Googling found me here:

http://www.williamoptics.com/accessories/synta_features.php

And I know enough to choke an Elephant about the WO 2" Diagonals - using them on 3 of my scopes. By far my favorites - obviously...

My mind reels?

Dave




Beautiful!

 

Oh crap! That is beautiful Dave. I so want one now. Ray and myself are actually referring to a WO Amici prism with a helical though.

http://www.williamoptics.com/diagonalPrism/D-EP90-125_features.php



That WO Crayford is mouth wateringly good though. I'm guessing an arm and a leg, right?

 

I don't know how much that lure...er...focuser would run you - my GSO's work great! Haven't even considered using my Borg Helical-Focuser. But I'll tell you - that's a BORG attached to that WO Amici. It's identical to mine. It would appear WO got BORG to do these for them - look's very nice indeed!

Dave

 

I can get the WO Crayford for about £250, which isn't that bad really. I may consider it in the future but I'm not sure I could fit it successfully to the OTA. The trouble with disassembling things with only your left hand is that they tend to stay that way lol.

http://www.sciencecenter.net/hutech/borg/focuser.htm

It's a good bet that those WO Amici helicals are Borg, although from what I can see Borg helicals are not cheap and those WO diagonals are quite reasonably priced. They're also surprisingly good quality. The prisms themselves are every bit as good as my Omegon Amici prisms that were more expensive and don't have focusers.

 

That SLV looks nice. I'm seriously reconsidering the 2.5mm SLV. It would give the ST80 160x. From what I've seen the ST80 would easily handle 160x on the Moon and would work well on Jupiter. Although I think it would be top magnification for non-lunar planetary. 80mm = 3.15" approx. Using the 50x per inch rule the ST80's max resolving limit would be 157.5x, only 2.5x below 160x. I got a good 166.6x when I viewed Jupiter although I stayed at 150x most of the time. Jupiter's very mutable though and conditions count for much. I bet Saturn is pretty spectacular with the ST80 at around 160x. A rising Saturn should be visible early next year.



Mid-February around 06:45 GMT



Saturn doesn't always benefit from twilight observing but it will be interesting to see how early in the year it can be observed.