I recently got my Intes MK67 back from ITE, and despite all the mishaps I was anxious to try the scope. Reasonable conditions this evening so I hauled out the scope. The first target was Jupiter which was positioned near horizon. I was very disappointed that the images were worse than before. Totally undefined surface and shimmering edges. Then around midnight I saw Mars was climbing slowing in the east. Using a Vixen LV 20mm I started at about 90x... I couldn't believe my eye. What I was seeing was a burning planet! It looked more like a fireball. Wobbling and wiggling all over! What is going on with this Intes? Is it simply out of collimation or are the optics very dirty? Or some other problem(s)? It all started to happen after this scope was serviced by some expert working for ITE. I presume this expert (?) cleaned the optics by using paper towel. Or might've done something nasty (mistakenly). This shouldn,t be happening. Can anyone tell me what's wrong with this scope?
Please help!
Started by jinkim, 07/04/2003 08:16AM
Posted 07/04/2003 08:16AM
Opening Post
Posted 07/04/2003 09:25AM
#1
Jin,
I don't think the problem is with the scope. Most likely it is atmospheric turbulence.
Right now it is not a good time to observe Jupiter. The closer to the horizon it gets the more air/atmosphere its light must go through. Not surprisingly, your views were distorted.
From 40 degrees north lat., at midnight, Mars is only about 7° above the horizon. Wait until it raises to its highest altitude for your location.
A couple of tips:
-Make sure you are not observing over any buildings, houses, or vehicles.
-If possible, observe from a grassy area.
-Let your telescope reach thermal equilibrium.
-Try on a different night.
Hope that helps
I don't think the problem is with the scope. Most likely it is atmospheric turbulence.
Right now it is not a good time to observe Jupiter. The closer to the horizon it gets the more air/atmosphere its light must go through. Not surprisingly, your views were distorted.
From 40 degrees north lat., at midnight, Mars is only about 7° above the horizon. Wait until it raises to its highest altitude for your location.
A couple of tips:
-Make sure you are not observing over any buildings, houses, or vehicles.
-If possible, observe from a grassy area.
-Let your telescope reach thermal equilibrium.
-Try on a different night.
Hope that helps
Posted 07/04/2003 09:52AM
#2
Your descriptions -- shimmering edges, wobbling and wiggling -- seem to indicate nothing more than atmospheric turbulence (and perhaps tube currents within the Intes itself. Tube currents will occur whenever the scope is moved from one ambient temperature to another (such as when the scope is moved from indoors to outdoors). The Intes must be allowed time to adjust to the outdoor temperature.
Jupiter is quite low to the horizon at sundown. It is always very likely that atmoshperic turbulence is at its *worst* down near the horizon.
Mars will face the same potential problems (shimmering and turbulent images) while it is low in the east-southeastern sky.
I believe your Intes is perfectly fine. I too have an MK67 which I bought from ITE about three years ago. Bill and his staff at ITE are all very capable and experienced -- they would *not* allow a scope to leave the ITE facilities unless it was in superb working condition.
Again: what you're seeing and describing sounds very much like turbulence, which is very common. My views this evening were also shimmering and boiling, and I know these images were *not* caused by my MK67.
You might try the following tomorrow night:
Once the sun sets, take the MK67 outside (mounted and ready to go) -- to a grassy area, if possible. Avoid concrete and/or asphalt, as these surfaces will radiate heat and compound the problem of turbulence. Allow the scope to stabilize/equilibriate and "adjust" to the ambient outdoor temperature. This "adjustment" period may take an hour (or even two hours). Be patient. When you're ready to view, try the Moon first.
Best wishes and luck.
-Dan
Jupiter is quite low to the horizon at sundown. It is always very likely that atmoshperic turbulence is at its *worst* down near the horizon.
Mars will face the same potential problems (shimmering and turbulent images) while it is low in the east-southeastern sky.
I believe your Intes is perfectly fine. I too have an MK67 which I bought from ITE about three years ago. Bill and his staff at ITE are all very capable and experienced -- they would *not* allow a scope to leave the ITE facilities unless it was in superb working condition.
Again: what you're seeing and describing sounds very much like turbulence, which is very common. My views this evening were also shimmering and boiling, and I know these images were *not* caused by my MK67.
You might try the following tomorrow night:
Once the sun sets, take the MK67 outside (mounted and ready to go) -- to a grassy area, if possible. Avoid concrete and/or asphalt, as these surfaces will radiate heat and compound the problem of turbulence. Allow the scope to stabilize/equilibriate and "adjust" to the ambient outdoor temperature. This "adjustment" period may take an hour (or even two hours). Be patient. When you're ready to view, try the Moon first.
Best wishes and luck.
-Dan
Posted 07/04/2003 11:50AM
#3
This link is to a site which predicts observing conditions. You can find a "Sky Clock" near you and look at the "seeing" conditions. This is a measure of turbulence.
http://cleardarksky.com/csk/index.html#clock_list
Note: After you click the link, go to the top of the page where "Clear Sky Clock" is explained.
http://cleardarksky.com/csk/index.html#clock_list
Note: After you click the link, go to the top of the page where "Clear Sky Clock" is explained.
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