Posts Made By: David Pope

Has anyone tried the Eye Opener? Does it really do what it claims? I have a 12" LX200 GPS and seen the ad for the new Eye Opener 2 and wondered just how could this adapter improve light transmission by up to 65%. Looking at the way the micro focuser attaches to the rear cell of my setup, it looks like an unobstructed path. Look forward to your replies.

Thanks,
David

Has anyone done a comparesion of the new Meade UHTC diagonal vs Televue or AP's maxibright diagonal. I have a new 12" LX200 GPS UHTC which comes with the UHTC diagonal and I'm wondering how it compares to the other diagonals. I'm thinking that Meade sells their diagonal for $100.00 and the others are twice that price. Any thoughts?

David Pope

Hi All,

I posted this question before but it didn't get answered so I'll post it one more time. I just purchased my focal reducer (f/6.3) and tried it out saturday night. I have a 12" LX200 GPS w/mircofoscuser. I attached the FR to the rear cell then my microfoscuser followed by a standard 2" diagonal and I couldn't get it to reach foscus. And I mean that I ran out of travel with the course foscus knob. Someone suggested that I move the FR to the other end of the microfoscuser which I can do but how or what do I use to attach the diagonal? Did anyone else have this problem? I need help please! BTW: everything I'm using is Meade equipment, I can't believe that they would sell something that didn't work .

Thanks,
David Pope

Has anyone tried one of Gary's finder scope. There is one that I'm interested in, Straight-Through version with correct-image ( 19x only )..$75.00. If anyone has one, I was wondering how good is the image quailty (I know it's not an apo. telescope) but is it better than the 8 x 50 Meade finder I have now?

Thanks for you opinions,
David Pope

I have a 12" LX200 GPS, does anyone know of a mounting system for a guide scope. I've looked at Losmandy but $150 just for the rail is a little much.

Thanks for the help,
David Pope

Does any one know what happened to EZ Telescope? The web site is gone and I noticed that it's no longer a sponsor of Astromart. Did they go out of business?

David

Can one of you math whiz tell me how to find the center of a circle? The way I've done it is to use a triangle in the circle and find half the length of each side of the triangle. Then draw a line exactly 90 degree at the half way mark of each side of the triangle and where they intersect is the center. Is there an easier way?

Thanks in advance
Dave

I need some advise on collimating a Newtonian telescope. Which works best sight tube (Cheshire) or laser. And whose should I get?

Clear Skies,
David Pope

Well, it arrived today! My new Orion XT 8 dobsonian arrived by FedEx and the first observation was that this little scope comes well packaged. After owning several scopes I finally ended up purchasing a Meade 12 LX200GPS a year ago (thinking this was going to be my ultimate scope), which is a very nice scope but very heavy (125 lbs.). I also have a Stellarvue AT1010 (80mm refractor), which is a wonderful little gem but only 80mm. So, I was looking for a “kick around scope”. Something that could be setup fast and has enough aperture to reach those deep fuzzes. Especially when I have only 45 minutes or so during the week to view. I had settled on the Orion XT 6 after reading lots of positive reviews. I went to Orion’s website to purchase the XT 6 when I noticed that they had a sale on both the 6 and 8-inch scopes. I saved a $100 on the 8 inch and it was only 5 lbs more that the 6 inch. And what the hay it was 2 more inches!

I greedily took the boxes from the FedEx man and ran inside to assembly my new pride and joy. As I stated before, the scope and dobsonian mount came well packaged. Not a scratch on anything. It took me 30 minutes or so to assemble the mount, attach the finder and check collimation (which was slightly out, not bad considering that it traveled all the way from California to North Carolina). As I played with the scope, moving it back and forth in Altitude and Azimuth I couldn’t help but think, man this is one nice scope. I can’t believe it only cost $349.00. It has a steel tube, a really nice focuser and it moves really smooth. By just looking at this scope I would have expected to have paid a lot more.

I was getting ready for first light and guess what rolled in. You guess it, clouds and now it's raining! Now I’ll have to wait, I’m confined to the house playing with the scope and longing for clear weather. Man I hate these new scope blues.

Hope someone has clear skies,
David Pope

Does anyone know of a configuration that would allow me to use my Stellarvue AT1010 scope (3.5" O.D.) as a finder? I would like to use a bracket and the existing shoe on my 12” LX200GPS. I’ve looked at guide scope rails, but I’d like to keep it simple and inexpensive.

Thanks,
David Pope