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Posts Made By: Peter Bilotta

January 13, 2003 02:53 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Can a Meade SCT focuser be adjusted?

Posted By Peter Bilotta
I have an older and infrequently used 8" Meade LX-6 SCT (I more often use my 6" Newt for quick looks). The focuser has a good deal of image shift and backlash and virtually no tension on the focus knob when turned - not intolerable for occasional use, but darn tough to get a decent focus. Is there anything that can be easily adjusted by the user to improve this focuser's performance, or will it require more than a few tweaks?

February 21, 2003 02:24 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Ultima vs. Older Televue barlows

Posted By Peter Bilotta
Sorry for another barlow question (they seem to be very popular during the planetary viewing season).

I currently have both the 2x Ultima and 3x Antares (same as the Ultima) shorty barlows - my attempt to maximize eye relief at higher magnification. I use exclusively Ultima and UO ortho eyepieces in a 6" f/5 Newt and 8" SCT.

I have the opportunity to replace both with an older Televue 2.5x barlow (not a Powermate) yielding very similar magnification increments.

I know that the newer Televues are outstanding. However, given the Televue's older coatings and doublet configuration, is there any advantage to making this swap, or am I better just sticking with the Ultimas I have? I should note here that my budget will not allow the addition of a Powermate.

Thanks for your input.


April 4, 2003 12:34 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Long Eye Relief (LER) Eyepieces

Posted By Peter Bilotta
While I normally use UO Orthos for my planetary observing, I need something inexpensive with more comfortable eye relief for my wife, children and others with whom I share my hobby. I'm looking for a 9-10mm and a 5-6mm in the $40-$75 range for use primarily with an f/5 scope.

I've seen the reviews on the Orion Epics and Expanses (possibilities), but have also encountered the Skywatcher/Synta LER (Long Eye Relief) eyepieces. Has anyone used these and how do they compare with some of these other lower priced longer eye relief eyepieces?

Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks!

April 17, 2003 03:00 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Mag gain from sliding EP out of barlow?

Posted By Peter Bilotta
A question for you barlow experts out there . . .

I understand from several sources that you can obtain additonal magnification from a given eyepiece by backing it out of the barlow slightly, thereby eliminating the need for closely spaced eyepiece focal lengths. Is this the case?

I generally use a 6" f/5 scope with 2x Ultima and 3x Antares shorty barlows. If I back out an eyepiece (say a 12.5mm or 10mm backed out 10mm/1cm), is there a way to determine the approximate magnification gain through this method.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

June 5, 2003 04:16 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Wanted: Reviews on Celestron X-Cel Eyepieces

Posted By Peter Bilotta
A few of the new Celestron X-Cel eyepieces with 20mm eye relief have started to make it out onto the market. Does anyone have any feedback on this latest addition to the new barrage of affordable long eye relief eyepieces that are now out there?

Thanks for responding.

June 9, 2003 04:36 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Mars Magnification?

Posted By Peter Bilotta
Some expert opinions please on appropriate magnification for Mars . . .

Generally, 180x - 220x seem to be the ideal magnification ranges for Jupiter and Saturn in average seeing from my Midwestern locale. From what I have read and observed, the expert opinions suggest that Saturn can bear a higher magnification because of the higher contrast of its limited features.

So, what about Mars? Until my recent increase in aperature to 6", I have never gone much more than 200x on Mars in the past. Do Mars' features bear magnifications higher than this in average seeing (some posts refer to using 300x - 400x), or am I best to stick within the same magnification range for other planetary observing?

Thanks for your feedback.

June 30, 2003 02:44 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Contrast vs. Brightness

Posted By Peter Bilotta
A scenario that is not just theoretical . . .

I'm comparing several types of identical focal length eyepieces for higher power viewing of both planetary and brighter compact deep sky objects (globulars, planetaries, etc). While the views are sharp in all three, light throughput and contrast vary significantly. Some have brighter images with less contrast (Orion's Expanses), and the others slightly dimmer images but a perfect black background (Vixen LV's).

Unfortunately, without Jupiter and Saturn to compare them on right now, its difficult to determine which will offer better views in the long run. So, from all you observing experts out there, which in your opinion is more important in an eyepiece - BRIGHTNESS (light throughput) or CONTRAST?

Thanks for your always enlightening opinions.

July 1, 2003 02:37 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Please help identify an eyepiece

Posted By Peter Bilotta
In the bottom of my accessories case, I have a rarely used Celestron orthoscopic that I picked up already well used in the early 80's. The black cone top is engraved with "Celestron" and "6mm ortho" and is slightly wider than the tops of the modern UO orthos. The barrel is stamped with a circle M, something I have never seen on any other eyepiece. Most unusual, the AFOV is 50-52 degrees, equal to my plossls.

Has anyone encountered one of these. When are they from and what are they worth? Thanks for any feedback.

August 28, 2003 01:44 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Does a scope need to warm up?

Posted By Peter Bilotta
Here's a question for those thermal dynamics experts among us . . .

We all know about the need to allow a warm scope to cool down to the outside temperature before use, but what about the reverse? Does a scope need to "warm up" going from our cool and comfortable air conditioned homes to a warm and humid backyard? What is the effect on images of a cooler than ambient temperature scope versus a warm scope?

September 25, 2003 02:11 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Opinions Wanted: Ultima 30mm or 35mm?

Posted By Peter Bilotta
Ratings on the 30mm and 35mm Ultimas are very similar. Is one preferable over the other for FOV and performance - and do I gain much by moving up to the 35mm given its added size and weight?

I primarily use an 8" f/10 SCT and a 6" f/5 Newt (often barlowed for f/10) for my grab and go. My eyepiece set also includes the discontinued 24mm Ultima.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

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