Posts Made By: Paul Shin

I recently purchased a used 10” LX200 (f/10) Classic and need advice prioritizing what to get next. I mainly do planetary viewing, but would like to do more DSO. Here is a list of the accessories I currently own:

4,6&9mm Celestron Plossls
18&28mm SWA Meade Plossls
4.8mm Nagler
20mm Televue Plossl
32mm 2” Optiluxe
Telrad
Dew Shield
Moon Filter
2” Televue Visual Back
2” Meade Diagonal (square plastic one)

Off the top of my head, I think I need a better diagonal. I was also thinking about a micro-focuser and additional EPs. Any comments and / or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Paul

Is it okay to clean a filter (color, moon, nebula & solar) the same way as an EP? Any comments and / or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Paul

Last year I purchased a used 10” LX200 Classic that came with a 2” Meade diagonal (see attached photo). It’s made almost entirely out of plastic. Even the 1.25” adapter is plastic. Would upgrading to a higher quality diagonal (enhanced or dielectric) make a significant difference? My eps include a 4.8mm Nagler, 20mm Televue plossl, 32mm Optiluxe, 28mm & 18mm Meade SWA and various house brand plossls ranging from 5mm to 25mm. Any comments and / or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Paul

My current scope is a 10” LX200 Classic. I normally view from my light polluted neighborhood and do occasionally attend star parties. The LX200 is a great performer, but the fork mounted OTA is quite heavy and somewhat difficult to move around (it’s stored in our upstairs bedroom). Anyhow, I was thinking about moving to a GEM setup, as I would be able to separate the OTA from the mount. I have not done much research on the mounts, but was thinking about a C-9.25 or C-11 OTA. Am I moving in the right direction? Any comments and / or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Paul

Has anyone used Sears’ Craftsman Mechanics Seat for telescope viewing (see attached photo). It can be adjusted from 14.5” to 19.5” and was selling for $22.00. However, compared to Televue’s Air Chair, it’s much shorter (Air Chair can be adjusted from 21” to 28”). I have a 10” LX200. Any comments and / or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Paul

Is it safe to use a 12V to 18V converter for a 12V LX200 Classic? At first I thought it was my power supply, but now I think it maybe the converter. I’ve been using the Black & Decker Start It Jump Starter (Model #VEC010BD) for the past three months (twice a month at most) with good results, and then recently it began to run out of power. I’ve always charged it as required and the charge indicator shows a full charge, but when I slew or goto, the amp meter on the LX200 base goes up / flickers and the motors stop (Dec & R.A.). I thought that the motors where going out, but with AC power (AC to 18V), everything works strong and much stronger than the battery ever did. Could it be the converter, the power supply or a combination of both that’s causing the problem. Please see below battery specifications from their web site:

Output - 12V DC, 300 Amps instant, 5 seconds, 225 Amps
Battery - 12V, 9 Amp hr, sealed lead-acid
Accessory Outlet - 5 Amps, self-resetting breaker

Both converts came with the scope when I bought it used. Any comments and or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

Can 2” accessories (i.e. diagonal, focuser, etc.) mount onto the rear cell of the original Celestron Nexstar 8? Any comments and / or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Paul

I was wondering if a Nagler 9mm T1 can be used with a WO 2” diagonal without the WO 1.25” adapter? The WO 2” diagonal has a 2” barrel stop above the mirror, but the Nagler 9mm T1 has a 1.25” barrel that extends beyond the 2” barrel. Alternatively, I could use the WO 1.25” adapter, but the EP really rides well above the diagonal. Any comments and / or suggestion will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Paul

I just installed a WO focuser on my 10” LX200 Classic and my 2” WO diagonal now comes in contact with the fork when looking up at the zenith. Is there a way to program a dec stop? Any comments and / or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Paul

I previously posted this in the “Beginning Astronomy” section, but got no responses. Hopefully, this section can provide some insight. I recently installed a WO focuser on my 10” LX200 Classic and my 2” WO diagonal now comes in contact with the fork when looking up at the zenith. Is there a way to program a dec stop? Any comments and / or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Paul