Posts Made By: Rod Mollise

Ted Judah said:

Hi every one. I am new here and would love some opinions.

Quick story: I have been granted permission to build a 11' x 15 ' observatory in a dark sky location 15 minutes from my home. It will have a pier on which to mount a scope.

After the observatory is complete. I will have approx. $2800 to buy a scope (or scopes).

I have a daughter and also lots of nieces and nephews that would love to have star parties and look through a "big" scope. So I am thinking a $1000 12" dobsonian for the "wow" views and simplicity for the kids.

I would like to try my hand at astrophotography so with the remaining $1800 I am thinking of a used schmidt-cassagrain to mount on the pier.

Or possibly just get the dobsonian and then wait and save for a dream scope later.

What would you do in my situation?

Vaclav Novotny said:

Hi All Astro Nuts
Has any body used a Celestron Neximage with a Meade ETX90, what was the result like?
An Astro Nuts
Vars

chris bator said:

I think I fried by circuit board as the slew motors no longer work. Anyone have any idea where I can, if at all, get a new circuit board? Thanks.

Scott Weberpal said:

I found a local 1994 version C8+ and was hoping someone could help me to decide whether or not it's a good deal. Included are: fork mount (motor does work), heavy duty tripod, solar filter, very nice pelican cases for scope and eyepieces, orion flexi dew shield, 18mm ultima series eyepiece, 5mm ultima series, 25mm SMA, tele vue 3x barlow, 6x30 finder, t-adapter, and orion moon filter. I plan on going to look at the C8 later this week and if it appears to be in good cosmetic shape, is $1000 a good deal? He's fairly firm on the price, so there likely isn't much (if any) room for negotiation.

David Kernberger said:

I've noticed the term "minty" used more and more lately, in classified ads, to describe a for-sale item's condition. At this time, is there any clear consensus among Astromarters of how this would translate into real english? If so, what is that translation??? My instincts tell me to watch out for the term because I am imagining it to just be a way of trying to over-hype the item. But, if I am wrong, I want to know.

Just wondering,
Dave K.

david aguilar said:

Here's the mystery. I was given an old 12 1/2" cassegrain OTA, fiberglass tube, circa 1960's from a friend who picked it up years ago in an estate sale. The primary has a 28" fl (f/2.24), the back focal length is about 16-18" and the spacing in the tube puts the secondary around 22" away from the primary. Here is the mystery. The secondary, with this spacing should be round 3" in dia. This brute is 6" in dia! Any ideas what this thing is? DK, Classical, RC?? And why such a monster secondary?

matt elliott said:

I was planning on getting a O3 filter or a UHC, anyone have any experience with the celestron O3? How it stacks up with the lumicon.

robert black said:

I'm wondering if anyone knows of a better way to move the guiding scope around to focus on a star for PHD rather than the 6 ring screws. If not, I think an invention would be in order.
When I try to image M31 it is really hard to get a bright enough star for PHD using the current way. Maybe I'm just way out in let field, bob

Jim Phillips said:

Seeing Poor, occasionally fair. 35 degrees. See attached. FYI

Jim Phillips

Rick Hageman said:

Hi,

What length of exposures at 400-500mm have been acheived with a CG-5 mount? Both guided & unguided. I have a Celestron Onyx 80 EDF and a Canon 40D.

Any advice on another mount in this price range (used)? I have about $500 to spend on the mount/tripod.

Also, any links to good "hop up" or "massaging" to improve the mount. I've already checked out most of the verbage on astronomyboy.com.

Thanks for any help,

Rick