Posts Made By: George Behary

Hello all.  I was pretty much tired of watching my wife stare at the moon and stars with binoculars every night, so at a weak moment bough a telescope at a local flea market.  I probably should have studied this site a bit before buying anything.  The scope is a ETX 90 EC (I believe) which was not in so good condition.  Problem number one was a broken clutch knob. Problem two was that it is missing the controller.  My lack of knowledge was/is problem three.  Me being a tinkerer, had the scope down to all its basic and small parts.  I put it back together and took it out side to view the stars.  Problem four showed up when I relished that the scope was also missing the focus knob.  Ten minutes on the lathe fixed that.
Now this is where my lack of basic knowledge showed up.  While focusing on the stars with my 26mm eyepiece, I expected to see everything in huge proportions.  All the stars and planets looked like white donuts with the big black dot in the middle.  After a few days of frustration, I finally figured out that I was getting no way near to focus.  Now everything comes in crystal clear, albeit much smaller.  Jupiter looks to be about 1/4” diameter.  I couldn’t believe how many stars I could see through the scope. 
I dug out my old camera tripod and removed the scope from the original cradle.  I may replace it when I get the parts to fix it.
I also purchased another cheap scope on ebay which was probably not a good idea, but I was getting frustrated with this one at first.  The new scope is a table top Astroscan Mellinium.  Just something to hold me over until I feel comfortable enough for a large Dobsonian.
No more rambling for now, but I am waiting for more eye pieces to be delivered.  
george

Here is what I ended up with.

I wish i would have bought one without problems.  I purchased a zoom lens and things look a little better at about a 9 or so. But nothing to write home about.   Shouldn’t Jupiter be larger than a 1/4” circle?  Fairly clear but tiny.  I guess these are meant for looking at the moon.  Unless mine is totally out of adjustment.

^{I may look at an Orion 8” Dobsonian this week end.  What is the price range on these?
Here’s what is included.  Any thoughts?}


Orion SkyQUest XT8 8" Classic Dobsonian and Stand
Padded Travel bag for Telescope Tube Assembly
Meade 14mm Series 5000 Plossl Eyepiece
Tel View 2x Barlow Lens
9x50 Finder Scope
Orion EZ-Finder Finderscope
T-Adapter for Nikon DSLR cameras
Solar Filter and Case
^{LaserMate Delux Laser Collimator}

I am finding that my neck problem is making it almost next to impossible for me to use a view finder.  i almost have to sit on the ground tro be able to look through one.  I have an optical one on my Meade and a red dot on my AstroScan 9new version). I need something with a right angle viewer I suspect.  Any suggestions?

I am finding that my neck problem is making it almost next to impossible for me to use a view finder.  i almost have to sit on the ground tro be able to look through one.  I have an optical one on my Meade and a red dot on my AstroScan 9new version). I need something with a right angle viewer I suspect.  Any suggestions?

I am finding that my neck problem is making it almost next to impossible for me to use a view finder.  i almost have to sit on the ground tro be able to look through one.  I have an optical one on my Meade and a red dot on my AstroScan 9new version). I need something with a right angle viewer I suspect.  Any suggestions?

Have you ever ordered.from alexipress?  I have not.

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

I've ordered svbony products via amazon and they ship out of China just like aliexpress. If you're hesitant about ordering from aliexpress and I wouldn't be because I'd contact my credit card company and dispute a charge if there happened to be a problem, I'd order from amazon instead although it might cost more:
https://www.amazon.com/SVBONY-Finderscope-Right-Angle-Correct-Image-Astronomy/dp/B09BQCVXKV/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=svbony+finder+scope&qid=1634497873&sr=8-13
Aliexpress sells the finderscope in question from the svbony store. The latter is a legit seller so I doubt you'll have a problem and I've bought svbony eyepieces and CCD filters from them via amazon without encountering difficulties. 

I found one on Ebay cheap enough.  Hopefully I didn’t make another “telescope” mistake!

Living in Florida, the light pollution, even in the country is getting worse, so conditions have to be perfect for me to observe the sky.  Last night my wife came in from viewing the moon..un-aided.  She asked me to come out at look at a star(?) that seemed to be moving in a circular pattern.  I went out and not having the best of vision, couldn’t see what she was seeing.  She got mad and told me to get my glasses on and come back out.  It did and I then saw it.  Directly under the moon which was in the SW sky over Palm Beach County, I also saw a star(?) that was moving in a circular pattern.  It looked to be moving height and lower in a clockwise rotation.  She actually caught it on video.  Is this some sort of atmospheric disturbance?  Anyone else notice this?