Posts Made By: Joel Guthals

Herb,

I figured this out once before, so I know it is possible. I want to leave feedback on a transaction that began before the change over to the new website and is now concluded. Guidance please, and this time I will remember.

Thanks

Joel

David,

Having spent some time with the Sky Tour, I can share some information with you on how it works. The system is easy to use. The encoders attach to the mount and have telephone type chords that plug into the little Sky Tour computer. You turn on the computer and you get the command to align mark. You line up two little engraved spots on the declination axis and press enter. Then you get a command to align stars. The computer has a list of many major stars to select, just about all of the big bright stars. You pick a star from the list, center in the eyepiece and press enter. You pick another star in the opposite side of the sky from the list, center in the eyepiece and press enter. You then get a read out that states the "warp" factor of your alignment. If it is less than 1 you have a good alignment, which is usually the case. Then you are set to go. Using the catalogue you pick out what you want to see from a about 2,000 objects, such as M-42, and enter the guide mode. A message appears showing you how to move the scope. When the displayed coordinates are at 00, the item is usually in the eyepiece. You can then have the computer align on the object if you want, which improves your warp factor. This winter I was usually aligning on Mizar and Rigel. Hope this helps.

Joel

Daniel,

I have been using a green laser as a finder for my various telescopes for a couple of years now. Started out using it as novelty for star parties, but now use it a my primary finder. By far the easiest way to see where the scope is pointing in the sky, do initial alignments, and do star hopping. Your bracket is ingenious, very nice. For those in the group less mechanically inclined, like me, they may want to check out Howie Glatter who sells both laser lights and mounting brackets for them. He has one with 1/4-20 threads that should fit on the Tak clam shell. I have one on order for my FS-128. In addition to the 5 mw models, Howie sells higher power lasers that really put out the light. I am using a 15 mw model.

Joel

Malcolm,

You will probably want to replace the stock 1.25" visual back and prism diagonal that come with the C-9.25, as I did for my NX-11GPS. All you need to attach the TV diagonal is the 2" visual back from Celestron, which screws right on the back of the OTA. Instead of the Celestron visual back, I use the Virtual View and like it very much. It is a rotating 2" visual back that will screw on to the OTA. Allows you to turn the eyepiece from side to side for viewing convenience. It is available from Starizona. The TV Everbright 2" is a wonderful diagonal. Current model has brass compression ring rather than set screw. When I was considering buying these accessories I was concerned about them fitting. They fit perfectly and go on and off in seconds. Optical engineer license not required.

Joel

David,

I can tell tou that TheSky6 has drivers included for the Takahashi Temma system. They work fine on the NJP. There are also comprehensive instructions on the TheSky6 website on setting up your Tak Temma mount to use the software. I had to vary the recommended initial alignment process by suspending the link when I moved the scope form its initialization position (straight up)to the first alignment star. Then restablish the link and sychronize. The last time I checked with Starry Night (about six months ago), they did not have Temma drivers. Temma ASCOM drivers for the Temma system are available online that can be downloaded from the ASCOM website and pluged into Starry Night. I was not successful in getting them to work. Thus my purchase of TheSky6. I have found that the Pegasus 21 software that Tak supplies is pretty nice to use. The main limitation is no panoramic sky map.

Hope this helps.

Joel

Jeff,

Having an FS152 and a C-14, I selected the AP900 instead of the AP1200. The AP900 has sufficient capacity, is more easily portable, and costs less. I have a late model C-14 that weighs in at 43 lbs. With imaging equipment, finder scope, telrad, etc. it weighs about 48 lbs. I can let you know in a few weeks whether I made the correct choice as the AP900 was just shipped to me from AP. I have been using a G-11/Gemini for these scopes without any problem. So I figured the AP900 would work fine.

Joel

Jon,

The Losmandy dovetail plates have beveled sides that slide into a saddle plate that has matching beveled sides, one of which is a movable vice that clamps in place against one side of the dovetail by turning a knob. The saddle acts as a receiver for the dovetail. You slide in the dovetail and then tighten the vice knob. The dovetail and saddle are then securely mated. The Robin Casady system is a variation, with two movable vice jaws on one side that open more widely, which allows the dovetail plate to be put in the saddle without sliding. The two jaws give you double clamping security.

The Losmandy system and the Casady variation are very sturdy and solid and can be adapted to just about any OTA and equatorial mount. The dovetail plates and saddles come in various lengths to fit different length OTAs. The dovetails are all the same width--about 3" at the beveled sides so they fit all the standard saddles, which close to 3" when clamped.

Easier to understand when you see a picture or see it in person. Harder to understand with my written description. Hope this helps.

Joel

Paul,

The EM-200 is rated to carry 35 lbs for imaging. My EM-200 Temma2 has no problem handling my FS-152 or my M-250 both with imaging equipment. They are very solid and stable on the EM-200 except in windy conditions.

Joel

Ken,

There have been many good answers posted to your question. I will add one more specifically addressing the use of the TSA102S for imaging. It is excellent. I have been imaging with a SBIG ST-2000XCM on the 102. The images are fine, with round tight stars across the entire field. There is no chromatic aberation. The 102's focuser is plenty strong to hold the SBIG camera with all of the cables attached.

The 102 does not have as wide a field of view as the 106. What this means is that large objects such as M-31 cannot be imaged in full with the 102, but could fit in to the 106 field of view. Most deep sky object are small and the 102 is perfect for them.

Joel

Paul,

Owning both a C-14 and a Tak EM200, I can confirm that the C-14 is too heavy for the EM200. My C-14 weighs about 44 lbs (without accessories) and the EM200 will carry 35 lbs. If you want to use a Tak mount you would need the Tak NJP or EM400 mount. I have my C-14 on an AP900GTO, which handles it with ease.

Joel