Posts Made By: Joe Morey

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone on this forum has used/tested the Meade 10" f/4 Schmidt-Newtonian with UHTC coatings on the LXD-75 Mount? How do you like it? Pros and cons? Do you think the optics are up to snuff? Can you use this scope with relative success in a light polluted city? Thanks much for your time?

Best,

Joe

Has anyone tried the Johnsonian Type V Platform? I would like to hear your overall impressions. I am planning on using it with my Discovery 13.1" dob, and my new Astrosky 10" dob. I look forward to all your comments. Thanks.

Best,

Joe

Hi all,

I am considering purchasing a Stellarvue M6 Stableglide Mount, and I was wondering if I could get some feedback on the unit. It would be very interesting to hear how it would perform with a C11, C9.25", Meade 10", or a larger refractor. Thanks much for your time.

Clear skies,

Joe

Hi,

Does anyone on this forum think that the Celestron XLT coatings wash out planetary images? :S I have a friend who owned a Nexstar 11" XLT who claims that this is the case, and I think it would be very interesting to hear your experiences between the Celestron XLT, Starbrite coatings, and the Meade UHTC coatings if possible. Thanks much for your time.

Clear skies (someday),

Joe

Hi gang (Dave),

I agree with Dave Bush. You cannot go wrong with the Ultima 30mm. You should be able to pick up one on Astromart for around $65.00, and this leaves you with some money left over to pick up the Ultima 24mm which is another fine eyepiece (if you can find one!). However, I have a penchant for the University Optics 32mm 2" konig, and the 24mm 1.25" konig in long focal length refractors and SCT's, but in particular a C11. The 32mm Konig is well corrected to the edge, contrasty, and most importantly stars are sharp and pinpoints like an ortho. A very nice eyepiece. Just my 2 cents worth. Clear skies.

Joe

Hi Floyd,

I was just wondering what makes you think that the new Swan eyepieces will be like the TV Panoptics? I believe the Pans have six elements, and the new Swan eyepieces have five elements. Is it possible that the Swan eyepieces are more like the new Burgess Optical Superwides? However, I hope you are correct and they are similar, or better than the Pans. Williams Optics makes great astro gear, and the fit and finish of the Swan eyepieces look very nice, but I just hope they perform as well as they look. I look forward to your Swan 25mm review. Thanks.

Best,

Joe

Hi Justin,

I tend to agree with the Cloudy Nights article. I use my Celestron/Vixen Silvertop plossls for planetary in my SCT's. It just so happens when seeing allows my Celestron Silvertop 10mm plossl gives me beautiful color saturation, contrast, and sharpness on the planets. The above eyepieces seem to perform better than the Naglers I have tried. For deepsky in my SCT's, I ultimately prefer erfles and konigs as long as they are well corrected. Two of my favorite eyepieces in a C11 are the University Optics 32mm (2"), and the 24mm (1.25") konigs. I also own a Meade Research Grade 20mm erfle in pristine condition which has excellent correction, and is wonderful on globulars. I won't begin to talk about the comparisons I have made, but I simply feel that the UO Konig eyepieces are just as contrasty as the Naglers, and sharper like orthos. If I didn't have my Silvertop set, I would definitly buy University Optics orthos for the planets. Really a no brainer. These are great eyepieces at a great price. I think a very nice, and high quality set of eyepieces for a SCT would be the University Optics 32mm (2"), and 24mm (1.25")Konigs, 18mm, 12,5mm, and 9mm orthos. You might want to add a 40mm, and a barlow as well. I would consider this a best bang for the buck.

On the other hand... I have a Discovery 13.1" f/4.5 dob, and I exclusively cannot live with out the Televue 26mm, 17mm type 4, 13mm, and 7mm type 6 Naglers for deepsky. The wide field (porthole effect), contrast, eye relief, and exit pupil make these as close to the perfect eyepieces for my dob I have found to date. I also find the 13mm, and 7mm type 6 Naglers to be very fine planetary eyepieces as well.

There are many variables involved in eyepiece selection, and this is just one spin on it from an amateur astronomer.

Clear skies,

Joe

P.S. Here come the chinese eyepieces...

Hi Dave,

You might want to call Bill Vorce at Telescope Warehouse. I imagine he would have the answer to your questions and maybe a battery pack as well. I sold him a battery pack sometime ago which I believe used 'D' (1.5 volts) batteries. Goodluck, and I'll give you a call in the near future.

Best,

Joe

Hi Ken,

I guess it really depends on whether you have to carry the scope out to your backyard, or not. If you do, the Celestron Nexstar 11" is the best way to go, and easily transportable in a sedan, or SUV, but if you are planning to use it in an observatory, or roll it out of your garage, I would personally recommend the Meade LX200 12". The more aperture the better.

Clear skies,

Joe

Hi Larry,

You might want to contact James Grigar of Astrosky. I am sure he can work out something with you, and you will get a beautiful truss dob for $895.00, and perhaps less if you are supplying the spider, mirror cell, focuser, and mirrors. Astrosky is a Astromart sponsor.

Also, you might want to take a look at Twilight Moon Telescopes as well. He is building collapsible truss dobs which could very well suit your criteria. He's a bit more expensive, but they look very nice, and easy on the back. Twilight Moon Telescopes is also a Astromart sponser, but Chris does not have his website up yet, but he is taking orders. Just do an advanced search on AM. Ad #339898 I believe he is actually planning on building three 10" dobs right now, and his turn around time is only thirty days! (But don't quote me on that)

Isn't it nice to have such great truss dob choices these days. I hope you find what you are looking for. The best of luck to you.

Clear skies,

Joe