Posts Made By: David Albertson

Can anyone tell me if the XLT Coatings are worth it. I am looking at buying a Celestron NexStar 9 1/4 GPS Telescope and am definately lookng into astrophotography. Thanks for your help.

- David

Hi everyone. I have just recieved my new celestron 9.25 GPS scope and I am ready to decide on my permanent storage case. I have looked around and found only the JMI case that is designed for it. Honestly the price of $379 is a bit much for me after just buying the scope (im in college) and really want to consider the DIY solution. Given that there will most likely be extra weight with some case of wood construction, has anyone out their done their own DIY case for a celestron GPS?
I am also curious about the foam fittings inside. I know of some places that specifically do that, and I thought about taking the foam from the stock box and asking them to copy it with more high impact foam to fit the demensions of my DIY case. Has anyone else done this? My main concern for the case is being able to fit in in the trunk of my 2001 Honda Accord Sedan and to incorperate wheels into it for easy mobility. Thanks allot. You can also email me at [email protected]

I would like opinions of all you out there about a case purchase for my scope. I have a celestron nexstar gps. I am considering buying a softcase from casesandcovers.com. What is your opinion of using soft cases for such expensive scopes? I will not be shipping the scope in this, just simple transportation. Just from home to observing and back. It will be in my trunk (2001 honda accord sedan) so hard cases are a bit limiting because of size. The price seems ok at $175 + $10 shipping. Thanks for your advise

I was wondering if anyone else had seen this. In this months Sky and Telescope there is a new ad from Celestron. It is in the middle of the magazine on the GPS page, and differs from the ad at the back of the magizine. It talks about a new software coming free witht eh Celestron scopes called NexRemote. It says go to their website www.celestron.com/nexremote/ for more ifnormation but the page isnt up. Was this ad released early on accident. If so, does anyone know anything more about this software. I just bound my 9.25 Nextstar GPS XLT two weeks ago. Hoping I can convince them to send me a copy of the software. Thanks.

David Albertson

Hey everyone. I am pretty new to astrophotgraphy and looking to buy a digital camera. I had a main interest in SLR camera's that I would connect to my new Celestron 9.25 inch Nexstar GPS with an off-axis guider. Since then I have read quite a bit more about astrophotography and decided I should get a better idea of the cameras out there, and I am not opposed to doing eyepiece project if I end up keeping the camera cost down (not needing an SLR). Also I am interested in planatary and lunar imaging in addidition to the deepsky imaging i was origanally attracted to. I understand that these are different types of astrophotography and may use different quiptment. Can anyone make some suggestions on the Canon G5 or any other camera for that matter, and the method used to projecting to it. Thanks.

Ok guys this may sound like a lame question, but im trying to learn as much as I can. I am ready to start my EP collection. Right now I have the Celestron starter kit, and it was ok when I was just learning but I want some EP's that can give me good planetary views. I am by all means a newbie. I made the big investment on my scope figuring that was my biggest hurdle and decided to move from there.
It has been suggested to me that I should pick up a Televue Radian 12mm 1.25. Does anyone agree? It runs about $240 at Woodland Hills Telescope.
As most of you problibly know my scope has a 2' back. I have been told that I should not look at any 2' eyepieces for any planetary viewing because the field of view is too big. Is that true? I have also been told that my max useful magnification for my scope would permit about an 7mm EP. I dont remember my formulas from my college astronomy class so I wasnt sure about that either.
Again, I apoligize if these are dumb questions, I am just trying to get up to speed. Thanks allot. I attached a pic of my scope just for fun. (sorry about the type on it, I used it for my case design)

Hey guys. I am ready to buy a digital SLR camera and I am trying to decide whether I should pickup the Canon Rebel Digital or the Nikon d70 that is coming out. They are simarly priced but I have seen the Canon around for $900 with 18-50mm lens included. Anyone have any input on these two cameras, or know places online with good pricing? Thanks allot for your help.

David Albertson

I have a question about the corrector lens on my Nexstar 9.25 GPS. As you can see in the photo it has accumulated plenty of crap on the corrector lens. I have tried using a air brush and a soft lens cloth but without much effect. I am concerned about using any liquids on the lens. Can anyone advise me what I should use to clean it without damaging the lens? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Hey guys I am getting ready to upgrade my focuser on my Celestron Nexstar 9.25 GPS. The Starlight microfocuser I had wanted is not available for my scope yet since my 9.25 SCT was the latest addition to the Nexstar line. I have heard good things about them from friends with the Nexstar 8 and 11 though. Since the focuser is unavailable yet (although i hear it will be in a matter of months) I started looking at the Feathertouch Focuser - 1.5'' Drawtube w/Internal Brake System. It has gotten pretty rave reviews, but it is $300 without the adapter I will also need for my scope. I am also aware that I might experience some slippage due to the weight I put on it. I hear the internal brake system which I would get would alleviate that. You can see my current load on the back of my scope in the attached picture(also imagine a Canon Digital Rebel at the end, I had to take the picture with something you know, hehe). My questions are three fold. First which do you think I should get? Wait for the microfocuser or get the crayford style. Second if I go with the crayford style what draw tube length do you recommend for my application? (astrophotography with the rebel) They have 1.5", 2.0", and 2.5". And lastly is their a competing crayford style focuser that is cheaper and may be of comparable value? THANK YOU!!!

I have posted links for both products below.
http://www.starizona.com/teleacc/show.cfm?StockNo=FTF15IB&Show=1
http://www.starizona.com/teleacc/show.cfm?StockNo=FTFSCTC11&Show=1

Hi everyone, back again with more focuser questions. I am still looking for a crayford style focuser for my Celestron Nexstar 9.25 GPS. I made some posts earlier about the feathertouch focuser, which is very nice. It's downsides were its higher expense and the need to use an adapter to attach to my SCT. It also seemed a little more than i needed with min. of 1.5" drawtube travel. I am only using the crayford as a fine focus to enable me to use my mirror focus as little as possible. I have found the JMI NGF-CM Next Generation Focuser 2" Schmidt-Cassegrain with Motofocus.

http://www.jimsmobile.com/images/ngf_cm_front.jpg
http://www.jimsmobile.com/images/ngf_cm_gears.jpg

http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=&pid=1236&m=


It has some definite advantages that seem to work for me and I have found it for about $250, which is a little less expensive. Although I understand the feathertouch is a high quality product and is probably under priced if anything.(but for a college student every little bit helps!) 8) It also has motor control with a hand controller I have had a chance to use, and like very much. It also attaching directly to the back of my SCT without an adapter which is a plus. The question I have is has anyone used this focuser yet, particularly on the Nexstar series of scopes? Do these scopes hold decent weight loads (canon digital rebel, celestron radial guider, barrel extender) without slippage? I also have another question about my Celestron radial guider. It threads exactly to the back of my SCT currently. Since the new focuser will be before it in line with the scope, will I need an adapter than imitates the back of my SCT so i can attach my radial guider, or does it come with the adapter you think? To see my last thread you can go to the link below.

https://www.astromart.com/forums/viewpost.asp?forum_post_id=262103&poll_id=&news_id=&page=