Posts Made By: Matthew Lawson

This is the first time I have tried to take pictures with my telescope (130mm EQ Newt), and I live in a suburb of Atlanta GA, so the light pollution is pretty bad...

Anyway, I have a couple of basic questions (figure a beginner, they go here?)

I was using my digital camera which does not allow more than a 2 second exposure. I have 2 eyepeices, 10mm and 25mm plossl. I have a mount (homemade, about $7, works great) which gets the lens very close (though I still get some vignetting(???))

Question 1) should I be using the eyepeices at all, or just using the camera with the 10x optical zoom on the telescope sans eyepeice? (forget this, I tried without, and had a big black dot in the middle)

Question 2) based on what I read, I assume I do not need a motor for my mount, as long as I can take multiple images (i.e. keep getting the object centered then re-capture) and use registax?

Question 3) the camera does have the ability to make AVI's, and I have tried this with registax, but have not had good results. Anyone try using a avi mode on a camera?

Question 4) the 10mm plossl has a real small hole, versus the 25mm plossl (forgive the spelling...) Makes it almost impossible to use this with my camera, even holding it right up to it. Are there other eyepeices or would a barlow help this?

Much appreciated for any help! I am really enjoying this new hobby, and am having a blast showing my kids the moon and other bright objects (as they don't get that excited about the dimmer ones..;-)

Thanks
Matt

I have a new scope, a 12.5" dob f/4.5. I also own a 5.1" spaceprobe. I have a couple of plossl's that came with it. The new dob I got here, with a 2" focuser, and I have a 1.25/2 adapter to be able to use the plossl's in either. I was interested in getting (1) a light pollution filter since I am in the suburbs, and based on what I read these should help to make some views a little more crisp of nebulas. (2) A nice new eyepiece for nebula/galaxies to use on ideally the dob.

Thus the quandary(sp?)...if I get a filter for the 1.25, I would like to use it on the dob as well, but that means the new eyepiece for the dob would need to be a 1.25 and not a 2 inch? I was assuming a 2 inch eyepiece, around 20mm-30mm.

Would I be losing much by sticking with 1.25 eyepieces for now? If not, could someone point me in he right direction on the size? Been reading up on these, but since I am gonna spend some money, I don't want to make a mistake...was probably targeting around $100 for the EP (maybe the GSO 2" SuperView Eyepiece - 30mm, since it seems to have had some good discussion), and was going to get the orion Ultrablock filter. Thanks for any help!

Matt

I am going to start cleaning up my 12.5 Dob. It is an older one I bought, and it needs some work. I was going to paint the outside, and I was going to just use some Gloss black. I was also considering painting the inside with a Flat black. Any issues here, or recommendations?

Also, I read up on how to fix the sticking problems on the teflon, so will be doing that.

One post mentioned a Sliding Weight system, which sounds like a good idea that I can make, since different eyepieces seem to send the scope vertical. Anyone do this, and have a link or two with some pics or a how-to? The tube is a older Meade sonotube, so I am not sure the best way to attach..say a T-Bar or something. Any recommendations?

Any other things that are a good ideas I may be missing?

Thanks,
Matt

OK, was cleaning up the entire scope that I got (older meade 12.5 dob) and the primary cleaned up well. The secondary, when touched with some soap/water (per the typical instructions) developed some nasty black spots right toward the middle 8O

Please tell me this is normal and to remove those you...etc., etc., etc....!!!!!

There is nothing to that I can feel, but it gives me the sick feeling that the soap ate right thru the coating or something!?!? (typical dawn in water, not much)

Anyone have any thoughts? ugh...

(see pic)

I am planning out to make a DSC (Dave Ek USB Style), but need some encoders.

Any new sources or updates on these? Is US Digital the best/only choice? Are there alternatives others have used? If not, is buying direct from US Digital the best option (for example, I noticed you can get what "looks like" the same encoders from Sky Engineering for $50ea...which is almost $20 less than direct, which is about $69ea)

Thanks!
Matt

I wanted to start a new thread about this, as I could make my prior thread go on forever, but it is really finished.

I am considering converting my 12.5 dob to either a Truss or a Split tube design. My main goal is portability to be able to take it to the NC mountains, at my in-laws house, where seeing is incredible!

I was originally thinking Truss, but then I saw how easy to convert to a Split tube it was, and so I changed my mind.

Now Jon ( http://www.astromart.com/forums/viewpost.asp?forum_post_id=675797 ) has got me thinking Truss again, so that may be the "end goal" with a Split tube in the short term (since I can do that in a matter of hours) for using on trips.

I am a "builder" so the idea of the Truss sounds fun. Whats the most difficult part in this design, would you say? Would it be the just the precise cutting of the circles, or something else?

Thanks!