Posts Made By: Paulo Mesquita

I need the opinion of those who know.I also hope that someone will be able to help me decide and enlighten about which ser to buy. Being 49 and starting seriously with astronomy at this age has its problems, one of them being afraid of making the wrong choice.

I'm planning on buying a set of 2 or 3 DSO parafocal eyepieces. I don't want to buy junk but because of some financial difficulties I can only buy between the brackets of €100 and €200 in Portugal. I'm portuguese. If the price goes just a little higher it's ok, but i'd rather it not. I'll buy one at a time and it is very important to me that their field of view is 68º or higher.

I also have to say that I'm planning on changing ny 8" newtonian for a 10" or for the new Mak-Newt from Skywatcher (if I have the €€€). I will always keep to the relatively medium/high apertures (8"/10" - maybe one day 12"). I can't find a 10" Schmidt- Newt OTA anywhere. All of them come with a Meade mount. I have a EQ6 Goto from Skywatcher and I first tried to get a 12" OTA with short focal length (1200mm) but the only one on the market is from the excellent Brittish Orion Optics - 12"/1200mm/f4 - but it is a bit too pricey and I heard that they take a long time to deliver. It as also a problem to ship to Portugal. (very expensive and if there is some problem you have to ship back or waito months for the repair) a pity.

I also want to keep a fast focal ratio so that later on I can do some astrophotography with a modified Canon 40D... much later on...

These are the 2" eyepieces that I've been looking at and I'm full of doubts. So that's why I'm asking the specialists opinions (I believe they're all parafocal but I'm not sure):

-Skywatcher PanaView 2" - (26mm + 32mm + 38mm)

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=Skywatcher_PanaView

-Skywatcher Aero ED SWA 2" - (30mm + 35mm + 40mm)

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=sw_aero_eyepiece

-William Optics SWAN Rich-Field - (25mm + 33mm + 40mm)

http://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/Catalogue/William_Optics_SWAN_Eyepieces.html

-Orion Q70 2" Super-Wide Angle - (26mm + 32mm + 38mm)

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=eyepieces/~pcategory=accessories/~product_id=E0072

-Meade QX Wide Angle Série 4000 - (26mm + 30mm + 36mm)

http://www.opticsplanet.net/meade-qx-epcs.html

-Baader Hyperion - (31mm + 36mm)

http://www.telescope-service.com/baader/eyepieces/eyepieces.html#hyp2z

I Know that with f4 or f6 my telescope will have coma with these eyepieces, and especially with a newt. That's why a bit further down I mention the intention of buying a Baader MPCC so that I can correct the coma on my newt. I also know that with 36mm/40mm eyepieces my 8" newt might not grab the whole field. But since I'm planning on changing to a 10"...maybe it's ok.

This is my gear:
- Newtonian OTA from Skywatcher - 8"/1000mm/F5
- Skywatcher EQ6 Pro Goto mount
- Baader Hyperion eyepiece - 1.25" - 8mm
- Baader Hyperion eyepiece - 1.25" - 13mm
- Baader 14mm ring (changes each Hyperion into 3)
- Baader 28mm ring (changes each Hyperion into 3)

Note 1: these rings by themselves or together change my 2 Hyperion eyepieces into:
-8mm (6mm - 5mm - 4.3mm)
-13mm (10.8mm - 9.2mm - 8.1mm - this last one is redundant with my 8mm)

Note 2: With these 2 Hyperion, if I unatatch the 1.25" part and just put the 2" section into the focuser 2" I also get (with more coma):
-8mm (21.8mm)
-13mm (22.9mm)

I'm still planning on buying:
- MPCC from Baader - coma corrector for visual and astrophotography
- Baader Hyperion 21mm eyepiece (I don't know if the MPCC corrects coma on the 2" section by itself on the 8 mm and 13mm eyepieces. If it did I'd have approximately 22mm e 23mm and wouldn't need the 21mm.)
The only remaining advantage I see with the 21mm is that with the 14mm and 28mm rings I'd also have 17.6mm/15.5mm and 14mm.

I sincerely hope tha someone can help me with information and feedback on their own
experiences. And I anticipatedly thank everyone for their help. I just need to know which of these 6 sets are best for DSO and why.

Thank you for your patience and sorry for any mistake with my english.

Best regards

Paulo Mesquita

After very sound advice on choosing a 2" EP for DSO I've narrowed my choice to the Televue Panoptic 2" 27mm with a 68ºFOV and the William Optics UWAN 2" 28mm with a 82ºFOV. I chose this magnification because it's at the limit of my exit pupil - between 5.5 and 5.9 -(49 years old). THis value is for a 1200mm 10" Newtonian that I'm buying.
I like the WO UWAN FOV better but I'm not sure that its quality matches the Panoptic's.

So, asking the pros... which is best?

Thanks for your help... once again

Cheers

Paulo Mesquita

I've just bought a Einhell Power Station for my EQ6 Pro's field observations. This power station has a 12V 10A output. It is quite similar to the Celestron, Oirion and Skywatcher powerstations. While reading the instruction manual I found a troubling security warning. I checked with store and online manuals of the powerstations form other brands and in most of them the warning was there:

It was something like:
"Caution: when this unit is charging the acid/lead battery releases hydrogen gases that are explosive and poisonous. When operating it releases even more gases."

Now, although the specs say the battery is completely sealed I'm not sure about this and I'm afraid to charge it inside my home. And although I could charge it outside on my balcony, the instructions say that it shoud not be in contact with moisture and humidity.

I believe these powerstations have serious safety issues that are not being clearly transmitted to the public. And I know that many astronomer use, like me, these powerstations.

Anyone has insights on this?

Cheers

I have a fast Newtonian on a EQ6 Pro and plan to do, later on, astrophotography with a DSLR, the Canon 40D. In the meantime, and after very good advice from more experienced astronomers at this forum, I've decided not to go with the WO UWAN 28mm EP or the TV Panoptic 27mm EP, but with the 26mm TV Nagler.

Since I also have 2 Baader Hyperions (8mm and 13mm) which later on I might replace by a couple of Naglers (depends on the money I have), I decided to get a Coma corrector. Although I Know tha Paracorr is King, I've been hearing so many good things about the Baader MPCC that I'm tempted to get one instead of the ParaCorr. I

n Portugal the Paracorr costs €350 and the MPCC €170... it's half the price.
So once again, and because I value very much the experience and opinion of my fellow astronomers, I would like to hear your insights on these 2 accessories.

Thanks and cheers,

Paulo

Which Televue EP set to buy?

I'm changing my whole setup (sold everything) and I've ordered an Orion SkyQuest XX12 IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian. (I'm a big Dob fan).

Now, I want o to invest on quality EP's for longtime use. This is where I need the experts opinion once again. I have my mind set on Televue

with a combination between 1 Nagler and 2 or 3 Ethos. I do prefer not to buy a Powermate or any kind of Barlow, for I believe that there is

some image/contrast loss of quality with them. I am going to buy further on, a Paracorr Or a Baader MPCC. Also UHC and Oxigen III filters.

The following magnifications are calculated for my future Orion Dob - 12"/1500mm.

These are my options:



OPTION 1 (my favorite):

26mm 2" Nagler T5 82º - (Mag - 57.7x) - (TFOVº - 1.3º) - (Exit Pupil - 5.3)
17mm 2" Ethos 100º - (Mag - 88.2x) - (TFOVº - 1.1º) - (Exit Pupil - 3.5)
8mm 1.25/2" Ethos 100º- (Mag -187.5x) - (TFOVº - 0.53º)- (Exit Pupil - 1.6)

Problem: Do I have enough magnification for planetary visualization with the 8mm or should I have more with a 6mm (250x), but risking

unclear view because of turbulence?



OPTION 2 (more expensive):

26mm 2" Nagler T5 82º - (Mag - 57.7x) - (TFOVº - 1.3º) - (Exit Pupil - 5.3)
17mm 2" Ethos 100º - (Mag - 88.2x) - (TFOVº - 1.1º) - (Exit Pupil - 3.5)
10mm 1.25/2" Ethos 100º-(Mag -150.0x) - (TFOVº - 0.68º)- (Exit Pupil - 2.0)
6mm 1.25/2" Ethos 100º- (Mag -250.0x) - (TFOVº - 0.40º)- (Exit Pupil - 1.2)

Problem 1: Price
Problem 2: With a 6mm (250x), If there is unclear view for planetary visualization because of turbulence will I use it frequently or will it

just sit there?



OPTION 3:

31mm 2" Nagler T5 82º - (Mag - 48.4x) - (TFOVº - 1.6º) - (Exit Pupil - 6.3)
17mm 2" Ethos 100º - (Mag - 88.2x) - (TFOVº - 1.1º) - (Exit Pupil - 3.5)
8mm 1.25/2" Ethos 100º- (Mag -187.5x) - (TFOVº - 0.53º)- (Exit Pupil - 1.6)

(Same problem as Option 1)



OPTION 4 (more expensive):

31mm 2" Nagler T5 82º - (Mag - 48.4x) - (TFOVº - 1.6º) - (Exit Pupil - 6.3)
17mm 2" Ethos 100º - (Mag - 88.2x) - (TFOVº - 1.1º) - (Exit Pupil - 3.5)
10mm 1.25/2" Ethos 100º-(Mag -150.0x) - (TFOVº - 0.68º)- (Exit Pupil - 2.0)
6mm 1.25/2" Ethos 100º- (Mag -250.0x) - (TFOVº - 0.40º)- (Exit Pupil - 1.2)

(Same problems as Option 2)

Thanks in advance for all your experienced help and advice. I've learned a lot with my fellow astronomers on this forum

Cheers

One simple question that doesn't have an answer on the Televue site:

On a 6,8,10,13mm 1.25"/2" Ethos EP... can I use a 2" UHC or OxigenIII filter? Or do I have to use a 1.25" filter?

Thanks and cheers

Paulo Mesquita

This might e a stupid question but I can't find any info on this and since I'm a newbie...

f I use a 2" x2 Powermate, for example on a 17mm Ethos, will I have the same AFOV (100º)? or will the AFOV be narrower? My doubt is because if there is a 8mm Ethos with 100º of AFOV then one could assume that a 8,5mm "virtual"EP generated from a 17mm Ethos + a 2x Powermate would also give a 100º AFOV.

Am I wrong about this?

Cheers

I've had a great help from the pro's on this forum in deciding, for my 12" truss Dob, which EP set to buy which I already started ordering (N31mm, E17mm, E10mm and 2" x2 Powermate - later on the ParaCorr and maybe the E13mm and another Future Ethos in the 22mm/24mm range)

Now the filters. I'm going to "skirt" all my Ethos with a "2 tube so that I only use 2" filters. I read an extraordinary review on "the other forum" about filters for DSO.
What clearly comes out is that the UHC filters are best for about 60% on various nebulas. The OxigenIII are a close runner up.
The OxigenIII are best on the other 40%. The UHC are a close runner up.
But in the meantime I'm no sure what to to buy for dim galaxies.

So here are my 4 questions for the Pro's:

1 - Is it useful to buy both OxigenIII and UHC filters or is it a waste of money and I should just buy one? If so which one?
2 - Which other filter shoud I buy for dim galaxies? A broadband filter or another?
3 - What is the Difference between UHC, UHC-e and UHC-s and why are their prices so different? Which UHC between these different types is best?
4 - Why do the Baader filters have such a better price than Astronomik and Lumicon?

Thanks in advance for your precious help. I know your insights will help me save a lot of time and money. (the latter being extremely important since I'm currently unemployed)

cheers

As many know I'm in a process o buying a TV set that includes the 8mm Ethos. My idea is to use all 4 EP's with the 2" focuser (2 are native2" - N31 + N20 - and2 are both - E13mm + E8mm). I'm also planning on buying the ParaCorr.

Now on the Paracorr chart for setting marks (http://www.televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=56) the 8mm Ethos is on Mark 4 which is a column for 1.25" EP's. Does this mean I cannot set the E8mm with the 2" skirt on the ParaCorr? If so, is there any technique around this limitation?

Any info on this? Please.

I recently bought from a friend, a SW Mak127 with an EQ3 mount and Vixen type dovetail. Since I wanted a lighter mount, I sold the EQ3 and bought the SW AZ3 alt/azimuth mount for the Mak127. But I encountered a problem:

The Vixen type of dovetail does not match the AZ3 mount head. Ther friend who sold me the mount has the same Mak127 on the same AZ3. But he has the scope attached to the AZ3 mount with a different kind of Dovetail or Bracket. He lent it to me and I tried it on and it works. Well after I drilled 2 holes wider on the mount head to match the 2 holes on this rare dovetail/bracket. My friend of course needs this dovetail/bracket back otherwise he can't use his scope and he doesn't remember where he got it. He said it might be an OTA Bracket. So I'm posting some pictures of the dovetail/bracket, the Mak125 and the AZ3 mount... and I'm asking for help. Anyone knows what model this is and where to buy it?

Thanks.