Posts Made By: Chris Nisbet

Recently I started to aquire some older Meade eyepieces on A-Mart. I use a C11 and had two 2" eyepieces-TeleVue 20mm and an older Meade 32mm SWA Plossl (along with an assortment of 1.25" eyepieces as well). I was looking for some older, Meade Series 4000 2" eyepieces. I came across the Meade 8.8 UWA "smoothie" and a 14mm UWA (with eyecup) a while ago and recently, I purchased a Meade 2" 40mm SWA "smoothie" and the Meade 56mm Super Plossl (with eyecup).

I must say the 8.8, 14 and the 40 gives views that make you say "WOW". That 40mm SWA is one massive eyepiece (although the 14mm isn't small!). Looking back in the old ads, I did not realize that the 40mm was the most expensive of the Series 4000. I had heard about the 8.8 and the 14 but very little about the 40mm. I really like that big 40mm SWA.

Chris N
Cedar, MN

In Minnesota, we wait (what seems like) 8 months for warmer weather. Then, when it arrives, we have about 5 hours between twilight end and twilight start! Took this last night during those five hours. For a change, there was no moon and no clouds during that window of opportunity. My south horizon looks right over the city of Minneapolis and Arp 271 is at -6 Dec so I was starting to get into the light dome.

C11 at f11.4, 15x10 min subs,2x2,ST8XME and, of course, CCDAP so I can sleep.

Chris N
Cedar, MN

Well I always seem to learn something every time I service my C11. This time was the importance of the position of the secondary mirror. I recently installed the Starizona Fastar secondary holder on my C11. I was very careful about taking everything apart and noting the position of everything. Put everything back together and re-collimated under the stars. On axis images were fine visually. Onto the ST8XME for prime focus imaging. Something seemed to be off in the images. Stars were not uniform across the image plane. One edge of the image was always more distorted than the other side. Successfully used the collimation feature of CCD Inspector with the same result. Frustrating because in the past, that instrument always took good images. Mirror flop was my next thought so I redistributed the grease on the baffle tube (OTA is a carbon fiber from 2005 I believe and that had never been done). Same result (although less mirror flop!). Looking at the images, it seemed like the "sweet spot" was shifted to one side. Using CCD Inspector seemed to confirm that thought (see attachment).

On to the Hotech SCT Collimator. Not cheap for sure. After a learning curve, I finally got the hang of the Hotech collimator. Reading the instructions, it stressed the importance of secondary mirror centering. The collimator told me that the secondary mirror was slightly off center. I repositioned one cork shim and the collimator showed the secondary centered. Went through the remaining collimation process then took it out under the stars. Star test revealed collimation just needed a very minor tweak. Visually, stars snapped into focus. Out of focus stars distorted uniformly near the very edge of the field of view (unlike prior). Now time for the CCD camera. Finally got a chance last night briefly before fog rolled in. Same target as before. Results speak for themselves. Stars were uniform across the entire image. Using CCD Inspector confirmed that the C11 appears to be once again, well collimated (see second post).

What did I learn? Pay attention to secondary mirror centering. I prefer to do things myself and the only way I know to do that is to have the proper tools (or send it out). You can collimate under the stars BUT you can't center the secondary mirror that way. The Hotech wasn't cheap but it did work and worked well. Sure seems to have solved a frustrating issue with an otherwise fine instrument.

Well, after years of surfing ads, I have finally acquired the complete set of the first generation Meade Series 4000 eyepieces-the "Smoothies". I use them in a C11 and have found them to be excellent eyepieces. The build quality is superb. I know they are almost 30 years old but there is just something about them (there is probably a support group for people like me). Plus the challenge of finding and assembling a complete set was kinda fun. Just had to have patience.

Chris N
Cedar, MN

Doesn't look like many posting to this forum for awhile so I thought I would throw in a rather obscure object. I was browsing through a Ring Galaxy catalog by Jimi Lowery and came across this one. Most of those galaxies in this catalog are small and faint. But hey, gotta have a challenge to keep things interesting. Sky conditions in MN (just north of Minneapolis) are normally not so good in the winter but the skies were clear and warm for us(25 ABOVE zero in January!). So, off to UGC 4414 in Cancer. 12 exposures of 10 min each, 2x2 binning using a ST8-XME and AO-7 mated to a C11 operating at f/11.3 carried by a MI-250. Listed blue mag of 14.0, size 1.1'x1.0' so it is pretty small.

Chris N
Cedar, MN

A rare clear night in Minneapolis last night and no snow cover! So it was off to capture an Arp. Arp 335 was the target. Small target at only 2.7' x 2.1'. If you look close, there is a multitude of faint background galaxies in this image.

C11@f/11.3 (~3200mm) on a MI-250, ST8-XME, AO8. 12 x 10 min subs. CCDAP5 did all the driving.

Kinda fun capturing these unusually shaped, small galaxies.

Chris N
Cedar, MN

Took this last night since the next week looks like winter is unfortunately trying to return. This a relatively small galaxy about 70M LY distant. What struck me is the detail visible within the galaxy even though it is pretty small. Musta had somewhat decent seeing conditions for a change.

Taken with a C11 riding on a MI-250 at f/11.3 (3220mm focal length), AO-8, ST-8XME. CCDAP5 did the driving. 12x10 min subs.

Chris N
Cedar, MN

In response to Roland's comment about "is anybody imaging?" Well I am ! Or at least trying. I am in a north suburb of Minneapolis MN and it is definitely cold and cloudy around here as is typical for November/December in MN. But last night was finally clear. So it was time for the C11 to see some activity. Target was Arp 200. A small 12.5 magnitude galaxy in Aries (2.5' x .9').

C11 at f/11.4 (`3200mm), 12 x 10 min subs, ST-8XME

Chris N
Cedar, MN

I'll contribute my latest pic. Arp 336 which has the rare characteristic of being a "polar ring" galaxy. Taken with a C11 operating at f/11.4 (~3220mm) 12 x 10 min subs with a ST8-XME. Winter just will not let go this year in MN. Couple of rare, clear, moonless nights and the temp was a balmy 20 degrees ABOVE zero!

Arp's are fun to capture as they usually have some interesting shapes.

Chris N
Cedar, MN

I'll contribute my latest pic. Arp 336 which has the rare characteristic of being a "polar ring" galaxy.

Taken with a C11 operating at f/11.4 (~3220mm) 12 x 10 min subs with a ST8-XME. A MI-250 fights the Earth's rotation. CCDAP5 let's me sleep.

Winter just will not let go this year in MN. Couple of rare, clear, moonless nights recently and the temp was a balmy 20 degrees ABOVE zero so it was time to get everything going again!

Arp's are fun to capture as they usually have some interesting shapes. A lot are small and challenging but that is part of the fun as well.

Chris N
Cedar, MN