Astromart

October 30, 2011 01:14 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Stephan's Quintet

Finally saw it last night.

Lake Sonoma, CA using a C14. Looked like a fuzzy clump.

Seeing this is a catalyst for some serious aperture fever !

December 12, 2011 07:58 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

C-14 Eyepieces, Etc.

Posted By David Simons

charles geiger said:

I have an old Orange Tube I bought new 1977....

Charles,

I too have one of the older orange tube C14's, very sharp optics. I can only comment on the Nagler 31 which is one of my favorite ep's with this scope. I do a lot of manual sweeping and star hopping, and I do not recall any obvious visual distortions with this setup. Others may be more clinical.

I am also thinking about the 20 ES 100 and hope others will comment.

May 28, 2012 11:15 PM Forum: Refractors

8" F/6 Refractor

Posted By David Simons

An 8" f6 achromat is a somewhat unique scope. Dark skies and large fields of view are it's main claim to fame.

I built mine in a bit of a hurry more as a test of the lens. However it has worked so well, that I have never got around to doing a proper flocking and baffling job which I am sure would increase contrast.

Open clusters and large extended objects that most scopes just "see through" are it's main targets. Subtle low-contrast details seem to show better in these type of specialty scope.

Dark nebula around M11 and associated Scutum Star clouds, scanning the whole Sagittarius region at a dark sky location is a real treat. Galaxy hopping in Virgo is also great fun, when you can see groups of galaxies at a time.

I would not recommend this as anyone's first scope, and they are pretty expensive to buy new. But for an ATM like me, it has been a worthwhile journey.

If small galaxies and little globular clusters are your main targets, then it sounds like you will need more aperture and magnification than the 8" achromat can provide.

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James Broussard said:

Hi Everybody, Iv'e read that a 8" F6 refractor on DSO and planets is mediocre. If someone here could confirm this {or not} I would
really appreciate it. As I'm desprate for a large refractor and
a 8" F/9 would not work on my CGEM. My main interest are GC and GX. How would the Moon,Sun and Jupiter fair. Thanks for your help.

De Lorme
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June 17, 2012 09:19 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Po' Boy C11 Aluminum Dew Shield

Posted By David Simons

Nice Paint Job !

June 17, 2012 09:25 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

C11 vs 12" Dob

Posted By David Simons

Bob,

Was at a star party last night and a lady had one of the Celestron Goto's, not sure which variant.

Pin sharp optics. Very quit goto's and near silent tracking.

She was with a group, and they would all take turns looking through the scope at fairly high powers. This would have been hard without tracking, as normally there would be a fair amount of adjustment to re-center the view in a dob, (as you know)

Something to be said for tracking.

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Stephan's Quintet

C-14 Eyepieces, Etc.

8" F/6 Refractor

Po' Boy C11 Aluminum Dew Shield

C11 vs 12" Dob

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