Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Just placed the order for my ETX-80 AT BB (Backpack Edition.) It's slated to arrive by FedEx this Friday. Good thing I just picked up a big box O' AA cells a couple weeks ago! 
I was running some numbers through my spreadsheets to give me some data with my EP's on the new scope, and between the wide fields and fast f/ratio, this should fill my sweet-tooth for a good old-fashioned pan-n-scan scope that I can use to sweep through the skies looking for what we technical types call "cool stuff!"  This and the ultra-portability of the 80 means you'll know where to find me on semi-clear nights this summer.
Now Quads has me looking seriously at a universal camera mount to put on the dad-gummed thing! See what you did?! 
Now, what could possibly go wrong between now and the weekend?
  
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
 Updated: 09/16/2009
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Quads
sage
Reged: 09/07/08
Posts: 296
Loc: Central Sands, Wisconsin
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Congratulations! You will enjoy it!
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I'm a "just for fun" photographer that also takes nighttime sky pictures.
Meade ETX-80AT-TC-BB
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Affordable Astrophotography
Powered by Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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I just had something occur to me, and I went back and checked the specs and photos of the ETX-80 just to be sure. I'm surprised this fact didn't jump up and bite my nose off, it seems so obvious now.
The scope doesn't appear to have any sort of finder device! No finder scope, no dot finder, not even a crosshair at the end of the OTA! So I guess my question is two-fold; what do you do to sight-in the scope, and is it possible to add a small finder or Telrad or what-have-you without drilling or getting epoxy slopped all over the tube?
I guess this is a heck of a time to realize something so basic, but I was so busy concentrating on all the "minutia" of the scope that something as elementary as a finder didn't even occur to me until tonight. 
So what's your solution?
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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Quads
sage
Reged: 09/07/08
Posts: 296
Loc: Central Sands, Wisconsin
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Once leveled and aligned properly, it always finds the target by itself. I have never had the need for a finder. Besides, many nights my camera piggybacks on the top where the finder would go. The only time I have ever had to sight-in on something was occasionally when aligning on an alignment star. Then I just kneel down and sight along the top of the tube, using the eyepiece as a cross-hair of sorts.
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I'm a "just for fun" photographer that also takes nighttime sky pictures.
Meade ETX-80AT-TC-BB
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Affordable Astrophotography
Powered by Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Perhaps with the wide FOV, they figured folks wouldn't need it as much. I think with the supplied SP26mm EP, the magnification is only roughly 15x. Even if one hand-slewed the scope, you could probably still find what you're looking for.
Still, there's the "Linus factor"; even on my el cheapo home brew scopes in days gone by, I had some form of rudimentary finder on them. Might have to see if I can't get my hands on a small red-dot style finder I can stick to the OTA with double-sided tape.
Just got the e-mail; scope's on its way!   
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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caheaton
super member
Reged: 05/26/09
Posts: 155
Loc: SW Ohio
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I toyed with the idea of adding a BB gun red dot finder to mine, (and still might at some point), but for now I just sight along the tube. The 26mm covers roughly 3 degrees, so it's pretty easy to find something just by sighting.
Craig
(of course, the goto is dead on if you have a specific object in mind...I just sight along the tube when I want to check out a specific area of the sky)
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Craig
Ancient Tasco 4.5" (from back when Tasco's were good)
Meade ETX-80
Orion XT10i
Meade Super Plossls 6.4, 9.7, 15 & 26mm
Zhumell Z Planetary 3mm
Agena Ultra Wide 30mm
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6751
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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The ETX-60BB is similar; there's no finder. However, the field of view is so large it really doesn't need one, particularly once the mount is aligned. Speaking of pan'n scan; one thing I like to do with my Meade scopes (including my little ETX-60) is to use the Constellation function in the Autostar. This will take you around to each of the brightest stars in a constellation. While you're at each stop you can start a spiral search which will sweep around the star in an ever widening search box. Originally designed to help locate object than end up just outside of the field of view following a long slew, this is a great way to sweep an area of the sky in an orderly manner.
Have fun with the new scope!
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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According to FedEx, my new "baby" just landed in town at 21:00 tonight! So it will definitely be here tomorrow! Yay!
Gotta charge up the batteries to the camera so I can snap off some shots as I'm unpacking it. Stay tuned! 
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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astrowolf67
member
Reged: 12/15/07
Posts: 94
Loc: Western Kentucky
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A quick word of caution before you unpack it. The tube is very nose heavy when it comes to balance. I can't remember if mine was shipped with the altitude clamp tightened or not, but, I do remember the scare I got the first time the objective end of the scope tried to nose dive.
Congrats on the purchase, I think you'll enjoy it!
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David
"Seek the Spirit of the Wolf, for He holds the Secret of Life."
Edmund Astroscan/Meade DS 2000 tripod
Meade ETX 60
Tasco 60mm EQ
Meade 114 NT/LXD75
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Thanks for the tip, David! Many refractors tend to be a bit biased toward the glass end, so I'll be mindful of the clutch.
09:10 ET: As I was writing this, I had a knock on the door! It's heeeeere!
w00t!
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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The scope arrived all safe and sound this morning. I popped open the shipping box and there she was:
All fresh and full of promise! I carefully removed the box and opened the lid.
They do know how to pack things, I'll hand that to them! The scope was amazingly light compared to my 125. I still don't know why they hire gorillas to screw the lens caps on, but after giving an authoritative twist it came off with no problem. The glass is pristine, and they did a great job baffling the tube (see next pic.)
I slowly got everything unpacked and laid out. To my surprise and delight, they included a #933 Image Erecting Prism in the box! It wasn't listed as being included (indeed, from the site I ordered from, they made it clear that it was an OPTIONAL accessory!) Don't know how often I'll use it, but it saved me $50 bucks, so it's all good!
I have yet to put the batteries in and test the motors, but so far everything is looking very good! Once the sun hits the west side of my building, I'll take it out on the balcony and see how she sees.
So far, very happy! Now if those dang clouds will just hold off tonight so I can try it out...
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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Quads
sage
Reged: 09/07/08
Posts: 296
Loc: Central Sands, Wisconsin
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Great! I'm glad you got it and in good shape (the first one I got came with a broken part and had another person's address label under mine).
Yep, mine came with the #933 Image Erecting Prism too. I have not used it so far.
About the lens cap, it gets tighter all by itself for some reason! I always put it on somewhat loosely, and then when I go to take it off again another day, it's tight. Same goes for the dew shield. I screw it on loosely at the beginning of the evening and by the time I'm ready to pack up and walk home, it's tightened itself up. Change in temperature, maybe?
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I'm a "just for fun" photographer that also takes nighttime sky pictures.
Meade ETX-80AT-TC-BB
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Affordable Astrophotography
Powered by Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6751
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Awww, that's purdy! I think it's about the same size as my ETX-60BB, just larger lens in the same size OTA. If I can find one at the right price I'll probably pick one up. I'm really curious to see how the ETX-80 compares side-by-side with my DSX-90. One quick comment; to get the scope to fit in the backpack you may have to rack the focusser in a bit.
Have fun!
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Yeah, I was told there wasn't a whole lot of wiggle room in the backpack. I'm seriously toying with the idea of getting a hard case for the scope and using the pack as an accessory bag. If I can find a case on the cheap, I might just do that. Otherwise I might have to get creative with an old briefcase and some craft foam.
I can't get over how much lighter in weight this is than the 125! I've caught myself a couple of times today going to move it and using way more effort than was needed! That in no way implies it's cheap or insubstantial--far from it! But my rough guess is the 80 with the tripod is somewhere in the neighborhood of 1/3 the weight of the 125! That's pretty significant!
Starting to get dark here locally, and the clouds have been threatening to roll in all afternoon. Not sure I'm going to be able to see much at all besides the moon for first light, unless I get a few sucker holes to peek through. The astronomer's curse remains in full vigor!
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Sure enough, we had high clouds last night until about 01:30 this morning. Things cleared up sufficiently that I took the 80 out and focused on the Moon (the obvious, if not logical, choice, considering its prominence in the sky right now.) Popping the 26mm SP that came with the scope, I had a nice wide view and sharp-as-a-tack focus.
Because of the hour and my eyes rapidly growing heavier, I didn't linger for all the amenities like testing alignment or even trying a different EP. I did, however, slip down a bit and focused on Jupiter. Even at 15x, it resolved cleanly into a disc and 3 out of the 4 moons as pinpoints around it. (NOTE: I just doubled-checked on Stellarium, and the reason I only saw 3 was because Io was transiting at 01:30 ET. Makes sense then, huh?  )
I didn't notice any fringing or false color on the moon at all (was half expecting it, and pleasantly surprised at its absence.) It may be another story at higher mags, but I was overall very pleased with the ETX-80's performance, if only for the ten or so minutes I actually observed. Not a "stellar" first light in terms of targets, but for my first two objects, I'm not complaining at all!
Tonight is supposed to be clear, so maybe I'll have some better luck tonight.
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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I finally tossed 6 AA cells into the 80 and tested the motors out. They both work fine, although as others have noted, it seemed a bit more "wheezy" than the 125 on maximum slew. Nevertheless, they seemed to function just great. I'll take the scope out later and get a preliminary train/calibrate done on them.
I've got a whole bunch of various AC adapters here, including any number of 9 volts. However, most have a ring/tip or ring/post connector. I need to adapt one to a standard 9v cell +/- post connector. Does anyone happen to know the rated amperage on the one that Meade makes? I just can't see dropping another $40 on an adapter I probably already have here.
EDIT: Did some snooping...apparently the Meade #546 AC adapter is rated at 12VDC @ 1000mA. According to a couple of sites, the ETX-80 is at ease with a continuous power supply ranging from 9 to 12 volts DC. So long as I get the polarity correct (tee-hee), I should be safe.
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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astrowolf67
member
Reged: 12/15/07
Posts: 94
Loc: Western Kentucky
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Yes! Correct polarity! I've never connected one wrong my self, but, have read many horror stories of people building adapters with the wrong polarity. And, as soon as the power switch is flipped, their scope's electronics are fried.
I run both my 80, and 60 straight off of a 12V jump start battery. My cable has a 12V lighter plug on one end, and a 9V plug on the other. I've never had any issues, and, at 12V, they are still loud, but, the slewing is more "confident" sounding.
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David
"Seek the Spirit of the Wolf, for He holds the Secret of Life."
Edmund Astroscan/Meade DS 2000 tripod
Meade ETX 60
Tasco 60mm EQ
Meade 114 NT/LXD75
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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One of the first things I did last year when I got the 125 was ordered an AC adapter off ebay. What's nice about the one I picked is that the adapter itself terminates in a cigarette lighter jack (the female half of the equation.) Then the cord, a completely separate unit, terminates on one end with the lighter plug (the male) and the 12v ring/tip connector used on the 125.
So here's what I'm thinking...so long as the 80 will play nice with 12v, I could kludge up a stand-alone cord that has the lighter plug on one end and the 9v cell plug on the other, and then I can use the actual adapter for both the 80 and the 125 (obviously not at the same time.) If/when I ever pick up a "Power Tank" or similar field PS, the cord can just be plugged directly into the lighter jack on the unit instead.
This has promise!
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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TimD
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/16/05
Posts: 866
Loc: CA USA
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Wow, never saw the baffles in the 80mm etx before. Impressive!
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Takahashi TSC 225
WO Megrez 102
Meade ETX 90, ETX 125
Meade LX90
Classic Orange tube C14, C90, C5+
Etc,Etc,Etc!!
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JT5
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 576
Loc: Ozarks of Missouri
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Surprised you don't have the Power Tank already. The first accessory I bought for my ETX 125PE. They are great. I don't like to ever use batteries when I have an option. They can leak and do terminal cancer on your scopes.
John
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My wife shares my love of the night skies and tolerates all of my other hobbies.
Televue Pronto w/Starbeam pointer and Televue tripod
Meade 2045D, ETX-125PE, 12" Lightbridge
Celestron: 7Amp PowerTank, 15X70mm binoculars
Meade, Swan and Televue Lenses (33, 26, 20, 15 & 9mm), Televue Barlow
Catsperch Observing Chair
Member: Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Quote:
Wow, never saw the baffles in the 80mm etx before. Impressive!
For a scope in this price range, I was very impressed with fit and finish. I don't know if I just "lucked out" or if the baffles actually help, but I don't suffer from a fraction of the chromatic aberration that many folks have complained about with achros. Even on traditionally fussy targets, the fringing and ghosting is virtually not there, especially at lower mags. I couldn't be happier with my little "80!"
Quote:
Surprised you don't have the Power Tank already. The first accessory I bought for my ETX 125PE. They are great. I don't like to ever use batteries when I have an option. They can leak and do terminal cancer on your scopes.
The vast majority of my observing is done off my light-polluted balcony, well within reach of the AC adapter I was quick to purchase. The PowerTank is on my "wish list" some day, but it hasn't been a priority up to now. I'll probably re-think that position the next time the power goes off here.
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
Updated: 09/16/2009
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