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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I got a f/7 8" dob in 2002. I have had an 8" dob for 2 years and I want to upgrade to a bigger scope that can track objects. I have enjoyed it quite a bit, but its limitations are starting to bug me.
I like to watch (visually observe) planets and I would like to image them, but with no tracking this is a lot of work and imaging is out of the question. I borrowed a 30 year (Celestron classic) scope with an equatorial mount and a drive motor and I knew the dob's days were numbered.
My local sky is class 5 on the Bortle scale. http://novac.com/light/def.htm I do most (95%)of my observing on my deck, but have access to a site with Botle scale of 4.5 with a 30 minute drive. I could, but don't, take a 2 hour drive to a class 3 (almost 2) area. http://cleardarksky.com/lp/ChrSprPkPAlp.html The 8" dob fits in the car, but barely. I drive a small 4-door sedan and I don't camp. If I am going to go to a darker site I need to be able to pack and go in under 15 minutes or I probably won't bother.
I would like to observe some dimmer and more challenging objects, see more detail in the Messier objects, and try my hand at webcam imaging.
I am considering buying a used 12" +/- Cass on a equatorial mount, specifically a Meade 12 LX 200 GPS UHTC. I would prefer to use my laptop to control the scope, so I don't need a scope with a built-in object database. I want to be able to steer the scope completely by the scope's keypad. The old scope I borrowed actually gave me hand cramps cranking the knobs when scanning an area to acquire the desired object.
The 8" Celestrron classic also had much less sharp images of globulars. I have been told this is not the case with all SCTs. Thoughts?
I have a set of 6 Plossl 1.25" EP from 6mm to 40mm, a 2X barlow, a telrad, webcam, and some color filters. My budget is $3,000 +/-. Suggestions, comments, questions?
Thanks,
Mark C
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BluewaterObserva
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/04
Posts: 4763
Loc: Zuni Mtns, NM
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I would assume that the used 12" Meade comes with the EQ wedge? otherwise that is an Alt/azi mounted scope.
The best deal out there right now, are older non GPS, non ultra coated LX200. I have seen them for $2000 with just a slew of great accessories. These are pure awesome.
You will probably want a focal reducer, and wedge as part of any deal you find.
There are any number of reasons, your globular clusters may have suffered a little in the SCT. I'll bank that with some TLC even that 8" SCT could equal the 8" newt on them globular clusters.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I forgot to ask about the weight. I've read a lot about 60lbs being too heavy to manage by yourself.
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BluewaterObserva
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/04
Posts: 4763
Loc: Zuni Mtns, NM
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Quote:
I forgot to ask about the weight. I've read a lot about 60lbs being too heavy to manage by yourself.
OMG!!! A 12" LX200 is a massive, massive, MASSIVE scope.
If you plan on hauling it around, you will need fortitude!!!
I hauled around a 16" EQ for like 5 years, I did it, and loved it, but I agree, not for the faint at heart at all.
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22732
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
OMG!!! A 12" LX200 is a massive, massive, MASSIVE scope.
If you plan on hauling it around, you will need fortitude!!!
Yes; not only is 60 pounds way low (it's more like 84 pounds), but it's really ungainly. The optical tube must be pointed UP when moving it, which makes for a very awkward lift since the handles are near the bottom.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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It is really beyond, OMG. The box for the 12" is probably the size of the entire interior of your car. I cannot fathom being able to pack-up my 10" with tripod and accessories in 15 min. The 10" goes in the motorhome and I'm thinking of getting a new 7" Mak to pack & go in the car.
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22732
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
It is really beyond, OMG. The box for the 12" is probably the size of the entire interior of your car. I cannot fathom being able to pack-up my 10" with tripod and accessories in 15 min. The 10" goes in the motorhome and I'm thinking of getting a new 7" Mak to pack & go in the car.
Bear in mind that the 12" isn't really THAT much larger physically. The box is much larger because the optical tube is stored pointing away from the base rather than toward it as in the 10" version. This is also what makes it more difficult to carry and to set up. The 7" Mak is the same way, so it will require much more room when packed to transport than you might expect. In both instruments (and also the 14" model) the optical tube is too long for the forks.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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gordon
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/15/03
Posts: 872
Loc: England
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I shunt about a 12 inch lx200 from my garage to my back garden.
It is just manageable on my own, however due to its awkward weight spread, it is very precarious and I have nearly dropped it a couple of times.
If you go for the 12 inch make sure that the tripod has one of these,www.telescopehouse.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerid=10222aHIHUfXBvOwoY42ubj0A0DPR45Y&action=lnk
it is the hardest part of the night attaching the scope into the mount in the dark.
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I paid Al Naglers Mortgage.
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Charles
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/12/03
Posts: 4111
Loc: Enterprise, AL
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I would recommend a C-11 over the Meade 12" especially if you plan on putting it on a EQ mount. The C-11 is lighter. I had a Meade 12" and it was just too much of a hassle setting up. If you have a Observatory then it is a different story, but you are looking at big bucks for a OTA and mount for the C-11 or Meade.
Charles
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I hope you're kidding? I'm waiting for mine to show up any day! 
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I really think that if photography and portability is your priority you better quit baying a 12" LX200.
The 10" LX is still heavy but a lot more maneuverable, but still to heavy to carry it easily around. Also realize that with the LX200 you will need a wedge or field de-rotator to be able to make long exposure pictures. Try thinking of an LX50 instead. It is cheaper and more effective for photography. For some extra money a goto is available for the LX50.
Bonzo
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22732
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
For some extra money a goto is available for the LX50.
Bonzo
The LX50 uses a tangent arm DEC drive, capable of only a few degrees of motion. This prevents motorized slewing except within a very small area (Meade referred to it as "microslewing"). The Magellan II computer/encoder system which was offered for the LX50 provided for maximum slew rates of 32 times sidereal, which would in itself make goto operation impractical.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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