Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums
Privacy Policy |
Please read our Terms
of Service | Signup and
Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User
Jack Knetzger
member
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 34
Loc: Plano, TX
|
|
I finally got through to Celestron and they confirmed they could not just sell me a lens cell, would have to replace the OTA for $499. So I put that off.
The TMB130ss arrived yesterday. First thing you notice is that it's way shorter than the yard cannon - the C6 is 33"/43" (tube from lens/tube to end of diagonal with moonlite focuser) whereas the TMB130 is 19"/27". Weighs about 1-2 lbs more than the C6/moonlite, about .7 more in the OTA and 1 in the more deluxe rings. Mounted tight and rock solid on the CG-5, no problems there. Pointed to zenith, eyepiece is several inches higher off ground due to shorter tube. Focuser and all metalwork a thing of beauty. However, despite all clear forecast, sky darkened as soon as Fed Ex truck arrived and was cloudy all night - but it's crystal clear in Dallas next 4 days, so we'll see how it does on Saturn, Jupiter, and the full moon. I've been out with the C6 about 60 times since November and only 5-6 times did I see a very strong suggestion of Cassini division at the anse, so we'll see how the TMB does with a shrinking but more tilted Saturn. Can't wait for jupiter, will have to get up at 5.
Only one problem with the TMB - the Astro-tech reticule finder base comes with mounting screws that are too big for the holes in the TMB, and the TMB screws don't sit flush in the AT's base - does anyone know where to get a TMB finder mounting base for this, or do I look for screws at the hardware store?
--------------------
TMB130SS 5.1" f/7 apo
C6-R 6" f/8
ASGT Goto+GPS
Coulter Odyssey I 13.1" f/4.5
Coronado PST
Seibert BN 21mm Binoviewers, TV Nagler EPs
9 guitars, 4 amps, 2 beagles
|
Jack Knetzger
member
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 34
Loc: Plano, TX
|
|
and...
--------------------
TMB130SS 5.1" f/7 apo
C6-R 6" f/8
ASGT Goto+GPS
Coulter Odyssey I 13.1" f/4.5
Coronado PST
Seibert BN 21mm Binoviewers, TV Nagler EPs
9 guitars, 4 amps, 2 beagles
|
Jack Knetzger
member
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 34
Loc: Plano, TX
|
|
also...
--------------------
TMB130SS 5.1" f/7 apo
C6-R 6" f/8
ASGT Goto+GPS
Coulter Odyssey I 13.1" f/4.5
Coronado PST
Seibert BN 21mm Binoviewers, TV Nagler EPs
9 guitars, 4 amps, 2 beagles
|
Time on my hands
sage
Reged: 07/07/06
Posts: 255
Loc: Central Oregon
|
|
Congratulations Jack, that is one awesome telescope! You can always use the C6R for public outreach programs. I plan to do that with mine and use it for solar as I have the solar filter for it already. My weather has been cloudy for the past couple of days so the fact that my scope has been sitting at the local Fed Ex center since about 3 AM on Saturday became irrelevant. It should arrive tomorrow but the forecast is for clouds and rain through the 27th. To find the bright spot I remind myself that the local farmers could use the rain.
May your first light be spectacular! 
Edited by Time on my hands (05/19/08 03:12 AM)
|
Jack Knetzger
member
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 34
Loc: Plano, TX
|
|
Yes, my thought exactly, use the C6R for public parties (esp with kids) - don't want em messing with the TMB
Ok, had first light last night. My initial impressions:
Worked great on ASGT CG-5 mount, no balance issues, 3 sec vibration die down without pads. I schlepped the whole thing carefully to 3 different spots in the yard, kind of a big grab and go but doable and easier than C6-R. I might have to think about putting the rings closer on the dovetail to make room for the dew shield to slide down to speed up cool down. They say 1-2 hours for the triplet, kinda longer than the C6-R, so setup early and let it adjust.
Neighbors roof/trees a couple hundred yards away perfect, like a Canon telephoto lens. No CA, razor sharp.
Went straight for Saturn at Zenith but view was not spectacular - only strong suggestion of Cassini at anse. No C ring. The smaller image scale vs the C6 of course means shorter eyepieces for same mags. Will keep trying, but Saturn is down to 18 now. However, unlike C6, no glare around planet, black background, and saw a triangle of 3 tiny moons right next to planet never saw in C6-R. Also, no image breakdown up to Nagler 3.5 (260x) unlike C6-R which for me starts getting muddy at 7mm Nagler (170x).
Swung over to full moon. No glare. No CA. Giant white sphere in black space. Black shadows on craters at edge. 40mm plossl view about 2x full moon width. Tons of small detail at all mags up to 260x. Binoviewers also nice. Switched to ND filter to keep form going blind. Very fine detail in rays, face-on crater rims.
Stars seemed pinpoint, color free (no juicy purples like the C6-R, aw that was cool!), and background very black despite washed out full moon light polluted sky. Didn't waste time waiting for M13 to some up. Also no wide-field objects to enjoy. 2 weeks...
It seemed like it was losing sharpness/swimming a bit at points, maybe needed more cool down time. Also my eyes were messed up from allergies.
Lastly looked at tiny Mars at 200-260x (right over the roof of my garage). A bit swimmy again at times, but glimpses of polar cap and green feature even at small size.
The rotating focuser lock ring of the Feathertouch takes some getting used to - the Moonlite on the C6-R is much easier/smoother to use, however the FT feels abit more secure clamped.
Hoping to do Jupiter one morning this week...
--------------------
TMB130SS 5.1" f/7 apo
C6-R 6" f/8
ASGT Goto+GPS
Coulter Odyssey I 13.1" f/4.5
Coronado PST
Seibert BN 21mm Binoviewers, TV Nagler EPs
9 guitars, 4 amps, 2 beagles
|
Jack Knetzger
member
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 34
Loc: Plano, TX
|
|
these were the Saturn moons I could see easily, pinpoint and bright
--------------------
TMB130SS 5.1" f/7 apo
C6-R 6" f/8
ASGT Goto+GPS
Coulter Odyssey I 13.1" f/4.5
Coronado PST
Seibert BN 21mm Binoviewers, TV Nagler EPs
9 guitars, 4 amps, 2 beagles
|
Jack Knetzger
member
Reged: 12/04/07
Posts: 34
Loc: Plano, TX
|
|
OK, let's close this out.
2 nights of windy bad skies had me buyer-remorse rereading all the TMB vs TAK vs TEC threads here and astromart - not good when the wife wants to know how the dream scope is doing...
and on the 3rd day, there was good seeing
great fun in Plano last night. Winds stopped, seeing improved. For about 2 minutes before some whispy clouds imposed, Saturn spectacular in binos with 11m Naglers. Cassini all the way around, 3 tiny moons nearby, the globe light gold vs the greys and whites of the rings, and for a moment I saw detail in the large butterscotch belt. m13 at 40deg was a swarm of thousands of pinpoint stars, dim in the city light pollution but resolved. Can't wait to see it in a dark sky. Finished with Luna for abut 45 minutes (before a thin cloud fogged it). Fine resolution at all mags, cyclops and bino, up to 300, even only 30deg high in the city soup. Looked at Plato's wall, 2-3 craterlets.
New Starbound chair works fantastic, works at all heights, even the 9" off the ground for zenith viewing.
Lastly, before it got dark, I was fiddling with barlows and had an amazingly clear, color perfect view of a grackle on a lamp post 100 yards away - every feather, his pupils, retracting eyelid blinks, iridescence on the feathers - unbelievably fine detail. But I digress.
So what's the name for the frustration of having a better telescope than ever and waiting for a decent viewing sky to really see the quality of it?...
--------------------
TMB130SS 5.1" f/7 apo
C6-R 6" f/8
ASGT Goto+GPS
Coulter Odyssey I 13.1" f/4.5
Coronado PST
Seibert BN 21mm Binoviewers, TV Nagler EPs
9 guitars, 4 amps, 2 beagles
|
Scott Beith
SRF
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 33051
Loc: Gulfport, MS
|
|
Quote:
So what's the name for the frustration of having a better telescope than ever and waiting for a decent viewing sky to really see the quality of it?...
My Life. 
--------------------
  Scott
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
"The measure of a man’s greatness is not determined by what he accomplishes for himself, but by what he accomplishes for others.” -- Some Bald Guy
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
[Re: 
Edit
Reply
Quote
