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J_D_Metzger
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/13/04
Posts: 1301
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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If I remember correctly, the iOptron rep said 15 lbs. Don't quote me on that, however...
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Clear skies,
J.D.
32°15'16.96"N 110°47'39.24"W
Celestron C9.25 & C6, TeleVue TV-76,
Vixen Sphinx SXD, iOptron MiniTower
TeleVue Naglers, TeleVue Panoptics
Canon 10x30 IS Binoculars
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J_D_Metzger
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/13/04
Posts: 1301
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
The Mini is an Alt/Az mount with the GOTONOVA system. If you use an equatorial wedege with it then photography should be pretty easy. If not, the field rotation will become an issue on any longer exposures.
The iOptron rep at OPT said there will be a field-derotator for the MiniTower, not a wedge...
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Clear skies,
J.D.
32°15'16.96"N 110°47'39.24"W
Celestron C9.25 & C6, TeleVue TV-76,
Vixen Sphinx SXD, iOptron MiniTower
TeleVue Naglers, TeleVue Panoptics
Canon 10x30 IS Binoculars
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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1115
Loc: New Hampshire
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That's the first I've heard of it and I'm in and out of the main office almost weekly!
Just how the Dickens are they going to "de-rotate" the field of the optics from the mount? This I've GOT to see!
Steve
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Steve Forbes
6.25" f/15 Mogey/NASA refractor on GOTO GEM
6" f/15 Jaegers refractor on GOTO GEM
5.1" f/8 Burgess on CG-5 w/GOTONOVA
4" f/15 Jaegers on ORION ATLAS GOTO
2x 6" f/6 Edmund Palomar reflectors on GEMs w/ RA and DEC drives
2x 4-1/4" Edmund Palomar Jr. reflectors on GEMS w/ RA drives, (all circa 1965 - 69)
3" Edmund reflector on "EQ" mount from @1963
4" Criterion reflector with "EQ" mount from @1956.
150mm f/12 MAK w/iOptron Mini Tower
Lots of other stuff, too!
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J_D_Metzger
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/13/04
Posts: 1301
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Probably something like this: Meade Field Derotator
The derotator goes between the scope and the camera, it doesn't attach to the mount...
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Clear skies,
J.D.
32°15'16.96"N 110°47'39.24"W
Celestron C9.25 & C6, TeleVue TV-76,
Vixen Sphinx SXD, iOptron MiniTower
TeleVue Naglers, TeleVue Panoptics
Canon 10x30 IS Binoculars
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EspacioProfundo
member
Reged: 02/16/07
Posts: 16
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Ioptron CubePro almost ready...
Link to Ioptron CubePro
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Ricardo Contreras
Espacio Profundo
Buenos Aires
Argentina
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jimandlaura26
super member
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 124
Loc: Northern VA
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So what additional features is the cube pro version supposed to bring?
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Jim M.
Northern VA (NOVAC member)
Stellarvue 80ED
Stellarvue 80S & SV-1 alt/az mount
Stellarvue 102A & Discmounts DM-6 alt/az mount
Celestron C8-XLT & ASGT GEM
Coronado PST
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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1115
Loc: New Hampshire
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I saw the Cube Pro today. It is the same size as the Cube but, it looks just like the Mini. It has metal worm gears and wheels. The tripod is the same as the original Cube. I believe they mentioned a price of around $599.00. I'll stick with my Mini.
sbf
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Steve Forbes
6.25" f/15 Mogey/NASA refractor on GOTO GEM
6" f/15 Jaegers refractor on GOTO GEM
5.1" f/8 Burgess on CG-5 w/GOTONOVA
4" f/15 Jaegers on ORION ATLAS GOTO
2x 6" f/6 Edmund Palomar reflectors on GEMs w/ RA and DEC drives
2x 4-1/4" Edmund Palomar Jr. reflectors on GEMS w/ RA drives, (all circa 1965 - 69)
3" Edmund reflector on "EQ" mount from @1963
4" Criterion reflector with "EQ" mount from @1956.
150mm f/12 MAK w/iOptron Mini Tower
Lots of other stuff, too!
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sam32
super member
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 100
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I just saw an older email I had received from iOptron on my questions concerning an equatorial wedge for the Mini-Tower:
"From: Chris Liu [mailto:cliu@ioptron.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 4:12 PM
Subject: RE: Mini-Tower
Dear Sam,
There is no wedge for the MiniTower, but a de-rotator is in the pipeline. Some users might choose to make their own wedge for it.
best
Chris"
If this is true than I am a bit disappointed as a wedge would still keep things fairly simple. I wonder if they are concerned about the Mini-Tower tipping over if a wedge was used (although then why even recommend that you build one for it ?) Plus the Cube can be used in Eq. mode, right ? And the Handcontroller already appears to be set-up for Eq. tracking. So again, I guess I am just somewhat surprised if they are not pursuing a wedge. Though to be fair, an alt-az mount like this was primarily designed for visual use. If iOptron is not going the eq. wedge route, then I look forward to seeing who will be the first (it won't be me !) to build and test one and then share his results with the rest of the community.
Sam
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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1115
Loc: New Hampshire
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Sam:
There IS a wedge being designed. Hopefully, it will become available in time for Christmas. There MAY be a heavier tripod to go with it, but, that has not yet been determined. There are other options and upgrades that are being discussed for future offerings.
Yes, the Mini can work in EQ, too.
From what I have learned, the Cube Pro will retail at $480.00. I have not yet taken one apart to examine it thoroughly, but, it has metal worm gears and worm wheels. The bearings are supposedly improved and it has GPS module. It also has the 8401 GOTONOVA controller which is the same one used on the Mini Tower, the SmartStar-PR and the GOTONOVA upgrade kits.
If anyone is going to the PATS show they can see the new items there. I'm going and will be happy to help anyone who needs further information.
By the way, I tried using my SAC7b camera in the Mini last night. I could get the previews just fine, but, I cannot get the software to do anything with the FITS files! The instructions weren't much help I'm afraid. Once I DO get some images, I will send them along.
CS
Steve
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Steve Forbes
6.25" f/15 Mogey/NASA refractor on GOTO GEM
6" f/15 Jaegers refractor on GOTO GEM
5.1" f/8 Burgess on CG-5 w/GOTONOVA
4" f/15 Jaegers on ORION ATLAS GOTO
2x 6" f/6 Edmund Palomar reflectors on GEMs w/ RA and DEC drives
2x 4-1/4" Edmund Palomar Jr. reflectors on GEMS w/ RA drives, (all circa 1965 - 69)
3" Edmund reflector on "EQ" mount from @1963
4" Criterion reflector with "EQ" mount from @1956.
150mm f/12 MAK w/iOptron Mini Tower
Lots of other stuff, too!
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Dylan Gladstone
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 955
Loc: Connecticut, USA
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If the Cube Pro is similar in performance to Celestron's SE mounts, then I'll consider one. $800 is pushing my budget a bit to far, (althought it sounds like the Mini is worth the money). Less than $500 sounds a lot more feasable, but the mount would have to solidly support my scope.
Question: does the GOTONOVA controller support a simple alignment routine like the SE? Ie: one where you don't need to know the names of the stars you're aligning to?
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Orion SkyView Pro 127mm Maksutov
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rmollise
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 1558
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Quote:
Sam:
By the way, I tried using my SAC7b camera in the Mini last night. I could get the previews just fine, but, I cannot get the software to do anything with the FITS files! The instructions weren't much help I'm afraid. Once I DO get some images, I will send them along.
CS
Steve
Tip on the SAC7B? I've had one for years, using it mostly for planetary imaging, though it can do passable deep sky work, too. I have never EVER used the software that comes with the camera. Get K3CCD Tools instead. The SAC7B is fully compatible with K3, and that is a much more user friendly and capable program IMHO. I bought my SAC7B for the Mars opposition of 2003, and still find myself using it frequently on the planets. Main drawback? Pretty strong pattern noise on dimmer objects. Jupiter, the Moon, Mars at opposition, though? BLOODY OUTSTANDING! Also, the SAC's pattern noise can be removed with fair ease with IRIS.
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Uncle Rod
Watch for Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using the New CATs--coming soon!
Edited by rmollise (09/12/08 05:20 PM)
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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1115
Loc: New Hampshire
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Cool! I will try it out. Thanks Rod!
OH! I posted some images in the Mini Tower section of this forum. Not bad for a person that has no idea whatsoever what he's doing. LOL
Steve
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Steve Forbes
6.25" f/15 Mogey/NASA refractor on GOTO GEM
6" f/15 Jaegers refractor on GOTO GEM
5.1" f/8 Burgess on CG-5 w/GOTONOVA
4" f/15 Jaegers on ORION ATLAS GOTO
2x 6" f/6 Edmund Palomar reflectors on GEMs w/ RA and DEC drives
2x 4-1/4" Edmund Palomar Jr. reflectors on GEMS w/ RA drives, (all circa 1965 - 69)
3" Edmund reflector on "EQ" mount from @1963
4" Criterion reflector with "EQ" mount from @1956.
150mm f/12 MAK w/iOptron Mini Tower
Lots of other stuff, too!
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