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imjeffp
Senior Space Cadet
Reged: 09/30/03
Posts: 4405
Loc: Cedar Park, Texas
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Almost everything finally came together--no more pink eye, new Celestron eyepiece kit, new contacts and no clouds. I'll just put up with the 80% moon.
After letting the C6-N cool for about half an hour, I tried for M52. Not sure if I got it, but there was a fuzzy patch. I suspect the bright sky wasn't helping. Hopped over to Perseus for the double cluster and dropped in the 32mm plossel. Very nice, a little coma and edge softness on the outer 15%, but sharp bright points in the center. The C6-N is only f/5, so the 32 mm is just over 23X.
From there it's up to M31. Again the bright sky is in the way, but the wide EP is still nice. No hint of dust lanes, but the scope may be a bit warm still as well. It's no Nagler, but I'm still pleased with this EP.
Over to M45. Gorgeous. Just a hint of blue surrounding the stars. I'm starting to get a little aperture fever.
Orion is finally coming up out of the muck. This is my first winter with a "serious" telescope, and I've been looking forward to this for months. There it is, M42/43! The note I wrote says "smokey." It looks just like the drawing in "Turn Left..." I work my way down the EPs. The 6mm and 4mm are just too narrow, so I spent most of the time with the 9mm Orion Expanse. I wasn't thrilled with this EP on Mars--there was a lot of ghosting/glare, but on the trapezium it was nice. The wider FOV over the plossel makes a difference, but there's a little "kidney beaning."
Once Saturn's up over 20°, I switch gears. I finally settle on the 6mm in the 2x barlow for 250X. The 6" newt should top out at 300X, and the 4mm x2 at 375 seems to bear that out. The Cassini Gap is swimming in an out a bit, but when it clears up I can also make out a hint (I think) of the Crepe Ring as well. I tried out the #21 Blue filter, but didn't spend enough time with it to tell much of a difference.
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Blog
ST80 • AT80EDT/LXD650
ETX-90/DS-2000 • 10" LX200 Classic ("The Quarter-Meter Telescope at the Heritage Park Observatory")
SPC900NC • DMK21AF04 • Digital Rebel XT
  
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Hey,
I'm really glad you finally got a chance to get out there. It makes life better doesn't it? It figures you'd have everything going for ya and the moon is out and looming large. Isn't M42 amazing? I still get awestruck by it in the back yard despite all the light pollution. Do you have a UHC or OIII filter?
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Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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imjeffp
Senior Space Cadet
Reged: 09/30/03
Posts: 4405
Loc: Cedar Park, Texas
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Quote:
Do you have a UHC or OIII filter?
No, but I have $85 burning a hole in my wallet. I'm thinking UHC or LPR in the 6" scope. I tried an OIII once, and found the views quite dim.
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Blog
ST80 • AT80EDT/LXD650
ETX-90/DS-2000 • 10" LX200 Classic ("The Quarter-Meter Telescope at the Heritage Park Observatory")
SPC900NC • DMK21AF04 • Digital Rebel XT
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Warpd has the UHC and loves it. I prefer no stars and all nebulosity so I like the OIII better. We have fun baiting each other over which is best. I put the OIII on his new Vixen and he just stood there shaking his head at me. There is a definite difference between them and a lot depends on what you are going to look at. I do think the UHC is a better choice than the LPR, but that's just me.
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Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12490
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I agree with you Echo. The UHC is better for nebula.
You might want to read David Knisely's excellent evaluation of filters and best uses on about 50 different objects. I think there is a copy posted here at CN. I'll go check.
edz
here's one http://www.cloudynights.com/accessories/filters.htm
and here's the big article http://www.cloudynights.com/howto/filters.htm
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
Edited by EdZ (12/04/03 03:38 PM)
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Thanks Ed. I'll read those articles tonight.
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Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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imjeffp
Senior Space Cadet
Reged: 09/30/03
Posts: 4405
Loc: Cedar Park, Texas
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I stopped off last night and picked up an Orion UltraBlock. From the front porch, looking back towards town and over the neighbors Christmas lights, M42 is all wispy and easily seen. I'm looking forward now to a dark night!
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Blog
ST80 • AT80EDT/LXD650
ETX-90/DS-2000 • 10" LX200 Classic ("The Quarter-Meter Telescope at the Heritage Park Observatory")
SPC900NC • DMK21AF04 • Digital Rebel XT
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Jeff,
Can't wait to hear what you think. I think people would get more bang for their buck if they would invest in a decent set of filters rather than super expensive eyepieces when they first buy a scope. There's always time later for the Naglers, but those filters can give so much enjoyment with even the most basic of eyepieces.
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Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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