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Lunatiki
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/07/05
Posts: 1252
Loc: Amarillo, TX
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I've been toying around with the idea of getting a new scope. All I do is shoot planets, no visual or DSO. I have been leaning towards a Celestron CPC 11. The thing is, we plan on moving in 5 years or so, and when we do, we'll have land and I want to get some type of dome observatory. Since I'll be doing that, a C14 would make sense, but it seems as though they have to be modified and cooled to get the best results out of them. That is why I would avoid it and go with the CPC. Would an 11 inch need to be cooled to maximize the results? Would you guys recommend a 12 inch Meade over a C11? I want to stick with a SCT and not go with a Newtonian. Input appreciated!
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Mars Watch
All images taken with:
Celestron NexStar 8i SCT
DBK 21AF04.AS
K3ccd/Registax4/PSP8
ALPO Member #4287
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Bob D
super member
Reged: 05/24/08
Posts: 118
Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA
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When I was looking for a scope earlier this year, primarily for planetary and lunar imaging, I searched the internet for photos of Clavius, Jupiter, and Saturn. That resulted in my purchasing a CPC 925. It was close between that and the CPC 1100. I was mainly convinced by the photos of Damian Peach, who has used both with great results. I knew that I would never be able to do better, and the 925 looked adequate as well as a little easier for me to carry around since I don't have a good location for "wheeling-out" or a permanent pier.
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Bob
CPC 925 XLT
JMI EV-1c + Smart Focus
TV Everbrite 2" diagonal
TV 3x Barlow and a few eyepieces
Orion SSSSI-II
Canon 450D/XSi, D60, and many lenses
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iceman
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 4353
Loc: Gosford, Australia
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Regardless of whether you go for a C925, C11 or C14, they'll have to be cooled and modified to get the best out of them.
If you're serious about your planetary imaging, which I know you are, you just have to take that into account and plan for it.
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Mike
. mikesalway.com.au - Astronomy and Photography by Mike Salway
. IceInSpace - The Australian Amateur Astronomy Community
. My Bio | My Jupiter 2007 Gallery | My Image Gallery
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Lunatiki
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/07/05
Posts: 1252
Loc: Amarillo, TX
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Thanks Mike. I was afraid of that. The thought of spending thousands on a scope and "modifying" it, thus voiding the warranty isn't a pleasant thought.
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Mars Watch
All images taken with:
Celestron NexStar 8i SCT
DBK 21AF04.AS
K3ccd/Registax4/PSP8
ALPO Member #4287
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Sunspot
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/15/05
Posts: 990
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I'm curious as to what sorts of modifications you have to do to a C14 (or C11) for planetary imaging? I never did anything with the C925 I owned or the Mewlon 250 I own now.
Thanks!
Paul
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Paul Maxson
Mewlon 250, Tak TOA-130, SolarMax 60, SKYnyx 2-0M
http://www.sunspot51.com
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Lunatiki
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/07/05
Posts: 1252
Loc: Amarillo, TX
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Hey Paul! There is a thread down toward the bottom on the page on it. It involves dismantaling and drilling. Something I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to do. Perhaps I could hire it out, but who knows.
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Mars Watch
All images taken with:
Celestron NexStar 8i SCT
DBK 21AF04.AS
K3ccd/Registax4/PSP8
ALPO Member #4287
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rumples riot
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/01/04
Posts: 2291
Loc: South Australia
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C14 you know you want it.
I was the first to put peltier cooling into a C14 and it makes a huge difference to the performance of the scope. Mainly in terms of getting the scope to ambient quickly. Traditional cooling will not see the mirror at ambient for nearly 6 hours after sunset. 1.5 hours of cooling and I am at ambient. This can mean a difference of 30 degrees C change in a temperate climate.
It is not as hard as you think, if you follow my tut, you just need to be careful.
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EARTH AND COSMOS
My Solar System Imaging BLOG
How to peltier cool a C14 SCT
SOUTH CELESTIAL POLE
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SkyscraperJim
sage
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 399
Loc: Providence, RI
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If all you will be doing is imaging planets, then the Lazzarotti scopes may be a good choice.
http://www.alpineastro.com/LAZZAROTTI/Lazzarotti_Home.htm
If you're working with a more limited budget, I've seen many good planetary images taken with the humble C9.25.
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Jim
TMB/APM 130/780 (#185) on G11
Televue Pronto (#3533) on Half Hitch
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Sunspot
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/15/05
Posts: 990
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Ah yes, I forgot about your adding cooling to your C14. A scope that size should have that as a factory option (IMHO). I get spoiled by the Mewlon because it has sort of a "poor mans" cooling feature.
Paul
Quote:
C14 you know you want it.
I was the first to put peltier cooling into a C14 and it makes a huge difference to the performance of the scope. Mainly in terms of getting the scope to ambient quickly. Traditional cooling will not see the mirror at ambient for nearly 6 hours after sunset. 1.5 hours of cooling and I am at ambient. This can mean a difference of 30 degrees C change in a temperate climate.
It is not as hard as you think, if you follow my tut, you just need to be careful.
--------------------
Paul Maxson
Mewlon 250, Tak TOA-130, SolarMax 60, SKYnyx 2-0M
http://www.sunspot51.com
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