matt
Vendor (Scopemania)
Reged: 07/28/03
Posts: 10022
Loc: Chaville, France
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I'm delivering my Nexstar 5 to its new owner tomorrow.
Well, if there is a curse of the new scope which provokes overcast skies, at the opposite the skies are cristal clear tonight for my farewell (meaning I can make the square of Pegasus without resorting to averted vision).
So I had a look at:
M31 - M32 which looks very small from here
NGC 205 was just a ghost - I would notice it only after I had slewed by it ("whoops! there was something here, eh?")
I had a good look at M76, the little dumbbell. I tried the
narrowband filter on it but here we never get dark-adapted enough to use it. With the wide band filter at 150x (8mm Radian; I onlyused the Radians tonight), I could make its rather rectangular shape with a 2:1 ratio, and the little mottling on both sides (which give the name), which is asymetric.
Then it was off to Cetus to see M74 (did not see/ find it) and M77, which looked very much like a hairy star. What is funny is that from 65x to 150x, it kept the same overall apparent shape and size, like if the spreading out of the light followed exactly the magnification.
I saw M34, a nearby Open Cluster. Deservedly overlooked (in my mind at least  ).
Saw the Pleiades and then M1, the crab nebula. Just a big oval, maybe more accurate to say a big diamond-shape. It looks very fluffy, the edges are not well-defined at all.
Then I finished with Saturn. Well it was Saturn. Seeing topped out at 200x, but there was the Division, the greyish C-ring at the ansae, the shadow of the rings on the planet, and a bunch of satellites... I saw the Equatorial (orange-grey) and polar regions (grey), but I wonder if there was not another belt in between. Can't tell for sure.
May the next owner treat it well, and in return the scope bring down upon him the awe of the heavens.
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Matt
CI700 mount with various scopes on top.
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Wonderful post Matt. You sound sorry to see the scope go. I saw M1 for the first time Saturday night. Your opinion of open clusters is similar to mine. 
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Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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Scott Beith
SRF
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 33079
Loc: Gulfport, MS
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Matt,
Sorry to see the scope go - hope the new owner appreciates it.
You two are SO MISGUIDED on open clusters 
They are one of the main reasons I bought the CR150 - I love them - but I am strange 
What are your plans for a replacement Matt?
Scott
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  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
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22470
Loc: NE Ohio
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Opens are a little disappointing in an SCT unless you are using binoviewers; MUCH nicer in a medium-to-large refractor!
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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"
152mm F/10 achromat
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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Charles
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/12/03
Posts: 4111
Loc: Enterprise, AL
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Don't feel Bad Matt Bertha is packed in five Boxes ready for pickup tomorrow and we have the first clear night in weeks. Hopefully the guy in Connecticutt will have clear skies when she arives next week.
Charles
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Charles,
I still can't believe you let Bertha go. I do understand not wanting to lift her though. I hope she is going to a good home. I wish I could have adopted her!
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Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22470
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Don't feel Bad Matt Bertha is packed in five Boxes ready for pickup tomorrow and we have the first clear night in weeks. Hopefully the guy in Connecticutt will have clear skies when she arives next week.
Charles
Hi, Charles.
I see the guy who bought my CGE1100 already has it posted on Astromart for the same price claiming financial problems. I wish he'd have said something to me; I'd have cancelled the deal without any hard feelings... I don't want to sell gear to someone who doesn't want it.
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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"
152mm F/10 achromat
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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Charles
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/12/03
Posts: 4111
Loc: Enterprise, AL
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I was wondering if that was your scope, in fact I went back and read the ad a couple of times. I thought about buying it. I finally had to walk away from my computer! Bertha spoiled me and I'm just a sucker for a SCT. I though for the longest time trying to convince myself that I could easly handle that SCT.
Got to keep focised on my Mewlon one day!
Charles
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Charles
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/12/03
Posts: 4111
Loc: Enterprise, AL
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Echo here is a picture of Bertha and her accessories ready for tomorrows pickup. I will miss her.
Charles 
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Charles,
The 10" SCT scopes are easy to handle (except for loading into the car) but after having a 12" would you be happy backtracking? You need a Mewlon! I can't wait to see the pictures you'll take with one of those!
John,
It is strange to see that scope up for sale so quickly. Do you think maybe his wife got upset or something? I seem to hear that kind of thing happening a lot on this forum!
--------------------
Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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Charles
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/12/03
Posts: 4111
Loc: Enterprise, AL
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Yeah it hard to convince them wives it followed you home like my five dogs did.
Charles
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Charles,
That's a sad picture. Why 5 boxes? Bet that won't be a cheap shipping bill!
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Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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matt
Vendor (Scopemania)
Reged: 07/28/03
Posts: 10022
Loc: Chaville, France
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OK, it's not in my hands any longer.
Thanks to all for your support. And... the NS80 just arrived, thanks to a friend who lugged it from Philadelphia to here.
Well, I'm the one who had decided to sell it anyway, but I always feel sad when a scope goes, and I think at all the observing I have not done with it...
I'm thinking of a Maksutov, or anyway a planetary scope now. I'll see how the NS80 will fare against the Fluorite and then I'll make up my mind.
As for the Open Cluster thing, I'm sorry for you all open cluster fans, it's not my fault, that's just how you turn up when you grow using a 2000mm fl telescope.
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Matt
CI700 mount with various scopes on top.
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Scott Beith
SRF
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 33079
Loc: Gulfport, MS
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Hey Matt,
You can just study them in small pieces
Scott
--------------------
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
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Charles
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/12/03
Posts: 4111
Loc: Enterprise, AL
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Tina the tall box in the back is the JMI Hard Case. The small one if front of it is the Meade EP collection and tripod parts. The one infront of the EP box is the dew shield. Big one on the floor is Bertha and the tall one to the left is the tripod. Airborne Express told me 270.00 for shipping which is not bad considering I'm over 200 pounds. Anyway Bertha has left the house and on her way to Yankee territory! I hope the guy loves her as much as I did!
Charles
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matt
Vendor (Scopemania)
Reged: 07/28/03
Posts: 10022
Loc: Chaville, France
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OK, I had my first night out with the Nexstar 80. I'll post about it right now in the refractors forum.
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Matt
CI700 mount with various scopes on top.
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Charles,
I hope so too. I'm not sure I could part with my LX200. Not even for a Tak like yours.
--------------------
Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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Charles
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/12/03
Posts: 4111
Loc: Enterprise, AL
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It was for the better good. I need to make room and build up money for my next addition, the FSQ-106 or the Mewlon 250. I'll know more after Uncle Sam burns me in April!
Charles 
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Bertha doesn't travel light does she? 
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