gumbatman
member
Reged: 06/12/09
Posts: 22
|
|
OK, for the rest of you it is probably not a big deal, but for me it was really amazing.
Now for the "but"...
I am using my ETX-80 that I just got last week and I still have tons to learn (although because of this forum, I am learning a lot in a short period of time).
I was able to see that were rings but, using the 9mm eyepiece with the Barlow "on", Saturn was about the size of a large period. Is there a way to increase this size?
Obviously I would increase the magnification, but I don't know what this telescope is capable of (or not capable of). I don't even know enough to know what question to ask about this.
I'm excited, possibly disappointed and all around confused. If I can't do much more, that is fine, I am still happy with it, I just would like to have a better sense of the reality of this telescope.
Thanks for the help and direction.
-Gumbatman
p.s. I know I've posted a lot in the past few days. I hope I am not making myself a nuisance.  I think I just caught the star-gazing bug recently. 
|
brianb11213
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 2108
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
|
|
An 80mm scope will be pretty much maxed out at x150, in fact going above x100 will probably show less rather than more on Saturn - the light gets spread over a larger area, which makes faint detail harder to see, and Saturn isn't that bright to start off with.
|
Quads
sage
Reged: 09/07/08
Posts: 296
Loc: Central Sands, Wisconsin
|
|
I don't think you're a nuisance at all! You're just having fun. That's great.
Yep, that's about all Saturn is to me too with my ETX-80. Wait until you see my personal favorite, Jupiter! Way better than Saturn. Sure, Saturn has rings, oh well, but Jupiter has action! Jupiter looks like it's own little solar system, with the moons zipping around it. It's bigger, brighter, and you'll be able to see at least a couple cloud bands around it.
Also, with the ETX-80, open star clusters are awesome and the brighter nebulae. Take a look at those and the double stars are fun. The fuzzier galaxies etc, not so much.
--------------------
I'm a "just for fun" photographer that also takes nighttime sky pictures.
Meade ETX-80AT-TC-BB
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Affordable Astrophotography
Powered by Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
|
gumbatman
member
Reged: 06/12/09
Posts: 22
|
|
brianb11213 and Quads,
Thanks so much for the input. I have to say I am a little bit disappointed (I didn't manage my expectations).
I do look forward to Jupiter and I imagine the moon should be pretty great. Right now the moon and Jupiter come out too late for me.
-Gumbatman
|
dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 15042
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
|
|
This year especially, Juptier will be hopping with action.
It takes ~12 years for Jupiter to complete one orbit of the sun. Twice in that time, the plane of orbit of Jupiter's moons lines up with us and there are more instances of his moons passing directly in front of one another and more opportunities for events like moon/shadow transits.
6 years ago, the year I got my 8"Ø scope, I saw a good many multiple transits, and the night of first light, the first thing I saw was Jupiter with one of its moons "occulting another (one hiding behind the other). I thought it odd that there were only 3 moons, then I went back to Jupiter after checking out Saturn (visible at the same time in 2003) and Orion's Nebula, and there were 4 moons. On further investigation, there had indeed been an occultation at the moment of my "first light" with my new scope. 
I don't usually poke my head into the ETX section, but I just wanted to see if you were getting good input. Should have known you would be. 
Thanks guys, for helping keep up the reputation of Cloudy Nights. 
--------------------
- david
8"Ø Newtonian on SVP, Moonlite CR2, Telrad
PST Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Orion Ultraview 10×50
Hand-me-down Sears Refractor (Discoverer) 60mm×900mm
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike
|
Quads
sage
Reged: 09/07/08
Posts: 296
Loc: Central Sands, Wisconsin
|
|
Here is a great description of observing Jupiter and the other non-Saturn planets with a 70mm scope, just posted by CN member MrFiremouth: must read
--------------------
I'm a "just for fun" photographer that also takes nighttime sky pictures.
Meade ETX-80AT-TC-BB
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS
Affordable Astrophotography
Powered by Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
|
gumbatman
member
Reged: 06/12/09
Posts: 22
|
|
Once again, thanks everyone for the great info.
What I am a little confused about is when I look in the manual there is a picture of Saturn taken with the LPI (page 31, figure 24). What is the LPI and/or other stuff doing with the ETX-80 that it has such a large picture but I only saw a tiny spec?
|
KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
Posts: 9268
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
|
|
Imaging whether digital or with film is a lot more sensitive than the human eye and can capture images your eye couldn't possibly hope to see at the eyepiece,even with much larger telescopes. I too own an ETX-70 and you must accept your telescope for what it is,as an easy to use GOTO that is quite good at displaying widefield views. There is a lot to see with an 80mm scope. A planetary scope,it is not. An F/11 80mm refractor tops out at about 150X but IMO an F/5 80mm pretty much hits the wall at 100X and I don't like to push things much past 60X. This telescope really wasn't intended for high power planetary viewing. Enjoy your scope as it was intended because with GOTO and tracking it is a very good aid in learning the sky as a first telescope.
--------------------
Kenny
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
Edited by KWB (06/19/09 12:26 AM)
|
gumbatman
member
Reged: 06/12/09
Posts: 22
|
|
Hi Kenny,
I really appreciate what your saying. I guess I should have done more research before diving in. Of course, I found this amazing forum after I purchased my ETX-80  . That is not to say I am disappointed with it, I'm not. I just happen to have a stronger interest in planetary viewing.
Almost all the reviews I read for this telescope were either good or great and you mentioned that it is good at displaying widefield views — what exactly does that mean (I hope I don't sound rude)?
In other words, what are the best things to look at through this telescope and how do I use it to its full potential?
Thank you.
-Gumbatman
|
KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
Posts: 9268
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
|
|
Hi Batman
What's your first name? With an excellent 68º eyepiece design like the 24mm Panoptic,your telescope can show about a 4º TFOV(true field of view)section of the sky. That is over 8 times the diameter of the full Moon. That's 17 times more magnification than your naked eye can provide. A wonderful Messier object like the open star cluster Pleiades(M45) can easily fit into the eyepiece field of view. Brighter globular clusters like M13 won't be resolved but are neat to locate and the wider field of view using a lower powered eyepiece helps to reference it's location within the constellation Hercules. This helps to learn the sky even if your next telescope doesn't have GOTO. Using your 9mm eyepiece and the built in barlow there are a number of easy to split and colorful double stars that make observing a joy. By using your GOTO you can kind of stand back and watch the optical tube of your scope slew to different parts of the sky when finding objects. If you live in the northern hemisphere at around 40º n latitude like I do you get to learn pretty quickly that the constellation Orion is located in the southern sky and Ursa Major is in the n.w summer skies.
If you want more highly resolved and brighter planetary images you need a larger aperture scope and if your funds are limited you'll probably need more focal length in the scope as well. A 4 inch F/10 achromatic refractor or a 6 inch F/8 reflector do a much better job in accomplishing what you seek. IMO these 2 examples rate as major bargains.
For now use your little telescope,enjoy it and learn the sky.
--------------------
Kenny
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
Edited by KWB (06/19/09 03:40 PM)
|
gumbatman
member
Reged: 06/12/09
Posts: 22
|
|
Kenny,
My first name is Rob. The "batman" reference has nothing to do with "Batman." I'm geeky, but not that bad. It is a long story.
I really appreciate the time you have taken to respond to my posts.  I have learned so much in such a short time and I can't wait to get to out there again and look at the star clusters, etc. as you suggested. That is, once the skies clear. It has been cloudy and raining almost every day for the past few weeks, here in the lower Hudson Valley.
I am not looking to get rid of this telescope but for my frame of reference, what are some good telescopes for viewing planetary objects?
Also, is the great thing (I think it is) the GOTO capability of this telescope? Is the GOTO capability more of a nice to have for beginners?
In retrospect, I think I might have gone with a non-GOTO telescope that gave me more power to see planets. How does this telescope work with objects such as the moon and Mars?
Again, thanks so much for your time and efforts to teach me this stuff.
-Rob
|
AlexDJ30
sage
Reged: 09/02/08
Posts: 276
Loc: Monterrey, Mexico
|
|
I think if you want bigger scope.you can complement later on your scope collection with a Dob..8 inch or more.. So you ETX-80 is you grab and go scope and the Dob would be in your house use only. Most of us have not just 1 scope..we have 2 or 3...or more!
--------------------
Equipment:
- ETX 125 AT
- C6 ASGT
- WO 66mm SD
- 2.5X ED Barlow, 8-24mm Zoom Eyepice
- Canon EOS Rebel XSi
- Celestron Nextimagen
- Orion Starshoot CCD cam
|
KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
Posts: 9268
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
|
|
IMO GOTO is a great thing to have for beginners or for the highly seasoned observers that like it,Rob. If you live in an area close to a city the light pollution obscures your ability to detect fainter objects with naked eye vision or a red dot finder. I think of the GOTO in terms of a heat seeking missle to aid in locating your target. I have been observing long enough to where I don't need GOTO to have a fun night outdoors but if my telescope for the night has this feature,I'm also a happy camper. To me it's all good.
Hang on to your scope because it serve's a purpose a larger,more budget friendly planetary scope will not serve as well,and that is low power widefield viewing. Most of us in this hobby own more than one telescope and believe in the creed of rule No.1 that states no single telescope can do it all. Rule No.2 is......., come to think of it rule No.1 pretty much covers it all.
When the time comes for another telescope, what is your budget in terms of top dollar for a scope,finderscope and mount?
--------------------
Kenny
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
Edited by KWB (06/19/09 06:54 PM)
|
cnstarz
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/22/07
Posts: 549
Loc: Kentucky, USA
|
|
Try this telescope simulator to give you a better understanding of Telescope optics: Simulator
Regards,
--------------------
Matt
Apogee 50mm BB scope
ETX-60 BB
Meade 70-az
5" DIY Newt (wip)
C6-N on CG-4 GEM
Gallery
|
gumbatman
member
Reged: 06/12/09
Posts: 22
|
|
Kenny,
I am not looking to get a new telescope just yet (my wife would kill me!) plus I want to really learn the one I have. When the time comes, I would guess I would look in the $500 range. If no GOTO gives me a better scope, then I would most likely go for that.
cnstarz,
Thanks for the great site. That simulator really helped me get a better understanding of what the differences are between scopes.
-Rob
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
