Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums
Privacy Policy |
Please read our Terms
of Service | Signup and
Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User
stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2648
Loc: Arizona, USA
|
|
I ordered a Sky Watcher Newtonian 10 inch f/4.7 yesterday from Skies Unlimited. I have a CGEM mount to put it on and am looking forward to having more aperture than my 6 inch refractor. It looks like a very good scope and it has a 30 day return policy, so I will post when I get it all set up. It should arrive in 2 to 3 weeks.
The two accessories I plan to have right away are a right angle, correct image 9X50 finder and a dew shield. Other than that I am all set to enjoy the new scope, of course the weather has to cooperate. We shall see.
Clear skies to us all;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
|
Steve Darden
sage
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 213
Loc: Woodstock, GA
|
|
Please let us know your thoughts when it comes in. I've thought about getting some rings and mounting my 10 inch dob on an EQ mount so I'll be interested in hearing how it works out.
--------------------
Orion XT10 with Moonlite focuser
Orion Starmax 127 Mak
Orion 80ed with Moonlite focuser
Too little free time
|
Sarkikos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1075
Loc: Suburban Maryland
|
|
Steve,
Congratulations on your new Newt! I hope you will have an easier time than I did trying to mount a 10" solid tube Newt on a GEM. Of course, since I tried to mount it on a CG5, that might explain some of the difficulty! That OTA was just too big around, too bulky and too heavy to hoist up on that GEM. I don't see how anybody can do it without help. But then, maybe that's just me. I'm only 5'6" and 145 lbs, so I was asking for trouble. If you have more heft and height working for you, your results might be better.  After my debacle, though, I ordered a 1stBase collapsible Dob mount for the 10" Newt and it couldn't be easier to set up and use.
I've also tried mounting my 8" Newt on the CG5. I could do it easily enough, no problem, but I've never taken that set-up out in the field. Too much work, and it was a bother trying to keep it balanced in every possible position - worse than a Dob in that regard, actually. Just lower the OTA on the Dob and be done with it. At least that works for me. It would be nice, though, to observe through an 8" or 10" Newt on a GEM, set the drive motor going, and not have to keep nudging the tube. I've done that with up to 6" Newts and 6" Maks, and been happy. YMMV. I hope you have more success than I did.
Clear Skies,
Mike
--------------------
Celestron 10" f5 Newt on 1stBase (DSO)
Zhumell 8" f6 Newt, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO)
6" f5 Newt, 130ST, 4.5" f4.4 Ball w/GLP, ST80 w/Crayford (RFTs)
C4-R (NSO/DS)
90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS)
SkyMaster 25x100, 15x70
Zhumell 20x80
Barska XWA 10x50, 8x40
OptiView LPR 10x50
Const View 2.3x40
BV-125C
CG5, 2 drv / CG4, 2 drv, wood legs, ScopeStuff saddle / CG3, 1 drv
SV AZ / 501HDV on Bogen 055XB / P+ on Oberwerk
QuikFinder, Telrad
Orion Dynamo Pro 12, Dew-Not
Have GLP and not afraid to use it!
|
stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2648
Loc: Arizona, USA
|
|
Mike;
We are coming at this from different directions. I had the 13 inch on a "Bigfoot" mount for 14 years. It is a big scope for a mobile German Equatorial mount, but I loved it. Good tracking and very stable. I saw what I wanted and finally sold it to finance a Nexstar 11 SCT.
All that was when I was 30 and 40 years old, I am 60 now, so I have no doubt that handling the big scope would not be fun anymore. With that in mind I look forward to the 10 inch. I will lower the CGEM mount so the equatorial head is lower to the ground than for my refractor and that should make it easier also. I will let you know.
Clear skies;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
Edited by stevecoe (11/01/09 01:43 AM)
|
cccmachine
newbie
Reged: 08/19/09
Posts: 1
|
|
Steve I sure hope you have better luck on the ops than I did with my 254 SW.
Bought it along with the EQ5Pro Synscan.Love the mount but well the pri is headed to OWL and I'm waiting for a 10 from HO.
Now have my z10 strapped to my mount for now.Mount handles it just fine but she doesnt want any more.
|
cdndob
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/28/06
Posts: 665
Loc: The Great White North
|
|
Steve,
I'm sure you'll like the setup. I've had my friend's 10" f/4.7 on my EQ6 with no real issues but as you mentioned, lowering the mount would be good idea. BTW, I'd like to see how you plan to lower it.
Steve
P.S. That "Bigfoot" must have been a beast to move around but I'm sure the views made up for it!
--------------------
|
Sarkikos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1075
Loc: Suburban Maryland
|
|
Steve,
You're a bigger .. uh .. better man than I am, Mr. Coe!
Mike
--------------------
Celestron 10" f5 Newt on 1stBase (DSO)
Zhumell 8" f6 Newt, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO)
6" f5 Newt, 130ST, 4.5" f4.4 Ball w/GLP, ST80 w/Crayford (RFTs)
C4-R (NSO/DS)
90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS)
SkyMaster 25x100, 15x70
Zhumell 20x80
Barska XWA 10x50, 8x40
OptiView LPR 10x50
Const View 2.3x40
BV-125C
CG5, 2 drv / CG4, 2 drv, wood legs, ScopeStuff saddle / CG3, 1 drv
SV AZ / 501HDV on Bogen 055XB / P+ on Oberwerk
QuikFinder, Telrad
Orion Dynamo Pro 12, Dew-Not
Have GLP and not afraid to use it!
|
stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2648
Loc: Arizona, USA
|
|
CCC, may I know what was wrong with your 10 incher?
Mike, as I said I was 30 something and had a back that was in much better shape than today. It was clumbsy, but I generally setup only a few feet from the tailgate of the truck, as you see in the photo.
Clear skies;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
|
stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2648
Loc: Arizona, USA
|
|
Of all the things I dearly love about Cloudy Nights, here is the one thing I dislike. Someone says "Steve I sure hope you have better luck on the ops than I did with my 254 SW. Bought it along with the EQ5Pro Synscan. Love the mount but well the pri is headed to OWL and I'm waiting for a 10 from HO."
Please, let me have some details. Who is HO? What axactly was the problem with the scope? Is it costing you more, or did the company pay to get it right?
So many people just say something like "that scope stinks" and don't offer any details about the problems.
Clear skies;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
|
dvb
different Syndrome.
Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 3038
|
|
I have a Skywatcher 10" Newt on an EQ6/ Atlas.
I found it very helpful swap the standard EQ6 saddle for the Losmandy type offered by ADM. The stock rings didn't mate with those well, so I had Ken Dauzat make me a pair with the base drilled with two holes instead of one, for a secure mount to the DUP plate.
I also got a good deal on a MoonLite focuser, which is terrific.
I currently have the Antares rotating rings mounted to the Losmandy. The work pretty well, but do add to the weight - It's at about 45 pounds now!
Surprisingly, I don't find it hard to mount - because the tripod is short, I find I can boost it into position fairly easily. (I'm not a big guy - 5'9", 170 pounds. I love long walks on the beach and . . . oops, wrong post!)
--------------------
"But seeing through a telescope is 50% vision and 50% imagination." - Chet Raymo
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Celestron CF 9.25"
Vixen CF 8" f/4 Newt
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100
Skywatcher ED80
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
AT Voyager
Canon 15x50is
Mallincam HyperColor Plus
|
dave b
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 3548
|
|
HO = Hubble Optics?
--------------------
dave bonandrini
30" f/5.2 Dobsonian
President of GCAC
Astromart Moderator
|
stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2648
Loc: Arizona, USA
|
|
dvb;
Did you NEED to go to a Moonlite focuer or was it just a good deal and on a somewhat better rig?
What does DUP mean?
With the standard rings, could you rotate the tube by loosening the clamps and carefully moving the tube around within them, then tightening the clamps?
Maybe HO means Hardin Optical?? I am getting tired of living in a world of Three Letter Acronyms...nobody speaks plainly anymore. The fault of politicians?
Thanks;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
|
Sarkikos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1075
Loc: Suburban Maryland
|
|
Steve,
"I am getting tired of living in a world of Three Letter Acronyms...nobody speaks plainly anymore. The fault of politicians?"
Or the military? My son is in the Army, has been to Iraq twice. At first after he joined and we would have conversations about his experiences and what he is doing, every other sentence would have a military acronym. To know what he was talking about, of course, I'd have to stop and ask him what the acronym stood for. He seems to have learned now not to do that when he speaks with civilians. This hobby has many little niches with their own acronyms. We just have to try to use the language in such a way that our intended audience will understand. That is main purpose of language, isn't it, to communicate information? A recent study, though, indicated that the primary function of language is to gossip. But that's for another blog, along with comments about loving long walks on the beach.
Mike
--------------------
Celestron 10" f5 Newt on 1stBase (DSO)
Zhumell 8" f6 Newt, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO)
6" f5 Newt, 130ST, 4.5" f4.4 Ball w/GLP, ST80 w/Crayford (RFTs)
C4-R (NSO/DS)
90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS)
SkyMaster 25x100, 15x70
Zhumell 20x80
Barska XWA 10x50, 8x40
OptiView LPR 10x50
Const View 2.3x40
BV-125C
CG5, 2 drv / CG4, 2 drv, wood legs, ScopeStuff saddle / CG3, 1 drv
SV AZ / 501HDV on Bogen 055XB / P+ on Oberwerk
QuikFinder, Telrad
Orion Dynamo Pro 12, Dew-Not
Have GLP and not afraid to use it!
|
Gord
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/06/04
Posts: 694
Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada
|
|
Hey Steve,
I think you are going to like the 10" in terms of it's capabilities (you've had a bigger newt before, so you know what I mean). I think the CGEM will do a good job of carrying it, but as you said, get it down as low as you can.
I use my C10N on a CG5a and it is useable. *FAR* from ideal, but useable. One key is patients and realistic expectations. There's 30-40lbs of gear on a 12 lbs mount (in my case), so it's not going to be rock solid. But I think the CGEM will do a better job.
You can loosen the rings and rotate no problem. I do it, but prefer to get the EP in an ok orientation for a few viewing areas and then leave it. I find when rotating, the tube can move back and forth and cause the balance to be off. 'Wilcox' rings can help that, but I haven't got that far yet.
It is possible to get one decent orientation for the focuser (just slightly west of straight up when the scope is aimed north), but this position makes viewing to the NE mid way up kind of difficult in terms of EP height. So as I said, you have to get the scope down low enough.
On the focuser, the stock ones are usable, but not great. The newer ones are the basic asian crayfords and are ok, but mine had the older R&P. A really good upgrade is motorized as it gets rid of the shakes when focusing, and this of course helps a lot when on a smaller mount. I went to a MoonLite motorized and it's extremely nice. Again, really helps me on the little CG5.
Optics are what they are for the common asian imported newts these days. Really quite decent generally, some great, and some poor. Mine was a decent average mirror, but I wanted better and had it redone to extremely high spec, and the difference is noticeable.
I really think these are some of the best values out there. A big scope that performs very well out of the box, is easy and cheap to upgrade, but just needs to be kept in mind what it really is and how much it cost. This isn't a Takahashi and it certainly didn't cost like one!
Fun scope. I'm sure you will enjoy it!
Clear skies,
-Gord
--------------------
* Celestron C10/Normand Fullum primary
* Tasco 11TR/Normand Fullum primary
* Orion StarBlast
* Orion Apex 102
* SkyWatcher 80ED
* Celestron CG5a mount
* MallinCam Pro & Color II
* Lots of other astro toys
...and the best wife I could ever dream of for letting it all happen! 
--------------------
|
stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2648
Loc: Arizona, USA
|
|
Gord;
Thanks for answering my questions. I had a feeling that the primaries in these scopes are usable, but not terrific, not at that price. But, I may also send mine to a mirror polisher and see if it can be improved at some later date.
I have had two electric focuers and enjoyed them both. As you said it is great for not shaking the mount around as you focus.
Thanks for the tips on the focuser position. I will not be moving the scope in the rings often. For those of you who read my articles "What's Up", I do constellation studies. So I will spend several hours in the same general part of the sky. That is great for setting the tube in the rings and not touching it for a while.
I am looking forward to getting the scope before December New Moon and having it ready to go by then. I will certainly post on what I find.
As you can see from my signature, I have been using a 6 inch refractor for some years. It is a good scope, but only having 6 inches of aperture is somewhat limiting. So, the Universe supplied me with someone who will buy that scope from me once the 10 inch is working.
Clear skies to us all;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
|
dvb
different Syndrome.
Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 3038
|
|
Quote:
dvb;
Did you NEED to go to a Moonlite focuer or was it just a good deal and on a somewhat better rig?
What does DUP mean?
With the standard rings, could you rotate the tube by loosening the clamps and carefully moving the tube around within them, then tightening the clamps?
Maybe HO means Hardin Optical?? I am getting tired of living in a world of Three Letter Acronyms...nobody speaks plainly anymore. The fault of politicians?
Thanks;
Steve Coe
Hi Steve,
The focuser that comes with it is a very decent Rack and Pinion for visual. But, I saw a good deal on a MoonLite, and it really is a nice thing to have - though it adds to the weight.
You got me on "DUP" plate - that acronym bugs me, too. Just means "Dovetail/Universal Plate", a standard mounting plate for Losmandy-type mounts, which the telescope rings attach to, and which then fits into the saddle.
You can rotate the tube by loosening the stock rings, but I would really want the security of a "Wilcox" ring. (There is lots to be found about Wilcox rings by searching Cloudy Nights, and on Andy's Shotglass.)
--------------------
"But seeing through a telescope is 50% vision and 50% imagination." - Chet Raymo
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Celestron CF 9.25"
Vixen CF 8" f/4 Newt
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100
Skywatcher ED80
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
AT Voyager
Canon 15x50is
Mallincam HyperColor Plus
|
stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2648
Loc: Arizona, USA
|
|
I will look up the rings on Andy's Shotglass. I think I will try the stock rings for the first few times out and see if they are good enough for me.
Thanks;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
|
dvb
different Syndrome.
Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 3038
|
|
One tip on the Wilcox rings - instead of joining together two "hose clamps" as Andy suggests, see if you can get a single 14" "gear clamp". Same thing, just longer.
--------------------
"But seeing through a telescope is 50% vision and 50% imagination." - Chet Raymo
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Celestron CF 9.25"
Vixen CF 8" f/4 Newt
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100
Skywatcher ED80
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
AT Voyager
Canon 15x50is
Mallincam HyperColor Plus
|
stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2648
Loc: Arizona, USA
|
|
Ted at Skies Unlimited told me that the scope is on its way and I will pick up after Thanksgiving. I had a shipped to a friend's house because I live in my RV. I am looking forward to getting it all together and viewing during New Moon in December.
Fun, fun, fun;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
|
skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2105
Loc: Arizona
|
|
Nice Steve! I think you will really enjoy it!
|
|
3 registered and 4 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: Don W, werewolf6977, Jason B
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 872
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
