Explore Scientific Twilight II Mount - First Light
#1
Posted 25 September 2010 - 04:37 PM
I should mention here, apart from the CPC925, I have an Orion EON 72mm refractor, that I piggyback in rings on the CPC for guiding and imaging. For starters, until I decide on an additional scope to throw into the mix, I wanted to get a grab-and-go mount to use with the EON. I thought I was heading in the Vixen Porta-Mount route, but it was suggested at one of the local telescope shops (we're lucky here in southern California) that I check out the Explore Scientific Twilight II mount. I could see right away online it was a nice beefy looking mount, capable of holding some heavy scopes (like my CPC925 if it wasn't fork mounted). And when I say some heavy scopes, I mean, more than one scope at a time, with a duel dovetail t-bar. I was curious that the scope had no slow motion controls, but was told "use your pinkie finger, it's as smooth as butter." So I ordered one, and picked it up at the shop a few days later.
So yesterday afternoon I open the two boxes. It arrived in perfect, shape, well packaged, with NO instructions, not even a brochure so I can drool at their big APO. Fortunately, it wasn't too complicated, and I had already read another Twilight owners thread here (thank you!) about greasing up the plastic washer as you assemble the mount head. Even after greasing, the Azimuth felt way stiff, but I packed up my gear, and headed...for work...in lovely light polluted Burbank, CA with a lovely view of the neighboring, well illuminated, airport.
My friend and coworker has been itching to get a scope, and I was itching to try my new mount, so about 1AM we got to set up outside in the courtyard. Setup took, well, maybe two minutes. And Jupiter was centered up in a Meade UWA 18mm shortly after. It was very crisp, and we didn't have to chase it much at all with the mount with this magnification (25x). I put in a Meade UWA 6.7mm eyepiece (65x), and then had a bit of a struggle re-centering as the Azimuth was still quite stiff, but this gets much, much better later. The alt was already very smooth, but by the end of the evening, we were using our pinkie fingers to track AltAz. The Azimuth became smooth as butter, as promised, after about two hours of slewing and tracking.
We then put a 2x barlow on the 6.7mm, at 130x giving the most pleasing view of the planet for the evening. Multiple bands were clearly visible, and I believe we watched Io's shadow work it's way across the planet. Even at 130x power, we had to track rather minimally to keep up with Jupiter. Then I got cocky and threw the 5x Teleview on, and couldn't find Jupiter again. ;-)
We then did some Lunar observing, finding Mare Crisium with some pleasing relief around it's borders. The only time we had to truly "real-time" track, was on the moon with a ridiculous 5x Teleview on the 6.7mm UWA, giving 325x power. You know, Mare Crisium held up quite well, filling a good portion of the field, but it was visibly moving, and required a bit of track ahead and view, track ahead and view. Still, very cool, and satisfying.
We also viewed M45 Pleiades Cluster, and M42 Orion Nebula , which we got a nice pop with when I threw on a Lumicon UHC filter. At this point in the evening, the Azimuth was so smooth, we didn't even realize it. All of a sudden we we tracking targets without much thought to it. At this time another coworker came by and we retraced our path from Jupiter to the Moon to the Orion Nebula. I don't believe he'd seen any of this through a telescope before, and was truly in awe. "There's lines running through Jupiter! Are those it's moons?" It's always exciting to show these wonders to someone new.
I have to say so far I am thrilled with the Twilight II mount. I've yet to put a real load on it, with my setup weighing maybe 10-12 pounds. But I've been thinking of a 120mm APO or possibly a 150 MAK. In any case, I'm looking forward to getting a side-by-side scope set-up going. And Once I pick up a simple guide scope for the CPC925, I'm looking forward to many nights viewing the skies, while my imaging setup records them.
I'm not a big review writer, so I'm sure there are many unanswered questions. Please feel free to ask, and I'll do my best to answer. And if I get a chance this weekend, I'll try and add some pictures of the setup.
Also, any suggestions on an observing chair?
#4
Posted 27 September 2010 - 12:00 AM
#5
Posted 27 September 2010 - 08:48 AM
#6
Posted 15 October 2010 - 05:44 PM
#7
Posted 15 October 2010 - 06:32 PM
Believe it or not,I'm in the same situation.I got my lx200 back in may.I did about 1 month of observing,and after that I got the "imaging fever".As you said,once I setup my scope,wedge and the 72mm on top of it,I'm only a T-adapter away from imaging,and that's what I ended up doing the past 3 months,just imaging and no observing at all.
There were plenty of good deals on used OTA's the past 3-4 months,but not having a second mount I ended up buying nothing.Finally a deal came across,the Atlas mount with a 10"newt. OTA.Now I'm in the progress to setup and run the Atlas,once I figure out things then I'll have one setup for imaging,and the other for observing.I use to go outside of town for imaging back in summer,and it was really boring because there was nothing for me to do,now with 2 setups I can keep myself busy.Sadly the cold weather is coming,and not planning to do whole lot of observing,but I'll be ready for the next season for sure:)
Btw:that mount will handle 120mm APO,I was just at the dealer where I usually buy stuff,He has the ES127ED and the ES 6"Maknewt. on the same mount.
I like your new set-up,and I'm sure you will enjoy every second of it:)
Tibor,
#8
Posted 15 October 2010 - 09:26 PM
#9
Posted 15 October 2010 - 10:57 PM
About how tall is the dovetail? (I sit all day at work and would like to stand at night.)
#10
Posted 15 October 2010 - 11:16 PM
#11
Posted 16 October 2010 - 01:21 AM
#12
Posted 16 October 2010 - 04:51 AM
When it is the same, then you are able to carry a C9.25 And a 4 " Apo without any problems. I saw once a C11 on the Giro...Can someone tell if this is a re-brand Giro?
#13
Posted 16 October 2010 - 04:15 PM
#15
Posted 17 October 2010 - 01:28 AM
I do know it will handle a C6 SCT and a Orion 120 ST f/5 together if balanced correctly. Mine feels very solid.
No instructions came with mine. So be ready for that.
Also note that the dovetail clamp does not have the extra thumb safety bolt you see on other dovetail clamps.
#16
Posted 24 October 2010 - 04:38 PM
Tibor - the Atlas sounds great. Now having a mount that takes a variety of scopes, is making me want a variety of scopes. I could only piggyback on the wedge mounted CPC before, which limits scope options. The latest bug in my head now is a GEM, so I can image through a variety of scopes. Help!
LakeOrion - the dovetail sits at 4 feet max extension. A Newt would be great for standing. Short tubes are ok for a bit of hunched over standing. I had it out camping a week ago, with the two scopes set up, and was able to have kids and adults view a number of targets quite happily. A few passer-bys had never looked through a telescope, and it's always a great feeling to have them say wow!
Rat - the legs are 2" in diameter at the top, and 1.5" for the lower
extension.
I put a Meade 127mm LXD55 achromatic refractor on it last night. Hey, the guy selling it was 5 minutes down the street. $200. The thing looks
like I'm launching a missile. Wonderful views through the haze and clouds. Actually, there were a few decent windows last night, and too it up to 350x on the moon. A minor purple fringe on the edge of the moon, but the scope is very sharp, and collimation was perfect. Wish I could get my SCTs that perfect. The mount handled the scope very well, and it think it'll do even better with a second scope on the mount. I should note, I'm not real-time tracking the targets. I find the only real rock-solid view to be parking the scope, and allowing the target to pass through the view. Using Meade 18mm UWA and 6.7 UWA eyepieces helps lengthen the views I get this way.
As for big SCTs, I'd certainly trust my 9.25 on there, were it not fork mounted, and I would think maybe an 11", but i'm not experienced with that large of a scope.
I'll try and post a side-by-side comparison of C6 SCT 1500mm and the Meade 5" 1180mm achro once the skies clear.
#17
Posted 25 October 2010 - 09:01 AM
I know that if you keep imaging,eventually you going to "give in".Not saying that the "fork-mount"is bad,it just limit you for mounting different scopes.
Now..If something nice comes up(OTA)I can just go ahead and get it.As far as the Atlas,I'm a bit over 30lb.,just with the 10"OTA and the cameras and the finder/guider,but it handles the weight without a hiccup.
First night with my new SSAG I was doing 5 minutes,didn't try to go longer since my 5 minutes subs were "washed out"
LP and the OTA is just way too fast...
Tibor,
#18
Posted 27 November 2010 - 01:02 PM
#19
Posted 29 November 2010 - 01:48 PM
#20
Posted 29 November 2010 - 02:06 PM
HiJust read your review do you think encoders could be put on this mount? Anthony
JMI can probably outfit the ES mount with encoders and mounting hardware, but will cost you :money:
http://www.jimsmobil...rs and Hardware
#21
Posted 29 November 2010 - 03:10 PM
#22
Posted 19 December 2010 - 07:12 PM
Also do you need another scope or counterweight on the other side of the mount?
Dave
#23
Posted 22 December 2010 - 10:33 AM
Dave
#24
Posted 21 February 2011 - 11:10 AM
The tripod is the same as the Meade/Jinghua LXD-75's, which leads us back up the supply chain to the People's Liberation Army.
Explore Scientific is a brand used by the Chinese Military & Professional Optics Corp. Somehow it, the Nanjing North Instrument Technology Industries Group, Jinghua, Bosma, Maxvision and Gilman Zhang are all associated. Given the lack of transparancy of Red Chinese corporations their relationships are only subject to speculation.
#25
Posted 16 December 2012 - 01:15 PM