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My StellarVue is here!

Started by Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_* , Dec 01 2003 08:42 PM
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195 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 08:42 PM

Guess what was waiting for me when I got home! :jump: My SV 80/9D was shipped out on Saturday and it was here today! All the way from NJ!

Ok, here I am, in the cloud capital of the world and it is clear as a bell outside! :cool: To bad my mount isn't ready for the scope!!! :shocked: :foreheadslap: I haven't made the adapter for the mount yet! :tonofbricks: OMG, what to do... :question:

I'll think of something...

#2 miniventures

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 08:57 PM

WOOHOO TOM!!! That's good news. Wait a minute, it's clear as a bell in Lake Oswego and I can't even see my barn in one of the only Dark Sky areas left in Oregon because of the fog and rain now what's wrong with this picture????? :bawling: I have a really novel idea for you, why don't you drag out your trusty 8 inch dob and give it some opportunity to look at the rarity you are experiencing atm? Can't wait to hear a report on your SV! LarryC


#3 ad701xx

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 09:06 PM

I could send you some of this Hawaiian rain back home if you like.

As to what to do...may I suggest duct tape? Maybe with some foam between the cradle and the tube? It would probably be better than hand held or leaning it against a fence post.

#4 rboe

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 09:12 PM

ad;

Duct tape was my first thought too! Thanks for posting before me, I've suggested too many crazy ideas already. :lol:

I thought rain in Hawaii was little blessing? :D

#5 Bill Grass

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 09:18 PM

Alright, Tom!! I hope you've improvised and are currently getting some observing in with the new scope!! :)

#6 ad701xx

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 09:21 PM

I guess they need it bad here, but apparently this is the most rain they've had in 5 years. To an Oregonian like me, it's just your usual December weather, but warmer.

Duct tape a crazy idea? I wouldn't know what to do without that stuff.

#7 rboe

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 09:34 PM

A good crazy though!

#8 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 10:23 PM

I dragged my photo tripod out (yes, it is WAAAAAY underpowered for this) and let it bob and weave on the moon and mars! It never really did settle but I got to see a clean, crisp moon (a lovely sight!)...I'm taking the dob out now and will try out my new eyepieces on a solid mount and still enjoy the view from both scopes! WooHoo!!!

BTW, duct tape has touched the Dob (had to attach the Telrad!), it will NOT touch the SV!!! (Good idea though!)

ad701xx, I need a first name, unless you want me to call you x.

Tom :smirk:

Sure is a purdy scope! Tom :jump:

#9 summitlake

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 10:42 PM

Awesome, Tom! Pix forthcoming? There may be photos of StellarVue out there already, but they're not photos of YOUR StellarVue :-)

#10 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 01 December 2003 - 11:43 PM

Hey Larry, Doesn't it just drive you crazy! It cleared around 3 this afternoon (about the time the mailman dropped the scope off), and is still clear with some high clouds now but starting to degrade, fog is supposed to come in later. I was able to get the SV out again, let it calm down and didn't let anyone touch the scope. The view of the moon with the 5.8mm EP was just perfect, Mars looked very clean also even though the atmosphere seems to be a bit bubbly. I need a very steady mount to give it a real workout though.

Alex, when I mount it on its permanent mount, I'll post pics! My little camera tripod is good for my digital camera with a calm wind and that's about all. I thought about quickly fashioning a block of wood for the 114GT mount but I really didn't have time tonight (had to make dinner, do KP, etc).

The dob with the new Antares eyepieces is doing very nicely right now and I'm glad to have it out of the closest for some lunar views! Right now I'm waiting for M45 to clear the top of the house and I'll be out for the rest of the evening.

Sure is nice to get out again. Thanks everyone for sharing my excitment. Tom :jump: :rainbow:

#11 Echo

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 12:32 AM

Tom,
Congratulations! I'm glad you got clear skies even if the mount situation wasn't the greatest. Can't wait to hear a report once the whole setup is ready.

#12 ad701xx

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 12:42 AM

Sorry Tom, you can call me Dave. Congrats on the new scope. I'll be interested in how it works for you when you get it solidly mounted. I ordered an Orion 80ED last night and hopefully it'll ship about when I arrive back in Oregon. I already have a new objective waiting for me when I get back home. I know we'll have 2 months of solid clouds when I return, so you better make the best of your observing now. ;)

#13 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 12:50 AM

Hi Dave! I think once that 80ED shows up, you, Keith (Heli Bass) and I should do a comparison. I would love to see how the 80ED looks.

I came in for about 30 minutes...it was perfectly clear with high clouds just starting to show. I went back out with every intent of staying outside for the next 2 hours when I looked up and saw a blanket of gray...not a star in sight.

Atleast it was clear long enough to get the SV broken in, the Dob out of the closet and the new eyepieces (and new TV barlow) tested. wonder when the next star break will be???

Enjoy Hawaii!

Echo, Thanks, I hope it will be this month...I want to study Saturn at the end of the month and may have to drive to clear skies to see it!

#14 ad701xx

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 02:35 AM

Sounds good Tom. We'll hook up when I get back to the mainland and get my new scope. Here's praying for clear skies. :praying:

#15 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 02:42 AM

Yeah Tom!

I would like a get together. Maybe we can find a Stellarvue 102 for comparison also.

Keep us posted

Keith

#16 matt

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 02:57 AM

If you don't want to use duct tape (I understand), you can use bungee cords, provided you can avoid the hooks touching the tube (it not only scratches the tube, it also makes it less stable)

#17 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 03:21 AM

Tom,
You don't have a light bucket dob, you have a cloud magnet.
Warpd

#18 Scott Beith

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 02:45 PM

Tom,
That is awesome that your scope arrived. My Stellarvue Nighthawk should arrive today or tomorrow. I am getting impatient. My CG-4 is ready and waiting for the new scope. Let us know what you think of the quality of build/ mechanics/ and of course the quality of the optics when you get the chance. Looking foreward to your observing reports.
Clear Skies,

Scott

#19 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 03:29 PM

Scott, as you can guess, the build quality and optics are quite good. I believe this to be a high quality scope and I hope to get a lot of use from it! I really only had the chance to view the moon and mars last night. I really couldn't see any hint of color, but I need a quiet, solid mount that isn't rockin' to Led Zepplin!

Warpd, I was glad to get the cloud magnet out last night...it reminds me just how good it really is! My oldest son and I spent a long time looking at the moon's craters at 206x

Wish I had thought of the bungee cords...that would have worked fine.

#20 Scott Beith

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 03:46 PM

Tom,
Which mount will you use with your SV? I chose a CG-4 for "grab and go" with my Nighthawk. Light weight (compared to my other mounts), but sturdy enough to offer performance with a short tube. Just received a 2" 32mm WA EP for use with the Nighthawk. I have been buying toys for a scope that hasn't arrived yet.

:lol:

Clouds are due to roll into this area by tomorrow. Sounds like a scope is due for delivery to me.

Clear Skies,

Scott

#21 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 03:55 PM

I'm sure you have read the Celestron 114GT thread here. I will mount this on the mount that comes with the 114GT scope. I will beef up the legs if I need to, but it gives me goto capabilities and the mount is surprisingly capable. I need to make the new mount head, but that will only take about an hour of woodworking to complete it.

I bought the William Optics 2" diag and the Antares 5.8mm and 8.6mm W70 eyepieces just for this scope, although I was very pleased with the eyepieces with my cloud magnet, errr, 8" Dob.

So if the Dob is a cloud magnet and the SV is a sky clearer, that would explain why the clouds parted long enough to use both scopes, but once I decided to use only the Dob, the cloud magnet kicked in. I see the error I made now! :foreheadslap:

#22 Scott Beith

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 04:07 PM

GOTO SV - that is cool. For my grab and go I am going low tech. Not even a RA drive. With the FOV I will have with the Nighthawk, I think this is a good option. My other scopes have drives, but this is simply a "Wow, the Milky Way looks good tonight" scope. Those W70 EP's should be great in the SV. I might be investing in a set for the Hawk. Pending your evaluation of course. ;)
Good luck with the mount, it seems like a perfect match.
Clear Skies,

Scott

#23 Trever

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 04:46 PM

The curse still lives, Tom. The clouds knew you couldnt use the scope. Thats why they are laying in wait until the mount arrives.

Sneaky little devils....

Its fantastic that it arrived in great shape. Congrats. Cant wait for a report soon.....I will be sending the filter out Wednesday BTW. I would have sent it today but I have been to the hospital most of the day....


#24 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 04:51 PM

I was all set to find a good, used CG-5 for the SV with maybe RA on it when it hit me that the 114GT mount would work great...especially since Costco has them for $200 bucks and it included GoTo! I'm going to try it with the current legs and if they aren't up to the task, I will make new one from some maple (or maybe cherry) I have on my woodrack.

Well, my newby opinion of the eyepieces will not be very scientific. I only have my Celestron and Astrola eyepieces to compare them to. They certainly found a permanent home with my Dob though...I'll not go back to the others for the higher mag eyepieces

#25 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 02 December 2003 - 04:59 PM

Hi Tom,
What type of adapter do you nee? I can whip one up real fast. I have a CG4 that was converted to accept dovetails.

I have acouple CG5s around that you can have next to nothing.

Al M
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