499 replies to this topic

[Randy Roy]

Here is another vantage point showing why I need the smaller footprint of the the JMI versus the Scopebuggy.

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[bkushner]

Great set up Randy, you can stargaze while your waiting for the fish to bite.

Brian

[Ohatchee]

The new picture makes it seem like your house was designed with a telescope observation point in mind. Nice setup. My comment earlier was definitely a compliment....about your view from both the deck with your eyes, as well as your telescope!

[yonkrz]

What a great spot,hope you get to take advantage of it.

[Paul McC]

What an awesome and commanding looking place! Wow!

[Randy Roy]

Thanks guys. I recently retired and am out every clear night. I've been in the hobby continuously since I was 10 (I'm 56 now) and have never had a place to keep my scopes set up full-time. I have a tool cart that I use for my eyepieces and accessories, so all I have to do is roll out the CPC and roll out the accessory cart and I am in business. There is no more hauling out the cases, setting up, tearing down and packing back up again, except when I go to a public observing event or to your club's observing site. These CPCs are really neat for that.

Randy

[bkushner]

46 years! Is there anything you've yet to see?

[Randy Roy]

Sorry for not seeing this question sooner. I was fortunate to find Saturn, Jupiter, M42 and the Moon in the months after getting my first scope at age 10. I mostly just happened upon them, looking at bright objects. If the sight of Saturn and Jupiter for the first time doesn't hook someone, this probably isn't the hobby for them. Since then, I have always had at least one scope and have never missed more than a month or so, here and there without observing.

And the best thing is, though I have seen thousands of objects (stars, nebulae, clusters, asteroids, and galaxies, I haven't seen everything yet and of what I have seen, I enjoy the reruns as much as the premieres.

Randy

[Ohatchee]

Finally got around to taking some pictures of my setup. Here it is......

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[bkushner]

Very nice Brian!

Brian

[Ohatchee]

Thanks Brian.....it is kind of like sharing baby pictures with your friends!!

[Altazi]

Just one question - do those ScopeBuggies fit hitches with 1-7/8" or 2" balls?

Seriously, I'm really glad that some of these pictures included people for size reference. These things are HUGE. I was hoping for an 11" CPC, but now I fear my wife will take one look at it and say "no way!"

Maybe I should start looking at 16" dobs, show my wife what they look like, and then "settle" for a little CPC1100

[Ohatchee]

Good strategy.....show her the 16" Dob and guilt her into the CPC1100. Now you are thinking!

[krackerjack9]

That is a excellent plan and should be nominated for some sort of prize!!

[Paul McC]

Nice setup, Brian! The counterweight looks cool, too. I've always wondered what they look like and how it's configured on a CPC 1100. Is that one weight enough for all the stuff on the scope? (I'm guessing yes) With that weight in place, do you get perfect balance without the clutches locked in all orientations of the scope? (11" SCT Celestrons are kinda back heavy- it might be worth it even without the extras)

Do scope buggys lock the tripod down in anyway or does it just sit on there? If going up/down a hill, isn't there a chance of the scope toppling over? (I see a bungee cable on one leg)

Thanks,
Paul

[Altazi]

Hi Paul,

I looked at a CPC1100 sitting on a scope buggy at the Sunriver Observatory. The tripod legs appear to just sit in the little holes, although if you shorten the legs, the metal caps on the ends of the legs will catch just underneath the top parts of the holes in the scope buggy. I wouldn't think this would be very robust in retaining the tripod. I would hope that there would be some more secure method for holding the scope in place, other than just gravity.

Regards,

Altazi

[Elliot]

Here is mine;

[Elliot]

Here is the new Feather Touch;

[rrenauc237]

How do you like the scopebuggy? I am considering getting one for my soon to arrive CPC9.25. How does it compare to the weelie bar from JMI. The wheels on the scopebuggy look much better.

[BVirgo]

Really nice set up Elliot. Obviously a lot of thought (and I won't mention $$$) went into getting your observatory the way you wanted. How are the views with that 31T5? It's on my dream wish-list.

Bryce

[Elliot]

Thanks! And yes a lot of cabbage has gone into this hobby.

The views are nothing short of amazing. Its the "Cadillac" (Do people still say Cadillac?) of eyepices.

[Pedestal]

Fresh out of the box...

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[Pedestal]

One more shot..
Hubert

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[Steve Hopkins]

My Wife's CPC.9.25 next to my 12 inch,Sorry for the picture but it is the only one I have with me a work.
I will say that the Little CPC 9.25 is optically fantastic.
It is on par with the 12 inch as far as sharpness of Image.

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[Andreas]

Here is a couple of shots of my CPC 1100 on my deck with my home made light block that extends all the way around me.

Andreas