2547 replies to this topic

[astronz59]

My buttocks clench whenever I see telescopes set up beside a pool!  

[Luna-tic]

Getting set up for AP, seeing where things fit and cords don't snag.

 

[ABQJeff]

My buttocks clench whenever I see telescopes set up beside a pool!  

Despite not liking water, apparently Cats can swim quite well…

[johnfgibson]

My CPC 800 after outfitting with Reflectix.

[Exnihilo]

Despite not liking water, apparently Cats can swim quite well…

I used to set up my scopes by the pool of my old house, there really wasn't a good skyview anywhere else.  You get used to it, and learn to be very careful walking around at night.  On rule I have is that I never carry cellphones/electronics in my pockets when I'm by the pool.  The house I'm in now has a nice corner on the opposite side of the yard to set up, I call it the "Cactus Corner Observatory."

 

C11 Edge in the "Cactus Corner"

 

 

 

Here's the C6 on the SPDX, you can see the pool across the yard.  There's plenty of room to set up over there but I avoid it.  Both scopes have really good optics; the C11 Edge may even qualify as "freaky sharp."  The C8 I used to have, not so much.

 

Edited by Exnihilo, 27 May 2024 - 09:09 AM.

[aabusara]

I used to set up my scopes by the pool of my old house, there really wasn't a good skyview anywhere else.  You get used to it, and learn to be very careful walking around at night.  On rule I have is that I never carry cellphones/electronics in my pockets when I'm by the pool.  The house I'm in now has a nice corner on the opposite side of the yard to set up, I call it the "Cactus Corner Observatory."

 

C11 Edge in the "Cactus Corner"

 

Edge11_2.jpg

 

 

Here's the C6 on the SPDX, you can see the pool across the yard.  There's plenty of room to set up over there but I avoid it.  Both scopes have really good optics; the C11 Edge may even qualify as "freaky sharp."  The C8 I used to have, not so much.

 

SPDX_C6_1.jpg

 

Yes unfortunately if I need access to southern skies I have to set beside the pool. I also like setting up on concrete as opposed to squishy grass when doing high focal length imaging. 

[R Botero]

The 10" f/20 Mak during visual duty last Saturday:

 

[DennyD]

My Meade ETX125 AT.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[writerguy]

Cat update!

 

I've been using a Neewer fluid video head with my Skymax 90 Mak, and while I love the weight and portability, I do find it has a bit too much stiction for really fine adjustments. I've been dealing with some annoying health issues, too; so to cheer myself up, I decided to try a light alt-az mount. Because buying gear is always fun!

 

Anyhow, I went with an AZT6SR from Teleskop-Express. (It's basically their version of the M1V.)

 

I trotted it out for a little solar observing session today, and really liked it! It weighs a fraction of a pound more than the fluid head, but seems much smoother. I'm hoping it will be clear tonight so I play around with it some more...

 

[Michel Trottier]

CAT Edge 800 setup for solar observing.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[RAKing]

After four years, I have set up a new C8-HD Edge.  This is my third one since they first came out in 2010.  My first one allowed me to split Sirius 14 years ago and I enjoyed my second one until I had to go through lots of medical procedures, then Covid, then cancer.

 

I don't know why I waited so long to set this one up.  The optics are wonderful on these scopes.

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

 

 

[RAKing]

I guess I should mention that all the extras on my new "Cat" are leftovers from my older ones.  The only change I made was in the collimation screws.  Since I am well into my "Golden Years", I felt it was appropriate to change the washers under my Allen head screws to Gold!  

 

Ron

 

 

[osbourne one-nil]

10pm on the village green last night, waiting to shoot the Moon…and bemuse anyone who saw me. 
 

[CHASLX200]

C11 on a CI700.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by CHASLX200, 18 June 2024 - 06:20 PM.

[Rick-T137]

10pm on the village green last night, waiting to shoot the Moon…and bemuse anyone who saw me. 
 

IMG_2255.jpeg

"Quick Ethel! Put yer housecoat on!"

[MHamburg]

Here's my Edge 11 in its most messy configuration.

Michael

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Rick-T137]

I may have lost my mind. I bought an AZ4 mount and put my 8" SCT on it. I still have the EQ-5 head so I can always switch back when I want tracking and to do some limited AP, but I really loved the idea of going completely manual. Using the scope like this reminds me of my old 10" Dob that I used to take everywhere with me (much to my wife's dismay!). Because I run my SCT super lean (just a red dot finder, 1.25" diagonal and eyepieces, and some Reflectix insulation) the AZ4 seems pretty okay with the whole situation.

 

I did some tests today and I was able to easily acquire objects (terrestrial) at over 300x using this set up. What I love about it is that it is so light, I can almost pick it up with one hand (almost!). Much lighter than the original fork mount with eq-wedge or with the EQ5 head along with the counterweights. I do have to shimmy the OTA a bit forward in the saddle to point it straight up, but even when sitting at its natural balance point, I can see over 80° vertically.

 

Forecast looks not to bad tonight, so Imma gonna take her for a spin!

 

My 2 scopes: Sky-Watcher Mercury 705 and Meade 2080 LX3/AZ4

 

Clear skies!

 

Rick

[CHASLX200]

ALT- AZ would drive me nuts using SLO- MO's since you are fighting two axis and not one with a EQ. At the powers i use it would get old fast.

[Rick-T137]

ALT- AZ would drive me nuts using SLO- MO's since you are fighting two axis and not one with a EQ. At the powers i use it would get old fast.

Even better... the AZ4 has *no* slo-mo controls! You just gotta nudge it like a Dob!

 

As I said, I kept the EQ-5 head in the event I want to do some tracking (ie: high power planetary observing). But I did manage to use the scope last night to track at over 300x and it wasn't too bad - even with my "soda straw" 50° Plössls!

 

"Back in the day" I had a 10" Dob that I just loved. I wound up selling it to a close friend and she still has it. So I'm no stranger to observing with a manual mount.

 

Clear skies!

 

Rick

[Kefka1138]

Even better... the AZ4 has *no* slo-mo controls! You just gotta nudge it like a Dob!

 

As I said, I kept the EQ-5 head in the event I want to do some tracking (ie: high power planetary observing). But I did manage to use the scope last night to track at over 300x and it wasn't too bad - even with my "soda straw" 50° Plössls!

 

"Back in the day" I had a 10" Dob that I just loved. I wound up selling it to a close friend and she still has it. So I'm no stranger to observing with a manual mount.

 

Clear skies!

 

Rick

Manual mounts FTW! Just sayin...

[ABQJeff]

Manual mounts FTW! Just sayin...

For 25x or less, sure! 

[Rick-T137]

For 25x or less, sure! 

Your hand needs to be steady Freddy!

 

I can easily use a manual mount at 200x with no issues...

 

"Hands of a sturgeon!"

 

Rick

[ABQJeff]

Your hand needs to be steady Freddy!

I can easily use a manual mount at 200x with no issues...

"Hands of a sturgeon!"

Rick

Mine are more like the “steady” shooting hand of Gene Wilder in Blazing Saddles…