2469 replies to this topic

[dpippel]

[Herr Ointment]

Ya, but that observing location looks pretty....well great, actually!

 

I'm beyond jealous, Sir.

[dpippel]

It's most certainly a great location. The light dome from metro Phoenix is an issue to the east, but it's remote and dark and a bit special to my girlfriend and I. I feel very fortunate to live in an area where places like this are easily available.

Edited by dpippel, 28 September 2014 - 12:15 PM.

[jwheel]

Here is my C90 riding on my Parallax Instruments HD200C. While the scope is a tad over mounted, it is extremely stable -- even in high winds!

[RuneK]

First light for my new Edge 8" on AVX mount the other night. GPS and StarSense. Worked perfect!

 

No, I have also mounted a guidescope and NexGuide autoguider. 

 

Edited by RuneK, 04 October 2014 - 05:28 AM.

[Jan Owen]

Installed a Kokusai Kohki guide handle on the C-6... Nice improvement for effortless panning.

Edited by Jan Owen, 03 October 2014 - 11:08 PM.

[dpippel]

Just installed a new Feathertouch Crayford on the C9.25" Edge. Tonight will be the third night out with it and I'm in love...

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Edited by dpippel, 05 October 2014 - 07:56 PM.

[RuneK]

Observing at the pool must be nice! I need boots, wintercap and warm clothes during the whole season.

[Herr Ointment]

The pool would be good!

[contedracula]

Sold in September...

 

[junomike]

I already have a C14 and C11 (NS11GPS), but decided to try a used 8" EdgeHD with the active cooling (Tempest fans already installed) for the colder months.

Also interested in seeing if I see much of a difference from the Standard version (FC not usually an issue for me).

The parcel arrived safely after a long trek from CA.

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Edited by junomike, 10 October 2014 - 09:59 PM.

[junomike]

Unpackaged with OEM accessories (plus power supply for fans and second Dovetail) as well as "Corrector" shot. 

 

Mike

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Edited by junomike, 10 October 2014 - 10:05 PM.

[junomike]

As soon as I made the purchase for the EdgeHD along came a heated Dew Shield (classifieds).  Fits perfect, but I'll have to remove the second dovetail Bar (black) as the DS only has one cut out and won't seat far enough to properly position the Dew Heater. I also found an old Baader SCT - 2" Compression VB which fits nicely.

 

Mike

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Edited by junomike, 10 October 2014 - 10:05 PM.

[Chassetter]

Nexstar 4SE ota and Gibraltar mount

 

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[dpippel]

Just picked up one of those closeout 6" Meade LX80 OTAs. Very nice little CAT. Here it is on my Celestron NexStar SE mount...

 

 

 

Edited by dpippel, 22 October 2014 - 09:12 AM.

[Herr Ointment]

Here she is, Miss Neglected.

 

 

[Mariner@sg]

An Axiom as a scope counterweight?

 

[Herr Ointment]

Here's a LINK to the thread!

[Curt B]

I would like to see somebody convert an Ethos eyepiece into a counterweight!

[seawolfe]

I would like to see somebody convert an Ethos eyepiece into a counterweight!

 

If someone ever did that, they either dropped it to the point that it broke badly, or they have deep pockets of money to burn. 

[Alex Parker]

When I decided to get a long FL scope on a GEM, I looked around and observed that the C8 was a really affordable scope, for what it is, even in Edge HD format.  So I decided to plunk down for one.  Then the inevitable "upgrade frenzy" started to make that affordable scope not so affordable...

The first spend-up was to decide to get the CGEM rather than AVX mount.  Better for AP, I told myself, although I don't really do that (yet).

Then I decided I needed a RACI finder (why does Celestron provide a straight-through finder?  Whose neck wants to deal with that?) and a Feathertouch dual-speed focuser.

Of course, you have to have the built-in TEMPest cooling fans to avoid those cool-down issues.  The ano-orange knobs are just for fun.  I was a bit annoyed that Celestron only provide a 12VDC power cord for the mount.  Rather than buy the 120VAC power supply that should have come with the mount, I set up a little power distribution center on one leg of the tripod, which provides a place to plus in the TEMPest as well.

I also got an Astrozap heated dew shield (essential here in New Hampshire), and was REALLY annoyed that Astrozap again wants you to buy the power cord separately (for 30 bucks!).  A 2 dollar part from Radio shack and a left-over 12vDC corded plug I had lying around solved that - now the dew heater will plug into the 12VDC power block as well...

 

Of course I got maybe an hour of dark skies before it clouded up.  Long enough to run through the multi-star alignment routine on the CGEM and verify that it does a really good job.  Next time I can take it out I will try the all-star routine that allows you to dial in the RA axis polar alignment... 

[Alex Parker]

When I decided to get a long FL scope on a GEM, I looked around and observed that the C8 was a really affordable scope, for what it is, even in Edge HD format.  So I decided to plunk down for one.  Then the inevitable "upgrade frenzy" started to make that affordable scope not so affordable...

 

The first spend-up was to decide to get the CGEM rather than AVX mount.  Better for AP, I told myself, although I don't really do that (yet).

 

Then I decided I needed a RACI finder (why does Celestron provide a straight-through finder?  Whose neck wants to deal with that?) and a Feathertouch dual-speed focuser.

 

Of course, you have to have the built-in TEMPest cooling fans to avoid those cool-down issues.  The ano-orange knobs are just for fun.  I was a bit annoyed that Celestron only provide a 12VDC power cord for the mount.  Rather than buy the 120VAC power supply that should have come with the mount, I set up a little power distribution center on one leg of the tripod, which provides a place to plus in the TEMPest as well.

 

I also got an Astrozap heated dew shield (essential here in New Hampshire), and was REALLY annoyed that Astrozap again wants you to buy the power cord separately (for 30 bucks!).  A 2 dollar part from Radio shack and a left-over 12vDC corded plug I had lying around solved that - now the dew heater will plug into the 12VDC power block as well...

 

Of course I got maybe an hour of dark skies before it clouded up.  Long enough to run through the multi-star alignment routine on the CGEM and verify that it does a really good job.  Next time I can take it out I will try the all-star routine that allows you to dial in the RA axis polar alignment... 

Forgot to mention the TeleVue 2" visual back.  Also put a mount plate for my Rigel QuickFinder on there....

 

I think I've got it about done now!  Hopefully there'll be some good observing weather soon...

[evan9162]

Mid-80s Meade 2120 GEM

 

The tripod and counterweights need some refurbishing.  Working on motorizing the GEM right now...

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[ehallspqr]

C8 XLT, Nova Hitch PTM  on Manfrotto 3058 Tripod, Nexus wifi module & Sky Safari steering things

 

[evan9162]

Setting up for the night (same 2120GEM as before)

....

and then a few hours later at near-0 temperatures...

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