3517 replies to this topic

[maknswarf]

Hi all.

Just received my 1st ever telescope a few days ago, which is the AWB Onesky. I took it out last night briefly, as it's super cold here in upper Michigan, and even with gloves on my hands began to sting after about 15 - 20 minutes of unguided viewing. Just wanted to get the scope out and look at the sky! After my hands couldn't take anymore of the cold, I packed it down, placed the dust cover on, and brought it back inside. I then noticed a decent layer of condensation forming over the outside of the scope, and didn't remove the dust cap as I didn't want moisture to get inside. I imagine moisture would probably form inside regardless, and wonder if I should just leave the dust cap off next time so that any moisture inside is able to evaporate right away? Hoping someone could shed some light on this, as I'm completely new to telescopes and don't want to mess anything up. Thanks, and clear skies!

I don't know about reflectors since I'm a newbie as well and I have a refractor but I was told to leave it on the mount/tripod and put it in a horizontal position with lens cap and focuser cap off to let it air out, when it is at room temp then you can store it.

[cookjaiii]

If you must bring it in inside from the cold, keep the top cover on and don't open it up until the mirrors have reached room temp.  The idea is to not let warm humid air into the tube where it will condense on the mirrors.  That takes pretty long since the primary mirror is a big hunk of glass and doesn't equilibrate very rapidly - I'd say no less than an hour.  For good measure, you could put a plastic shower cap on the bottom of the tube to prevent warm air from getting in around the mirror cell.  Or you could put the whole thing in an airtight bag before bringing it inside.  Once the scope has reached room temp you can open it up to let any water that was trapped in the tube to dry out.  

 

Do the same thing with your eyepieces.  A simple baggie will work.

 

Winter observing is challenging, but also rewarding because the air is so dry and transparent.

 

Congrats on the new scope.

[Stille]

I've noticed that my scope tends to lose focus a bit when observing near the zenith. I had a ES 24mm/68deg in the focuser, no Barlow. Any idea what might be happening, and how I can fix it so I don't have to refocus when switching from high to low and viceversa?

[Clown]

Just ordered my AWB scope and anxiously awaiting its arrival.  In the meantime I am trying to learn as much as possible about the scope (and this group is fantastic!).  I have downloaded instructions for the shroud and another for an adjustable stand using 2x4 lumber.

 

I am retired so need to spend wisely.  I am hoping to find a free or shareware software that would allow me to put in my coordinates and then be able to view the sky I will see from my patio.  Does anyone have a favorite that will do this?

 

I am not going to buy any extra lenses etc. til I have had a chance to look around the sky and get a better understanding of what I want to explore, but I am thinking of buying a Moon Filter and would appreciate knowing which is the best fit for my scope.

 

Thanks to any and all that help me on my way!

Dave

[cookjaiii]

I've noticed that my scope tends to lose focus a bit when observing near the zenith. I had a ES 24mm/68deg in the focuser, no Barlow. Any idea what might be happening, and how I can fix it so I don't have to refocus when switching from high to low and viceversa?

The 24mm ES is a pretty heavy eyepiece.  I wonder if there might be some flexing or wobble of the focuser that is causing your issue.   Do you have a firm fit between the two parts of the focuser (i.e., are the threads loose or tight when the 24mm ES is focused?  Does the same thing happen when you use a lighter eyepiece such as the 25mm that came with your scope?

 

I also have a 24mm ES but never noticed this phenomenon, but I use a hose clamp to hold my focuser threads tight and steady. (Search this thread for "radial compression" to see what I am referring to.)

 

Let us know what you find out.

[cookjaiii]

Just ordered my AWB scope and anxiously awaiting its arrival.  In the meantime I am trying to learn as much as possible about the scope (and this group is fantastic!).  I have downloaded instructions for the shroud and another for an adjustable stand using 2x4 lumber.

 

I am retired so need to spend wisely.  I am hoping to find a free or shareware software that would allow me to put in my coordinates and then be able to view the sky I will see from my patio.  Does anyone have a favorite that will do this?

 

I am not going to buy any extra lenses etc. til I have had a chance to look around the sky and get a better understanding of what I want to explore, but I am thinking of buying a Moon Filter and would appreciate knowing which is the best fit for my scope.

 

Thanks to any and all that help me on my way!

Dave

I never use my Moon filter.  A full Moon looks very bright at first, but your eye adapts to it.  If you have sunglasses, you could try looking at the moon while wearing them to see if it improves your view.  

 

If you are on a limited budget, I think the best purchase you could make is a 2x Barlow lens. That with the 10mm eyepiece will give you high magnification for the Moon, planets, globular clusters, and double stars.  That way you are covered for high, low, and medium magnification.

 

Congrats on the new scope.  

[Lazaroff]

I am retired so need to spend wisely.  I am hoping to find a free or shareware software that would allow me to put in my coordinates and then be able to view the sky I will see from my patio.  Does anyone have a favorite that will do this?

 

I am not going to buy any extra lenses etc. til I have had a chance to look around the sky and get a better understanding of what I want to explore...

With what kind of computer/tablet/phone do you plan to use your software? With a little more information I'm sure there are people on this forum who'd have good suggestions.

 

I agree completely with cookjaiii about the barlow lens. We could give you specific recommendations if you wanted.

[clearwaterdave]

Stille.,Check that your knobs holding the scope open are snug.,if loosened up it could slide down a bit with the heavier ep.,but not enough to notice in the dark.,

  

As far as refocusing.,you need to do it unless your eyepiece's are parafocal.,You can try using rubber rings on them and that can get them close to the same.,

[Clown]

With what kind of computer/tablet/phone do you plan to use your software? With a little more information I'm sure there are people on this forum who'd have good suggestions.

 

I agree completely with cookjaiii about the barlow lens. We could give you specific recommendations if you wanted.

Please do, I am just starting out, still learning the language and nuances so suggestions and guidance are my best friend.

 

I will put this either on my laptop or desk unit, each is a Windows 10 with tons of hard drive and gigs of memory. 

Edited by Clown, Yesterday, 09:22 PM.

[clearwaterdave]

Clown.,Agena astro has the Meade 2x barlow on sale for $25.,.all good reviews.,Next cheapest I saw at a quick search was $40., 

  I think it will work well in the OS.,I think I'll get one for myself at that price.,lol.,

[Clown]

A question about the forum.  As I am reading people suggest you go to a certain page and read a certain posting.  I know there is a search section but when I put in that information it only shows the later posting telling you to go back.  The Forum is so big it can take several minutes to backtrack at 2 pages at a time.  Is there a method of jumping back a hundred or so pages to read an older posting?

[jlcop]

A question about the forum.  As I am reading people suggest you go to a certain page and read a certain posting.  I know there is a search section but when I put in that information it only shows the later posting telling you to go back.  The Forum is so big it can take several minutes to backtrack at 2 pages at a time.  Is there a method of jumping back a hundred or so pages to read an older posting?

Yes there is. Highlight the "Page 141 of 141" at the bottom and it will bring up where you can jump to whatever page you want. 

John

[Stille]

cookjaiii:

 

The focuser does, indeed, feel a bit loose. Hose clamp method makes sense - I wonder if I should also apply some grease though, for smoothness of motion. As it is, focuser can feel seriously stiff on cold days

 

clearwaterdave: 

 

Yes, that might also have been a problem - I've lost one of the knobs and replaced it with a regular M5 screw - this might not be working very well When I said refocusing though, I meant for the single eyepiece I was using - I wouldn't have blinked if I was playing with more than one, but it's a bit strange when a fixed-length EP is not parfocal with itself

[Clown]

Yes there is. Highlight the "Page 141 of 141" at the bottom and it will bring up where you can jump to whatever page you want. 

John

Thank you so much, you saved my a lot of time as I hop around here!!

[clearwaterdave]

Thank you so much, you saved my a lot of time as I hop around here!!

Me too.,I didn't know about that feature.,then again.,I don't know how to copy+paste either.,lol.,

[Zwick]

Just ordered my AWB scope and anxiously awaiting its arrival.  In the meantime I am trying to learn as much as possible about the scope (and this group is fantastic!).  I have downloaded instructions for the shroud and another for an adjustable stand using 2x4 lumber.

 

I am retired so need to spend wisely.  I am hoping to find a free or shareware software that would allow me to put in my coordinates and then be able to view the sky I will see from my patio.  Does anyone have a favorite that will do this?

 

Congrats on the scope. You will enjoy it.

If you already use a smartphone, there are some pretty good free star map apps available. No need to even put in your coordinates, enable the location features in the phone and it knows where you are. Further, many of them can be pointed at the area of the sky you are interested in and identify the more prominent objects there using orientation sensors in the phone. Specific recommendations will depend on whether the phone is Android or iPhone.

[clearwaterdave]

Having a planisphere to play around with is a very good way to start getting familiar with the stars/constellations.,Also the Orion DeepMap 600 is great.,

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[Lazaroff]

[Concerning barlow lens] Please do, I am just starting out, still learning the language and nuances so suggestions and guidance are my best friend.

 

[Concerning planetarium program] I will put this either on my laptop or desk unit, each is a Windows 10 with tons of hard drive and gigs of memory. 

I always recommend a particular barlow that's well suited to the OneSky and cheap on eBay. See this earlier post:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ders/?p=9195371

 

Can't help you with the program. Hope someone else can.

Edited by Lazaroff, Today, 01:54 PM.