191 replies to this topic

[MellonLake]

64C15AFA-41DC-412E-8DA8-C5F15526ACB2.jpeg

 

Just acquired this HOC 6-5 (6”, F5). I am totally new to astronomy. My kids got me a small refractor (70mm, F10) for my birthday in August and I got totally hooked. Purchased this on craigslist as the third owner. No manual, have to figure out everything myself, since Hardin Optical no longer makes telescopes. Very difficult to find anything about it on the internet. I love the challenge of figuring things out on my own and I love this scope. Learned how to find things by star hopping. Having two finderscopes (6x30 and a Telrad) is very helpful. Andromeda Galaxy was my first DSO and I squealed when I first found it  . 

Andromeda from dark skies in a good sized Newtonian is awesome!  It is so huge.  

[connywithay]

Thank you!

 

That is an equatorial fork mount.  It is not an equatorial platform or German equatorial mount.  It is not currently motor-driven.

 

The design was inspired in part by the original (as far as I know) fork mount designed by Leon Foucault in the 1800's

 

https://www.research..._fig1_228660965

 

http://www.hasi.gr/s..._section_10.pdf

 

The advantages of the design include full equatorial capabilities without the need for counterweights and complete control of the zenith.  There is no "Dobson hole" making the best part of the sky difficult to maneuver through and no issues with the OTA bumping into the tripod or pier that occur when using a GEM near the zenith.

 

Cheers!

That must be so nice! I just discovered what you are talking about as the limiting factors this week when I tried to look at some stuff almost 90degrees up. I thought I was gonna break my neck and then I gave up. Pitty, too. Was the first clear sky for almost a week and will be the only one for the next two where I am. Also made me rethink if I should get that 8” dob I am thinking about. ..

[cildarith]

That must be so nice! I just discovered what you are talking about as the limiting factors this week when I tried to look at some stuff almost 90degrees up. I thought I was gonna break my neck and then I gave up. Pitty, too. Was the first clear sky for almost a week and will be the only one for the next two where I am. Also made me rethink if I should get that 8” dob I am thinking about. ..

Congrats on the new (used) scope.  My first "real" telescope was a 6" f5; used it for 20 years.  I would try to get some mileage out if before upgrading to something bigger.  Get it to as dark a site as possible for the best results on deep-sky objects.

[connywithay]

Congrats on the new (used) scope.  My first "real" telescope was a 6" f5; used it for 20 years.  I would try to get some mileage out if before upgrading to something bigger.  Get it to as dark a site as possible for the best results on deep-sky objects.

Lucky for me, I live only about 40 miles away from Montville Observatory Park, an internationally recognized dark sky area, with a Bortle of 4.  Ive gone there many times, even as an eyeball astronomer. Nothing beats a dark sky! Thank you for encouraging me to take my time with getting a lightbucket. 

[cildarith]

Lucky for me, I live only about 40 miles away from Montville Observatory Park, an internationally recognized dark sky area, with a Bortle of 4.  Ive gone there many times, even as an eyeball astronomer. Nothing beats a dark sky! Thank you for encouraging me to take my time with getting a lightbucket. 

That's awesome!  Welcome to Cloudynights, by the way. 

[cuzimthedad]

OK, enough discussion. Let's see some more Newts!

[CCD-Freak]

OK....More pictures (^8

 

Here is the Sharpstar 150mm F2.8 Hyper Newt on my AP900 doing it's thing out in the "boot heel" of New Mexico last week.

 

Gotta love those Bortle 1 skies.

 

 

John

CCD-Freak

WD5IKX

[Meteor1]

My homemade 12" GEM Newtonian. Grubb-Parsons f/ 5.3 mirror, NGF-DX1 w/ motofocus. Weighs ~ 85 kg with the heavy mount. It's run by Dob Driver II, but unfortunately that stopped working about 10 days ago, have been running flawlessly for over 20 years. Any tip why the display won't come up on appreciated. ( There is a slight whizz in the motors, so they receive some electricity, obviously).

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[icomet]

My homemade 12" GEM Newtonian. Grubb-Parsons f/ 5.3 mirror, NGF-DX1 w/ motofocus. Weighs ~ 85 kg with the heavy mount. It's run by Dob Driver II, but unfortunately that stopped working about 10 days ago, have been running flawlessly for over 20 years. Any tip why the display won't come up on appreciated. ( There is a slight whizz in the motors, so they receive some electricity, obviously).

Welcome to CN.

 

Great scope. I like the rings on it. 

I build/restore scopes. I have currently ran out of Cave Astrola rotating rings for projects. Did you make the

ring/clam set up for your Newt.?

 

Clear Skies

[Meteor1]

Icomet - Yes I made the rings. Lined with felt on the inside. The scope moves easily around, and up and down in the plywood rings. Meteor1

[Pinbout]

6”f5

 

[MellonLake]

that is one light weight telescope... Very cool.   

[Pinbout]

that is one light weight telescope... Very cool.   

not as light as you'd think

[leonard]

not as light as you'd think

 

 

Hello Pinbout ,

 

                    That’s very nice , often thought about a set-up like that .

Do you use any kind of cover or leave it open ?

Do you find what would be tube currents , are completely Eliminated ? Boundary layer ?

[REDSHIFT39]

Skywatcher 150mm f/5 with 2 speed focuser

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Edited by REDSHIFT39, 30 October 2020 - 03:39 PM.

[Pinbout]

Skywatcher 150mm f/5 with 2 speed focuser

nice tripod. 

[Pinbout]

Hello Pinbout ,

 

                    That’s very nice , often thought about a set-up like that .

Do you use any kind of cover or leave it open ?

Do you find what would be tube currents , are completely Eliminated ? Boundary layer ?

no covers, I remove the mirror when not in use.

 

not really any tube currents, its hard to tell the difference between atmospheric condition and a breeze blowing by or if I pass gas down wind 

[N3p]

Sky-Watcher 10" f4.7 Newtonian.  A recovering Dob.

Amazing DIY.

[sw196060]

6”f5

 

943D698A-E051-4B9D-8A95-B70368B87E8B.jpeg

Nice looking scope.  Are those aluminum extrusions? Where did you get them?

[osbourne one-nil]

Skywatcher 150mm f/5 with 2 speed focuser

I love the look of that...ideal for me. What's the mount?

[Pinbout]

Nice looking scope.  Are those aluminum extrusions? Where did you get them?

Dont remember where. 
 

im getting old enough to use that excuse 

Edited by Pinbout, 01 November 2020 - 07:53 AM.

[REDSHIFT39]

I love the look of that...ideal for me. What's the mount?

Oberwerks tripod with Stellarvue m2 mount with extension.

Edited by REDSHIFT39, 01 November 2020 - 12:06 PM.

[Nippon]

Non Dob visual Newtonians have all but disappeared. It's so nice to see so many still pleasing their owners.  

[arrrrgon]

I had to show this one off.  Got it for $50 locally.  It had clearly been sitting in a basement for a very long time.  It came with a bronze painted EQ mount.  It was so badly out of collimation that I couldn't get it back in (the secondary wasn't square).  I disassembled it, cleaned the mirror, and added a collimation circle.  Put it back together, greased the focuser, laser collimated it, and now I've got a good looking 6" reflector for less than the EQ mount is worth.  It's sharing my Porta II mount with my 80mm Apo right now.  Hope you all enjoy it.

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[osbourne one-nil]

How do you find that on the Porta Mount? I've got one knocking around you see...