81 replies to this topic

[Terra Nova]

My hat is off to Jag32 for kicking this all off with his great procedure!

 

And I love his idea of a bar table on the deck! I know what I’m going to be looking for at Spring yardsales!

[grif 678]

I do not really like the table top scopes, because who wants to carry around a table. The table wold have to be the right height. and unless you had the table on the ground or cement with stabilizer pads, it will be full of vibrations, especially on a deck. If I was lucky enough to have one, I would have to get a unitron altaz mount, and make it so easy to use.

[spereira]

I do not really like the table top scopes, because who wants to carry around a table. The table wold have to be the right height. and unless you had the table on the ground or cement with stabilizer pads, it will be full of vibrations, especially on a deck. If I was lucky enough to have one, I would have to get a unitron altaz mount, and make it so easy to use.

Sometimes it's too bad that we don't have a DISLIKE button...

 

smp

[GR1973]

A picture may help readers understand what is being discussed about an azimuth scale. The outter scale can be used as an azimuth scale. I’ve never done it.

 

Unfortunately, newer Questars do not have do not have Alt Az scale. Only right Ascension hours and minutes.

[Optics Patent]

Unfortunately, newer Questars do not have do not have Alt Az scale. Only right Ascension hours and minutes.

For most of the history, the Right Ascension ring included degrees.  The declination has always been in degrees to indicate elevation as well as declination.

[JamesMStephens]

You could convert hms to degrees with a calculator.

[GR1973]

Practically, How do I observe in Alt/Az mode after knowing the azimuth in degrees and minutes from sky Safari instead of dialing it directly as in the old models?

[Optics Patent]

With all humor intended, the vintage phrase “get a horse!” Seems apropos.

[JamesMStephens]

Practically, How do I observe in Alt/Az mode after knowing the azimuth in degrees and minutes from sky Safari instead of dialing it directly as in the old models?

First: Take the azimuth and subtract it from 360 degrees.  

 

Next: Convert this angle to hours, meaning divide it by 15.  Multiply the decimal part by sixty to get minutes.  You now have an azimuth you can read from your RA circle.  

 

Example 1: If the azimuth is 60 degrees, this means 60 degrees east of north.  Subtract 360 deg - 60 deg = 300 deg, divide by 15 to get 20 h on the RA scale.

 

Example 2: Suppose the azimuth is 132 degrees, then 360 - 132 = 228, divide by 15 to get 15.2 hours.  Now multiply the decimal part by 60 to get 12 m, so the reading on the RA scale is 15h 12m.

 

The azimuth scale increases in a direction opposite the RA scale, which is the reason you subtract the object's azimuth from 360 degrees to convert to the RA scale.  I think the azimuth scale on the Q is actually sidereal hour angle (SHA), which is the complement to RA.

[John Noble]

The new models *do* seem to have an azimuth circle:

 

https://www.astronom...rguide-iii.html

 

Or are the product photos on Astronomics out of date?

[GR1973]

First: Take the azimuth and subtract it from 360 degrees.  

 

Next: Convert this angle to hours, meaning divide it by 15.  Multiply the decimal part by sixty to get minutes.  You now have an azimuth you can read from your RA circle.  

 

Example 1: If the azimuth is 60 degrees, this means 60 degrees east of north.  Subtract 360 deg - 60 deg = 300 deg, divide by 15 to get 20 h on the RA scale.

 

Example 2: Suppose the azimuth is 132 degrees, then 360 - 132 = 228, divide by 15 to get 15.2 hours.  Now multiply the decimal part by 60 to get 12 m, so the reading on the RA scale is 15h 12m.

 

The azimuth scale increases in a direction opposite the RA scale, which is the reason you subtract the object's azimuth from 360 degrees to convert to the RA scale.  I think the azimuth scale on the Q is actually sidereal hour angle (SHA), which is the complement to RA.

Thank you for your explanation. In this case, there is a time to be consumed as in equatorial mode setup but it would be spent in calculation.

 

Equatorial mode  would be difficult with observing from a balcony or window. Alt/Az mode is much easier even with some math.

 

 

 

Regards  

[JamesMStephens]

Thank you for your explanation. In this case, there is a time to be consumed as in equatorial mode setup but it would be spent in calculation.

 

Equatorial mode  would be difficult with observing from a balcony or window. Alt/Az mode is much easier even with some math.

 

 

 

Regards  

My pleasure.  How is your Q's RA circle graduated?

 

Jim

[Optics Patent]

FYI, in about 1999 Questar changed the RA ring from the original version with hours and degrees (marked 10, 20, 30... 350, 0) to:
Hours (marked counting both up and down in contrary directions), with each hour having 15 subdivision marks (one degree each), with 20 and 40 minutes on each hour marked.

 

I call those the "360" version (misnomer as that mark doesn't appear) and the "2040" version.  Maybe about 5% of the scopes out there have the 2040 ring, almost all are the 360 version.

[GR1973]

Unfortunately, It's marked with hours without marking the degrees so I have to convert with the method you gave in an earlier post.

[Gregory Gross]

FYI, in about 1999 Questar changed the RA ring from the original version with hours and degrees (marked 10, 20, 30... 350, 0) to:
Hours (marked counting both up and down in contrary directions), with each hour having 15 subdivision marks (one degree each), with 20 and 40 minutes on each hour marked.

 

I call those the "360" version (misnomer as that mark doesn't appear) and the "2040" version.  Maybe about 5% of the scopes out there have the 2040 ring, almost all are the 360 version.

If you are so inclined, I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of that newer RA ring since I've never seen one with the 20-40 marks. Would you have easy access to one that you could take a picture of and post here?

[JamesMStephens]

Unfortunately, It's marked with hours without marking the degrees so I have to convert with the method you gave in an earlier post.

OK, so if it's marked with hours "counting both up and down in contrary directions" as Gregory describes we can simplify the conversion to degrees for use as an azimuth scale.  One of these sets of numbers is RA for the northern hemisphere, the opposite one is RA for the southern hemisphere.  Use the southern hemisphere scale for azimuth.  Multiply its reading by 15 to get degrees azimuth, or take your desired azimuth and divide by 15 to get hours.

[GR1973]

I Used Alt/Az method for locating M35 in my heavy light pollution. Not so accurate because small errors in calculations. I like this method but to be convenient I need RA disc marked with degrees not only hour's.

Do you know where I can buy one ??

Regards

[JamesMStephens]

I Used Alt/Az method for locating M35 in my heavy light pollution. Not so accurate because small errors in calculations. I like this method but to be convenient I need RA disc marked with degrees not only hour's.

Do you know where I can buy one ??

Regards

Neat!  Is your RA dial like diog's in #32?

[GR1973]

Unfortunately, Yes exactly the same. I don’t know why Questar removed degree scale from the disc in newer telescopes ?

[JamesMStephens]

Unfortunately, Yes exactly the same. I don’t know why Questar removed degree scale from the disc in newer telescopes ?

OK, the minute circle is graduated in 4 minute intervals, which is the same as one degree, so it's inconvenient to use this for azimuth because you have to do a conversion, but it should be equally accurate to a circle marked in degrees.

 

Jim

[davidmcgo]

I’m guessing so Southern Hemisphere customers could have a RA circle that works for them.

 

Dave

 

Unfortunately, Yes exactly the same. I don’t know why Questar removed degree scale from the disc in newer telescopes ?

[Darkskyaz]

I hope I'm not off topic, but since the thread title is "the perfect Questar setup", I'm going to put in a plug for the Manfrotto 502 tripod head, which mated to a Bogen 3036 tripod, or similar, makes an awesome setup. The 502 head is rated to handle up to 15 pounds, so it holds the 7 pound Questar steady, even in the equatorial position. The built in "counterweight" is a little over 8 pounds, which makes it really easy to align the Questar on Polaris. And of course you have complete control over the height you want the telescope at. I can't imagine how using the Questar Tristand could be any better. 

[empikid]

Edited by empikid, 03 April 2020 - 09:56 AM.

[empikid]

homemade aluminum pier that weighs less than the scope and mount. The quantum 4 mount is a little overkill in size and weight for the Questar but makes very stable mounting system

Edited by empikid, 03 April 2020 - 09:59 AM.

[GR1973]

First: Take the azimuth and subtract it from 360 degrees.  

 

Next: Convert this angle to hours, meaning divide it by 15.  Multiply the decimal part by sixty to get minutes.  You now have an azimuth you can read from your RA circle.  

 

Example 1: If the azimuth is 60 degrees, this means 60 degrees east of north.  Subtract 360 deg - 60 deg = 300 deg, divide by 15 to get 20 h on the RA scale.

 

Example 2: Suppose the azimuth is 132 degrees, then 360 - 132 = 228, divide by 15 to get 15.2 hours.  Now multiply the decimal part by 60 to get 12 m, so the reading on the RA scale is 15h 12m.

 

The azimuth scale increases in a direction opposite the RA scale, which is the reason you subtract the object's azimuth from 360 degrees to convert to the RA scale.  I think the azimuth scale on the Q is actually sidereal hour angle (SHA), which is the complement to RA.

I used this and It worked great for locating Auriga star clusters ( M 36, M 37, M 38). This is my first time to see them in my white area of heavy light pollution. This method is great in light pollution areas. It's fast except the time used for transverse Azimuth degrees to RA hours. I also add one degree in declination ( My declination scale is off by less than one degree). Next time I would elevate the head of the tripod by one degree to center Polaris so I wouldn't need to add one degree.

 

I am trying to buy an old Azimuth circle with 360 degree scale to save time of multiplying and converting hours to degree.

 

This method is full of joy and fun.

 

 

Thank you for your recommendation. It's fun, fast and convenient