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Celestron Comet Catcher

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#26 telesonic

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Posted 08 April 2020 - 09:22 PM

 

Does anyone know if there is an off the shelf ring option available these days?

 

LGM

LGM / others:

 

For mine, I used the ScopeStuff 6.3" #CR63. 

 

I had to re-felt them, and I'm pretty sure I used the 3/16" felt, but that was slightly too thick for the tube. Some careful shaving with a razor (about 1/4 to half the thickness of felt removed) and they fit great. 

 

It was time consuming, and I kinda had to figure it out as I went.... but it worked. Before, it was a bit tight... since these don't have the slotted swing-out style locking clamps. (ala most other vendors) 

 

As a side note.. I've thought about using the 1/4 x 20 holes on the ring tops, and maybe rig up some sort of sling system for quick sweeps. Then just grab it and carry it out like that, but then again.... my neck doesn't like that thought. It may work though, for those brave / crazy enough to try. I think the AstroScan had a sling too, right?

 

Hope this is of help for those wanting rings for theirs, they are almost a necessity for using this scope on a GEM mount IMHO. 

 

 

Best,

T


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#27 droid

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Posted 08 April 2020 - 10:15 PM

I've had my original orange tube CC for at least 2 decades. Its scratch , drawn on ( by my grand children ) but the optics are pristine. It doesn't get a lot of use because one of the screws that holds the slide down is missing. Im still looking for one. But I'm dyeing to try my 16mm T2 Nagler on it.

This screw

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#28 *skyguy*

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 07:35 AM

Back to the Celestron Comet Catcher. Original rings are rare. Off the shelf rings that fit are rare, and some extra felt may be needed. Several years ago a tube cradle for a Newtonian was available that fit, but I forget what brand and scope.

Does anyone know if there is an off the shelf ring option available these days?

 

LGM

Scopestuff has a 6.3" ring set that has thicker felt installed to fit the 6" Comet Catcher's OTA. I have same set on my Comet Catcher, except I installed the thicker felt myself.

 

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_rings.htm

 

EDIT: The 6.3" ring set is also available at Agena Astro at a much lower price. However, you need to install the additional felt by yourself.

 

https://agenaastro.c...e-ring-6-3.html


Edited by *skyguy*, 09 April 2020 - 03:35 PM.

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#29 shootingsta98

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 07:50 AM

I was able to enjoy trying out my newly acquired Comet Catcher under clear skies, albeit skies brightly lit by a full moon. So far I have only used the CC with a Televue 24mm Panoptic. Now I have read some reviews of poorly performing Comet Catchers, but I can happily report that the one I bought for $65, with a 26mm Silver Top Plossl just rocks. I had a wonderful view of the Pleiades, and it’s so easy to forget that this thing is an F 3.6. Almost no coma! Only in the final 10% of the outer edge of the eyepiece did I see any distortion, and even then it wasn’t bad. The inner portion of the view was very satisfying. Turned to the moon, at this magnification, the view was sharp and contrasty, really leaving nothing to be desired.

Now is this the best telescope ever made? Of course not! I own plenty of others, including a couple that I won first place in optics at Stellafane. The Comet Catcher, being a fast instrument, with a large central obstruction is not going to perform well at high power looking at planets. But it was not designed to do that. It excels a wide, lower views, and so far I am very pleased with it. I am looking forward now to a clear, moonless night so sweep through the Milky Way.

The only thing I might do is to get a slightly higher power eyepiece. The exit pupil from a 24mm is a bit more than my eyes can use, so I am considering getting a 19mm Panoptic.

Bob
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#30 tim53

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 10:31 AM

I'd like to see astrophotos taken with one of these.  I haven't seen any for sale recently, though there was one several months back in the inland empire craigslist.

 

How do they compare with other fast imaging systems?  I love my Tak Epsilon 130, but even used it was rather expensive.  But even just fiddling with it and my Olympus micro 4/3rds camera can result in some fabulous deep sky images.  If a CC can come close, for a couple orders of magnitude less money, I want one.

 

-Tim.


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#31 *skyguy*

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 11:12 AM

I'd like to see astrophotos taken with one of these.

 

-Tim.

Go to astrobin.com and type "Comet Catcher" in the search window. Some pretty nice images taken this scope will pop-up.


Edited by *skyguy*, 09 April 2020 - 03:41 PM.

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#32 highfnum

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 01:14 PM

here is a couple with lodestar camera 

m13cropped.jpg

 

m16cc2.jpg


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#33 Crow Haven

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 02:31 PM

Long ago and far away (Blue Canyon, Sacramento, CA, 1986) my SP C8 with CC piggybacked.  Paul talking to another SVAS club member.  I don't recommend this configuration -- there is vibration -- but it did work for visual.

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Edited by Crow Haven, 09 April 2020 - 02:33 PM.

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#34 jgraham

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 02:41 PM

I ended up with 3 Comet Catchers (long story); 2 orange and 1 black. One of the orange's is set up for visual and EAA, the other two are set up for imaging.

 

My original orange Comet Catcher...

 

Atlas Comet Catcher (6-15-2018)-4.jpg

 

...and my newest Black Cat...

 

Comet Cathcer Black Cat (2-15-2020)-2.jpg

 

All three have the SVbony helical focuser mod.

 


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#35 jgraham

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 02:45 PM

One of my favorite Comet Catcher pics...

 

M20 (6-15-2018)pfw-1j.jpg

 

M20 & 21 – Comet Catcher Test Image - ZWO ASI294MC Pro
Telescope: Celestron Comet Catcher 5.5” f/3.6 Schmidt Newtonian, Orion Atlas EQ-G
Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro, 0C; Gain: 200
Filter: Hutech IDAS LPS P2
Guide scope: Williams Optics 50mm, Meade DSI Pro III, PHD
Exposure: 14x240sec saved as FITS
Darks: 32x240sec saved as FITS
Flats: 32x8s, Flat Panel LED covered with 3 layers of muslin
Average Light Pollution: Red zone, poor transparency, passing clouds
Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.3 mag/arc-sec^2
Stacking: Mean with a 2-sigma clip.
White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic
Software: Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop


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#36 jgraham

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 02:47 PM

...and...

 

Alnitak (9-20-2018)-1j.jpg

 

Alnitak Nebula Complex in Orion – Triad Filter First-Light
Telescope: Celestron Comet Catcher 5.5” f/3.6 Schmidt Newtonian, Orion Atlas EQ-G
Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro, 0C; Gain: 200
Filter: 1.25” OPT Triad Hb, OIII, Ha filter
Guide scope: Williams Optics 50mm, Meade DSI Pro II, PHD
Exposure: 20x240sec saved as FITS
Darks: 32x240sec saved as FITS
Flats: 32x0.25sec Sky flats taken at dusk
Average Light Pollution: Red zone, poor transparency, high humidity
Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.0-18.3 mag/arc-sec^2
Stacking: Mean with a 2-sigma clip.
White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic
Software: Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop


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#37 jgraham

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 02:48 PM

After a long night of imaging...

 

Frosty Comet Catcher (12-26-2018)-3.jpg

 

 

..and my EAA Comet Catcher...

 

LXD75 Comet Catcher RI2 (v3).jpg

 

 


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#38 jgraham

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 02:51 PM

Since someone mentioned it...

 

Comet Tracker (3-25-2020)-2.jpg

 

...a Meade 6" f/3.6 Comet Tracker. These are rare as hen's teeth and worth the wait. My example is built like a tank and optically excellent!

 

Fun stuff!

 


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#39 jgraham

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Posted 09 April 2020 - 02:53 PM

Just for yucks… the SVbony helical focuser mod...

 

SVBony Helical Focuser (5-5-2019)-3.jpg

 

...very nice! It's like having a Moonlite for your Comet Catcher!

 


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#40 shootingsta98

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Posted 10 April 2020 - 02:49 PM

I like the helical focuser. I just ordered one for myself. Thanks for sharing.

#41 telesonic

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Posted 10 April 2020 - 10:47 PM

That is an excellent upgrade, one you won't be disappointed with. I had our CC out last night too, first clear night in a while.... ohh man. NICE! shocked.gif The Svbony double helical focuser I am using is a little different than John's, but it works the same. And man, wow... what an improvement. (thanks to jgraham for the idea and also for the posting up some astrophotos too)  bow.gif

 

I did take a couple of prime focus DSLR shots of M45 too.....  not too impressed with them but hey, with a fixed tripod and no tracking limited it a bit...... plus an old noisy DLSR. 

Still fun though.

 

But, now I've got a wheel turning in my brain that I should get a better corrected EP for this fast scope.... for low power scanning. 

From what I've read, either a Nagler or Panoptic should work well.

 

Off to do some readin'

T


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#42 RAK on Tour

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Posted 11 April 2020 - 02:20 PM

So I'm trying to understand the helical upgrade to the sled focuser, as I have the SP-C6 with the same sled focuser. Besides the SVbony helical piece, is there an adapter needed to get it to interface with the sled?

 

Roger


Edited by RAK on Tour, 11 April 2020 - 02:21 PM.


#43 telesonic

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Posted 11 April 2020 - 04:16 PM

Roger,

 

If you get the SVbony unit that has female T-threads (which I think most of them are) then you would need a male 36.4mm to male T-thread adapter. That is pretty much it.

 

That adapter is part # PAAR-BP-T203 on Agena Astro's site, but anything similar would work. I thought I'd read of one of these focusers that already had the 36.4mm adapter on it, and maybe that is the one jgraham has on his.

 

Either way, it's pretty simple if you get the T-thread unit.

 

Best,

T



#44 jgraham

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Posted 11 April 2020 - 07:35 PM

Mine came with external threads. All I had to do was spin the original drawtube off and install the helical focuser.


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#45 telesonic

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Posted 11 April 2020 - 08:58 PM

Mine came with external threads. All I had to do was spin the original drawtube off and install the helical focuser.

 

John, 

Yep. Yours was the one I was thinking of, thanks for the confirmation on that. I've got too many folders and bookmarks / screenshots of this stuff, it's hard to keep track of it sometimes.

 

Well folks, that would be the right one to get. Just searched 36mm helical focuser and found them on the e-bay, says 36mm male thread. Cost is around 22 bucks I think. While my T-thread version one works, that one is a much better solution for the Vixen Sled. One less part to lose in the dark, the better.



#46 RAK on Tour

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Posted 11 April 2020 - 10:11 PM

Thanks for this information. I know what to buy, now!

 

Roger



#47 Bob Myler

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Posted 12 April 2020 - 04:03 PM

Gentlemen, please excuse me as I am hopelessly dumb....

 

Just to make absolutely sure: the helical focuser in the link below

would not require that extra 36.4mm to male T-thread adapter to fit?  

It would connect directly to the Comet Catcher's 1-1/4" sled focuser tube?

 

https://www.ebay.com...5.c100010.m2109



#48 jgraham

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Posted 12 April 2020 - 06:06 PM

That is correct. The focuser is shown upside down in the picture. The mounting threads are shown at top and the screws that capture the eyepiece are shown at the bottom. Compare this with the picture that I posted above.

Edited by jgraham, 12 April 2020 - 06:07 PM.

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#49 Bob Myler

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Posted 12 April 2020 - 07:43 PM

That is correct. The focuser is shown upside down in the picture. The mounting threads are shown at top and the screws that capture the eyepiece are shown at the bottom. Compare this with the picture that I posted above.

Thank you!



#50 stomias

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Posted 13 April 2020 - 05:36 AM

DSC 0480 copy
DSC 0482 copy

The Meade Comet Tracker 322, an f/3.6 rarely shows up for sale. One was on Astromart recently, but is not listed any more. I think the asking price was $3 or $400, but the seller pointed out it need some refurbishing. One was for sale in the Antelope Valley, eastern Los Angeles County, several years ago for 4 or $500. If you google it there are some hits.

 

Back to the Celestron Comet Catcher. Original rings are rare. Off the shelf rings that fit are rare, and some extra felt may be needed. Several years ago a tube cradle for a Newtonian was available that fit, but I forget what brand and scope.

Does anyone know if there is an off the shelf ring option available these days?

 

LGM

Explore Scientific 152mm cradle......   https://optcorp.com/...cYaAs6wEALw_wcB


Edited by stomias, 13 April 2020 - 05:38 AM.

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