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Nosepiece for the Celstron SCT Turret

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#1 Tom Duncan

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Posted 18 February 2021 - 04:40 PM

Over the years I've had several of these 1980's Celestron "Multiple Ocular Holder"'s (aka 'turret') made by Vixen and though neat I've let them go, partially because the are for SCT's only. The most recent one is in nearly mint condition and I have a nice set of Meade RG's to fill it up so I'm going to hang on to it for a while. However if I could insert it into a standard drawtube (either 2" or 1.25") I'd be even more inclined to keep it and use it. 

 

So my question is, does anyone make an adapter to do so? The SCT tube threads right off revealing male threads of 39.8mm OD (peak to peak). I'm hoping I can find a tube with female threads to fit that and on the other end have either a 1.25" or 2" nosepiece. 

 

Anyone know of a solution? 

 

Thanks

 

Tom Duncan 

 

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#2 starman876

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Posted 18 February 2021 - 04:43 PM

I am sure there is a way to adapt it.  Look into the Baader  adapters.  I still have one of these also.  Think I will check it out to see if it can be adapted.



#3 J A VOLK

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Posted 18 February 2021 - 04:50 PM

looks like maybe filled with RG eyepieces!


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#4 ngc7319_20

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Posted 18 February 2021 - 05:02 PM

I use a Baader ring #28 to reduce the Schmidt-Cass thread to standard T-thread.  Then put a T-thread to 2" camera adapter on it.  So you end up with something that plugs into a standard 2" inlet on a refractor.

 

https://alpineastro....gth-t-2-part-28

 

https://alpineastro....big-t-2-part-16

 

There are probably other ways to do it...


Edited by ngc7319_20, 18 February 2021 - 05:04 PM.

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#5 Foundationer

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Posted 18 February 2021 - 08:16 PM

I want that! When are you gonna put it

in the classifieds?waytogo.gif



#6 Tom Duncan

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Posted 18 February 2021 - 08:37 PM

looks like maybe filled with RG eyepieces!

Yep!

 

I want that! When are you gonna put it

in the classifieds?waytogo.gif

I'm going to hang on to it for a while, I really want to see this attached to the drawtube of my refractors. As an aside these show up once in a while in the CN and Am ads, usually hovering around $100. 

 

I use a Baader ring #28 to reduce the Schmidt-Cass thread to standard T-thread.  Then put a T-thread to 2" camera adapter on it.  So you end up with something that plugs into a standard 2" inlet on a refractor.

 

https://alpineastro....gth-t-2-part-28

 

https://alpineastro....big-t-2-part-16

 

There are probably other ways to do it...

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into that. 

 

Tom 


Edited by Tom Duncan, 18 February 2021 - 08:38 PM.

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#7 RichA

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Posted 18 February 2021 - 08:44 PM

looks like maybe filled with RG eyepieces!

Be way more impressive than Baader's plastic job filled with modern orthos.



#8 davidmcgo

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Posted 18 February 2021 - 09:30 PM

There are a number of 2” to SCT thread adapters available. Will make it a little longer but should work OK if the refractor can handle a 2” diagonal.

 

https://agenaastro.c...19-2408155.html
 

Dave


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#9 Bomber Bob

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Posted 19 February 2021 - 01:06 PM

Tom, on my NOS vintage Vixen SCT turret, all that SCT hardware comes off, and an old Celestron (Vixen) chrome 1.25" barrel from a prism diagonal threads in:

 

Celestron (V) Eyepiece Turret S01.jpg

 

I got mine cheap in part because the 4 slots are for .965" eyepieces.  Not a problem for me - got plenty of quality eyepieces in that small barrel size.


Edited by Bomber Bob, 19 February 2021 - 04:44 PM.

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#10 photoracer18

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Posted 19 February 2021 - 05:16 PM

Over the years I've had several of these 1980's Celestron "Multiple Ocular Holder"'s (aka 'turret') made by Vixen and though neat I've let them go, partially because the are for SCT's only. The most recent one is in nearly mint condition and I have a nice set of Meade RG's to fill it up so I'm going to hang on to it for a while. However if I could insert it into a standard drawtube (either 2" or 1.25") I'd be even more inclined to keep it and use it. 

 

So my question is, does anyone make an adapter to do so? The SCT tube threads right off revealing male threads of 39.8mm OD (peak to peak). I'm hoping I can find a tube with female threads to fit that and on the other end have either a 1.25" or 2" nosepiece. 

 

Anyone know of a solution? 

 

Thanks

 

Tom Duncan 

Meade has been making 2" to SCT thread adapters since at least the early days of the 102/127/152/178 ED/APO refractors because they recommended using the SCT .63x reducers on them from the start. I have been using one of the Celestron turrets in my refractors off and on for a couple of years this way. This is the newest version of one I think from Lumicon.

EA20-2.24.jpg


Edited by photoracer18, 19 February 2021 - 05:26 PM.

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#11 Tom Duncan

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Posted 19 February 2021 - 07:38 PM

Meade has been making 2" to SCT thread adapters since at least the early days of the 102/127/152/178 ED/APO refractors because they recommended using the SCT .63x reducers on them from the start. I have been using one of the Celestron turrets in my refractors off and on for a couple of years this way. This is the newest version of one I think from Lumicon.

attachicon.gifEA20-2.24.jpg

I'll look into that, thanks. 

 

 

Tom, on my NOS vintage Vixen SCT turret, all that SCT hardware comes off, and an old Celestron (Vixen) chrome 1.25" barrel from a prism diagonal threads in:

 

attachicon.gifCelestron (V) Eyepiece Turret S01.jpg

 

I got mine cheap in part because the 4 slots are for .965" eyepieces.  Not a problem for me - got plenty of quality eyepieces in that small barrel size.

Looks like the construction is quite a bit different with the Vixen .965" version. There are female threads on the inside of the back plate but they are too large for a 1.25" nosepiece. 

 

Tom


Edited by Tom Duncan, 19 February 2021 - 07:38 PM.


#12 luxo II

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Posted 19 February 2021 - 07:57 PM

I want that! When are you gonna put it

LOL you can still buy TEC turrets. But you can't buy one of these anymore

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#13 blippincott

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Posted 25 December 2021 - 07:44 PM

Hi.

   I've had a Celestron turret lying around for about 18 months and I finally decided to see about using it in my D&G. I looked at the solutions presented on the various forums and decided to figure this one out for myself. I have a machine shop at home, and there was some aluminum stock leftover from building parts for my Dobsonian. (No, I don't consider that cheating --- it's taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves.) wink.gif

  Some concerns for me were to minimize any extension of the turret by adding adapters with a lot of spacing to the end of the draw tube. There is little in-focus room left with a 25mm Plossl, about 1/4". I also wanted to not cut on or modify the stock turret assembly if possible, in case I decide to sell it later. As of this post it is still able to be used on an SCT just as intended.

   The adapter piece is held on by the original nose piece going through the center of it, and clamped in place by the small flange on the end that was for the original threaded ring. I just removed the ring and made the adapter to slip over the outside, with cut reliefs for both ends. this allowed me to get the turret body right up against the back surface of the draw tube. Shortest length I could manage, and it worked perfectly. grin.gif

   The very last pic shows where I added a safety catch undercut to the 1.25" long 2" long adapter. It could be shortened as far as 1" in length if need be, but 1.25" gives the longest contact distribution down the tube length for the best alignment.

   My solution is pictured below:

 

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#14 Tom Duncan

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Posted 26 December 2021 - 11:43 AM

I should have kept the Unimat I had for a while long ago...

 

Tom


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#15 petmic

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 10:28 AM

I am just wondering, do these turrets have a prism or a mirror diagonal inside?



#16 deSitter

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 09:37 AM

I am just wondering, do these turrets have a prism or a mirror diagonal inside?

My Meade (Japan) 4-banger has a prism. I assume it's the same manufacture. Very nice device. I should use it more.

 

I did find a SCT to 2 in. nosepiece. If someone wants to see it, give a word.

 

-drl


Edited by deSitter, 05 March 2023 - 09:38 AM.

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#17 deSitter

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 09:40 AM

LOL you can still buy TEC turrets. But you can't buy one of these anymore

Is that Van Slyke? Very steampunk ethos :)

 

-drl



#18 petmic

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 01:07 PM

My Meade (Japan) 4-banger has a prism. I assume it's the same manufacture. Very nice device. I should use it more.

 

I did find a SCT to 2 in. nosepiece. If someone wants to see it, give a word.

 

-drl

Yes, please. Although, I would need 1.25 nosepiece. Not sure if such exists. How much does it increase the light path comparing to a ordinary prism? Is it significant?



#19 deSitter

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 01:41 PM

Yes, please. Although, I would need 1.25 nosepiece. Not sure if such exists. How much does it increase the light path comparing to a ordinary prism? Is it significant?

The prism is made for 1.25" eyepieces but allows the complete pencil without vignetting. Its best feature is the prism. But its worst feature is being stuck with 1.25". It is good for doing detailed lunar/planetary and switching among 4 similar powers. In practice I almost always use a 2" prism diagonal.

 

-drl


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#20 petmic

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 01:45 PM

The prism is made for 1.25" eyepieces but allows the complete pencil without vignetting. Its best feature is the prism. But its worst feature is being stuck with 1.25". It is good for doing detailed lunar/planetary and switching among 4 similar powers. In practice I almost always use a 2" prism diagonal.

 

-drl

Well, I would like to adapt that turret for a long refractor with a 1.25" focuser. No quite sure if a suitable nosepiece can be found though.



#21 deSitter

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Posted 09 March 2023 - 08:33 AM

Well, I would like to adapt that turret for a long refractor with a 1.25" focuser. No quite sure if a suitable nosepiece can be found though.

I have something like this - not this but the same size and format. It screws into the retaining ring on the SCT turret/diagonal. My Meade turret was made for their SCTs. It adds the width of the retaining ring to the light path, IOW very little.

 

https://www.optecinc...-inch/17665.htm

 

-drl



#22 dhkaiser

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Posted 16 May 2023 - 08:03 PM

Found this at a reasonable price...

 

https://agenaastro.c...txoC6BsQAvD_BwE



#23 balotin

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Posted 16 January 2024 - 01:01 AM

Tom- did you ever find a solution? I have one of these that is missing the SCT nosepiece, would be great if you found a solution you could share…thanks!!/
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#24 Tom Duncan

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Posted 21 January 2024 - 01:58 PM

Frankly I've forgotten all about this! And no, I never pursued any of the solutions offered as they were either too expensive or, in most cases, out of stock. If you find one of the simple solutions available, especially this one, please let us know. 

 

Tom



#25 petmic

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Posted 28 March 2025 - 09:25 AM

I found the solution how to adapt this Vixen eyepiece turret to a 1.25" focuser. The solution was rather simple.

 

The turret has an extension tube with a flange for SCT 2" thread (female). The other side of this extension tube goes into another adapter with male threads on both sides:

0.JPG

 

The thread that goes into the turret is the same as a thread on a typical 1.25" diagonal nose piece:

2.JPG

 

I tried a nose piece from a Celestron branded 1.25" prism and also from a cheap chinese diagonal mirrors. Both fit just fine.

 

The turret is very solid and nicely made. A typical Vixen product. However, there is one drawback though. The prism is rather small and the clear aperture is only 25mm. Not a problem for me since the widest EP I use is Circle T 20mm Erfle but for EPs with larger filed stop vignetting might be visible.

 

Also, the light path is shorter than I expected. It is about the same as Baader T2 (non Zeiss) prism with 1.25" EP , i.e. around 70mm.


Edited by petmic, 28 March 2025 - 09:26 AM.

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