61 replies to this topic

[Echolight]

@Echolight - Do they connect to the OTA somehow specifically, or was that meant more as a joke - just use binoculars instead of a telescope?  Sorry, total n00bie!

They don’t connect to anything but my hands. But not a joke.

I mainly use a manually guided mount. The binoculars have a very wide field and I use them as a finder to spot DSO. A lot easier to scan an area than with a finder attached to a telescope. And once pinpointed with the binoculars, it’s much easier to get them in the sights of a telescope.

Of course you have to kinda know what you’re looking for with DSO. Aside from open clusters, which are mostly resolved with binoculars. Other DSO often just look like a tiny gray/white cloud at very low power.

 

Of course others have suggested pointing a green laser that’s attached to and aligned with your telescope at the object that you see in your binoculars. Or objects that you can see with the naked eye but just have a hard time getting in the narrow field of view of an SCT or Mak. Which sounds like a good idea. I don’t have one yet.
 

[Nankins]

I've got both a Telrad and an RACI. Together they work great, but I have cervical scoliosis as well as scoliosis in my back, so I feel your pain.
An RACI is the best bet, it's a wide field and although you will have to work a little harder at getting to the right section of sky, it allows you to star-hop easily. And plus, you should never have to crouch to look up through it.

[Mark9473]

The laser illuminates an extremely long and thin cylinder of air. Any given snippet of that cylinder scatters a minuscule fraction of that light back to the observer. When you're standing near the beam all those snippets are superposed on each other, and their brightness adds up to a readily visible beam. If you viewed it from 1,000 feet away in any direction except head-on, you wouldn't see a thing. That's why laser pointers are much less noxious than most people assume. People imagine airplanes landing while surrounded by green beams. In fact pilots see nothing unless the beam goes straight through their windows. Which pretty much only happens when people target airplanes intentionally.

I have a question on that, if you don't mind. Is the laser beam visible to my neighbors? 100 feet instead of a 1000.

[WillR]

I use a green laser and a RACI. I can stay seated at the eyepiece. I have mounted the RACI so the eyepiece is very close to the telescope eyepiece.

 

Although a few people have recommended red dot finders and Telrads in their replies, they do not eliminate crouching behind the eyepiece.

 

I use a Telrad when the laser is not appropriate or forbidden.

[WillR]

I have a question on that, if you don't mind. Is the laser beam visible to my neighbors? 100 feet instead of a 1000.

Not a problem, unless you point it at them. It's always a good idea with astronomy and neighbors though to explain to them what you are doing out in the dark with this equipment.

[WillR]

Never having used a green laser, I've got a question: Within reason, does it matter where the observer's eye is in relation to the laser unit or the projected beam? For example, my eye would be a few inches above and offset to the left or right of the unit if I stand straight up. 

No, not at all. They are often used at outreach events to point to stars for a crowd of people. I sit back and turn on the laser. It is a continuous beam and your eye judges where it is aiming. Not as accurate that way as a Telrad, but I only use it to get the target in the 5° FOV of the RACI.

[WillR]

They don’t connect to anything but my hands. But not a joke.

I mainly use a manually guided mount. The binoculars have a very wide field and I use them as a finder to spot DSO. A lot easier to scan an area than with a finder attached to a telescope. And once pinpointed with the binoculars, it’s much easier to get them in the sights of a telescope.

Of course you have to kinda know what you’re looking for with DSO. Aside from open clusters, which are mostly resolved with binoculars. Other DSO often just look like a tiny gray/white cloud at very low power.

 

Of course others have suggested pointing a green laser that’s attached to and aligned with your telescope at the object that you see in your binoculars. Or objects that you can see with the naked eye but just have a hard time getting in the narrow field of view of an SCT or Mak. Which sounds like a good idea. I don’t have one yet.
 

A binocular is good for finding the target and identifying the star field you will see with your finder scope. But of course they are not attached  and aligned with the telescope tube, and so won't guide you to a target. They familiarize you with the area you will be observing. They don't replace a finder of some kind.

[Ulmer Spatz]

No, not at all. They are often used at outreach events to point to stars for a crowd of people. I sit back and turn on the laser. It is a continuous beam and your eye judges where it is aiming. Not as accurate that way as a Telrad, but I only use it to get the target in the 5° FOV of the RACI.

Thanks, Will. I'm thinking about using it with my 80mm f/4.5 refractor in lieu of a finder. 

[rrpallechio]

I have a 9 year old grandson. Very good with the finder and very flexible.

[Tony Flanders]

No, not at all. They are often used at outreach events to point to stars for a crowd of people. I sit back and turn on the laser. It is a continuous beam and your eye judges where it is aiming. Not as accurate that way as a Telrad, but I only use it to get the target in the 5° FOV of the RACI.

I've never used a green laser routinely as a finder, but my impression is that I could easily get within a fraction of a degree of any naked-eye star, assuming the laser is aligned accurately. Remember, those beams project a long, long way; you can easily see the beam light up a spot on a mountain several miles away. The parallax at the end of a mile-long beam is mighty small.

 

One little-known trick is that you can aim your laser into the telescope's eyepiece, and it will project out the telescope's tube. This greatly reduces the need for accurate alignment, because the telescope is reverse-magnifying any error in how you point the laser into the eyepiece.

[telesonic]

Having used several different finderscopes on my SCT scopes (5" and 8") - I've had, and tested a bunch of them... from the Telrad, el-cheapo RDF's and straight through 30 - 50mm ones, I eventually ended up trying out an inexpensive Pinty green laser that many folks here have used.

 

The Pinty GLP worked really well. It has a momentary on/off switch that replaces the standard switch on the rear cap -  as noted though, be cautious of aircraft if you are using one of these. The only negatives on the GLP (aside from being aware when using it) is the CR123 battery, which isn't something usually found at your local store. But, these batteries last a good long while, since you aren't keeping the unit on for but a few seconds at a time.

 

If you go the laser route, you can also pick up rechargeable batteries and the charger base from the big A online. I have one that will charge double and triple A's - and some other ones for 123's. Simple USB cable, plug into wall or in vehicle (solar charger when remote).... you are good to go for long outings.

 

My most used finder setup is this:

A 50mm Right Angle finderscope that takes 1.25" eyepieces (this one is my own creation with some salvaged parts)

A Picatinny rail - modified to fit on the 50mm finder rings - and the GLP goes on the Pic rail if needed.

 

 

The above picture is kinda busy.... (it was in test / alignment phase) so it might be hard to tell what is what. Works great for me though, but that was a DIY thing.

 

[Napp]

I'd never have thought of a riser.  I assume that as long as I can align the tube and the finder, it doesn't matter where it is mounted, is that correct?

Correct.  You just align the Telrad to the scope like you would without a riser.  No difference.

[Tangent]

A Picatinny rail - modified to fit on the 50mm finder rings - and the GLP goes on the Pic rail if needed.

This is genius - thanks for the idea.

[RobertMaples]

...

I don't attach my laser.  I snug it up against the finder base plate, turn it on, move the scope,

turn if off and put it back into my inner jactket pocket.  This keeps it warm in the winter.  The output  is diminshed by cold temperatures.  This is close enough

where the object is in my finder, or if I am lucky in a wide field eyepiece.

 

 

...

One little-known trick is that you can aim your laser into the telescope's eyepiece, and it will project out the telescope's tube. This greatly reduces the need for accurate alignment, because the telescope is reverse-magnifying any error in how you point the laser into the eyepiece.

I do have a couple of mounted lasers, but I also have several other scopes that I sometimes use a third laser with.  I use the "shine it through the eyepiece" trick but when hand holding the laser and moving the scope it can be tricky to keep the laser lined up with the eyepiece, so I came up with a solution.  I got a cheap 20mm eyepiece that I only use with the laser, and I use a PVC coupling to hold the laser and eyepiece together:

 

I wrapped some blue painter's tape around the laser to make it fit snug in the PVC fitting.

 

 

 

[Barlowbill]

For my Dob I use a dual mount right next to the focuser.  Next to the scope eyepiece I have mounted a 9X50mm RACI.  Next over on the dual mount is a green light laser.  The scope eyepiece and the RACI eyepiece are about 2.5 inches from each other.  The RACI and be tilted in its mount so that the move from the RACI eyepiece to the scope eyepiece is comfortable.  Once the laser is adjusted to lineup with the RACI all you do is point the scope near your visual object and direct the scope where the laser is on it.  Now view through the RACI and make any necessary fine tuning.  If your RACI and scope are properly aligned, you are spot on in the scope's eyepiece.  The laser is "on" for only a few seconds.  I live half a mile from a regional airport.  Planes and helicopters are out virtually all day and a good portion of every night.  I never turn on my laser when one is remotely close by.  Doesn't bother me at all. 

 

With the help of my wife, I used binoculars to find the Neowise comet In my ETX 90mm scope.  My wife held the binos with a hand held laser next to the binos pointed at the comet and I found the laser in the scope eyepiece and followed it to the comet.

[Bionic Wi-Fi]

I'd never have thought of a riser.--  bionic wi-fi

The higher the reflex site is off of the tube, the easier it is to view through.

You have to look straight through the device.  If the rectile is too low

you have to turn your head to the side.

 

I have a high powered green laser. -- bionic wi-fi

If high power is more than 5mW that could be a problem.

 

I worded that incorrectly, I have a high end green laser.  I use it for doing long distance wireless bridges.

 

So do you just attach it to the tube and use it to point at the object --

 

I don't attach my laser.  I snug it up against the finder base plate, turn it on, move the scope,

turn if off and put it back into my inner jactket pocket.  This keeps it warm in the winter.  The output  is diminshed by cold temperatures.  This is close enough

where the object is in my finder, or if I am lucky in a wide field eyepiece.

[Echolight]

I don’t actually use any finder at all on my C5.

 

WARNING!! DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME (the telescope police will get you)  

Edited by Echolight, 24 January 2023 - 04:59 PM.

[telesonic]

This is genius - thanks for the idea.

No prob!

 

The Picatinny rails are pretty inexpensive online, I bought a pack that came with, I think... four or five different length ones pretty cheap. The holes on the rails on one of them were almost the perfect spacing for mounting on the rings, just needed reamed out a few MM to fit.

 

If you do this, of course.. you would need to drill and tap the rings for the appropriate screws. Already had that stuff in my shop, so it was a simple half hour afternoon job.

 

 

The most interesting thing about this finder setup, is that it is really easy to align if moved to a different scope. Usually though, it's pretty close - and only needs some small adjustments. About the only thing that I have changed on this finder setup since I built it, is adding a quick release bracket base on the laser mount, so I don't have to fiddle with hex keys to remove it - just a thumb-screw and the laser is off. Some may question if it holds it's aligment, and in my case it does. Of course YMMV.

 

T

[Mike Q]

One of the best things you can do if you have a bad back is to get the scope to sit sit higher up.  My 10 inch sits on a 6 inch concrete pad which lifts it a bit.  I still have to bend the back some, but its a compromise so my wife can use the scope.  A RACI and a laser would seem to be the ticket for you.  I run a dual mount that hold both the finder and the laser. I like Z Bolt green laser pointers.  They are just bright enough to see in the sky, they are designed to handle cold weather, down to 14 degrees and they sell a momentary on off switch to operate it.  Press and hold the button and the laser is on, release it and it shuts off. 

[Tangent]

The Picatinny rails are pretty inexpensive online, I bought a pack that came with, I think... four or five different length ones pretty cheap. The holes on the rails on one of them were almost the perfect spacing for mounting on the rings, just needed reamed out a few MM to fit.

 

I saw those on Amazon pretty cheap, but then I remembered that my local library also has them.

 

[Skyfisher]

Thank you all for the quick and solid suggestions!! I really appreciate it!!  I think the diagonal on a finder is going to work best for me.  I do have a go-to, so it is just the alignment, but even doing that takes a lot out of me.  Trying to squeeze every minute of viewing time in that I possibly can!

My favorite finder scope is Apertura 10X50 with diagonal and illuminated cross hairs.  I plan on buying one or two more 

Edited by Skyfisher, 26 January 2023 - 04:07 PM.

[Mark9473]

Not a problem, unless you point it at them. It's always a good idea with astronomy and neighbors though to explain to them what you are doing out in the dark with this equipment.

Good points, but what I wanted to know is if the laser beam would be visible to them.

[Bionic Wi-Fi]

I have a 9 year old grandson. Very good with the finder and very flexible.

I’ll keep this in mind, my granddaughter is 4 and I’m REALLY excited to show her the moon through the scope. Good job for my 11 year old nephew!

[MarkMittlesteadt]

I live in the direct flight path of our airport nearby. Planes fly overhead on a regular basis. Absolutely no green lasers for me.

 

I've always used RACI finders. My AT72EDII could be it's own finder with my 40mm WA EP. 

 

I drilled and tapped my RACI finder stalk to put a mounting shoe on it. Now my red dot sits comfortably higher on top of that and I can easily go from red dot to RACI finder to main EP without even moving my head much. 

 

 

 

Edited by MarkMittlesteadt, 26 January 2023 - 09:36 PM.

[Jehujones]

Oh, I have a high powered green laser.  So do you just attach it to the tube and use it to point at the object?

Get yourself a low power astronomical laser so you won't give the rest of us a bad name and incur some stupid restrictions on us.

 

please