18 replies to this topic

[Elfmaze]

I don't have much experience finding objects besides major planets yet. But we are going to visit the girlfriends parents and they want me to bring the new telescope. 

Not sure what to expect but hopefully I don't disapoint them with the show.  I have the 10" dobsonian with a Baader  8-24mm zoom eyepiece.  I believe doing some quick math with poor information I should be able to frame it up if i can find it.  

[sevenofnine]

Hi Dan,...That sounds like a fun trip! Take some binoculars if you have them and good luck   

[TheWhistler]

Good luck! It's been a lot of rain and clouds here in NJ. Jump on any clearing you can get even if it's cold. Friday is supposed to be clear but single digits.

[Dave Mitsky]

The Moon is growing brighter so try to set up in shadows if possible.  Covering the head of the person at the eyepiece with a towel or dark cloth may also be useful.

However, by month’s end, the waxing gibbous Moon in Taurus and then Gemini will diminish the comet’s appearance if you plan to observe it before midnight. Fortunately, the Moon sets in the wee hours through February 2nd, leaving dark-sky windows to observe and photograph the bearded visitor at its closest and brightest.

 

https://skyandtelesc...-in-binoculars/

[EsaT]

While Baader zoom is about Kellner level narrow zoomed out, C/2022 E3 isn't that big visually.

But finding it without finder scope will be hard.

 

Besides wide angle eyepiece proper 8/9x50 finder would help lot.

Red dot finder is just overhyped concept because of not gathering any extra light over eye, but neither giving Telrad's circles to help find object.

Still binoculars would be usefull for figuring out where comet is in relation to stars.

 

 

Short focal length eyepiece or Barlow would be usefull for observing moon.

Telescope could easily handle higher magnifications.

While moon is now pretty much full, edges give something and in couple days there's going to plenty of good craters near terminator.

[Elfmaze]

So I was a **** and forgot my red dot finder in Pittsburgh. Luckily I had the star sense unit with me.

I only got it to lock into the stars once... And luckily just in the right part of the sky to zero in on the comet...

Unfortunately, very much a faint fuzzy... But we are pretty sure we actually saw it. It was just a bit of an oblong smudge compared to the few sharp stars around it.

Telescope needs some upgrades. The star sense seems like a bust. Not sure if I want to go better finder scope route, or just get a set of digital setting circles for the scope.

Even centering the scope on the Pleiades and Orion... Which I could see naked eye, could not find them in the telescope.

Also need some repairs to the delran bearing. It looks like the bearing and Formica are chewing each other up for some reason and it's made the motion very jumpy and crunchy

[WillR]

Did you take star sense from another telescope and mount it on the ES Dob? And we are talking about the ES 10" Hybrid? It has some sort of plastic FRP and teflon, no laminate. I had to soap the bearings to get a smooth action.

 

I use a RACI on mine and a laser or Telrad.

 

 

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[Elfmaze]

Yes I bought a refractor from Celestron that I took the star sense base off of.  

 

It is still mounted at a cant... But I'm not positive mounting it vertical is going to have much difference...

 

My bearings are definitely fooked.  The white dust is powder from the bearing

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[WillR]

Odd. Have you tried soap?

[RoofMonkey911]

Yes I bought a refractor from Celestron that I took the star sense base off of.  

 

It is still mounted at a cant... But I'm not positive mounting it vertical is going to have much difference...

 

My bearings are definitely fooked.  The white dust is powder from the bearing

Wow… Something get on the trunions to dig those grooves? I’d think you would be able to feel that when moving the scope up and down.

[Ice Cube]

Telescope needs some upgrades. The star sense seems like a bust. Not sure if I want to go better finder scope route, or just get a set of digital setting circles for the scope.

Even centering the scope on the Pleiades and Orion... Which I could see naked eye, could not find them in the telescope.

 

 

did you calibrate the starsense app on a bright star while mounted on your dob?

there's no reason not to be able to see the Pleiades or Orion Nebulas once the

offset between the phone and the OTA is dialed in on the app.

[Skyfisher]

Did you take star sense from another telescope and mount it on the ES Dob? And we are talking about the ES 10" Hybrid? It has some sort of plastic FRP and teflon, no laminate. I had to soap the bearings to get a smooth action.

 

I use a RACI on mine and a laser or Telrad.

Interesting to see how others scopes are set up !   I am thinking of adding a laser to just get close so the target is in or close to the finder scope.

[Elfmaze]

As I look at it I wonder if the screw was not fully set.  That started the gouging and it just self described from there.  And yes it's very grindy to move.   Sometimes even walking off the tracks

Wow… Something get on the trunions to dig those grooves? I’d think you would be able to feel that when moving the scope up and down.

[Elfmaze]

did you calibrate the starsense app on a bright star while mounted on your dob?

there's no reason not to be able to see the Pleiades or Orion Nebulas once the

offset between the phone and the OTA is dialed in on the app.

 It is possible I don't fully understand the app... It's got some settings in there for manual camera settings... But when I called Celestron she had me turn all that off as it was causing a lockup of exposure.

 

I need to take it outside without a telescope on just a tripod and play with it a few times.  But it's been so **** cold. Hasn't really been on the high priority list yet

Edited by Elfmaze, 04 February 2023 - 03:28 PM.

[Ice Cube]

 It is possible I don't fully understand the app... It's got some settings in there for manual camera settings... But when I called Celestron she had me turn all that off as it was causing a lockup of exposure.

 

I need to take it outside without a telescope on just a tripod and play with it a few times.  But it's been so **** cold. Hasn't really been on the high priority list yet

Lookup high point scientific’s YouTube review of the 8” Celestron star sense dob. They show the app alignment procedure  if I recall properly approximately time stamp 4:30

 

someone wrote up a blog post covering the alignment issue:

 

https://daveandteles...-starsense-app/

Edited by Ice Cube, 05 February 2023 - 01:25 PM.

[WillR]

As I look at it I wonder if the screw was not fully set.  That started the gouging and it just self described from there.  And yes it's very grindy to move.   Sometimes even walking off the tracks

The only screw I am aware of is the one in the teflon pad, and obviously that can't gouge the teflon. The other surface is FRP, and there should be no screws where the teflon rides on it- just at the ends maybe. I'm not home, but when I get a chance I'll look and see if I can determine what might cause this. It's not normal.

[RoofMonkey911]

I would tear the scope down and remove the side bearings to take a look at those.

Like WillR said, the side bearings surface should only be the FRP laminate that is glued on.

Something got in between those two surfaces and tore the Teflon up (obviously).

 

Maybe call or email, with a photo or two, Explore Scientific and see if they can provide you with some new Teflon pads.

 

Keep us posted on what you find out!

[WillR]

As I look at it I wonder if the screw was not fully set.  That started the gouging and it just self described from there.  And yes it's very grindy to move.   Sometimes even walking off the tracks

Oh, and by "walking off the tracks", do you mean side to side? Did you install the two "hockey puck" clutches that would prevent that?

 

Some more photos and wider shots might help.

[Elfmaze]

Oh, and by "walking off the tracks", do you mean side to side? Did you install the two "hockey puck" clutches that would prevent that?

 

Some more photos and wider shots might help.

Yes the two sliders on the hockey pucks came off as well.  For all I know it was one of the hockey puck dots that got into the main bearing.   I reached out to ES to figure out what to do