10 replies to this topic

[Joko]

NV does not require large telescopes only.

If you want a wide field of view, you need a short focal length telescope with a fast focal ratio. Few days ago I posted my 1st pics with my "new" Celestron Comet Catcher (140mm/500mm F/3.6) that I acquired 2 weeks ago. This telescope was made in 1985 and still looks young ! See by yourself in my pictures below.

 

To use it with GOTO I also made a modification of the Skywatcher Alt-Az GOTO system that was used with a 200mm (8") Flextube Dobsonian telescope. My new GOTO platform is not finished yet, I have many more modifications to do (bigger wheels, height extension...) and in the end I will paint it to look great.
But most importantly, it's already working beautifully 

 

The OVNI-M and OVNI-B work in prime in the focuser of the telescope but to use them in afocal I also made a modification to use a 2" eyepiece (the Comet Catcher is natively made to work with 1.25" eyepiece). In afocal the stack with the TV67mm is almost as long as the telescope !

 

I already love the Comet Catcher, it complements my Dobsonian 16" telescope.

 

Edited by Joko, 20 February 2023 - 01:22 PM.

[Joko]

More pics

 

[GOLGO13]

That's a crazy setup. That long stack looks bigger than the scope. Always interesting to see that. Have to be careful not to accidentally bump it.

Any recent observations?

[Joko]

Yep   and I posted some pictures in the NV gallery.

Xiaomi 11 Ultra + NV mono in prime + Nebula Filter + Comet Catcher

With my smarrtphone I took 1 x 30 seconds exposure time for each target.

 

I haven't observed much in afocal yet with the CC. But yes, the stack is impressive compared to the CC.

 

 

 

[79Vette]

Have you had a chance to use the scope with an afocal set-up at all?

I'm looking at one of these for sale locally to use with my PVS14/TV67, and can't decide between it or the Apertura Carbonstar (f4 imaging Newtonian).

[Joko]

Have you had a chance to use the scope with an afocal set-up at all?

I'm looking at one of these for sale locally to use with my PVS14/TV67, and can't decide between it or the Apertura Carbonstar (f4 imaging Newtonian).

Yes I did it with an OVNI-M and an OVNI-B (not a PVS14) by modifying the focuser of the Comet Catcher to use 2" and not only 1.25".

See the 2nd pic of my 2nd post in this thread.

 

But I prefered to use the OVNI NV eyepiece in prime mode as the afocal setup is very long and heavy for the CC.

 

Your PVS14 doesn't work in prime mode so i would recommend the Apertura Carbonstar.

Edited by Joko, 11 September 2024 - 02:34 AM.

[PEterW]

Imagine go Newtonian are designed with plenty of in focus travel that is always useful. The rafcamera adapter allows the pvs14 to operate in prime mode??

Peter

[sixela]

IF you can install it, which means removing the close focus stop ring, which means opening up your PVS-14, removing the tube, using the correct tool for the stop ring and then putting the tube back and assembling it again. If you're worried about warranty I'd ask the vendor (some vendors will actually not void the warranty as long as you let them do it, or ship a PVS-14 with the close focus stop removed.)

 

Also the photocathode is still recessed quite far. Not far enough to make it unusable with most coma correctors provided your scope doesn't require you to recess it completely in the focuser. A PVS-14 works on a Paracorr, but not with the tunable top (you need to remove it and use an adapter for the Paracorr to M48°, spacers and an M42 to T2 ring).

 

There are quite a number of Newtonians for which the Paracorr is the only coma corrector that will work in prime; I just cannot work with a flangeless Nexus on my larger dob with the focal plane 22mm out of the fully racked in focuser; you can mount the PVS-14 to the Nexus at the correct distance but the battery cap will interfere with the focuser before the Nexus recesses far enough into the focuser.

 

On my OVNI-M no such problem, that one works with all my coma correctors and reducers in prime.

 

If you have a focal plane 57mm out of the fully racked in focuser not an issue, then you can even use a Nexus with a PVS-14 (works on my small 150mm imaging Newton).

 

--

°there are some M48 threads right around the top lens on top of the flange once you remove the tunable top, but it's quite scary to use those because they're really short; there are more sturdy adapters to M48 that thread on the same threads as the visual tunable top and offer a more secure connection. 

[Deadlake]

There are quite a number of Newtonians for which the Paracorr is the only coma corrector that will work in prime; I just cannot work with a flangeless Nexus on my larger dob with the focal plane 22mm out of the fully racked in focuser; you can mount the PVS-14 to the Nexus at the correct distance but the battery cap will interfere with the focuser before the Nexus recesses far enough into the focuser.

 

On my OVNI-M no such problem, that one works with all my coma correctors and reducers in prime.

 

If you have a focal plane 57mm out of the fully racked in focuser not an issue, then you can even use a Nexus with a PVS-14 (works on my small 150mm imaging Newton).

You could get a C mount case from Canada, then move your L3 tube to it.

All your C mount lens will then be of double use.

 

Edited by Deadlake, 11 September 2024 - 12:01 PM.

[Solar storm]

I absolutely love my Comet Catcher for night vision.  It’s like it was made for it.  Perfect grab and go. 

Edited by Solar storm, 11 September 2024 - 08:22 PM.

[Jeff Morgan]

NV does not require large telescopes only.

If you want a wide field of view, you need a short focal length telescope with a fast focal ratio. Few days ago I posted my 1st pics with my "new" Celestron Comet Catcher (140mm/500mm F/3.6) that I acquired 2 weeks ago. This telescope was made in 1985 and still looks young ! See by yourself in my pictures below.

 

To use it with GOTO I also made a modification of the Skywatcher Alt-Az GOTO system that was used with a 200mm (8") Flextube Dobsonian telescope. My new GOTO platform is not finished yet, I have many more modifications to do (bigger wheels, height extension...) and in the end I will paint it to look great.
But most importantly, it's already working beautifully 

 

The OVNI-M and OVNI-B work in prime in the focuser of the telescope but to use them in afocal I also made a modification to use a 2" eyepiece (the Comet Catcher is natively made to work with 1.25" eyepiece). In afocal the stack with the TV67mm is almost as long as the telescope !

 

I already love the Comet Catcher, it complements my Dobsonian 16" telescope.

 

21.jpg

22.jpg

23.jpg

 

Wow, those are still around?

 

A Comet Catcher was one of the first scopes I picked up specifically for NV. Good little scope, I made some great observations with it.

 

A few notes for the prospective buyer - the optical window was supposed to lessen - not remove - the coma. It does ok, but not what most would consider "highly corrected".

 

Also the focuser is a sled-type unit. Probably the first thing to wear out, clearly built to be affordable and not to go for decades. Mostly plastic with lots of little ball bearings. If you take it apart for cleaning ... watch out 

 

For the right price, it is a very handy little scope to work around 16x. 

 

If you really want to work in that power range - the Takahashi Epsilon is the 1st Class ticket. And priced accordingly.