265 replies to this topic

[sixela]

Remember, an image intensifier intensifies "all" light, even sky glow.

 

Which (especially in periods with lots of solar activity) means in a really dark sky you might want an IR cut filter rather than an IR pass.

[25585]

Any eyepieces other than a TV 55mm that the TV scaffold will fit, unless smoothie TVPs?

[Speedy1985]

Any eyepieces other than a TV 55mm that the TV scaffold will fit, unless smoothie TVPs?

If you scroll down to the section for the TV adapter on this page, there is a link to the recommended eyepieces that will work with it. 

https://televue.com/..._page.asp?id=36

[daveb2022]

Any eyepieces other than a TV 55mm that the TV scaffold will fit, unless smoothie TVPs?

I was lucky in that I had a few of Radian EPs, and while not the best to use because of the adjustable eye guard, they have worked fine for me. They are nicely sized (8,10,12,14, & 18mm) for my 540mm FL refractor. I use a 5 & 7mm DeLite for extreme magnification but rarely use them. With my longer FL scopes (2300-2600mm) I use the 32mm plossl most often. Sometimes the 40mm might frame a larger open cluster better and a 27 Panoptic works well for the higher magnification but the 32 gets used 90% of the time. The converted 55 plossl with a 7nm filter fits my B7-B8 (18.40 average) skies. I’m still new to Ha and have never tried from a dark site but have been told dark skies makes a big difference. I observe from home, so I’ve never tried it from a darker site. I purchased my NV equipment to make Bortle 8 palatable which then PVS-14 does well in. Here is NGC 7000 ( a poor pic) through the converted 55 plossl to give you an idea of the FOV in my refractor.

 

[25585]

I have an older 55mm Plossl smoothie made in Japan. It will not take the 67mm adaptor according to that page, though my newer 40mm Plossl would. That means a smaller exut pupil, if not FoV.

 

The cost of NVDs for astronomy, includes kit to get the expensive device giving best results. When filters and other accessories are added, the total price builds up. 
 

Edited by 25585, 06 September 2024 - 11:44 AM.

[bobhen]

I have an older 55mm Plossl smoothie made in Japan. It will not take the 67mm adaptor accirding to that page, though my newer 40mm Plossl would. That meand a smaller exut pupil, if not FoV.

 

The cost of NVDs for astronomy, includes kit to get the expensive device giving best results. When filters and other accessories are added, the total price builds up. 
 

You can drop thousands on an apo refractor but you still can't use it without accessories and a mount.

 

Bob

[shohin]

I have an older 55mm Plossl smoothie made in Japan. It will not take the 67mm adaptor according to that page, though my newer 40mm Plossl would. That means a smaller exut pupil, if not FoV.

 

The cost of NVDs for astronomy, includes kit to get the expensive device giving best results. When filters and other accessories are added, the total price builds up.

It can be a little less expensive if you get a device that supports prime focus. Minimally, all you need is an eyepiece adapter and a couple of filters. Going with 1.25" as opposed to 2" further minimizes cost.

[daveb2022]

I have an older 55mm Plossl smoothie made in Japan. It will not take the 67mm adaptor according to that page, though my newer 40mm Plossl would. That means a smaller exut pupil, if not FoV.

 

The cost of NVDs for astronomy, includes kit to get the expensive device giving best results. When filters and other accessories are added, the total price builds up. 
 

Besides the level of LP you're observing in, the scope used and what objects you're after is something to consider. There might be a minimalist approach that might be w/i your reach. What is your goal?

[25585]

Besides the level of LP you're observing in, the scope used and what objects you're after is something to consider. There might be a minimalist approach that might be w/i your reach. What is your goal?

Globular clusters, planetary nebulae to start with.

[Jeff Morgan]

Globular clusters, planetary nebulae to start with.

 

NV will certainly revolutionize globular clusters for you.

 

However, on PN's you have to realize that the majority of them have very small angular diameters. High Magnifications are a regime where NV astronomy shows its limits due to resulting high effective focal ratios. The only saving grace is that many (but not all) have high surface brightness. So yes, you will be able to detect huge numbers of small PN's and check them off of your list.

 

Oh, and the fact that one of the appeals of those small high-surface brightness PN's is that they are brightly colored.

 

PN's are therefore a mixed bag for NV.

[Highburymark]

Any eyepieces other than a TV 55mm that the TV scaffold will fit, unless smoothie TVPs?

All Dioptrx eyepieces. I tend to use a 2” set these days (TV Plossl 55/67, Panoptic 27 and Nagler 22), but a 1.25” set of TV plossl 40, 32, Delite 18.2, for example, also work nicely.
You can get an adapter from RAF Camera to fit the PVS-14 to a Baader zoom too.

[daveb2022]

Globular clusters, planetary nebulae to start with.

I just know what works from my skies, but I'd say (excluding wide field Ha DSOs) globulars respond best. Open clusters come in second and NV puts galaxies w/i my reach. Some of the bigger and/or brighter PN's respond well but I generally don't expect much with the smaller PN's.

 

Whether the cost is worth the jump, I'd suggest seeing an intensifier in action before a making a purchase. Make sure the ocular adjustment can work with your vision, and it works for your type scope and level of LP.

 

They can be a bit bulky. With the setup shown, I still need to add an extension to reach focus. Could you imagine this with a 31 Nagler and a 2x powermate? 

 

[25585]

I just know what works from my skies, but I'd say (excluding wide field Ha DSOs) globulars respond best. Open clusters come in second and NV puts galaxies w/i my reach. Some of the bigger and/or brighter PN's respond well but I generally don't expect much with the smaller PN's.

 

Whether the cost is worth the jump, I'd suggest seeing an intensifier in action before a making a purchase. Make sure the ocular adjustment can work with your vision, and it works for your type scope and level of LP.

 

They can be a bit bulky. With the setup shown, I still need to add an extension to reach focus. Could you imagine this with a 31 Nagler and a 2x powermate? 

 

NV length.JPGo

Probably a 2" eyepiece would be more stable. A 2" diagonal would increase back focus to an extent. I would be using an Amici 2". 

[daveb2022]

A sturdy 2” focuser and diagonal are helpful no doubt, but I rarely use any of my 2” eyepieces. I feel the shorter and lighter TV EP's work fine for my needs, plus they're cheaper. I swap EP’s for framing primarily, but also for contrast. Generally, I use 2" to 1.25 adapters and prefer 1.25 filters mounted on the adapter rather than on the EP. If I were allowed only one EP for my use in each scope, (from my level of LP), the refractor would get my 10mm, and the SCT the 32mm.

[25585]

If good night vision devices were cheaper generally, they would be useful for more than astronomy. 

[sixela]

They are useful for more than astronomy or they would not exist (here in Europe, hunters and airsoft enthusiasts seem to have a copious amount of them and on the second hand market we can just harvest the crumbs).

 

Here it's actually illegal to hunt with them and it's illegal to have one that can be (trivially) mounted on a hunting rifle. That they needed to write a law for it tells you about the prevalence...

Edited by sixela, 10 September 2024 - 05:48 AM.