4163 replies to this topic

[blackstar707]

The only lengthy parts were the GraXPert steps and only because my computer is old and does not gave a modern graphics card so the steps take a long time. I just start a step and walk away for a while until it finishes and then come back and do the next step. My actual tone doing things at my computer is only about 5 or 10 minutes. If I add the time I’m waiting for my computer to do the long steps. Perhaps 30 or 45 minutes total. I do have plans to upgrade my computer later this year.

Congratulations! 10 min editing time is pretty impressive (to me). I wonder is it an average time for processing all types of DSO images? I do agree with BrickInTheSky that stretching (curve, level) could be the most critical step of editing, and thus it deserves taking a little more time to achieve a favorable result. Thanks for sharing.
 

[Zeeb]

Just obtained an Origin and a CPC-925 (both still in boxes) for a public astronomy program I'm starting at a local "recreational district".  In this parish (SE Louisiana) is a several hundred acre complex of soccer fields, baseball fields, gymnasiums, and conference spaces.  The park (Pelican Park in Mandeville, Louisiana) wishes to diversify beyond sports and spark interest in STEM - especially for younger people.  The park hosted a recent star party that was executed by the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society (New Orleans).  The event was a huge success and this led to the park obtaining the above mentioned instruments.   First light for the Origin will be within the next month.  I would appreciate any suggestions regarding what may be the best "wow" objects to start with since present will be the board of directors who approved the purchase of the instruments.  I'm thinking M13 is a must.  What else does the Origin like this time of year that requires minimal integration time.  I'll be casting an Android tablet to a 98" 4K display.  Should be impressive.  For planetary visual, a binoviewer was obtained for the 9.25" SCT.  I'm well experienced in visual observing but this will be my first time using a smart telescope.  Any suggestions appreciated.  The area has typical suburban light pollution - a nebula filter was purchased with the Origin.  Thanks.

[genehunter29009]

Just obtained an Origin and a CPC-925 (both still in boxes) for a public astronomy program I'm starting at a local "recreational district".  In this parish (SE Louisiana) is a several hundred acre complex of soccer fields, baseball fields, gymnasiums, and conference spaces.  The park (Pelican Park in Mandeville, Louisiana) wishes to diversify beyond sports and spark interest in STEM - especially for younger people.  The park hosted a recent star party that was executed by the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society (New Orleans).  The event was a huge success and this led to the park obtaining the above mentioned instruments.   First light for the Origin will be within the next month.  I would appreciate any suggestions regarding what may be the best "wow" objects to start with since present will be the board of directors who approved the purchase of the instruments.  I'm thinking M13 is a must.  What else does the Origin like this time of year that requires minimal integration time.  I'll be casting an Android tablet to a 98" 4K display.  Should be impressive.  For planetary visual, a binoviewer was obtained for the 9.25" SCT.  I'm well experienced in visual observing but this will be my first time using a smart telescope.  Any suggestions appreciated.  The area has typical suburban light pollution - a nebula filter was purchased with the Origin.  Thanks.

Just a suggestion, you can use Origin Live View to view the image on a PC. much higher real resolution than a phone and the camera can take up the entire field. you can also share the Stellarium view if you want. 

[jprideaux]

Just obtained an Origin and a CPC-925 (both still in boxes) for a public astronomy program I'm starting at a local "recreational district". In this parish (SE Louisiana) is a several hundred acre complex of soccer fields, baseball fields, gymnasiums, and conference spaces. The park (Pelican Park in Mandeville, Louisiana) wishes to diversify beyond sports and spark interest in STEM - especially for younger people. The park hosted a recent star party that was executed by the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society (New Orleans). The event was a huge success and this led to the park obtaining the above mentioned instruments. First light for the Origin will be within the next month. I would appreciate any suggestions regarding what may be the best "wow" objects to start with since present will be the board of directors who approved the purchase of the instruments. I'm thinking M13 is a must. What else does the Origin like this time of year that requires minimal integration time. I'll be casting an Android tablet to a 98" 4K display. Should be impressive. For planetary visual, a binoviewer was obtained for the 9.25" SCT. I'm well experienced in visual observing but this will be my first time using a smart telescope. Any suggestions appreciated. The area has typical suburban light pollution - a nebula filter was purchased with the Origin. Thanks.

With the origin FOV, you want targets not too small and not too big. Yes, M13 is a good choice for June. Other good choices depending on the time of night would be the following: M20, M8, M16, M17, M100, and the Draco Triplet.

I have used my Origin connecting my Android tablet to a more modest 27” computer monitor many times now for public outreach with great success. In my case, I use a 2K Android tablet output to a 2K external monitor and that works well. I simply use a USB-C to HDMI cable between my tablet and my monitor. I’m sure there are other options as well.

[Zeeb]

Helpful.  I'm hoping to mirror the Galaxy Tablet (S10 Ultra) to the Samsung Smart TV (DU9000) directly without using a wifi network (none available at the location) or a USB-C to HDMI cable.  If possible I would like to avoid the potential trip hazard of a cable.  The tablet and smart TV have not arrived but I think the ability to link the two w/out wifi may be there.  If not, or if wireless offers less resolution than using a cable - cable it will be.  Glad to hear of your successes using Origin at outreach, jprideaux.

[jprideaux]

If you use a cable, it only has to go between the tablet and the display screen. You could then just co-locate those two items and have the Origin located a bit farther away but still within WiFi distance of your tablet. The Celestron Origin manual also mentions an inexpensive plug-and-play wifi antenna to extend the WiFi distance of your Origin a bit as well. I have one of these as well.

The other thing to note is the display screen can be very bright especially if there is a mix of visual and computer-display set-ups. Learn how to manually set the display brightness and turn it down. Mist monitors have a menu to enter and change settings. The Origin app also has a night-time mode but that makes everything red. I usually don’t choose that but turn my monitor’s brightness all the way down and face it away from the visual scopes participating to save people’s night-vision.

[Zeeb]

All good advice.  Thanks.

[Phil Crane]

I just received my Giotto for Origin and thought I would let prospective buyers know that it only comes with a cigarette lighter cable (who has one of those in their cars anymore???) You will need to purchase a 12v 2A+ power supply to use it (the power supply for the Origin scope does not fit unfortunately).

[StrangeAnomaly]

Thanks for letting us know. I Am about to pull the trigger on this device and would have been a bit bummed if I couldn't use it right away.

[Phil Crane]

Thanks for letting us know. I Am about to pull the trigger on this device and would have been a bit bummed if I couldn't use it right away.

I would suggest you go to their website and download the manual, it gives specific instructions of what type of power supply you need 12v, 2A 5.5/2.5mm power plug with a center-positive tip.

[Opi Bættlebeard]

Yea...that kind of annoyed me. Should've come with a normal power supply w/ international plug adapters like you see in some other products.

 

I just received my Giotto for Origin and thought I would let prospective buyers know that it only comes with a cigarette lighter cable (who has one of those in their cars anymore???) You will need to purchase a 12v 2A+ power supply to use it (the power supply for the Origin scope does not fit unfortunately).

[bradhaak]

I figure that I'll just use an OLED tablet along with some kind of cloth to even out the light. OLED should be better than an LCD display because individual pixels are evenly lit.

[blackstar707]

Has anyone used a dolly to move Origin+wedge+ + wedge +... to the backyard? Like this: https://farpointastr...ns/wheeley-bars. How does it work for you?

[DyDyMT]

My Trunk is full - as in I've fought for this Elephant Trunk.  Scheduling problems, Orgi not focusing, field rotation in the early a.m. hours ~ so I'm done at 12 stacked masters (1300fr) x2Drizzle PI,Topaz. On to a less arduous target

 

click for Larger Elephant Trunk

 

[blackstar707]

Sh2-112

[jprideaux]

Has anyone used a dolly to move Origin+wedge+ + wedge +... to the backyard? Like this: https://farpointastr...ns/wheeley-bars. How does it work for you?

I haven’t tried a dolly mainly because I don’t have a house with a garage and a good place to easily roll something.with wheels. I would think that option would be nice for those with an appropriate situation. Although heavy, I used to just pick up my whole assembled set-up in alt-az mode and carry it to where I wanted it. With the wedge included, the full assembled unit is now too heavy for me to easily pick-up and carry but I can take off the OTA and first carry everything else assembled out to my observing place, then go back and get the OTA. (OTA=optical tube assembly or “the scope part”). When I travel by car to darker sites, I do take things mostly apart so they fit in my car better (and safer).

[Twah]

Has anyone used a dolly to move Origin+wedge+ + wedge +... to the backyard? Like this: https://farpointastr...ns/wheeley-bars. How does it work for you?

I made one for my LX200GPS 20 years ago.   It slid up under the Meade wedge,  I made a little table for my laptop that folded down.  And then I tweaked when I was just using Alt Az and it was bolted through from the tripod to the scope base.    Made a leg on the dolly so I could lean the whole thing over, extend or retract the legs and wheel it off.   OH and had a dew shield holder, and my eyepiece case on the metal part for the dolly.     it was all ready to go, saved me SO MUCH TIME.    I have a pic.  I'll post it but I have to figure out how to post it here in the forum. 

[Twah]

 

hope this works.  lol.  but my telescope transporter

[blackstar707]

I haven’t tried a dolly mainly because I don’t have a house with a garage and a good place to easily roll something.with wheels. I would think that option would be nice for those with an appropriate situation. Although heavy, I used to just pick up my whole assembled set-up in alt-az mode and carry it to where I wanted it. With the wedge included, the full assembled unit is now too heavy for me to easily pick-up and carry but I can take off the OTA and first carry everything else assembled out to my observing place, then go back and get the OTA. (OTA=optical tube assembly or “the scope part”). When I travel by car to darker sites, I do take things mostly apart so they fit in my car better (and safer).

I do the same as you, going on two trips to my yard. However, after a few times this way, I felt that my lower back hurt from the transportation and my aging body. So I started searching for better transportation. So far, the JMI wheeley bar is the only one I have found. It seems to be a good one to use with Origin. But I hesitated because the seller had changed from JMI to Farpoint, and the new seller had closed their retailer network (e.g., AMZ, B&H, etc.) to become a single online seller. From other forums at CN, Farpoint has been reported to be operating with bad business conduct, customer service, and tech support. Salt added that prices are raised ridiculously, for instance, the medium size model was sold for $319 by JMI, now $450 by Farpoint... Any thoughts?
 

[blackstar707]

 

 

 

hope this works.  lol.  but my telescope transporter

 

Congratulations! It looks really nice. I wish I can make one myself, but...
 

[BobbieLunt]

We just keep the tripod fairly low on our Origin and carry the whole assembly from our dining room out the patio door and on to the patio. We have a bag for the tube, mount,  and tripod for transporting to other locations. It's pretty portable. 

Edited by BobbieLunt, 19 June 2025 - 06:50 AM.

[Twah]

We just keep the tripod fairly low on our Origin and carry the whole assembly from our dining room out the patio door and on to the patio. We have a bag for the tube, mount,  and tripod for transporting to other locations. It's pretty portable. 

It wasn't terribly difficult to build.  just used some plywood, a jigsaw, a drill some bolts.  and just some thought! the thinking was the hardest part. lol. 

 

I have my origin on the table top tripod with the wedge because it's so much easier to go through the doors and all that than the full tripod.    I might try and convert the dolly into a mover for the origin.  

[spereira]

Has anyone used a dolly to move Origin+wedge+ + wedge +... to the backyard? Like this: https://farpointastr...ns/wheeley-bars. How does it work for you?

 

Yes. I have been using my medium size Wheeley-Bar right from the start.

Since I roll out from the garage onto our asphalt driveway, I got the 5 inch wheels, and I feel that was a good choice.  

No sweat at all to roll out the tripod, mount, and optical tube all in one go.

If you're going to roll over uneven ground or grass (lawn) you may want to consider the small air tires they offer.

 

smp

Edited by spereira, 19 June 2025 - 02:07 PM.

[blackstar707]

Yes. I have been using my medium size Wheeley-Bar right from the start.

Since I roll out from the garage onto our asphalt driveway, I got the 5 inch wheels, and I feel that was a good choice.  

No sweat at all to roll out the tripod, mount, and optical tube all in one go.

If you're going to roll over uneven ground or grass (lawn) you may want to consider the small air tires they offer.

 

smp

So good to hear your experience, Stephen. Wonder when you got the Wheeley Bar and from whom you purchased. I believe the product is good, but I am still concerned about the new seller's business operation. I have tried email and chat so far with no response at all... P.S. Do you move your Origin + wedge with the Wheeley Bar too?
 

Edited by blackstar707, 19 June 2025 - 05:42 PM.

[spereira]

So good to hear your experience, Stephen. Wonder when you got the Wheeley Bar and from whom you purchased. I believe the product is good, but I am still concerned about the new seller's business operation. I have tried email and chat so far with no response at all... P.S. Do you move your Origin + wedge with the Wheeley Bar too?
 

I purchased mine several years ago.  It held my iOptron Az Mount Pro with a C6, then later a C9.5.  The C6 did not require any counterweight, but the C9.5 needed 2 weights.  I don’t remember what the weights were, just the original one that came with the Az Mount Pro, and another one just like it that I added.  All this to give you an idea of the weight the Wheeley Bar was carrying.

 

If I recall correctly, I purchased directly from Farpoint Astro.  I got the medium size, and I changed wheels to the 5 inch ones, right on their website site.  I believe it ended up costing $390.

 

Now that I’ve slimmed down the herd, it has my Origin, with its mount and tripod.  This load is a lot less than the C9.5 system.  I do not have a wedge for it.  
 

Any other questions, please ask.

 

smp

 

Edit:

My Wheeley Bar was delivered to me on November 30, 2021

I looked in my account and it appears that I got free shipping.

I may have taken advantage of a special offer at that time.

Edited by spereira, 19 June 2025 - 08:26 PM.