126 replies to this topic

[clamchip]

That's incredible thanks! I never knew all my images were here! in My Settings>Manage Attachments.

I went all the way back to my first photo in 2008. I remember it, I won a Sears 3 inch refractor on ebay

and I was wondering if anyone knew who this trademark stamped on the label belonged to. 

"Astro Optical" I was told. It didn't take long after that I learned all about Astro Optical here on Cloudy

Nights and what I was seeing in the eyepiece, wow what a fine telescope!

Robert

 

Edited by clamchip, 22 December 2023 - 05:31 PM.

[ErnH2O]

That's incredible thanks! I never knew all my images were here! in My Settings>Manage Attachments.

I went all the way back to my first photo in 2008. I remember it, I won a Sears 3 inch refractor on ebay

and I was wondering if anyone knew who this trademark stamped on the label belonged to. 

"Astro Optical" I was told. It didn't take long after that I learned all about Astro Optical here on Cloudy

Nights and what I was seeing in the eyepiece, wow what a fine telescope!

Robert

 

2572930-IMG_4243.jpg

I do love to see that stamp. 

Cheers,

Ern

[mdowns]

Near zero depth .965 to 1.25" adapters by ccwemyss,see here

[deSitter]

Hi guys and gals,

 

Can someone tell me the diameter of the Meade Starfinder pier? Thanks in advance.

 

-drl

[apfever]

It is a 4"  (4.02" O.D.) diameter pipe 23.5" long. It looks to be the same size pipe as used on the 826/628 mounts, but the cap and leg mounting holes are different.

The Starfinder cap fits closer than average. If you need pipe I.D. or cap boss size, let me know. 

[deSitter]

Does anyone have at hand a Meade LX200 standard field tripod? The one with 2" legs and stands about 30" collapsed? I need to know the diameter of the top of the hub. Mine is buried at the moment. Thanks! I need to  make an adapter for another tripod that interfaces with my mount. So I need to order an aluminum disk about the same size as the top of the hub.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

This Ebay store features very inexpensive telescope parts and optics, including what appear to be creditable achromats - you can get e.g. a 83/900mm multi-coated air-spaced set for less than $50. Worth considering if resurrecting a basket case with messed up optics.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225743493735

 

$300 for a 4" f/12 multi-coated. That sounds about right.

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 13 January 2024 - 04:07 AM.

[Biosuth]

Some years ago there was a "Yahoo Unitron Telescope Group." Seems this group no longer is in existence. They did have an extensive data base. I'm looking for schematic drawings for latitude adjustment screw for Unitron mount. I'm wondering if someone (looking on) might have saved the link to these  extensive  and useful files of information.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks. Jim

[deSitter]

Some years ago there was a "Yahoo Unitron Telescope Group." Seems this group no longer is in existence. They did have an extensive data base. I'm looking for schematic drawings for latitude adjustment screw for Unitron mount. I'm wondering if someone (looking on) might have saved the link to these  extensive  and useful files of information.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks. Jim

Go to https://groups.io and look for your old group. The active Yahoo groups in telescope world have been migrated in most cases.

 

-drl

[Biosuth]

Did not find what I wanted...but some other useful info. Will continue the search. Thanks very much for 

your response

Jim

[stevenwav]

Hey folks - This may be the wrong forum for this thread, but I know a few of us have used Zen Market to purchase some classics. I am an bit daunted by the language barrier and I don't know if shipping to the USA is common practice or difficult. Any experienced Zen Marketers care to share the "how to" and other tips and tricks when it comes to dealing with this service? Thanks in advance - there are some juicy morsels over there that I want to sample and I'm not talking about Dim Sum here-lol!

Edited by stevenwav, 13 April 2024 - 09:14 AM.

[ErnH2O]

Hey folks - This may be the wrong forum for this thread, but I know a few of us have used Zen Market to purchase some classics. I am an bit daunted by the language barrier and I don't know if shipping to the USA is common practice or difficult. Any experienced Zen Marketers care to share the "how to" and other tips and tricks when it comes to dealing with this service? Thanks in advance - there are some juicy morsels over there that I want to sample and I'm not talking about Dim Sum here-lol!

Bomber Bob is your guy for Zen.

[deSitter]

Bomber Bob is your guy for Zen.

Yes we might have to start calling him Ziggy Zenmarket.

 

-drl

[Senex Bibax]

[deescovolante]

Hi-

 

New to the hobby and first post here in CN...

 

I searched around the forums here to figure out where to post but this seems like the right place.

 

I purchased a C8 Super Plus (?) with tripod, mount with working drive plus 4 eyepieces and finder scope.   Most of the stuff is in ok usable condition but I let the gotta-have-it urge blind me and I think the scope itself is probably junk.   I stupidly rushed the deal without fully examining it carefully and trying it out.  I did see a little fungus on the corrector plate and secondary mirror which I thought I could gently clean. I thought I was being very careful with light dabs of cotton balls with distilled water but the coating came right off.  In such a case is the telesope now gabage?  I've read here that Celestron won't sell them without sending the OTA in for overhaul and I'd rather put that much money towards something else. 

 

Since I just joined CN I can't post a wanted ad yet, but in a month when I can do so is it possible to obtain C8 secondary mirrors from people who have broken corrector plates?  Or is that ludicrous to expect?  I don't really care if the primary and secondary won't be perfectly matched, just looking to try out an SCT inexpensively in my quest to figure out what sorts of things I like.

 

Other possble options might be recoating, though I imagine the surface has been ruined by the fungus, or perhaps obtaining a Fastar/Hyperstar type device but those seem $$$ and are probably incompatible anyway  (and don't they require transferring the original secondary mirror?).

 

If I can't fix the OTA then I'll probably try to mount my Omni XLT 150 Newtonian on the forks as it's better than what I'm using now.  And I have a small pile of usable parts to fool around with.

 

Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice you can give.  It seems like this forum is a good one

 

Hopefully these photos show up

 

 

Yikes!  I'm an idiot for buying this!

[deSitter]

 

Hi-

 

New to the hobby and first post here in CN...

 

I searched around the forums here to figure out where to post but this seems like the right place.

 

I purchased a C8 Super Plus (?) with tripod, mount with working drive plus 4 eyepieces and finder scope.   Most of the stuff is in ok usable condition but I let the gotta-have-it urge blind me and I think the scope itself is probably junk.   I stupidly rushed the deal without fully examining it carefully and trying it out.  I did see a little fungus on the corrector plate and secondary mirror which I thought I could gently clean. I thought I was being very careful with light dabs of cotton balls with distilled water but the coating came right off.  In such a case is the telesope now gabage?  I've read here that Celestron won't sell them without sending the OTA in for overhaul and I'd rather put that much money towards something else. 

 

Since I just joined CN I can't post a wanted ad yet, but in a month when I can do so is it possible to obtain C8 secondary mirrors from people who have broken corrector plates?  Or is that ludicrous to expect?  I don't really care if the primary and secondary won't be perfectly matched, just looking to try out an SCT inexpensively in my quest to figure out what sorts of things I like.

 

Other possble options might be recoating, though I imagine the surface has been ruined by the fungus, or perhaps obtaining a Fastar/Hyperstar type device but those seem $$$ and are probably incompatible anyway  (and don't they require transferring the original secondary mirror?).

 

If I can't fix the OTA then I'll probably try to mount my Omni XLT 150 Newtonian on the forks as it's better than what I'm using now.  And I have a small pile of usable parts to fool around with.

 

Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice you can give.  It seems like this forum is a good one

 

Hopefully these photos show up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yikes!  I'm an idiot for buying this!

 

Welcome!

 

That secondary can be recoated. If the primary is OK, you're fine. Get ready to learn a lot about SCTs Fortunately, we love to yak and advice is free!

 

-drl

[deescovolante]

Welcome!

 

That secondary can be recoated. If the primary is OK, you're fine. Get ready to learn a lot about SCTs Fortunately, we love to yak and advice is free!

 

-drl

I was hoping that would be the case.    Any suggested businesses that do that?  Yesterday I found Spectrum Coatings of of Florida - the prices look very reasonable.

 

Today I used it and while the contrast was absolutely atrocious, I can see how having 2,000mm of focal length can be addicting

 

Thanks for your reply drl!

[deSitter]

I was hoping that would be the case.    Any suggested businesses that do that?  Yesterday I found Spectrum Coatings of of Florida - the prices look very reasonable.

 

Today I used it and while the contrast was absolutely atrocious, I can see how having 2,000mm of focal length can be addicting

 

Thanks for your reply drl!

I would put this in the Cats & Casses forum, or start a new thread here. This one is more for restorers and improvisers.

 

Yes but first you have to get the mirror free of the holder. That's for SCT experts to explain - I've never done it.

 

-drl

[DouglasPaul]

Cleaning .965 eyepieces, how to? I have managed to acquire a fair bit of them now and the glass tends to be pretty small on many of them. I actually popped the lens out of one of those 4mm's trying to clean it, it ended up as a collimating eyepiece. 

 

Any methods, techniques or just general experience on what not to do would be appreciated as I need to clean some of these.

Edited by DouglasPaul, 05 May 2024 - 08:18 PM.

[Kasmos]

Cleaning .965 eyepieces, how to? I have managed to acquire a fair bit of them now and the glass tends to be pretty small on many of them. I actually popped the lens out of one of those 4mm's trying to clean it, it ended up as a collimating eyepiece. 

 

Any methods, techniques or just general experience on what not to do would be appreciated as I need to clean some of these.

If there's no issues between the lens elements I've sometimes used a lightly wetted Q-tip or wadded lens tissue with alcohol, Windex, or lens cleaner on the outer surfaces. You don't want it too wet so it doesn't seep inside the lens assembly. And keep alcohol away from the little labels on some of them as it will remove the lettering. On ones that had to be opened up or came to me jumbled I lightly rub each lens element inside a wetted lense tissue between my thumb and fore finger. And again with a dry tissue. Work slow and set aside a good place to work so that if something drops you can find it. Also pay attention if you disassemble them and draw a diagram of how they and the spacers fit if it's not obvious how they go back together. 

Edited by Kasmos, 06 May 2024 - 01:31 PM.

[deSitter]

Cleaning .965 eyepieces, how to? I have managed to acquire a fair bit of them now and the glass tends to be pretty small on many of them. I actually popped the lens out of one of those 4mm's trying to clean it, it ended up as a collimating eyepiece. 

 

Any methods, techniques or just general experience on what not to do would be appreciated as I need to clean some of these.

Huygens eyepieces have 2 plano-convex lenses which should both have their convex side facing the sky. The Mittenzwey variant has a positive meniscus field lens (concave-convex with the convex side steeper than the concave side).

 

Ramsden eyepieces have two plano-convex lenses whose convex sides face each other.

 

Handling the tiny lenses is something I've never mastered. You need some really good tweezers and steady hands. I've never really succeeded in cleaning eyepieces shorter than 12.5mm. There is a special lens cleaning fluid that dries on the lens and you peel it off, taking all the dirt and dust with it. I've thought of using wood glue or Elmer's glue to do this. I've also thought of boiling them. Rubbing with lens fluid for me just doesn't work.

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 06 May 2024 - 07:21 AM.

[Senex Bibax]

Here's a cheap solution for slo-mo knobs for mounts with the D-shaped shafts and flexible slo-mo cables. A neighbour tossed out a worn-out propane grill yesterday, so I grabbed all five of the burner knobs. The gas burner controls have the same D-shaped shafts, and the knobs are a good size and composed of both metal and plastic. 

 

They fit perfectly on the control shafts of the mount that came with my Tasco 7-5E and are really easy to turn. As long as the shafts are long enough, they should work on most mounts. I tried them on the big EQ mount for my Celestron 6" refractor, and while they fit the shafts, the shafts themselves do not protrude enough from the mount to allow the knobs to turn without interference.

 

Here's a pic:

 

[Senex Bibax]

Here's a cheap solution for slo-mo knobs for mounts with the D-shaped shafts and flexible slo-mo cables. A neighbour tossed out a worn-out propane grill yesterday, so I grabbed all five of the burner knobs. The gas burner controls have the same D-shaped shafts, and the knobs are a good size and composed of both metal and plastic. 

 

They fit perfectly on the control shafts of the mount that came with my Tasco 7-5E and are really easy to turn. As long as the shafts are long enough, they should work on most mounts. I tried them on the big EQ mount for my Celestron 6" refractor, and while they fit the shafts, the shafts themselves do not protrude enough from the mount to allow the knobs to turn without interference.

 

Here's a pic:

 

Need a bit of tinkering, they seem to have a tendency to fall off easily. Maybe a bit of heat shrink tubing over the shafts will do it...

[apfever]

I have 3 BBQ. I pulled a knob off two of them and they were interchangeable with the same compression type D fitting. 

However, the knobs were too big for any of my scopes with the 'D' type slo-mo shafts, including the Vixen Polaris. The D holes in the knobs were too big to make shimming practical. 

[Senex Bibax]

Here is another (improved?) way to attach the homebrew drain coupling 1.25" adapter to the draw tube of an old RAO telescope with a .925" visual back. The way I used to attch the adapter was to remove the .925" VB, slide the adapter over the drawtube, then tighten the nut and plastic collar on the adapter.

 

Here is the new way.

1. Here are the .925" VB and the drain pipe slip coupling, with the nut and plastic collar removed from one end: 
   
   
    
2. Insert the VB into the end of the coupling: 
   
   
    
3. Notice that the VB sits nice and flush with the end of the coupling - in fact it is nearly a perfect fit: 
   
   

    

4. Tighten the nut on the end of the coupling. The nut will hold the VB securely in the end of the coupling, and the threads of the VB will protrude through the hole in the nut: 
   
   

    

5. There will be a small clearance gap between the inside diameter of the hole in the nut and the threads on the VB. If you like you can open up the hole by a couple of mm to increase the clearance but it may not be necessary: 
   
   

    

6. Screw the assembled adapter into the end of the draw tube by the protruding threads of the original VB. The clearance gap between the threads and the hole in the nut should be sufficient to accommodate the end of the draw tube and allow you to screw the VB all the way in. The 1.25" adapter is now securely attached to the draw tube by the VB threads: 
   
   

If you want you could cut off the body of the VB after the taper behind the knurled collar.