11 replies to this topic

[resident]

Hi all! I just joined the group. I'm new to astronomy, getting interested after picking up a used scope. What I have so far is an Ioptron MAK150, with a Vixen GP mount, which is on a suveryors tripod.  Both were acquired used. The OTA is missing the dew shield, and the mount is missing the original slow motion controls, illuminator, and the factory counterweight bar. I have a counterweight bar setup, it's just not correct. Any advise on eyepieces, use, or ? will be greatly appreciated.

[WillR]

Welcome! No advice for eyepieces specific to that scope- just the best you can afford. If you are on a budget, good middling eyepieces are the Astro-Tech UWA 82 degree sold by our sponsor. Link to their website is at the top of the page.

 

BTW, in future posts, it is helpful to post a topic title that is specific so the right people see your question. I don’t think you can go back and change it, but a more descriptive title would be “Eyepiece suggestions needed for a 150mm Mak”

Edited by WillR, 03 December 2024 - 09:27 AM.

[SeattleScott]

You can get a Celestron flexible dew shield for 6”-8” SCT. Or Astrozap will sell something.

I wrapped mine in a jacket of Reflectix with self-adhesive Velcro to deal with cool down time.

There are a wide variety of eyepieces from $15 to $1,000+. For starters, I would decide what to do about low power. Your mount isn’t GoTo and the scope is high power, so the view would be narrow. Making it hard to find things. A 38mm Agena SWA gives about the maximum possible field of view, but it requires a 2” diagonal (I don’t know if your used one came with 1.25” or 2” diagonal). So you might need to purchase a diagonal too if you want to go that route.

Then you can work your way up in magnification from there. Some people like tight spacing, like 30% gaps in magnification between eyepieces. Others are more minimalist and just want one high power, one medium and one low. And then others just get a low power eyepiece and a zoom, like 8-24mm or 7-21mm. A budget zoom is the cheapest way to get started filling out a range of magnifications. If you get the bug, you will probably upgrade to nicer fixed focal length eyepieces later. But a low power eyepiece and a zoom are a good way to gauge interest in the hobby without investing much.

[sevenofnine]

Welcome to C/N! 

 

Good suggestions so far. I'll just add that a good astronomy specific chair should be high on your list of must have's. Another is a good astronomy guide book. The most forum recommended chair is the Starbound or Vestil. I like the TeleVue Air Chair. All of them will help you see more at the eyepiece because you are steady and relaxed. There are lots of good guide books but this one is a great start..."The Backyard Astronomer's Guide 4th ed." Best of luck to you! 

 

https://www.bhphotov...hair_White.html.

 

https://www.amazon.c...,aps,210&sr=8-1.

[Mike Q]

Well the 150 maxes out around 300x.  With 1800mm worth of focal length that means a 6mm eyepiece would be about it onthe high end.  In my skies i would be looking at 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40mm. Feel free to drop the 15 and 25 if you like, I just like options.  

 

As for a dew shield, make one out of foam sheets.  Any hobby store will have it, or call iOptron and see if they have one.

[SeattleScott]

The scope runs closer to F14 with 2” diagonal. So that would max out with a 7mm if you go the 2” route.

[resident]

Thanks for the suggestions.My immediate need is probably the slo mo controls for the mount. I don't know if mine had been converted to electrics or what, but the 2 control knobs were not with it. And yes, a 2" diagonal is on my wish list.

[BKBrown]

Welcome aboard! With that long focal length you don't need to buy the most super expensive eyepieces, most mid-range options will suffice. And our sponsor sells slow motion cables, or you can Google these that claim to fit Vixen mounts: Agena Flexible Slow Motion Cable with Rosette Handle. Let the adventure begin!

 

Clear Skies,

Brian 

[HotRod217]

I recommend APM XWA eyepieces! 

[vtornado]

 The OTA is missing the dew shield, and the mount is missing the original slow motion controls, illuminator, and the factory counterweight bar. I have a counterweight bar setup, it's just not correct. Any advise on eyepieces, use, or ? will be greatly appreciated.

 

Astrozap used to sell quality flexible dew shields (not sure anymore).  You can also make a dew shiedl from black craft foam.

 

Eyepieces are tougher.   I would recommend the svbony 7-21 zoom.  It is only $40.00.  It will let you figure out what magnifications work best for you.  It's important to figure that out before you spend large money on eyepieces and find out you don't like the focal lengths.   For a Mak, a 32mm plossl is hard to go wrong with. 

 

Besides magnification, eye relief (how far you have to hold your eye from the eyepieces) is important for glasses use and general comfort.

 

Apparent field of view is important too (angle of view the eyepiece presents to your eye)  Some folk love 80-100 degree eyepieces. 70 is perfect for me.    It's very subjective, and up to you.

 

 

Well the 150 maxes out around 300x.  OK maybe on paper.   This is a not tracking mount, there is the atmospheric limitations to consider and 300x is a .5mm exit pupil.  Very dim on extended objects.   I live in the same geographic region as the poster 300x is a once a month type of affair, if that once a month happens to be a time that you have time available.  Beginners spend way to much time over-magnifying things.  Typical seeing is around 200x near me. 

 

 

 

If you can find an astro club near you many members would allow you to try some of theirs.

Edited by vtornado, 06 December 2024 - 03:32 PM.

[resident]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm currently in a holding pattern until the weather allows. I picked up a Celestron 40mm eyepiece. I'm sure it isn't ideal, but it'll work well enough to sort things out. I still want to get the fine adjusters at some point, and a decent 2" diagonal.

[Dave Mitsky]

While it doesn't deal with using a telescope directly, you may find some of the information on astronomy, amateur astronomy, and observing presented in my post (#22) at https://www.cloudyni...mers/?p=5184287 useful, resident. There are sections on various books, observing guides, the Moon, the planets, star-hopping, stellar atlases, planispheres, planetarium programs, astronomy apps, deep-sky objects, lists of worthwhile celestial objects to observe, binocular astronomy, urban astronomy, and other related topics.