37 replies to this topic

[doug mc]

Have a look into insulating your scope on this website. The best performance enhancing thing to do next to collimation. 

[Akfishing4d]

One more( who am i kidding, one of a million more) question. On the Baader 8-24, is there such a thing as a wider viewport? I know when I use my spotter scope any slight movement of my head makes the view spot hard to keep centered to see the object you are looking at.....if that makes sense? Like looking through a straw and losing the view until you get back to exactly centered on the straw.

I am already amassing an order list from all the help I have gotten on here so far. Couple books, heater ring, dew shield, a carry all bag, and hopefully a baader 8-24.

 

Thanks again for all the help.

[Jethro7]

One more( who am i kidding, one of a million more) question. On the Baader 8-24, is there such a thing as a wider viewport? I know when I use my spotter scope any slight movement of my head makes the view spot hard to keep centered to see the object you are looking at.....if that makes sense? Like looking through a straw and losing the view until you get back to exactly centered on the straw.

I am already amassing an order list from all the help I have gotten on here so far. Couple books, heater ring, dew shield, a carry all bag, and hopefully a baader 8-24.

 

Thanks again for all the help.

Hello Akfishing4D,

The Baader Hyperion MKIV 8-24 Zoom (BHZ) is easy to work your eye into. I nearly wore one of these fine eyepieces out over the years. The BHZ exhibits very little incidental  kidney beaning and blackouts.  You can also order the BHZ with their slick 2.5X Barlow. I recommend not going too crazy with accessories at first. Stick with the essentials. Like dew prevention (if necessary) and a better power supply, all be it the BHZ would be a good start. In the future begin adding accessories when you have gained enough experience to understand what you need. 

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

 

P.S. insulating the OTA with Reflectix is a cheap  mod that actually works as advertised. 

 

If you find yourself getting really motivated in the Astro Hobby and this Hobby is for you. One of the first accessories that I would recommend is an adjustable astronomy observers chair. My Starbound chair is simply one of the best accessories that I own for my Backyard Astronomy Project. It is a game changer.

Edited by Jethro7, 12 February 2025 - 10:23 AM.

[trurl]

https://www.amazon.c...coding=UTF8&sr=

[Akfishing4d]

 I recommend not going too crazy with accessories at first. Stick with the essentials. Like dew prevention (if necessary) and a better power supply, all be it the BHZ would be a good start. In the future begin adding accessories when you have gained enough experience to understand what you need. 

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

 

P.S. insulating the OTA with Reflectix is a cheap  mod that actually works as advertised. 

 

If you find yourself getting really motivated in the Astro Hobby and this Hobby is for you. One of the first accessories that I would recommend is an adjustable astronomy observers chair. My Starbound chair is simply one of the best accessories that I own for my Backyard Astronomy Project. It is a game changer.

Just trying to get the basics headed my way. Shipping to my location is usually a 2 week wait. 

I have some of the aluminum foil bubble wrap that is about 1/4 thick with thin aluminum foil on both sides. Would that work as an insulator? I gets cold here, but nothing crazy like the interior of Alaska. Doesn't usually get below zero. Dobyou have a link for the chair you use? 

 

Been wanting to do this for years, and now i think i have the bug. Thanks again to all helping me!

[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, Akfishing4d. 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.

[Dave Mitsky]

You may want to consider a f/6.3 focal reducer to increase the true field of view of your SCT.

[Jethro7]

Just trying to get the basics headed my way. Shipping to my location is usually a 2 week wait. 

I have some of the aluminum foil bubble wrap that is about 1/4 thick with thin aluminum foil on both sides. Would that work as an insulator? I gets cold here, but nothing crazy like the interior of Alaska. Doesn't usually get below zero. Dobyou have a link for the chair you use? 

 

Been wanting to do this for years, and now i think i have the bug. Thanks again to all helping me!

Hello AKfishing4d,

Reflectix is Mylar bubble wrap. You certainly can try what you have on hand. All this insulation does is slow down the heat transfer to the point that the scope stays in temperature equilibrium. In other words, the scope does not need a cool down period. 

HAPPY SKIES TO YOU AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

 

WARNING, do to the addictive nature and discipline, the Astro Hobby can be financially detrimental to your financial stability. However it sure is a lot of fun.

[SeattleScott]

One more( who am i kidding, one of a million more) question. On the Baader 8-24, is there such a thing as a wider viewport? I know when I use my spotter scope any slight movement of my head makes the view spot hard to keep centered to see the object you are looking at.....if that makes sense? Like looking through a straw and losing the view until you get back to exactly centered on the straw.
I am already amassing an order list from all the help I have gotten on here so far. Couple books, heater ring, dew shield, a carry all bag, and hopefully a baader 8-24.

Thanks again for all the help.

This is really about exit pupil. During the day, your pupil is more constricted, so you are trying to land that light cone from the eyepiece on a smaller target. At night, when dark adapted, blackouts are less problematic. Also, at higher magnification, the exit pupil is smaller. At lower magnification, the exit pupil is bigger. Kind of the worst case scenario for blackouts is high power viewing during terrestrial or lunar viewing.

[Dave Mitsky]

Blackouts and spherical aberration of the exit pupil or "kidney beaning" also depend upon the focal length and the design of the eyepiece.  A 1.25" 40mm Plössl, for example, has very long eye relief, making it difficult to hold one's eye steady at the focal point, which can result in blackouts.  Some of the original Tele Vue Naglers were prone to kidney beaning.

 

https://www.celestro...ossary-of-terms

 

https://www.cloudyni...lems/?p=6747258

[Akfishing4d]

Good news, telescope is almost here. It's up in Anchorage and should be here on Tuesday. I have been smashing videos on YouTube on everything everyone has posted on this thread. 

I have spent a bit of money so far with the basics, dew shield, zoom, external battery source, colored lenses.

One thing I can't find in the forum is a camera section for noobs. Something that can point me to a starter setup for astrophotography. I mean, I'm in this deep, why stop the spending now.....lol

[Tulloch]

One thing I can't find in the forum is a camera section for noobs. Something that can point me to a starter setup for astrophotography. I mean, I'm in this deep, why stop the spending now.....lol

If you want to photograph the planets, look here.

https://www.cloudyni...d-january-2025/

 

Andrew

[JOEinCO]

One thing I can't find in the forum is a camera section for noobs. Something that can point me to a starter setup for astrophotography.

 

Here ya go....   

 

https://www.cloudyni...ep-sky-imaging/