Which illuminated reticle

[matt]

Might sound like a stupid question...

but I'm looking at buying an illuminated reticle ep mostly for drift aligning my scopes and I was wondering which focal length is best?

And are there different types of reticles???

I'd probably like something that takes batteries rather than having another cord hanging off my scopes.

As you can see in my sig ... I've got a 9.25 (fl 2350mm) and an 8" newt (fl 1000mm)

Is there a "one size fits both" focal length reticle ep for this pairing?

Your help much appreciated.

[Merlin66]

Yes, each one is different. For drift alignment you only need the simpler double cross wire type. Some of the others Celestron Micro Guide etc have a glass reticle with circles and grids ( for positional measurement etc)
You need to check out available suppliers in Oz.

[Merlin66]

Usually 12.5mm FL, but you can use them with a Barlow.

[jakob]

I bought a Meade 12mm with a double cross (Wireless).
I'm quite pleased with it but was suprised at the narrow FoV, approx. 30deg as I measure it.

[JohnG]

I just use an old Celestron cross hair EP I got in the 80's, 12.5mm FL, it has a narrow FOV but that dosn't matter for Drift Aligning, your only watching for movement in one axis anyway, couple it with a barlow as already been said for super accurate drift work, mine also doubles as the X hair when aligning the Gemini after a Cold Start. Might be old but it doe's the job.

JohnG

[OneOfOne]

I use a Celestron, I think it is 12.5mm?, with a double cross hair. The only time I use it is when setting up the GoTo. It makes the whole job a lot easier. Before then I found it hard to determine when an alignment star was "in the middle". Having a double cross hair gives me a "box" in the middle, a single cross hair (like the finder) makes it more difficult to align because the thing you are looking at gets blocked out. Mine has a small battery holder, switch and brightnes control on the side. It mustn't use much power as one night I forgot to turn it off and didn't notice it until the next day, that was six months ago and I am still using the same battery.

[[1ponders]]

I have the Meade 12mm with batteries, simple dual crosshairs. I use mine unbarlowed for initial drift aligning (I used K3CCDTools and the ToUcam with a barlow for final drifting) and placing Jupiter in the middle of the field of view for lining up ready for the ToUcam, ditto for aligning guidestars in the guidescope before the ToUcam. I will also often use if for my initial collimation, simply because it's already in the scope :)

Certainly not an eyepiece for viewing through :P but it would be one of my 3 most frequently used eyepieces.

[matt]

They still being sold Paul?

That's exactly what I'm looking for. Simple dual crosshairs.

Got any links to where a crosshair reticle hunter might pick one up?

Cheers:)

[[1ponders]]

This is the reticle (https://secure.attl.com.au/bintelshop/Stock/5196X.jpg)that bintel (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm)sell. Go to the eyepiece link and search for reticle.

If you did a bit of a search you would probably find one cheaper. I know Steve has one at Myastroshop but it is a bit different to the simple meade one. Looks too complicated for me :P

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-219


BTW whichever one you decide on make sure it has Diopter adjustment, otherwise you won't be able to focus the crosshairs for you eyes

[[1ponders]]

Here is the same one from OPT with the view through the eyepiece (http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=1780&kw=reticle&st=2)