It's time to admit that I have a disease...

[Omaroo]

Is there a Telescopes Anonymous group somewhere? I seem to keep buying the darn things :shrug:

I've just promised Jenny that this will be the last for a while. I just bought an ETX-60... yes SIXTY... off eBay. I didn't know they made them that small. LOL! If I can see a DSO with it I'll be surprised, but it'll be fun for shooting the moon and maybe a planet or two with the ToUcam. I'll also investigate solar film and use it for some solar observing - for which the small aperture will be perfect.

It'll also be used to interest the public on MAS public viewing evenings. Because the ETX is "cute" and reasonably cheap, it should hopefully garner a bit of interest on these nights.

Reading some of the reviews, the achromatic refractor isn't bad in terms of optical quality - just small! It came with the bag (which I love the idea of) and tripod.

Given that it is Autostar-driven I think it's pretty cool for the $299 asking price. I might piggyback a green laser to it and use it to point out objects that we plan to observe with the two EQ Newts. I'll mount it in polar mode for some additional fun. Astronut (John) - I promise not to use it to find Messier objects for my certificate quest. Scouts' honour!

I tell you, I have to stop this....:sadeyes:

[RB]

Yes cos you'll run out of signature space.......:lol:

Nice one O

[h0ughy]

no it only gets worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! trust me, I only have 2 eyes and I have 5`scopes

[Omaroo]

AAARGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOO!! Certain doom it is then!:P

[Ric]

Hi Chris, your observatory is not going to be big enough at this rate :lol:
But I reckon your prepared for every possible situation. You could probaly keep the ETX in the glovebox of the landrover for emergencies :lol:

cheers

[Omaroo]

Hey Ric - top idea. I'll just leave it in the drawer in the back - ready to take out on any trip - for, as you say, an emergency. Nice! :) I can't wait to have Autostar races with Jenny now :lol:

[Ric]

Cool :thumbsup:
How is the ToUcam going? Did you sort out the focussing?

cheers

[Omaroo]

Not yet Ric - but I'm going to look at a Meade flip mirror from Bintel next week. I hope that'll fix the problem.... my guess is that if I can see the object in focus through an eyepiece, then flipping the mirror should make it easy to route light to the ToUcam. I'm also guessing that I'll have to mark the ToUcam's adapter so that I'll know how far to slide it in for same-focus reference each time.

I'll report back soon! :)

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I think you got a good price .... I paid over $400 for my ETX-70 off ebay - same principle, laser guided object finder for my 10" dob. I got a solar filter for $10, works a treat!

There WAS an ETX-90EC went tonight for $585, no tripod, basic motor controller only not an Autostar finder/computer ... NOT that I put a bid on it - not the winning one anyway :-(

[[1ponders]]

It does get worse. Trust me, it does get worse. You won't be able to walk past a bargain, you will find yourself justifying the purchase with "It was so cheap I'll be able to resell it for a small profit" which you will never do. :lol:

[Omaroo]

So.... just how well do you know me????? :rofl:

[[1ponders]]

:lol: I think all new amateur astronomers get poured out of the same mould :lol:

[Omaroo]

Excellent Steve. How's the GOTO accuracy with the tiny little motors and worm drives? Are GOTO finds repeatable?

[h0ughy]

Well I almost bought another mount/tripod with goto, that would be the third if I did that, eyepieces used to be a fettish, scopes, well enough said......

but then knick knacky things to help with astro photography, cameras, I have 3 DSLR's now, lenses, solar filters (if I have a scope then I need a solar filter for it) computer programs, and magazines, heaps of magazines!

[acropolite]

I thought I was the only one like that. I have 2 quality scopes, 3 pairs of binos plus a couple of pairs of crappy freebies. I'd like one of the new 16 inch LB's but I know the response from HRH.... "You already have 2 telescopes why do you need another one".... or "Why didn't you buy a proper one the first time"

[[1ponders]]

:lol: @ Phil

[[1ponders]]

I'm despirately trying to resists that Dob/Argo combo of chrissara. I don't have a Dob yet for the quiver :lol: And my wife isn't helping. She's saying "well why don't you get it" :lol::sad: :lol: :screwy:

[h0ughy]

:whistle:


you know you want to paul, anothe r argo navis to put on a g8 or g11, or just use it with the 12" dobbie and go galaxy hunting, you need it to show the kiddies Paul, those poor deserving kiddies around the 40YO mark that need to have an appreciation of the cosmos...........and listen to the missus. Wished mine said things like that...........:P ;)

BTW cant buy the other goto, I have a pier I have to pay for:thumbsup: :whistle:

[alan meehan]

paul there is no known cure for this disease,(don,t listen to houghy)when the misses says why don,t you go ahead and buy it watch out for the BIG hole youcan fall in afterwards, i know i just brought a new cannon 400d this week,my hole is as black as they come.:screwy:

[h0ughy]

dEAD sET!!!!!!!!!!!She said go out an buy one didn't she?:scared:

[Striker]

I've never been able to understand why people keep buying telescopes and accessories.

There is a helpline for this ph: 1800 455 677
I'm a life member :lol:

[Omaroo]

Hmm... Thousand Oaks Type2 Plus filter (glass) for ETX-60 - US$69.00


Hmmm.......

[alan meehan]

she did,must be aquilt thing paul its sounds like a really good bu y,lucky your closer than me.:thumbsup:

[Omaroo]

Silly part of this is that I still haven't managed to pick up the Newt I bought just last week..... yet.:doh:

[[1ponders]]

:rofl:


Alan, she even offered me her car to drive up and get it. :scared:

[Simple Simon]

I can see how it would become infectious - the equipment itself seems to be as much fun as what you can do with it...

[Omaroo]

Spot-on Simon. You are absolutely right. Astronomic gear is beautifully built. It has to be. There's nothing like having finely-made instruments to enjoy - if only for the realisation that a lot of though and expertise went into their design & construction.

[ballaratdragons]

:rofl:

[[1ponders]]

I think it appropriate at this time to remind members of the TOS (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=7856)requirements of user sigs. 5 lines. Hence the developement of the ©Robby sig ;)

This sig technique was specifically designed for those of us with a certain compulsive disease :D

[Omaroo]

LOL!! How'd you know about the Jarvis Walker hat?

[ballaratdragons]

:lol: It is in one of your pics somewhere. I remember seeing it.

[Omaroo]

Best keep it under your hat then.


:P

[seeker372011]

BTW do you know the ETX 60 is quite capable of some acceptable DSO imagng?

john graham has done some fine work with his ETX 60-examples posted over at Cloudy Nights

for examples with an ETX70 check my photobucket account:

http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k282/n_mukkavilli/

:)

and that is your introuction to the more serious form of the disease..its called astroschizophrenia (or astroimaging for short)

[Omaroo]

Wow! I wouldn't a thunk it! I'm quite interested in this little unit now. After perusing the Weasner ETX site and seeing those images, I'm actually quite wrapped to have the little fella. Even better that it comes in a back back - I can't wait to take it on some camping trips!

[ballaratdragons]

Narayan, they are great results with the ETX70!!!!!!!

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Getting back to you late Omaroo ... yes the tracking on the ETX-70 seems great .. I haven't even done the full "training the drives" thing yet, but with an object centred in the fov I have left it for 4-5 hours and found my object still visible, though perhaps beginning to slide away a little. The Autostar can locate heaps of things that are not readily visible in the ETX, but the 10" dob just eats them up! The combination of a laser pointer on the ETX with a Telrad on the dob makes it very fast to play follow the leader.


I'd like a bigger ETX just so I can more magnification - 9mm ep only gives around 39x viewing, the 70 has a focal length of only 350mm compared to 1250mm for the ETX-90.

[astronut]

Chris, Don't be underwhelmed by your 60mm aperture, I found most of my Messier objects with my 60mm Unitron refractor and a resonably dark sky.:D

[Omaroo]

Of course you're right John. I was out last night (great night huh!) with Jenny's 3" Newt. Once my eyes were conditioned I found my first five objects in minutes, and it's only marginally larger than the EXT's 60mm aperture.

[Omaroo]

Sounds great Steve! I can't wait to get it going. I love the idea of it being a laser guide, as well as a solar scope. The fact that it actually works well as a scope in its own right is a bonus!

[g__day]

If it helps at all I'm on my 16th PC, and the last 10 I custom built! I reckon I've spend $40,000 on PCs over the last 20 years; so at present I have 6 large PCs and 2 laptops, a router and a switch, 4 UPS, Networked Attached Storage (a NAS), networked colour copy / scan fax printer, networked high speed monochrome laser, networked label printers, networked cameras and countless DVD writers and USB devices and 124" of diagonal screen space...

So you're worried about what exactly?

Obessions - you gotta have some bad habits, be cars, stamps, boats, property, fine wine, woman or song. Why not telescopes I say?

:)

[Simple Simon]

It'd be nice to have the cash to properly cater for obsessions in respect of ALL of the above!!

[Omaroo]

Yup - check "D" (all of the above) & include PC's:help:

(Actually - cross off boats and stamps....)

[ving]

lol!!!
they are telescopes, not pokemon!!! :P
:lol:

[mickoking]

I need more telescopes :) I can't do everything with just 3. Maybe next year :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

Oh I just happened to buy the last C8 solar filter before the mercury transit from Bintel, and I got one for the ED80 (there are none left of these either guys got the last one of those too, although Don did tell me he has a 8" newt filter left)

[Omaroo]

'Chars for the heads-up. I think I'll try Astro Optical or go direct to T/Oaks.

[h0ughy]

But you never know - could have something there, maybe a cancelled order?:whistle: :P

[g__day]

I wish there were a few more heavy duty Goto mounts to choose from especially in the $2,200 - $4,000 and $6,000 to $9,000 ranges; I believe your key choices for GE mounts that can bear big scopes to be:

CG5 - $1,300
HEQ5 - $1,700
EQ6 - $2,200

then a big step to

G8 - $4,000
G11 - $5,500
CGE - $6,000
EM200 - $6,700

then more steps to ($7,500 - 14,000)

Atlux - $7,600
Titan - $11,000
EMM400 - $11,300
900 GTO - $11,400
1200 GTO - $13,500

then giant leaps to say (the $20,000 range and up)

Paramount ME $18,000 - 20,000
Meade Robotic MAX circa $20,000
EMM 500 $17K
MI 750 $25,500
MI 1000 $52,000

Really high end TAKs for your insane price brackets

EMM 3500 - $120,000

[33South]

Have you tried MAS they are now supplying 1000 Oaks filters and Polymer sheets.

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/solar-filters.asp

[ballaratdragons]

You forgot the famous EQ1 - $99 from Andrews :lol: