Second scope for travelling

[BarneyMaroon]

I have had a Meade LX90 8'' for a few months and have been really enjoying it (I bought it 2nd hand here after being steered that way by forum members). Saw the Sculptor galaxy at 80x and the blue orb of Uranus last night at 200x. :eyepop:. I have bought 1.25'' ep's at 10mm (TV Radian), 12.5 (Orion I think), 15 and 25 (Vixen LV) on the forums and a shorty 2 x Barlow. I also have a 30mm 2'' wide angle.

I am planning a trip across the Simpson in July and certainly won't be lugging the 8'', but would quite like to take a scope/tripod with me. I want a wider angle scope for big DSOs and a tripod. Probably don't want a finder, but do want a tripod. I thought mounted binoc's but figured a monoc is easier to set up and share with kids (eye distance/focus) and I might have ep's already.

Any thoughts as to a scope/tripod that I could take with me? Anyway that I can reuse the ep's.

Objectives in order:
Compact/Robust (900mm refractor would be too long)
Good views of DSOs/moon. Not goto or tracking as after wide angle.
Moderate cost (does not have to be amazing). <=$500?
Re-use my long eye relief ep's

Does not have to super magnification (I have the 8'' for that).

A clue on aperture and focal length that would work with my ep's and aims.

Thanks very much for any advice.

[N1]

Hi Tony, to me that woud normally sound like a pre loved ED in the 60-80mm class. Something like this:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=140526

Your EPs would work with that, even if it only had 1.25" fittings. The 25mm will be fine for wider views.

A short tube achro may be OK too, but both Saturn and Mars will be well placed and worth a look and you might want a bit more power for these than a short achro would comfortably allow.

Problem is that you are going to a dusty environment, and with that in mind, I'd probably just get a small newt around 100-130mm of aperture with a parabolic mirror and maybe around f/5-f/6. You have at least 3 eyepieces that will work really well on DSOs at that f ratio. Small newts such as the SW Heritage 130 are cheap plus can be cleaned of dust much more easily than a frac. I'd hate to have to clean desert grit off an ED objective. A mirror you can just stick in the sink when you get home.

[BarneyMaroon]

Thanks for the tips. I have studied the reviews of the 80/400 short tubes by Synta. In summary these say: basic, limited in use, but fun to own and have along for travel. I like the size, and they can see some DSO's and pretty clusters. The ED's look nice, but don't want to be precious about it.

I also saw a 900mm reflector from Orion on a table top mount, but I don't think I want that much magnification.

The AZ3 mounts the short tube come on are so bulky I might try and see how I go on a regular tripod (the short tubes are 1.5 kg). I like the idea of adding a 45 erecting diagonal and using them for day spotting in the desert (anywhere). I presume a regular tripod is better for spotting anyway. At low mag I think I can do without slow motion controls - I will see.:shrug:

Camera warehouse sells the scope and az3 tripod for 251, (they sell the az3 for $200!), and the scope for terrestial viewing for about 185. I would go the astro az3 version, and leave the tripid for local use.

I know this would not be a good primary scope/setup but reckon for big DSOs, moons and birds it would be a good travel scope. It looks like I could retool as a cool finder as well :thumbsup:

[MattT]

My travel scope is a 4" f5 achro with an EQ3 mount with RA tracking. Have spent hours with just an ES 30mm 82º just cruising the sky. 24mm 68º is great too. Takes a WO Bino no problems too :thumbsup: Scope and mount cost $320 pre-loved. Very little in the way of Field Curvature and out in the dark there are so many stars it doesn't matter anyway...the view of 5º+ TFOV. No finder either...don't need one.

If I ever get so lucky to do what your doing I'd take that scope and mount. Set up in under a minute. The photo is an old one. Now I have proper rings not guide scope rings. For lighter weight eyepieces I slide the counterweight up the shaft.

Matt

[dannat]

andrews have some cheap az3 mounts in their used section, i still think a used ed80 [old gold tube] if you can get one at a reasonable cost will be good, or the 4" short tube is also a good idea, on some of them the CA isn't all that bad..how much do you want to spend on the ota?
andrews also sell a 90mm f6.5..slightly reduced CA over the f5 refractors.
you might also consider the 130mm heritage dobs, the table top..though the focuser is a bit flimsy

do you have any big binos to take with you?

[N1]

Here's how (http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/158307-heritage-130p-transformation/) the Heritage can be mated to a tripod.

[BarneyMaroon]

I have small Nikon zoom binos (8-? x 42 I think). I know people talk about binoculars for astronomy. but I don't get it. For casual looking you go... there's that, and there's that, but they shake so it's hard to stay on one spot (and linger and ponder). It's hard to get the kids to see what you are seeing (just UP there.. see!).

I could put big binos on a camera tripod I guess, but then more mag limited.
I also don't fundamentally understand why two eyes are better than one for space. Do you perceive depth?

I have never had a wow experience with binoculars (unless it was watching Bevan crack a four or two at the one-dayers), but I have never used a great pair either.

Happy to learn.

I like the look of the dob on a tripod (but no daytime ability right?)

[dannat]

Binos I find more comfortable & more natural to look thru. I'd say they are less wow than some telescope objects but are quick & easy to use

[glend]

I'd suggest something like the Explore Scientific ED 80 Triplet APO, a very reasonable scope in terms of cost with excellent performance (I have one). It's light enough to travel with and is a good match for something like a Vixen Porta II Alt/Az mount which is all you need. I believe an 8" scope is just too much to travel with, and there are plenty of cost effective options.

You can directly import ES ED80 Triplets and they are cost effective from west coast US retailers like Opt Corp, and Agena Astro, and are regularly on sale.

[brian nordstrom]

:)I have one of Long Perng ( William Optics , TS etc) 60mm f7 triplet and it's perfect for travel , fits on my average photography tripod and gives great views ,
I paid $500 for it delivered , but I see that the advert has been pulled from Andrews page , perhaps give them a ring to see when another batch is due .

It's only 370mm long with dew shield retracted and focuser racked in and is very well made , not far behind a Tak FS 60C I once had, a great little scope.

Brian.

[ZeroID]

I just use the good old 80 F 5 Achro and made a quick mod to fit it to my camera tripod which I always take cos I always take my cameras anyway. Makes an easy grab & go and the tripod has a nice handle out the back for pushing around.

[torr]

Hi Tony,
I Recently baught the skywatcher SW120 from bintel as I wanted a scope thats no fuss to setup with an AZ mount and easily transported too, as I already own an Orion XT12G.

I have only used the SW120 a few times since it arrived, cause as you all know buying a scope brings in the clouds :)
Im very impressed with it so far.
The coma is only noticeable on bright stars from mag 0 and above I find.
I have done some brief astro photography with it, an the coma really shows on brighter stars.
I got it for visual observation and price so it wont hurt too much if I scratch it while out camping.
Love the field of view it gives, It can easily fit M45 into the field view with a 24mm Orion stratus eyepiece.
I feel it brings in M42 almost as well as my old SW 8" reflector.
If you have any questions I'll be happy to try an answer.
Hoping to test it out more when I get home tomorrow.
Regards
James

[rrussell1962]

Tony, We've done a couple of trips across the Simpson, both with a telescope, and if I were doing it again (which I probably will) I would stick to a small robust refractor. Both the French Line and Rig Road will bounce anything else into oblivion quickly I suspect. Pack well in a very very dustproof case.

Edit: Have just consulted with my wife, who correctly pointed out that what I was most concerned about was the corrugations and bumps on the track up from Innamincka to Dalhousie. The French line was not as bad, but still very bumpy in parts.

[BarneyMaroon]

Thanks for all comments (I really appreciate everyones input). I have decided to go with an ST80 from camera warehouse ($185+$15 shipping) set up for day time viewing (which sounds like it's worth having in the bush). I will add a 90 degree diagonal, take my eps and live with a camera tripod (anyone have a small fave to recommend). Basically it's an alternative to big binoculars (except it's not bi), which I can point at the LMC and SMC, Orion Neb, Carinae Neb and show to the kids as well. We all have wonky different eyes/glasses (mainly mine) so I find binos fiddly to share, and also hard to "absorb" an image slowly.

If I was not planning on squeezing a bunch of gear, water, food, spare tyres, wife and two kids into a prado and going to bash around on corrugations for 4000km I would love to have an ED100 or bigger so I could play with imaging later.

The reviews of the ST80 summarised: "Yeh, it's limited.. but get one anyway - it's so cool and easy". I don't have great expectations of views, but it has to be better than the smudge of the Orion Neb I see with my spectacles.

[raymo]

The ST80 is likely to have a sloppy focuser [doesn't really affect viewing],
but the three that I have viewed with are pretty good optically, and
display amazingly little CA for an f/5 scope. I think you will be pleasantly
surprised by the views from dark sites.
raymo

[bigjoe]

Great little scope for travel.

Well done.

[ZeroID]

Yup, and if you get all serious later it's an awesome guidescope. :thumbsup:

[Rick Parrott]

I have been using a 6" Orion StarBlast "table top" Dob from Bintel for camping with a galvanised "Bunnings" box for the 'scope and a bag for the stand with very pleasing results...
---except I'm sure telescopes attract rain on camping trips :D

[BarneyMaroon]

I have to say I am really enjoying having a basic short tube set up all the time. Especially with Jupiter looking great. You can see three bands, and all the moons with 15mm or 10mm EPs. My 9 year old grabs it and has a play (with my 15mm GSO ep!!) if I am not around.

I tried to put it on my medium camera tripod. In 10 seconds I realised that was a joke, and bought an AZ3 mount ($129). Massive improvement. A bit chunky for my travel desires, but after searching around there seemed not much that was smaller, and certainly nothing cheaper.

[skysurfer]

What about this ?

An 11cm ED f/7 telescope with light tripod. I took this with me on my South Africa trip.

Maybe a 10cm ED refractor might be an option ?

[AEAJR]

If you would like an eyepiece that would simplify your travel kit consider the Celestron 8-24 zoom. This is probably my most used eyepiece in my Meade ETX 80 refractor and my Orion XT8i dob.
http://www.ozscopes.com.au/celestron-8-24mm-zoom.html

This plus a 2X or 3X barlow for the travel scope and you are all set. I use it with a 3X most of the time in the Meade ETX 80.