OK i MADE A MISTAKE - I AM NOW LOOKING FOR 10" SCT OR RC OTA FOR THE EQ6?

[h0ughy]

yep I know when I am beaten, the 12 is just that weee bit to heavy for the eq6, excellent visually but for imaging no way. And its not helping my back either. So i either keep the 12 and buy the next AP900 mount from Striker when he gets rid of it and gets the Hubble, or I look at downsizing so as to save my back a bit and still be able to image?

But I have a dilemma:D , I love my 12":thumbsup: , and I love the 8" SCT celestron and the 5" intes MC, and my ed80. So if I get a ten inch scope does that make it a full house? No seriously, I don't really want to part with any of them.

Now if I have the observatory up and running I can still keep the 12 for visual observations, and image on the EQ6 with the 10" (proposed) or keep the 8" SCT I have now. but the 8" is a beautiful Scope, and I love its portability and ease of use!:shrug:

So either I sell the 12" and be done with it and get a 10" RC or a c11 or c9.25 celestron scope. What do I do?? I liked Strikers results he got from the RC but I also like the results obtained from the 9.25 celestron too. But that celestron scope is only 1.25" larger than the C8 I have now?:screwy: DO I go for the 10?????

Its all Paul and Dennis's fault too. They just go out and buy double stacked PST's and the like:P

[h0ughy]

and on the topic, I will need to find a way to mount whatever to the eq6!!!:help:

[janoskiss]

Get an 18" Obsession for visual and a 10" whatever you like for imaging. :P How about a Vixen I'm-so-good flat-field 10+" Cassegrainie doodah? If you've got cash to splash... don't sell anything till you're sure you're not going to use it.

[h0ughy]

did make some inquiries on an 18 not too far from home either, no luck there yet, actually no price given either or images of the scope in question, bet they turn up when I am not here next week (note to self , ditch family at beach and find internet cafe.......) so whats a good flat field 10?:shrug:

[janoskiss]

I meant this one: http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1551

[Astroman]

You could always save for a 10" RC

http://www.rcopticalsystems.com/10inchtruss.html

or

http://www.rcopticalsystems.com/10inch.html

or

http://www.rcopticalsystems.com/10inchmil.html


I like the millitary look for some reason.

[Rodstar]

What about a Takahashi Mewlon 250, HOughy? Marvellous for both imaging and visual use, from what I have heard.

[jase]

What happened to the observatory plans Houghy:shrug:

Having something permanently mounted makes light work, but agree if your mount can't take the load of the 12", an observatory isn't going to improve the situation.

[Striker]

Personaly I think the 10" is a far better match then your current 12" for the EQ6.

C9.25 are also a great scope but like you said you already have a 8" and your also loosing 2" of aperture going from the 12 to 10" do you want to lose nealy 3" with the 9.25.

Also you wont get all the problems I had with STL11000 and focal reducers.

You will also be able to use your Lumicon OAG to open up the visual back and use it as a focal reducer because they fit both the 10 & 12" Meades.

LX200R 10" - Lumicon Focal reducer - DSLR is a great combination.
Your not going to get the problems I had with field curveture and vignetting as I did with the larger chip STL11000

Your going to get better results using a smaller scope that the mount can handle then a larger scope the mount can not.


All the best on your quest Dave.

[ving]

8" sct... Mmm...

best of luck in your quest david :)

[h0ughy]

OK i will bight, when you had the 10"RC, how did you mount it? I think you had rings didnt you? why was that:shrug: wouldnt a bar still do the job?

I didnt realise that I could still use the LGEG:thumbsup: thats sounds like a good option. SO where did you get yours Tony? might have to have a hunt to find one. Wonder what the Strel of the 10" Meades might be:D. Are they that much optically better then say an older 10 SCT?

Santa, if your listening this is a hint for christmas:lol:

[h0ughy]

I will be honest David, I have had someone PM me already for the 8" celestron I have. So in fairness if I sell it they will have first option and is they don't want to pay the $1000000 I have asked for it then I will offer it to you for that;) :lol: . look i love that scope, it is a ripper and very portable:thumbsup: , I might not part with it:love: .

[h0ughy]

The observatory will still go ahead, and I still have everything for the operation in alt az mode

[ving]

lol thanks david... as much as i'd love the 8" I am not really up for a new scope at the mo. :)

thanks for the thought tho :)

[Striker]

To mount the 10" LX200R you can purchase the losmandy plates with tube adapters but these do not sit well due to the spacing and alignment of the OTA screw holes...something that seems to have only affected the LX200R series.....and you will have to further make an adapter dovetail plate to fit the EQ6 saddle.

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=257&kw=losmandy&st=2

A far better option in my eyes is to make up a modified saddle plate a necessity what ever scope you have to fit the EQ6 then screw on the parralax rings...this gives far more support then the losmandy plates alone.

Parralax rings are not cheap and further add weight to the system but after having them on my scope I would do the same again.

These are the ones you need if you go down this track.
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=3872&kw=parallax&st=2

I purchased my scope from Star Optics Gold Coast and yes I do think the optics are better then previous models but just remember it is $3000 Meade not RCOS costing $25,000

Tony

[h0ughy]

Thanks for that, I could reuse the bar from the 12" and add those rings from OPT (is that the only place you shop:lol: ), I might have to find someone to drill the holes parrallel for me though I am hopeless:whistle: . Now for the great hunt - looking for a 10" LX200R:D (oh BTW the wife doesn't know I am doing this, even Santa needs help:whistle: ). BTW how long does it take for OPT to send stuff if ordering from them Tony:shrug:

[gbeal]

Hough,
you have thought of doing this differently, haven't you? While you wait for Strikers AP, why not look at a G11?

[h0ughy]

I have the eq6's at the moment, one to set up permanently and the other as a travel setup. I would love a G11 but I am afraid I cannot afford the cost of one just yet. Strikers setup looked great, as too Paul's and for that matter Dennis's. But for now I will persevere with the eq6, unless someone wishes to donate one to the save the hough foundation (just started this morning;) :lol: )

[mick pinner]

l personally think you would be wise to sort out the mount issue before deceiding on which ota to use, after the initial rush people have had in buying eq6's it looks like they are not quite the mount people were hoping for in regards to carrying capacity and now the joke they are calling v3 go-to.
ln the long run l would certainly bite the bullet and go g11, expensive yes but a bit of saving, a bit of discreet siphoning of the household budget and you will be there in no time.

[h0ughy]

Mick I am more than happy with the eq6, or else I wouldn't have bought the second one. as for the V3 - well have to start somewhere and I have not had much of a problem with mine, just the operator so far. when I did a 3 star slignment it was spot on so I cant complain.

In the long run I will be going a titan, that way I can throw anything I wish onto it or and AP. who knows someone else might have something out by then too. The scope on the other hand, I can always transfer that to any mount I wish, at the moment that is an important option. in the future I will either mount the 12 on the titan, or it could even be a 14 or 16".:whistle:

[Astroman]

Yeah that 16" RC optical scope would look nice on there David :D

[h0ughy]

please forward all donations to the save the hough foundation:rofl: :whistle:

[gbeal]

Well Houghy, I am with Mick, sorry. If anything I would be looking to thin out some of the scopes, and do the mount thing.

[h0ughy]

I really appreciate the comment, and fully understand. http://www.losmandy.com/hgm-titan.html thats what I really want:thumbsup:

[beren]

Gday Houghy where all brothers in arms in here but I have to agree with Mick and Garry I would seriously consider the mount angle before a OTA purchase. I was going to add maybe consider a G11 mount head and use your meade 12LX tripod to minimize cost but it looks like you have your heart set on a Titan. You have a great line up of scopes maybe conquer the art of astrophotography in each of these {remember Dennis giving this sage advice a little while ago} and save up for that dream mount in that long anticipated OB your planning :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

Thanks Stuart, you can see where I will eventually head, but for now i need some money for the observatory, Ive the pier, made for the eq6, and following wazza's directions I now know what to put up for myself. The titan will be the final mount for me, leaving the eq6 to roam about at star parties and such, but for now I will be more than happy with it. I have a plan, maybe not the best plan, but none the less a plan:thumbsup:

[mick pinner]

l acknowledge a man with a plan and am sure it will all come in time.

[jase]

Go for it Houghy... Look how it dwarfs the G-11:D
http://www.atscope.com.au/titan.html

[jase]

Agree. The Meade RCX or LX200R is NOT a Ritchey-Chrétien (RC) design, but an aplanatic SCT. PERIOD. The true Ritchey-Chrétien design does not use corrector plates as is present in Meade's design.

... and no, you don't get similar performance. You only need to look at the spot diagrams to realise this !!!!
http://www.star-instruments.com/images/MeadeRCX.pdf

[h0ughy]

Gee going for the astro dictionary on that one Jase:shrug: :help:

[ballaratdragons]

aplanatic: -noun (a-planat-ik)
1. a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal concerning the Planats:

2. -adjective (aplanatic-al) [Origin: 1515–25; < L aplānāticus pertaining to a temple, inspired by orgiastic rites, frantic, equiv. to fān(um) temple + -āticus, equiv. to -āt(us) to the worship of planats.
Devotee refer to persons showing more than ordinary support for, adherence to, or interest in Planats.

Not to be confused with 'Lunatic' which concerns all of the above but refers to the Moon, rather than the 'Planats'.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary of ridiculous sounding words, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

[h0ughy]

thanks ken, pity i havent got skype loaded on this lappy

[sejanus]

houghy i think the 10" lx200 is actually heavier than the celestron 11", so that might be something to consider with the eq6 capacity.

[jase]

:rofl::rofl:Nice one Ken:lol:

Aplanatic (adj.) - Of or relating to optical systems that correct for spherical aberration.

[Striker]

What Jase has posted is spot on regarding what is a RC.

But you have to say there good value for money compared to a True RC.

Meade have been in a little trouble over this as of late through false advertising.

Bit like the William Optics so called Fluorite lenses...it s the same deal...they try to suck us in and there doing a great job...lol

[ving]

so you gettin rid of teh 8? ;)
:P

[h0ughy]

I am not, but if the price is right then maybe;)

[h0ughy]

Yeah come awefully close but it has the mirror lock.

[sejanus]

hey houghy what does the mirror lock give you?

btw i think my probs with eq6 are date related, i have seen a couple of guys post on the yahoo list with probs very similar to mine and they fixed it by running either UTC or DST off with GMT+11. bugs! looks clear today so i should get to try tonight.

[h0ughy]

i will be honest, i don't run DST at all, just normal time that way nothing changes

[avandonk]

Have a look at the Tal 250K it may surprise you. I have the Tal 200k and it performs very well ( with lots of mods at the focuser end).
Image here
http://members.optusnet.com.au/avandonk2/NGC2070.jpg
Thread here
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=14216&highlight=tal+200k

The Kletsov optics are better than an SCT and not quite as good as a 'real' RC. I personally think the Meade 'RC' is pretty good judging by Strikers images.

There is no perfect scope. Thats why we all have more than one and some of us have many.
It also takes time to use them to their full potential.
Just my 2C

Bert

[h0ughy]

thanks Bert for your input

[sejanus]

I wish I had done that! Don just emailed me 30min ago and confirmed it's a definite bug and there'll be a new version soon to fix it.