Leaving Astronomy : guts but no glory.

[robz]

Well, firstly, a sincere thanks to all that have provided information, assistance in my feeble attempt at getting back in to astronomy.

I firstly purchased an 8 inch old model Orion newtonian on a non driven Gazer mount at Cash Convertors...........at least a start?............no,.........neede d a good mount, so I blew my entire tax refund check on a Skywatcher EQ6 PRO GOTO when I really should not have with all the expenses due on the horizon.

The 8 inch was properly collimated with a top quality Howie Glatter collimater (thanks Shane)...........first light..............S*** HOUSE image.
Was the collimation out?...............no, it wasn't.

Have since tried collimation on at least 20 occasions using well known and effective methods with simple tools (peep hole eyepeice/cross hairs etc) and triple checked mirror centre spot.
All was in order......................but stars would not focus cleanly and despite buying two new, good quality 2 inch whopper eyepeices.........severe coma and astigmatism........even after hours of cool down time.

I put the problem down to the focusser. However, after applying some much needed, stratigically placed shims in the focusser housing,there was no image gain noticeable............again with perfect collimation.

After at least a dozen different views on separate nights and early mornings, Jupiter looked ordinary and showed very little detail except for one band and some comet tailed spikey moons.If the planet was not slightly off centre to the field of view, it would blurr out.........pathetic

D.S.O.were o.k................if you looked in the midde of the field of view.

With a $25,000 dollar plus daughter's wedding due in just over 2 months,there will be no chance of buying another scope at any price.

I can tell by my wife's unconvincing tone of voice that she really doesn't want me to buy a scope despite her constant reassurance that I should buy what I want and : ''just be happy for a change''........I know her too well after 30 years of marriage.

So friends, I'm not looking for sympathy, please believe that.

I envy all of you that own a large dob, or cat. or a great refractor. I wish I could share your enjoyment of owning such great gear.

The money spent on the 8 inch newtonian I don't care about.......someone knew what it was like when they sold it to C.C.........and that's probably why it didn't sell (and was no doubt bought and returned numerous times without me wising up to the fact that something fishy had to be up with this scope).
By the time I had the chance to pull it apart and clean the mass of dust off the optics, the warranty/return period had expired.

The EQ6 mount has not even seen daylight, but will be sold in due course, and, as I don't have the originall packaging anymore, I will not get back what I paid for it............such is life.

I hope that one day I can return and buy my dream scope and share my delights with you all..................I've been waiting since my late teens and am now 53...................say no more.

Regards,
Rob.

[Octane]

Sorry to hear, mate.

I'm not a visual person so can't offer any advice, unfortunately.

Hope to see you back and in the swing of things.

H

[Alchemy]

Can you het a local to come out and gibe you a second opinion.

If the daughter eloped, you could have whatever scope you wanted. The wife might not be too happy though.

Having myself got married, ( and marriage is a great thing) knowing what I know, I'd have got married in a park, and had a barby and saved the wedding money for a house deposit. The whole wedding do is a bit overrated.

So get someone to at least have a squiz before you drop away.

[Spares]

Well Rob,
I can feel your pain brother, Astromony can be a black hole for every single cent a man has!
It does remind me of a email that got around a little while ago. A bloke was selling his go fast motor cycle with the reseaon as quote from girl friend "do what the F*%k you like" didnt mean what he thought.
Good luck with your future hobbies.

Spares:hi:

[Mighty_oz]

Might just be a dud scope, i got a spare 8" newt u can put together if u like to try it out sometime and u can use it for awhile as it;s in pieces ? Also the supplier of the mount might help ?

[strongmanmike]

:rofl:

$25K for a wedding mmm?... a BBQ in the park sounds good to me too :thumbsup:

Good luck mate

Mike

[Suzy]

Robert, it sounds to me like you live your whole life to please others and that you come last. If we all listened to the extra tone not vocalised from our spouse and analyised every response, we would all be puppets without any voice or desire of our own. I apologise for being harsh, but from you said about your wife's response sounds like the epitome of passive aggressiveness. Take your stand, and do something for yourself for a change. Keep the mount and buy a second hand scope. If you give it up now and lose the opportunity for which you have waited so long for, and already started a journey on, it sounds to me you will live to regret it big time and harbour resentment. She told you to buy the scope - just buy the scope. If you don't go for it now, you may well be waiting another 40 years to have a go. Give yourself some happiness - I'm sure you deserve it. No one should have to wait that long to pursue something that has been so passionate for them.

$25,000 plus for a wedding?! That's outrageous! I'm assuming you are paying for the whole lot. Everyone I know, myself included and even the young-ens of today have paid something towards the cost of their own weddings. That amount would be a serious deposit on a house.

I honestly hope I'm not coming across too harsh Robert. :sadeyes: I'm saying all this because this post has pulled on my heart strings and I want you to be happy (even tho I don't know you). :)

[avandonk]

When I got married for the first time my father offered to pay for all the booze. My father in law to be was very glad he accepted this generous offer as the booze bill was HUGE! All my father did was make all us nine brothers pay to him what we thought we would consume plus our freeloading mates.

That would get a decent mount and telescope even today!..


Bert

[h0ughy]

keep the mount and get yourself a ED80 - its a solid reliable setup

[andrew2008]

It's unfortunate but i'm sure you aren't alone in having been burnt buying from CC's or department store scopes that just don't perform. They probably do more harm than good for the hobby.

For what it's worth i'll just say keep the mount, throw away the newt and join a club. Most clubs here in Brisbane have scopes (generally dobs) that can be loaned for a small monthly fee. With this and observing at club nights you can try a range of scopes and buy something for yourself once these expenses have past.

[Suzy]

What brilliant advice and what a great compromise! :thumbsup:

[sejanus]

IMO sell the Eq6 and get a 8" or 10" Dob from Bintel. Chuck the CC scope in the bin.

[Paddy]

Hi Rob,

I'm sorry to hear about your disappointing experience. I have to agree with Clive about the value of getting someone from IIS or a local astro club who knows telescopes well to have a good look at your scope. I would be very surprised if it couldn't be sorted. Low power wide field eps can be ordinary in a fast scope and I'd be quite interested in what it's like with higher power eyepieces. Collimation may still be part of the problem and someone quite experienced may be able to pick up something that you've missed. An 8" newt should be a very good workhorse and yours may well be salvageable.

All the best with whatever you choose.

[bartman]

Rob,
Don't give (it) up mate!
Keep the NEQ6 - maybe buy a dob and the if you like that you can convert it to sit on the NEQ!
Bart

[ballaratdragons]

Hey Rob, not meaning to laugh at you, but WITH you.

You currently have 2 threads running.
One in search of a scope, and this one saying you are getting out of it.

Now, what I gleen from reading between the lines of both threads is that you truly desire to do Astronomy but financial restraints have now made that extremely difficult.

All I can say, Rob, is don't sell the mount. Eventually (sooner than you may now think) you will get a scope to put on it.
A nice little Mak, or that Skywatcher Refractor, or whatever.

Whichever one you end up with, you'll need a mount to put it on.
You've already got a great one :thumbsup:
Don't make it so you have to start from scratch again.

[AdrianF]

Buy a step ladder as a wedding gift ;). With an instruction manual.

I have been going to give astronomy away almost every weekend since march this year and even advertised the gear for sale. Everytime I make a terrible picture I want to give up. So far I think I have made 3 good photos out of several hundred I have taken.

Adrian

[adman]

one of the things that I like most about astronomy at my stage of life with three young kids is that my only free time tends to be at night - which coincidently is the best time to observe! So it is my little bit of time for myself that doesn't take time away from my other responsibilities - I think I would have gone nuts by now without it.

So give it some long hard thinking before you chuck it in - everyone needs something they do that is truly their own.

Keep the mount, and keep an eye out for a decent, cheap scope. I bought my 8" newt 2nd hand for $250 and wouldn't trade it for the world!

Good luck
Adam

[robz]

Thanks Suzy..............you HAVE worked me out..........I'm putting myself last here as I know that it's not a good time to spend........and I already have when I shouldn't have.

My sincere thanks to all others for their support and advice.

Yes, we are paying for the entire wedding.......... 25k is , believe it or not, quite reasonable for 110 people (and that's with some ''who you know'' thrown in, if you know what I mean?).The daughter and her man have indeed contributed to various aspects of the wedding.Not only that, they were smart enough during their engagement to save a considerable amount of money for a deposit on a new house and land package and are now living in that exact home.........good on 'em!

My daughter's fiancee's father is on a pension after receiving a heart transplant many years ago. His wife does not work for obvious reasons.
We made it quite evident from the start that we did not expect any major contribution from his side.

As I have been off work for nearly 2 weeks with a chronic knee problem, today I called in to Gerry Gibbs Camera House here in Cannington W.A. and was gob struck by a 12 inch Skywatcher Flex- Dob.

What a magnificent beast...................had no idea they looked so beautiful.....................one day,one day............

[bartman]

Spoke to Russell at Midland Camera house recently (last week) and he said he was going to do some sort of promo on the Dobs soon!!!!Advertising etc , so keep an eye out or call him!
bart

[dannat]

my suggestion would be to advertise a trade for a heq5 + cash for the EQ6. the heq5 will still hold the scope for visual + you can hold onto the cash or buy a smallish refractor

[GrahamL]

Sorry to hear of your dissapontment and frustration Rob.

Is it at all possible your scope is a reasonably high quality astrograph from from orion optics (uK).. the mount and Fl (4.4)you mention fits there europa series.. as far as Mr google tells me ??

As to whats up with it I have no clue , but I'd look a little more at
possible causes before throwing the baby out with the bathwater.


Failing that you have a pretty good fallback in your good wifes
:thumbsup:

man I'd be runnin for the hills with that one :lol::lol:


cheers graham

[el_draco]

I got married Sept 5 this year. Cost 2.5k, at a local winery, famulous meal, good company, great location... fun... happy time. Plenty left over for a new scope... :D

If your kid wants to go blow the bank on a party, tell her to get a grip and let her pay for it herself! Cripes, the change would by a Paramount ME and pay off a C14!!! :eyepop: Watch that stupid Wedding show to see what a farce it all is. Ridiculous expectations! :mad2:

... and to top it off, the marriage is stataistically got 33% chance of surviving beyond the warrantee period on the ME!! :shrug:

Poor investment, poor investment, poor investment!!! :confused2: :confused2: :confused2: :screwy:

Rebel, Let the Astronomer be free!!!! Mwa a ahhhh !!! :thumbsup:

[OICURMT]

Only problem I see is that statistics dictate it will be a waste of money.... Why?













Divorce.

[astroron]

I feel sorry for you mate,$25K is just a rediculous price for a wedding,
they could have put a good portion of that towards a house and still had a good wedding celebration:shrug:

[TheFacelessMen]

Ouch $25K for the wedding.

I had 100 guests, four course silver service meal, bottled wine, open bar and hired the entire function centre at the Vines Resort (in WA) for less.

And that also included Shirley Basseys band and 2 conservatorium opera singers hired privately for the evening.

They are really ripping into young folks getting married nowdays.

Give em $15K and save $10k for a scope :D

[Screwdriverone]

Hey Rob,

There is a very nice 150mm Black Diamond Mak going for $650 on Icetrade...

Whack that on your mount and scope it!

Trim the guest list by 3 people and you have enough to buy it. (25K/110= $227 a head!) Probably drink all the booze too, those freeloading relo's...:D

Cheers

Chris

[g__day]

My thoughts,

1. Get someone from a club to really look at the scope to understand what is wrong and advise if its easily fixable or total junk

2. Keep the mount - look second hand for a 80mm refractor or a newt to mount

3. Don't rush things and don't get bitter, learn there is risk out there that can be minimised through experience, your own or borrow others!

4. Ask the kids if they'd rather have the money invested in other people or themselves; put simpler - lavish wedding that is really for everyone else followed by a cheap honeymoon, or have a simple, small but elegant wedding and major, lavish honeymoon? It boils down to it's their life together - are their priorities on their indirect life experiences - several hours at a once-off event, that many other will share and enjoy in, or their major priority is on private moments over several days / weeks? A wedding is for the crowd, a honeymoon is for the couple!

Good luck!

[terrynz]

Rob mate,

Don't worry about the wife or ya daughter. Sometimes you just gotta do what is right for you.

My wife saids similar things.... you're never happy, you always want a bigger scope.

Having been through all you've been through I recommend you Tell ya daughter to scale down the wedding, buy the wife a nice ring and you get another better scope.

Sometimes its all about you - after all you earned it!

[Fox]

Hi Rob, I assume that you still happy with the mount per se, and you don't think its size/weight will become a problem with your knee. If that's the case, I agree with everyone who said keep the mount, since it will clearly accommodate anything from a small to very large scope. Yeah, link up with a club or local IIS member, since I'm sure someone will have a surplus scope that will help you out. I wouldn't throw aside your keeness for the skies just for the sake of a dud $200 optical tube, no way...! Cheers, Fox.

[mick pinner]

at 53 you are entitled to put yourself first. if you have the $25000 to spend on this wedding you have obviously been working hard to accumilate that sort of money so you dictate what you will spend on the wedding and let them organise the festivities around that sum. then go and buy yourself a decent scope.

[bokglob]

Maybe convince a kindly relo to buy the happy couple a nice telescope as a wedding present and then you can borrow it...:question:

[el_draco]

Just tell them to GET OVER IT! Give them 10k toward the mortgage which will reduce the interest by another 50k, (60k Wedding present!!!!!), and buy yourself a decent scope! If the misses wont leave you alone, tell her where to go and use the scope to show her the right direction... if it will point below horizontal ;)!

aaaaaaaggggggghhhhh!!!! Sustainable lifestyle!!!!!!!! :screwy::screwy::screwy::screwy:

[rcheshire]

Really helpful advice...

I would keep the mount, and for the time being use it with just a camera and lens. The cost of replacing these items is probably more than hanging onto them. Get an expert appraisal of the scope and go from there.

Your family is none of my business, so I won't comment.

[robz]

[QUOTE=nightstalker;648173]Sorry to hear of your dissapontment and frustration Rob.

Is it at all possible your scope is a reasonably high quality astrograph from from orion optics (uK).. the mount and Fl (4.4)you mention fits there europa series.. as far as Mr google tells me ??

As to whats up with it I have no clue , but I'd look a little more at
possible causes before throwing the baby out with the bathwater.


Failing that you have a pretty good fallback in your good wifes
:thumbsup:

man I'd be runnin for the hills with that one :lol::lol:







Firstly thanks again guys...............had a good laugh with some of the comments...............you crack me up!:lol:

Graham, yeah.................It is most likely the europa series astrograph from Orion...............thus my surprise on the performance problems.

However, this scope has an acessory which I believe is the culprit:

It's a big black 2 inch adaptor with a 1/1/4 inch adaptor inside that.
This is because the original focusser did not accept 2 inch eyepeices at the time of manufacture.

Now.............this thing does not sit square to the focussser's tube as I have found out today.............something fishy is going on here:rolleyes:

A change in focusser to a new GSO or something like that should sort out the problem?

Rob

[andrew2008]

If you could get a pic of the newt up it I'm certain someone here will know what it is.

[Lismore Bloke]

I agree with the other guys - post some detailed images of the scope. It may help to identify any problems or unwise modifications. Some owners can't help but fiddle with scopes and do more harm than good. I once bought a small newt for a song, wondered why it wouldn't focus. The last fool of an owner had the mirror in back to front. Don't give it up yet, the great folk on this site are wonderfully supportive.

[robz]

No probs.......................photos will be uploaded this week end:thumbsup:

[montewilson]

Don't fret - The stars will always be there and when you get back later equipment will be better and cheaper than it is now. I had to sell all my toys to be able to study full time so I understand the dilemma!

[Jeffkop]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol:

Oh man .. what an advise column this is Rob ... got to admit tho, there is a common theme in all the replys. I just got married, probably cost $11K for wedding for 110 people in small country dance hall and 2 week honeymoon on Norfolk. We had the BEST time at the wedding and holiday too Rob. Now in saying that, by any description, we had a very modest wedding. No food provided, guests had to bring a plate of finger food a flower for the bouquet, and BYO grog, and NO presents, but all the small incidentals all added up to about $5K. Celebrant was $750 for a start. bla bla bla. I remember having the odd thought about what extra I could have astronomy wise with the money the wedding was costing :lol::lol: but there's no way I would trade that 2 week holiday, it was just the best.

I dont think there is any way out for you now, all and sundry have made plans now and its all based on the $25K deal and its 8 weeks away. DONT even THINK of doing away with the mount, you KNOW there is an itch to be scratched here and it ISNT going away mate. All you'll do is end up spending more to replace what you sell now. When the dust settles just take you wifes advise and replace the newt with something of your liking.

Enjoy your new toy when it arrives.

[barx1963]

Just had a quick read through this thread and someone may have answered this but have you checked the retaining clips on the primary. If even a little bit too tight will generate a lot of astigmatism and make images very poor (I know!!). They should just be tight enough to hold the primary in place. Sorry if this doesn't help.

[Jen]

:eyepop: oh you will be back :lol::lol: How could anyone say good bye to astronomy :screwy: You just need a break for a bit, the stars will always be there when you are ready :)

PS if i were you i would keep the mount :P

[that_guy]

i bet jens placing an offer on that mount :whistle:

[robz]

:D.............gosh I love you guys and gals!:lol:

No, I haven't left astronomy as I threatened I would.............why?......read on...........

I found that the problem with the 8 inch newt is definately the focusser..........it's a heap of garbage and will be replaced.
It does not stay square to the secondary when racked out, and the 2 inch ''canon'' adaptor must have been turned out by a high school novice on hist first lathe adventure:rolleyes:.

After some very rough star collimation, I improved the image significantly............but the problem still exists and will do so until I chuck the rack and pinion:mad2:

Anyhow, had a look at Jupiter again last night under average conditions.

What I saw(at the left half of the field of view:screwy:........go figure??) was enough to wake me up to the fact that detail CAN be seen on planets even with average and out of whack optics. It was quite exciting to see some irregularity in the main equatorial belt (when the hell is the other one coming back????!!!!!)and some smaller thin bands and tonal shadings when the turbulence subsided now and again.:thumbsup:

It's enough for me everyone!................I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

[Suzy]

:sunny:Welcome back Rob! :2thumbs:
As you can see from all the posts made :computer::computer::computer: we weren't going to let you go easily! ;):lol:. Honest to goodness, aren't there the best bunch of people on here- so caring and so helpful! :jump:

[Jen]

:lol: oh man why did i tell him to keep the mount dam it :screwy: :lol:

Hey Rob i knew you would be back just cant leave this hobby our imaginations just wont let us hehehe :thumbsup:

[that_guy]

where would i be without this hobby? id probably have a girlfriend... but who cares!!! I LOVE THIS HOBBY!!!!!!

[robz]

Yep..................great bunch of people.........proud to be part of this forum:thumbsup:

Gonna keep that EQ6.....................great mount!!(sorry Jen:sadeyes:)

Hey Suzy, did ya hear that John Travolta is coming to Telethon in Perth this year:eyepop: ????

[erick]

You still here?? :P

[robz]

'fraid so!!:P:D

[PCH]

Hi Robz,

sorry mate, I feel for you. But 25k IS a lot as the others have said.

And why should you cop for the lot just because the brides father/parents can't. Donate 12.5k as your (more than ample) share and tell them to make do with that if her side aren't coughing up anything. You will definitely be totally p-ssed off if these guys go their own ways this side of the next 25 years if you spend your hard earned 25k on this.

These days folks are getting married later, and they've already lived together and 'done it all' before getting married anyway. Seems to me the only 'tradition' they want to keep is having the poor old parents cop the bloody bill.

Tell em to scale it down or pay for it themselves. I've been married twice and paid for our own both times - and didn't think it in any way unreasonable to do so.

Sorry to be harsh Rob, but look after yourself first - at 53 you've earned it :thumbsup:

[Suzy]

Yes, I recently heard that Rob. But it's in Perth! :(
The Today Show are running a competition where the winner will get to fly in the plane with JT. :D Wonder what my chances are.:question: Probably wouldn't remember any of it anyway even if I did win. :screwy: For I will be the body passed out on the floor from all the nerves. :rolleyes: Why? Flying makes me anxious, JT will make me nervous. *splat*
:lol:
Thanks for letting me know though Rob, good to see people are helping in my search ;):lol:.

[robz]

Yeah, he's a great guy and he once told me I was too;)

[WadeH]

Hi Robert,

I've just been reading all your trials and tribulations and am very pleased that you found the problem.
If it's the focuser, easily fixed. I have the original rack and pinion focuser that came with my Skywatcher 200mm Newt. You are welcome to it if it will get you out of trouble. I replaced it when I upgraded to a Crayford focuser but it is still in great condition.
Where abouts in Perth are you, I may be able to drop it of to you as I get around a lot for work?

[robz]

Wow!, that's very kind of you Wade......much appreciated!:thumbsup:

P.M. sent.

cheers,
Rob.:)

[mozzie]

aaahhh!!!!!!! i wonder if rob is still going to leave astronomy now...;);)
or is the little lady going to :lol::lol::lol: leave him!!!!!!!!!!

[robz]

Cut it out Peter!!!!!!:D:lol:

[robz]

:sadeyes:............for the second time I set up the EQ6PRO mount in the backyard to view Jupiter last night after carrying it in sections from the lower far end of my split level home.
This is the only way I can transport the mount, and adding a set of wheels, trolley etc is not practical due to steps and door frames that need to be overcome and possibly putting the mount at risk.

The sheer weight of carrying the head of the mount, let alone the weights and scope/bits and peices was enough to ensure an agonising and sleepless night................such is the state of my knees and back: bone to bone on knees, and three worn lower spine sections with rheumatoid arthritis as icing on the cake :(............and I'm only 53 :mad2:

A shed or observatory is a possibility, but not practical at the moment due to the layout of the back yard and the expense involved.

Rolling it out of the garage is one option, but I prefer not to advertise what expensive items I own to the dubious looking unknowns that occasionally roam the streets in our area.

I'm at work today feeling very sore and disappointed with the way things have panned out................never expected the body to react this badly to some occasional extra weight being placed on the joints for short periods of time(although the doctors did warn me:rolleyes:).

My return to Astronomy was initially so exciting and optimistic : I couldn't wait to get a decent mount followed eventually by a great scope and enjoy the heavens with the latest technology.

It seems that there will be little observing or use of the equipment until I find a way to permanently mount the equipment when funds permit.

For now, I don't want another night like the last one .............not for a while at least :shrug:

Sorry about this self pity post, but it's a wake up call for any others in a similar health wise position to carefully consider their options when purchasing heavy astro gear....................be wise!

[sejanus]

Do you need a equatorial mount?

If you just want to look, get a Dobsonian.

Light, easy to setup, big aperture - easy.

[jenchris]

I'd buy the gear you need and tell the kids they're on their own.
if you tell a retailer that it's for a wedding, they pump up the price 200% -

Tell your missus you are going to enjoy what is left of your mobility and do just that!

You've spoilt your family rotten and they deserve to find out which way is up.

Go for it mister!

[robz]

Equatorial mount?...................I think I've made a big mistake............fancy motors and GOTO:rolleyes:...........lots of weight, balancing and the constant need to turn the tube in the case of a newtonian:screwy:

Yes, I'm considering a dob.............one that can be covered in a protective shroud and left outside under the patio.

Wheel it out when required.

At least I'll get some real use out of it.

[sejanus]

a couple of years ago I had a 16" lightbridge with wheels & wheelbarrow handles - even the 16" was incredibly easy to move around - smaller sizes would be even better.

if you want some tracking & goto, check out the new skywatcher dobsonian ones they look interesting.