Stellarium / Skycharrt CDC add Finderscope?

[netwolf]

Hi All,

Probably a simple question

How to I add a Fnderscope in Stellarium? I have a Orion 9x50 Right angle finder.

Also in CDC Skycharts is there a easy way to do the same, ad my EP's, telescope, CCD etc?

Regards
Fahim

[kinetic]

Fahim,

in CDC at least: Preferences ---> Eyepieces.
You can choose 10 FOVs and click them on or off.
Very handy.

Steve

[mithrandir]

The current version - 0.10.6.1 - of Stellarium has better control over eyepieces and scopes.

Configuration -> Plugins -> Oculars -> configure

There is no specific entry for Finders but you could fudge one up as an Eyepiece+Telescope combo with the right FOV.

Scope 150mm, Eyepiece 16mm with AFOV 47 is about the right values.

Andrew

[netwolf]

Thanks Steve and Andrew
Man CDC is pretty old school on this, you need calc your on FoV.
The Stellarium interface is very nice, bit more like Starry Night. But again for a finder scope you have to do a work around. But I like the Occular view it gives you a good idea what you will see.
I was looking at the Wiki and it seems there maybe another option for Finderscope but I have not tried it yet. I could create a Eyepiece and put in 5 degree Afov and tick the binocular box. This should give me the same result i think. They should really add this to the Wikki.

[Barrykgerdes]

When entering the values for a finderscope you may not have its actual prime focal length, the focal length of the eye piece or its FOV so you will need a work around. Finding the two focal length is easy enough with a measuring stick, the magnification and a bit of maths.

The eyepiece will probably not have any sort of compound lens so its FOV will probably be around 40 degrees and there probably won't be any field stop.

After entering "suitable" values into the calculator you will probably still need to fiddle eyepiece FOV to get the right window in stellarium.

Barry

[mithrandir]

That's more or less what I did to come up with my values. According to Opt's description, the Orion 9x50 has a FOV of 5 deg.
A FOV calcuator (http://www.csgnetwork.com/telefov.html) I found was fed various values until it gave me 5 deg as the FOV.

Andrew

[Krumlov]

Reading this thread peaked my interest in this function of Stellarium. I have installed it in preparation for buying the GS-680. So I can properly configure it, does anyone have the AFOV and Focal Length values for the EPs that come with this scope. Specifically, the "Premium GSO 6mm, 9mm and 25mm 1.25" Plossl eyepieces - and a SP series 2""

[mithrandir]

The number is the focal length of the EP. The 1.25" 6mm, 9mm and 25mm have 52 deg AFOV. The SP 2" series - 26mm, 32mm and 40mm - have 65 deg AFOV.

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi Andrew
I put a 45 deg FOV for the eypiece of your Orion 9/50 in my calculator and it came up with a 5.0 degree FOV

Also try this patch (updated today)
http://sarcasmogerdes.dyndns.org/stellarium/uploads/stellarium-patch0107.zip

It has a major change to the Search (F3) menu. You can now enter Greek characters and scroll the view to any nominated coords.

Barry

[Krumlov]

How accurate do people think that Stellarium and this plug in is? I have made the relevant entries and the view of Saturn seems small purely based on what others have said they have seen through the GS-680? Can someone have a look at the attached image and let me know if this is representative of the scope and EP (see the upper right corner for details).

Thanks...

[Barrykgerdes]

I have not checked many oculars in stellarium but the ones I use with my LX200 10" certainly give a window size within a couple of arc seconds of what I can see through the telescope

and the CCD (sensor) also gives a window (box) the same size as the photos I have from the CCD.

Barry