Need help to review EP (Melb)

[traveller]

Hi all Melbourne-ites, I was wondering if anyone is interested in helping me out to evaluate and review my first "serious" EP. It's a Celestron Ultima LX 17mm, has 2 and 1.25 inch fittings. I tried it out last night and the initial impressions were very good but only had a 15mm Astroshop Superview as a comparision.
I would be interested in seeing how it might compare with other mid-range EPs in the mid power range.
I am willing to bring my scope and EP to your place (ideally within 25km radius of Preston), so we can test it on different scopes (mine is a 8" SCT).
Please let me know if you can help.
Thanks,
Bo

[mishku]

Bo,

I have no scope to offer, but I'd be interested in tagging along to see what a "serious" EP can really do, if you can sort out some other folks with scopes?

M

[traveller]

Will do, as soon as someone picks up this thread...:)
Bo

[casstony]

Hi Bo, I'm sure someone will take you up on your offer. I've got the Skywatcher equivalent of your eyepiece; I haven't directly compared it to other eyepieces but it is a very decent eyepiece that performs well in fast or slow scopes. Any aberrations you see at the edge of field are likely from your scope rather than the eyepiece, with standard SCT's having strong field curvature combined with coma.

You would likely get slightly better contrast from high priced Pentaxes or Televues, but the differences are fairly small and not likely to be appreciated until you've been in the hobby long enough to get really fussy about your gear :)

[Orionrules]

Hi Bo,

I am interested to have a look at your EP and not too far from your place.
I would like a small group of like interested soul to gather for a joint astronomy session every now and then
Like you, I am very new to the hobby and also has an 8" SCT and a 4.5" Skywatcher refractor.
So far, besides the ep that come supplied, my only purchase is a 17mm Hyperion with a 68 deg fov, a 9 and 6 mm TMB Planetary and a 42 mm GSO.
It will be interesting to compare the Ultima against the Hyperion, as both are 17 mm.
I do my observation at my place, as there is a paved middle court.
I reckon, ideally perhaps a gathering of just 3 to 5 like minded person would be idea.
Please like me know or any other person staying around the vicinity will be interested.

[Orionrules]

I also have a feeling the Celestron Ultima is an identical twin to the Baader Hyperion.
Having both side by side, we can compare and see if they are?

[mishku]

i seem to remember that there were some folks who were just north of melbourne who wanted some observing buddies... does that ring a bell for anyone? can't remember who it was, and too lazy to hunt out the thread :D

[The_bluester]

Actually that would have been me (For starters in any case, there were some others who posted. I think the thread found it's way into the bin after a period of inactivity so I would not bother looking for it)

I am pretty tied up for the next weekend or two but might be able to find a night (A Saturday night would be best) to meet some people somewhere to have a bit of an observing session. I have a 9.25 Celestron and a handful of eyepieces ranging from the standard 40mm Celestron that came with it to a couple of Televue Plossl's and an 11mm Nagler.

My only comment on location would be that realistically, the further from the city you can get the better it would end up. There has to be somewhere handy to set up, some park somewhere outside the city itself. 25km or so from Preston would put you out somewhere near Mernda to the north, but you would want to get away from the main roads or you just end up being constantly swept by headlights (A problem at my place as we live on the outside of a bend so cars sweep the place right from side to side with their headlights as they go around it, very frustrating as even late at night there is a fair bit of traffic!)

At the minute dew is an issue for me as the budget has not stretched to a dew heater system so the warmer the weather the less chance of problems.

[traveller]

Thanks Paul and others. Yes, we probably should tie up an obs night on a sat night. As for location, there is Bundoora park just north of La Trobe uni which I think gets pretty dark, other than that, we have to get pretty far north as you suggested. I only have a small battery that powers my scope, but have a dew zapper if any of you have a spare 12v car battery.
Time wise, probably in late oct to nov?
Lets keep talking!
Cheers, Bo :thumbsup:

[alistairsam]

Hi Bo,

replied to your PM.
as mentioned, I'm interested in an observing session. happy to drive upto 60k's from box hill north. we should get some dark skies around.
There was a light pollution map somewhere here which showed LP north of Melbourne. need to look it up.

I'm interested in finding DSO's as well as EP reviews, I'll bring along an OIII filter and a GSO superview.
I'm going to the snake valley camp from 25th to 28th, other than that, I can do most friday or sat nights.
will keep an eye out for replies.

cheers

[BEVAN5433]

HI I am in Ivanhoe with a 16 inch L.B. with TNT tracking if the Bl- weather clears my sight is not to bad on average clear night.I am interested in any E.P. comparisons and any Equip more than welcome Bevan 94592939

[ballaratdragons]

Hey Bo, bring the EP to camp with you next week.
There will be about a hundred EP's to compare it to :lol: :thumbsup:

[traveller]

Dont worry Ken, will do that.
Just wanted to do a dry run (weather permitting, Friday looks a bit iffy in Melbourne, surprisingly :P ).
Don't want to make an a$$ of myself at Snake Valley.
Bo :thumbsup:
Bevan, will send you a PM.

[clive milne]

My understanding is that the Celestron Ultima line was originally based on the Masuyama design.
There is (or was) an offering from Baader which was essentially the same eyepiece
(maybe the Hyperion - I forget exactly).

I used to have a pair of 42mm Ultimas at one point.
The apparent fov was fairly narrow, but my impression was that they were
in a different league (waaaaaay better) than the Meade 40mm SWA that I owned at the same time.

[The_bluester]

Hmmm, weather is not looking too promising for tonight. I live in hope.

Bo, Given I am not too far away, if the night falls over I only need to know by about 7:30 as my plan is to have dinner, put my 3YO to bed and go, so I will only leave home at about 8:15.

Currently sitting in Ardeer (OhDear) but things look a bit muddy above us here at the moment. Hopefully it clears as I have missed the last couple of nights I intended to get to. If not tonight then my next chance is the ASV star party on the tenth, we have family commitments or I would come to Snake Valley like a shot.

[traveller]

Hi Paul,
I sent you (and others) a PM to cancel tonight, Melbourne weather is resuming its normal patterns.
Hope to see a few of you at Snake Valley and will try an re-arrange another night out soon.
Bo

[mishku]

Hi guys,

Sorry to hear you'll be rained out, would have loved to come along but had prior commitments... But look forward to seeing you all at Snake Valley :)

[Jen]

:lol: do you think so Ken :question: all you imagers that are taking over the field dont know how to use en eyepiece DO YOU ? :rolleyes::lol:
:scared3:
Oh Bo you could never make an ass of yourself at Snake Valley :lol: we are an awsome group of peeps :lol::evil: Im on an eyepiece hunt this camp too so i hope there is some we can have a play with :thumbsup:

[The_bluester]

Ok, another point to add to this thread. If we try again we will need to pick a different site. I was in the area today so went up to the gate and the reservoir park gates are locked at 7pm.

[scagman]

If kinglake West/Humevale isn't to faar out of melb. then your welcome to come up here. I have reasonable sky views all round and they're darker than melb too.

[The_bluester]

Would not make much travel time difference to me from kilmore. About the same distance just I go up the hill out of Whittelsea instead of on to plenty rd.

[scagman]

Actually, its probably closer for you, as its only 10ks out of whittlesea, but it would be an extra 20-25k's for those that wish to come from melb direction.

Any night that suites peolpe is fine by me as I'm home most nights.

I'll dig up the other thread here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=82878) and post in there aswell.

[traveller]

Thanks Paul and John,
Just drove back from Adelaide yesterday in the 40c heat, so still recovering.
I am happy to go to Kinglake or Kilmore areas, so not fussed.
Adelaide had some fine viewing nights, was able to see Pelaides clearly with the naked eye (and my glasses) for the first time in ages.
The weather is playing funny buggers, but should give it a try soon.
Cheers,
Bo

[alistairsam]

That's about 45k's from my place so fine for me.
Guess we'll have to wait and see when the clouds clear and possibly arrange for a fri night or sat night

[scagman]

Prob go for a sat night as this seems the most popular. I think this weekend is out due to clound/rain so either sat 14th or 21st. The moon will be rising about 2330 and will almost be full on the 14th, the 21st the moon will have set before dark and not up again till after 0500. I have no preferance for either night and will be home both. We can plan for the 14th and if that doesn't happen then try for the 21st.
Any other suggestions/options/objections?

[scagman]

Aiming for sat. 21st and if that doesn't work out we'll try for the 28th.

PM me for details.

[scagman]

Hi all,

Looks like tonight is a no go'er so maybe another time.

[traveller]

Thanks John, will keep trying. :)
Bo

[The_bluester]

I am still hoping to go up to Snake Valley on Friday if anyone else is going.

[scagman]

I would like to but don't finish work till 7 on fridays.

[mishku]

Paul, I'm planning to head up to SV on Friday night (and trying to con some others into coming too!)

John, it doesn't even start getting dark til 9pm, plenty of time to have a shower and some dinner and head on up! :)

[scagman]

I'll see how I go but its still 2.5hrs drive and I have to work Sat, not till 11 thou. If the weather is like this it would be a nice ride on the bike.

[The_bluester]

I am still hoping to go, trying to con a mate into coming with me as it is a couple of hours drive, nice to have someone to talk to on the way.