Upgraded and nonwhere to go

[traveller]

Finally managed to get a few extra bits and pieces for my second hand 8SE: 8x50 finder to replace the laser pointer; Bintel 10:1 focuser (thanks Chris); WO Dura Bright diagonal; Ultima LX 17mm; Vixen LVs 9, 12 and 25mm.
And as Murphy would have it, it's been rain, lightening and wind for the last 48 hours in Melbourne, and will continue to be like this until early next week. Just waiting now...
The whole setup is placing the single arm fork under seriously strain, and I gotta watch that bottom clearance like you know what.
Looks like I may be upgrading to a NEQ6 sooner than I thought...
:sadeyes::sadeyes::sadeyes:
In the meantime, here are some photos of the new kit.
Cheers,
Bo

[Waxing_Gibbous]

I feel your pain!
I'd just finished 'tuning my EQ6.
Setting it on its porta-pier and got it set up on a slab I poured a month ago.
Come last night - big blow-over! :(
Fortunately the 815 wasn't mounted and the Telegizmos 365 was - so no real damage.
Sandbags in future!!

[BlackWidow]

I live in Adelaide and it's the same here.. I have been trying to get my head around guiding and getting good shots... Seem to have got it pretty good a week ago and so I am now ready to really get into it.... Yea I Wish!.. Rain, Hail, Wind... It looks like winter is having a winter ??

Time to get the Monopoly Set out as I have read all of my Sky & Telescop mag and have polished and cleaned my scope 3 times this week...

Oh the Pain, Oh the Pain! :sadeyes:

Mardy

[g__day]

Just bought the full pinpoint license and its a long weekend - so Sydney has to be rainy for the next few days!

[mill]

Tomorrow night looks good :P


Saturday Wind Rain Humid Temp Morning A Few Showers. Mostly Cloudy. Cool. 15 km/h SSE 1mm (39%) 80% 11
Afternoon A Few Showers. Broken Clouds. Cool. 20 km/h SSE 1mm (26%) 54% 15
Evening Passing Clouds. Cool. 12 km/h S - 85% 11
Overnight Clear. Cool. 10 km/h S - 86% 7

[Robert9]

Hi Bo,
Know how you feel about the weather. I have a new camera I want to try and my viewing is suffering the same fate.
With regard to being careful with the extended back hitting the base, the Nexstar does have a settable altitude slewing limit which is available under MENU, SCOPE SETUP. Should take some of the worry from your mind.
I'd be interested to know how much improvement you see with the new diagonal. I have the 6" version of your scope and have been considering this option.
Robert

[Osirisra]

I'm in the same boat, I got a bintel crayford, 2' diag etc for my LX90 that still hasn't seen first light in two weeks. Only used my EQ6 twice since I've had it and my QHY8L still hasn't taken it's first image in 6 months:sadeyes:

Forcast it nothing but crap too, This year has been total right off for any descent astro.

Constant bad weather keeps making me buy more gear to make me feel better at not getting any astro and of course buying gear just makes it worse weather wise...can't win :doh:

[Gem]

Weather is cold, wet and windy in the ACT.

In the photos you have a Celestron Ultima eyepiece... can you let us know how it goes? I have not heard much from people about them. :)

[traveller]

Looks like I am not alone, made me feel a little better already...
Grant, my first impression of the ultima EP is very good, I will test it against other EPs once the weather improves. I also sent out a call for some local Melbourne based observers for a night out in Nov or so and do some comparisons with other EPs.
Rob, thanks for the tip re setup, will give it a go and will also report back on the 2" setup afterwards.
Damn the rain and clouds :mad2:
Bo

[Gem]

Thanks! Let me know how the comparisons go... :)

[Brundah1]

G'day Bo,

Bit of a recall, my first scope was a Nexstar 8iSE, bought 2nd hand with 1.25" EP kit. Didn't like the plossels didn't agree with my old eyes, so bought 2" EPs and accessories much like you. However the "One Armed Bandit" will not carry that weight and remain stable.

Its not necessary to sell the rig, the OTA is excellent and will work great with a HEQ5 or CG5-Go To mount or above.

If you are primarily interested in portable visual astronomy the CPC8 is now excellent value, rock solid with excellent ergonomics. Might figure in an upgrade if that's your chosen direction.

If imaging is in the future then the GEMs mentioned are great.

As for bad weather, don't buy a new scope - that usually works!

David

[robz]

And still the weather is lousy.........lots of new gear just sitting there............roll on Summer!!!:rolleyes:

[Osirisra]

Yup still very much lousy here as well, cloudy, raining and blowing a gale...one day it will be nice...one day

[Max Vondel]

If you like squinting through the eyepiece!
Might be time to invest in a quality Microscope!........
:lol:

[Terry B]

Clearish here with a halo around the full moon!
It will be cloudy of course when the moon goes away.:shrug:

[traveller]

According to BOM, next Monday and Tuesday nights are probably the best nights. Then more chances of showers until end of Oct.:(
Jupiter is getting really bright on that eastern horizon...
Bo

[bmitchell82]

my last astrophoto was mid may. since then its been nothing but rain and cloud... :( I hear my poor telescope quietly sobbing in the cupboard every night when i go to sleep its a shot to the heart every time!

[traveller]

Sky's cloud free in Melbourne and winds dying down. Yeeehaaaaa!!!
Bo

[mill]

And guess what??????
There is a %$#@^%^%& full moon :P
HA imaging here i come :lol:

[Poita]

Might be time to double stack a PST, at least the moon doesn't get in the way of solar observing very often, and when it does, you really want to see it.

[traveller]

Yes moon was out last night, but I did get good tour of western and southern parts: M7, Alpha Cent, Altair, Antares and the Jewel Box.
Did a quick comparision of Ultima 17mm v Vixen LVs (25 and 12 mm), as well my old Astroshop super plossls. The Vixens had better contrast and better edge performance, but feel claustrophobic compared with Ultima and SPs.
I dolike the wow factor of the Ultima.
More tonight by the looks of things.
Bo