Hi everybody! (Hi doctor Nick!)
Some of you might remember a few months ago that I was first posting on here to ask/talk about different types of scopes, and where to buy.
Well I finally bit the bullet last week and bought myself a 10 inch collapsable skywatcher dobsonian. It got delivered on Wednesday, and I built it. I stood back in horror as the monstrosity was completed... I'd ordered a telescope, and they'd sent me a DALEK!! EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE!!!.
I was having so much fun that when I finished, I was surprised to find that the nice clear blue sky I'd been seeing all day had disappeared under a blanket of evil clouds....
Typical.
Before I get on with the story, I'd appreciate it if someone with a lot of experience with skywatcher dobs could take a look at the attached picture and clarify something for me.
When I ordered it, I understood that I was getting the 10 collapsable version that came out BEFORE the black diamond series. I was lead to believe that the scope I'd ordered was white, and had a basic rack and pinion focuser. I'm reasonably certain I've got a crayford focuser on there.
The thing that turned up is attached. make no mistake, I'm very happy with it, but I am confused. Could someone clarify? Is this the old 10in collapsable model (which I thought was white and had a basic focuser) or the new Black diamond model with the crayford? I thought I'd done my research really well, but it seems I missed something.
anyway back to the first light!
So tonight the clouds parted for a bit, and I got the chance to see how well I'd collimated. It seemed to be ok. I put in the 10mm eyepiece, found a bright star, centred it and put it out of focus. Looked good to me. When I had it in focus, and centred, it seemed sharp, blue and clear with no weird fringes. It got a little whispy as the star moved to the edge of field, but that doesn't really surprise me. So far so good.
I managed to get a fairly decent look at M42 and the trapezium despite the clouds playing hide and seek with the sky.
Very pretty.
Just before the sky became completely overcast, I had a hunt for Betelgeuse. I found it about 10 seconds before the clouds set in....
GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY
that's a red star. looks like darth vader's lightsaber crystal. yeesh.
anyway, just thought I'd show y'all my new toy.
anyone with a bit of info about the mystery of the black scope would also be appreciated.