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Old 27-10-2007, 11:17 PM
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ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
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1st light report on ebay 120mm

As some of you already know, our club bought a Saxon 120mm f8.3 Achro on a Duel Drive EQ5 off ebay.

Yes, ebay can be frought with danger. But on inspecting the scope on pick-up I was very pleased with it, as I mention in this thread, with pics:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=25217

On getting the scope home, I ran it through its paces and was happy that the motors seem to perform well. (I did test them before I paid for it, but only quickly). The Lens was spotless, and all parts immaculate.

Tonight I tested the drives for accuracy on the night sky. The 'REAL' test.

Astronomers curse struck again - CLOUD!

After waiting for over an hour the only clear spot in the sky was at a tiny sucker hole in the South.
I couldn't Polar Align through cloud, so I just guessed where the pole is. I pointed it pretty well near where my Polar Aligned EQ6 is pointing.

I used the only star visible in the sky - Achernar.

I centered Achernar in a 25mm EP and turned on the tracking. I waited a few minutes then had another look and it was still in the centre. So far so good. But it was a 25mm so not easy to see any minor drift.

I went for a walk up the back paddock to check out, in the dark, where I want to build my obs. I was up there for about 15 minutes. Then walking back some friends dropped in. I forgot about the Scope and I was talking to them out the front for half an hour, then I rememberd the scope!!!

I had been away from it for 45 mins and to my amazement, not only was the sucker hole still there, but Achernar was only 1/3 the way to the edge of the FOV!!!!!! And I didn't even Polar Align!

I think the tracking is working well
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Old 28-10-2007, 12:20 AM
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Mark
I Like globs.

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Sounds like a nice buy for the club. Well done!

You know there was probably on nano-seconds between your guys getting the scope an many other not-so-quick with the mouse-click astronomers...
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Old 28-10-2007, 12:27 AM
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ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark View Post
Sounds like a nice buy for the club. Well done!

You know there was probably on nano-seconds between your guys getting the scope an many other not-so-quick with the mouse-click astronomers...
Yep, ya gotta be quick.

Although, I did procrastinate for a long time. And after procrasinating, I emailed the seller to ask questions about it, and then waited for his reply. After the reply I consulted with other Club committee members, then, when a decision was made I clicked 'Buy Now'.
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Old 05-11-2007, 05:11 PM
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joshman (Josh)
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Location: Coffs Harbour, Australia
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haha good buy mate!
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