[NOT] WANTED: barlow, collimator etc

[ThunderChild (Chris)]

Hi all,

As a newcomer to the astronomer ranks, I'm looking for a few basic and common things that many of you will have already upgraded (and therefore have spare). (For my 6" Dob with 1 1/4" EP)

Following is a bunch of things I'm thinking of going down very soon to buy from Bintel - but I thought I'd be silly not to ask here first in case there is a plethora of such things to be had right here under my nose...
So if you are willing to part with any of these, I'd be interested in talking with you...

(1) Barlow x2 (I'm flexible here though)
(2) Collimator tool
(3) Red LED light
(4) Rigel quickfinder/telrad
(5) Beginner's guides/starcharts/planisphere
(6) Right angle finder

I obviously am not after the best thing money can buy, but am not after a cheap plastic barlow that got thrown in with a **** Smith $50 special...
(EDIT: The censor above was 'dirk smith' - didn't think about that word being 'naughty'!)
If you near Melbourne, all the better!

BTW, I couldn't post a WANTED in the buy/sell forum since I am still a few days away from the '30 day' rule. Iceman suggested going here as an alternative.

Cheers,
Chris

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

You might want to re-edit the title. I'm sure you are not specifically after a "New" barlow.

[ThunderChild (Chris)]

Whoops! Well, it *is* new for me!
Done. Thanks.

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Chris,

Maybe not too many takers with this add as they are pretty basic things we use all the time BUT I have a few points to suggest.

If you end up buying from a supplier then get a good barlow like the Orion Shorty Plus for $139. I know its more expensive but you will only ever buy one nad not have to upgrade again unless you get into the 2" eyepiece club. Barlows are like eyepieces, the better the quality the better the image and barlows just magnify any problems so get a good one.

If you are getting a Telrad don't get another finder scope. The Telrad will point you at the object pretty well (actually right on after a bit of practice), especially if you have printed out a Telrad chart from some software. The finder is really useful in badly light polluted sites but your existing one will work with the Telrad if necessary, I have taken mine off my scope and just use the Telrad exclusively.

The collimation tool is personal choice but get a good Cheshire eyepiece and you are away, the longer the better here like the Orion Collimating Tool for $69. I know there are cheaper ones but this one is a beauty.

The rest is pretty standard but the planisphere should only have blue writing on it. Some have bits in red and you cannot see this at night under a red light. It does look very impressive in the daylight though, just useless at night. The Chandler planisphere is great.


Good luck

[davidpretorius]

chris i have a used 2.4x barlow (?? new) and an andrews cheshire ($29 new)

$50 would suffice and i will cover the airbag to you.

I have bought a longer sight tube / cheshire from ausastronomer so this one i got originally with my scope is redundant.

I now have a 5x powermate that i can throw my eyepices into.

pm if you are interested.

in regards to the other items, coles sell a head torch that has a red light / whitelight on it. $30 from memory in their battery section. I have one, they are great for keeping your hands free!

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by davidpretorius

in regards to the other items, coles sell a head torch that has a red light / whitelight on it. $30 from memory in their battery section. I have one, they are great for keeping your hands free!

Dont bring those to a starparty, or people will be , they are much too bright.

On full length cheshire/sight tubes, the Orion one that Bintel carries is superior to the Synta made one. The Syntas tube is too small and is too sloppy in the focuser.

[davidpretorius]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Dont bring those to a starparty, or people will be , they are much too bright.

all 4 of us have these at our local launceston star party, so no-one to get mad at!!

[asimov (John)]

You could also try gecko optical classifieds...there is a 2X celestron ultima barlow on there at present.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by davidpretorius

all 4 of us have these at our local launceston star party, so no-one to get mad at!!

I agree with Geoff. They are too bright! Wombat had one at the Snake Valley Star Camp last year and it was very annoying, but I was too polite to say anything. I expect it's the same at your local party, esp with four members wearing the things. They are fine when you are by yourself, because you only see the reflected light. But when someone else is wearing it and you cop the direct beam, it's not so nice. I have one of them headband e-gizer white-red LED torches and love it but for next star camp I'll either wrap it in ND foil or find a more socially acceptable alternative.