My 2" 2x Barlow and Cheshire EP arrived today (monday).
<b>1.</b> Got a pleasant suprise with the Barlow. I expected it to be for 2" EP's only but it comes with a 1.25" adaptor!
So for $79 It is like buying 4 new 1.25" EP's and a 15mm Superview!!! Many Hundreds of dollars worth. Excellent. See pic below.
Can't try it out though as we are fogged in every night now.
<b>2.</b> I collimated my scope to as accurate as I could get it using the film canister method. Then I stuck in my new Cheshire. WOW! It was a long way out!!! Amazing how inaccurate a film canister can be. Looking forward to what I will see with correct collimation.(when the fog goes away).
With the Cheshire I used my little red torch shining in the side and it is so simple to use. Thank you to all who recommended I get it, Geoff, Laurie an Mike especially.
I am looking forward to trying them both out but it appears I will have a long wait.
Hi Ken. It's great that you got your Barlow & Comb.Cheshire. You *MAY* find that the X hairs are *GOLD* wire. Be vewy,vewy careful as they are extremely soft & easily broken. As you found, the film can is O.K. to do rough collimations with, but the Cheshire is best. I don't have the combo. model,(X hairs), & has been dropped a few times with no damage. Be careful with your's tho.
Nice to have a correctly collimated t'scope, ain't it? Just have to star test it now! Regards, L.
Hi Ken, 'My Meade' doesn't go out of collimation!!!! Wouldn't dare! Just kidding. I get almost, almost, perfect diffraction rings. When I first received the UWA 14 mm, (in 2001), I found that the collimation was out slightly after using it a few times, (checked it with my Cheshire). The extra length & weight, had compressed the cardboard tube a bit, so I went thru the total re-collimation process, starting with re-aligning, (packing), the focuser, to 2ndary, etc etc.
No probs. now. Regards, L.
I agree with Ken and Rajah. I used to use a homemade collimator out of a film cannister as well and when I got the cheshire (same one as the one you got), I was also surprised to see how out of whack my collimation was. Views are nice and sharp now
Originally posted by ballaratdragons I will be extweemly vewy vewy careful of them.
you seem to have a problem with your Rs'... I know a good proctologist
on ya Ken, aint the cheshire a beauty I have the exact same one... but as per usual they droppped the price after i bought mine
let us know how the 30mm gso goes in the barlow... it'd be interesting
I had a look outside and surprise, surprise, no fog!
I quickly got my dob outside, no fog, rushed back in, grabbed the EP case and headed back outside. Still no fog. You beauty!
No time for cool down.
Stuck in my 2" SuperView. Yep, Jupiter still up there. Ah hah, Orion Neb still exists. OK, now to try my super-duper new Barlow.
Get barlow in, take out 1.25" adaptor, place 2" 30mm SuperView and . . . FOG!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quickly looked at Joop, yeah, looks bigger (blurry but bigger). Hurry, hurry, look at Orion, fogged out. Took out SuperView and put 1.25" adaptor in. Put 25mm Plossl in . . . . too late. Everything gone! Scope is already very wet in 3 minutes!! Packed up EP's, got scope inside. followed by base.
Quickest viewing night I have ever had. I cannot comment on the Barlow or the accuracy of the Cheshire. Must have looked funny if anyone saw me, I was doing everything in fast motion, even running carrying the OTA!
Blasted cold foggy mountain weather. Back inside with the wood fire now.
If the fog comes in after dark BD, try some twilight viewing. I often do it for the kids and I myself like the contrast when viewing the brighter planets. The 12" still sucks heaps of light in at twilight.
Thanks Slice, I occasionally do twilighting especially for the kids. But our fog starts rolling in even before sunset these days (problem of living in a valley).
Had I looked outside earlier tonight I might have been able to catch a bit of twilight sky. Only reason I noticed the sky was clear when I did was because I was outside getting firewood. I will have to keep an eye out in future in case we get another later fog.
Atleast I can say I have used my new goodies! (didn't see anything but they were used).
Last edited by ballaratdragons; 10-05-2005 at 07:57 PM.
Just went back outside to see how bad the fog is and our whole valley is covered in a layer of chimney smoke as well! Everyone in town must be burning their fires tonight. Cough cough!
Barlow & Cheshire suprise!
Just kidding. I get almost, almost, perfect diffraction rings. When I first received the UWA 14 mm, (in 2001), I found that the collimation was out slightly after using it a few times, (checked it with my Cheshire). The extra length & weight, had compressed the cardboard tube a bit, so I went thru the total re-collimation process, starting with re-aligning, (packing), the focuser, to 2ndary, etc etc. 
