Meade ETX-70AT

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

I don't do much planetary observing so am not best placed to make a suggestion.

I have used a 2x barlow for imaging the moon-no problem


You are going to get a 10 mm eyepiece are you not? with a 2X barlow you are getting 70x magnification; with a 3x you will get a 105x magnification which should still be OK

[Jimmy]

The kit comes with a 9mm WA (wide angle I assume) and a 25mm WA. Are these plossl eyepieces?

Would you recommend the Andrews series 500 eyepieces to be used on this?

What would a 4mm, 5mm or 6.5mm look like?

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Some finicky observers have complained of image softness when using the Meade MA eyepieces once the object is out of the "soft spot"

I have to say I have personally no complaints-these eyepieces are good as far as I'm concerned. On the other hand I hardly ever observe through them except to star align-usually I have the webcam plugged in most of the session.

My personal view is that a 4mm may be more magnification than you can use on 90 % of the nights.

Having said that I know of some guy who uses a 4mm TeleVue Radian and is very happy.

My own Andrews 4mm Ploessl developed some blemishes a few months after I purchased it, and I have rever replaced it-just didnt find I used it enough. (But that may be because I much prefer observing deepspace objects at low and medium power to cranking it up for planets and the moon.)

I have had no problem with the Andrews 10mm or 25mm Ploessls. In fact they look identical to the eyepiece that Celestron ships with its C8N-am sure they are made in the same factory.

now that you are an ETX owner, you may want to consider joining the yahoo ETX70 AT user group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ETX-70AT/?yguid=150343216

[Jimmy]

Im going to buy a Meade 2x Telenegativ Barlow, another 18mm WA eyepiece (by meade) and a Meade Super Plossl 5mm.

What do you think?

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

your 2x barlow coupled with your 9mm will give you about the same magnification as the 5mm Ploessl..so it does seem a bit of an overkill...
whatever works best for you

[Astro_Guy]

The optics on the ETX70 seem to break down at about 90-100X, depending upon the sample. I've demonstrated this numerous times using high quality eyepieces, such as the TeleVue 4mm Radian. These are the inherent limitations of a 70mm f/5 achromatic refractor. The ETX90 Mak-Cass is an entirely different class of instrument

[Jimmy]

Im gettin a 6.7mm plossl meade 3000 series and ill see how i go.
does anyone recommend anything else (I really want to be able to get the maximum possible viewable magnification.)

[iceman (Mike)]

I really want to be able to get the maximum possible viewable magnification

Maximum magnification isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially if you look at the dept. store boxes that say 525x, 625x etc.

It's rare that the seeing conditions, and the object you're viewing, are favourable enough for the highest magnification possible.

For DSO's, you'll rarely use such a high magnification - maybe for trying to split close double stars. You might use them on the moon or planets occassionally, but honestly I prefer to use my 15mm barlowed to 7.5 as my maximum magnification on my scope, and that's only when seeing is good.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I don't like going under 12mm un-barlowed for anything.

Objects lose light quality too much. (I'll go 9mm sparingly)

[Astro_Guy]

Jimmy,

You should see the rings of Saturn and the bands on Jupiter at 90x; however, the planets really demand about 150X to become truly enjoyable objects. Unfortunately there is no way to get there with an ETX70. Basically I am trying to warn you off pursuing something that is unattainable. I'd hate to see you spend a lot of money on accessories only to learn this the hard way.

Clear Skies,

Bob

[Jimmy]

I have access to absolutely clear and very dark skies in country victoria about 2.5hrs from melbourne. The sky is absolutely covered with stars, kind of like the background of this forum (but brighter of course!) -minus the nebula (visually) you know what I mean. .... Anyway.... Ill try 100x saturn out there. I reckong itll go well.

[Jimmy]

one guy on the net reckons he gets good view out of a 4mm orthoscopic eyepiece and a 2x barlow that 176x magnification (viewing the moon) at 88x he can clearly make out the rings around saturn. check his pics out

http://astronomy.customer.netspace.net.au/default.htm

he even states that the view through the scope is much clearer and brighter than the pictures he has taken.

[Jimmy]

Im getting some GSO eyepieces, I've changed my mind. They are better quality then the meade eyepiece I was going to get. I am assuming they are slightly better than the andrews also.

Im getting a 15mm super wide plossl with AFOV 66o

Ill still get the meade 2x telenegative barlow its cheap and thats all i can afford.

Ive spent way too much.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Jimmy,

Sorry to burst your bubble but they are quite terrible images. A scope should be able to get proffessional looking, crisp clear images. The photos shown were blurry and low in contrast.

Sorry old chap.

The write up is Biased of course.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Also Jimmy,

Where is your dark spot 2 1/2 hours from Melbourne.

Maybe we could meet there one night.

[Jimmy]

i think they are quite impressive. seeker does have pictures that are crisper, but, as the gentlemen on the webpage says he has a crappy cheap digital camera. what more could one expect?

[Jimmy]

and the dark spot is about 6 hours from your location! sorry mate!

[Jimmy]

im talking outer easter melbourne suburbs 2 and a half hours!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Have you tried up this way for viewing?

Its bloody brilliant, and closer to Melb!

[Jimmy]

nah im happy with dads farm. its near the coast, absolutely no light pollution whatsoever!