Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

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chris_g United States of America
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Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#1

Post by chris_g »


I'm considering the Celestron advanced VX 8" Newtonian and was wondering if any one has one. I'm pretty much sold on the mount but I'm looking for some more info on the OTA. In particular what kind of focuser and what size is it. Celestron's site talks about everything but the focuser. Also, the tube rings looks like one of them has a 1/4" 20 tpi adapter, is that the case?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!
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Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#2

Post by Lady Fraktor »


If you are planning on visual the telescope and mount will work but be aware that it is a lot for the mount to deal with.
If there is a breeze the cross section of the tube will be like a sail.
So expect some extra vibration time for the telescope to settle.

From the site images the 200mm has a 2" standard rack & pinion focuser which with a slight bit of adjustment will work fine visually to start with.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
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Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#3

Post by AstroBee »


Take Lady F's advice. This is probably going to be a difficult imaging rig except maybe piggybacking a DSLR which might be all you intend to do since you asked about the 1/4"20 adaptor. I do believe that is a 1/4"20 adapter on the ring.

If you are looking to image through the scope and cannot afford the next jump up in mount quality which would be something like the SkyWatcher EQ6, then I would recommend buying the mount separately and starting with a small 80mm refractor/guide scope setup.
Greg M.~ "Ad Astra per Aspera"
Scopes: Celestron EdgeHD14", Explore Scientific ED152CF & ED127 APO's, StellarVue SV70T, Classic Orange-Tube C-8, Lunt 80mm Ha double-stack solar scope.
Mounts: Astro-Physics Mach One, iOptron CEM70EC Mount, iOptron ZEQ25 Mount.
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Eyepieces: 27mm TeleVue Panoptic, 4mm TeleVue Radian, Explore Scientific 82° 30mm, 6.7mm , Baader 13mm Hyperion, Explore Scientific 70° 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, Meade 8.8mm UWA
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#4

Post by JayTee »


What Astrobee said.

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#5

Post by chris_g »


Thanks Lady Fraktor, you've given me more food for thought. I learn something new every time I come here.

Thanks folks, you all nailed it for me. I'm primarily after the mount. If i get this rig, the tube will eventually end up on an a different mount for visual to keep me busy while what ever ends up on the AVX does the imaging.

Time to do some more thinking...
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#6

Post by Lady Fraktor »


One other thing to consider is the maximum FOV of the telescope, a 200mm f/5 newtonian will give you over a 2.5° but a 80mm f/7 refractor will give you over 4°
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#7

Post by SkyHiker »


Several people have been quite successful with an ED102 Apo on the AVX. The 8" Newt is borderline feasible but our member geethq was very successful with it. It comes down to how good you are if you want to try that. An 80 mm will always work but it is rather limited, a 102 mm can be more useful. I used an 127 mm ED127CF on my AVX and it never worked well - too heavy. You may want to consider a 6" Mak-Newt, apo-like quality for much less money, no CC or FF required, fast, good for visual and AP. I like it better than my Apos.
... Henk. :D Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#8

Post by AstroBee »


SkyHiker wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:00 pm Several people have been quite successful with an ED102 Apo on the AVX.

I only mentioned the 80mm because it sounds like our OP might be just getting into the hobby and interested in AP. I didn't want him to make the same mistake I did diving into the hobby with too long a focal length scope or too heavy OTA and underpowered mount. My first foray into the world of astrophotography was with a fork-mounted C-8. If someone had told me how much easier it would be to image with a 500-600mm fl refractor over a 2000mm SCT, I would have been very grateful. Of course, a 102mm would be nice too but I'm trying to take into consideration his total cost of entry. He's also going to need a small guide scope and guide camera.

SkyHiker wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:00 pm You may want to consider a 6" Mak-Newt, apo-like quality for much less money, no CC or FF required, fast, good for visual and AP. I like it better than my Apos.

Blasphemy! I'm an APO snob.... :lol: :lol: :lol: Just joking.
Greg M.~ "Ad Astra per Aspera"
Scopes: Celestron EdgeHD14", Explore Scientific ED152CF & ED127 APO's, StellarVue SV70T, Classic Orange-Tube C-8, Lunt 80mm Ha double-stack solar scope.
Mounts: Astro-Physics Mach One, iOptron CEM70EC Mount, iOptron ZEQ25 Mount.
Cameras: ZWO ASI2600mm Pro, ZWO 2600MC Pro, ZWO ASI1600mm
Filters: 36mm Chroma LRGB & 3nm Ha, OIII, SII, L-Pro, L-eXtreme
Eyepieces: 27mm TeleVue Panoptic, 4mm TeleVue Radian, Explore Scientific 82° 30mm, 6.7mm , Baader 13mm Hyperion, Explore Scientific 70° 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, Meade 8.8mm UWA
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#9

Post by chris_g »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 6:52 am One other thing to consider is the maximum FOV of the telescope, a 200mm f/5 newtonian will give you over a 2.5° but a 80mm f/7 refractor will give you over 4°
I was coming to ask about the specs of a refractor and the answer was here waiting. Thank you so much!
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#10

Post by chris_g »


Question, is there such a thing as not enough weight on the mount for stable astrophotography? I'm looking at the Orion ED80 APO and it doesn't weigh very much. I'm also thinking about the Sirius EQ-6 instead of the Advance VX. The APO with camera wouldn't even hit 25% weight capacity, with a decent guide scope, it would get to maybe 30%.
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#11

Post by JayTee »


First off, in AP we recommend that you only load up your mount to 50% of its max capacity. So having too little weight is never a problem. I've gone so far as to attach just my DSLR with a 50mm lens directly to the mount. The only issue there is that you need a very small amount of counterbalancing weight. There are solutions for this though. Boom microphone counterweights work well for this purpose.

The EQ-6 (especially the "R") is a much better mount than the AVX. The EQ-6 is a mid-level mount, while the AVX is an entry-level mount. If you have the money for an EQ-6 then I would say get it because you will get more utility and use from that mount.-

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#12

Post by chris_g »


JayTee wrote: Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:26 am First off, in AP we recommend that you only load up your mount to 50% of its max capacity. So having too little weight is never a problem. I've gone so far as to attach just my DSLR with a 50mm lens directly to the mount. The only issue there is that you need a very small amount of counterbalancing weight. There are solutions for this though. Boom microphone counterweights work well for this purpose.
Thanks JayTee, you raise another question that I haven't considered yet. Counter balance, do you add 1 pound of counter balance to 1 pound of payload or is there a another ratio?
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
Session Control: Mini PC/Win11 Pro, APT 4.1, PHD2 2.6.10
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Re: Any one own the advanced VX 8" Newtonian?

#13

Post by Lady Fraktor »


chris_g wrote: Fri Feb 19, 2021 3:40 am Question, is there such a thing as not enough weight on the mount for stable astrophotography? I'm looking at the Orion ED80 APO and it doesn't weigh very much. I'm also thinking about the Sirius EQ-6 instead of the Advance VX. The APO with camera wouldn't even hit 25% weight capacity, with a decent guide scope, it would get to maybe 30%.
There is no minimum payload as the mount will work without a telescope on it, be it visual or AP you want to be over-mounted as much as possible.
In other words you do not want to be using the maximum amount of capacity if you can help it.
The closer you can keep the weight to the mount in height and length makes the mount run more stably.

My Vixen 115mm f7.7 rides very well on a AVX but my Antares 105mm f/15 would be taxing it to the limit even though they weight almost the same.
The difference is that the Antares is over 1.8m long so has a large moment arm.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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