My New Little Toy

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Juno16 United States of America
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My New Little Toy

#1

Post by Juno16 »


Hi Everyone,

Quite the inverse of Henk's "Medusa", this is one cute little guy!

Meet the Sharpstar 61 EDPH2.

Instead of spending 2k on a new ASI2600 MC Pro, I opted for a much smaller scope to use with my ASI533 MC Pro. The camera's small sensor opened up some new targets for my Explore Scientific ED102 triplet. Even with the Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF at 571mm, the fov is small enough to get decent images of smallish galaxies. But, for larger nebulae and galaxies (M31), no way without doing a mosaic. With sometimes only one clear night a month, mosaics are not a good choice for me!

Measuring in at about 12" in its current configuration, it kind of looks funny! The 50mm RACI is about 1/3 the mass! I just might swap it out for a red dot.
IMG_1592.jpg
The little scope is very similar to the Radian Raptor minus a few frills, but it really looks to be of very nice build quality. Super smooth focuser (2.5") and a nice clean feel.

Of course, the skies are clouded up with rain tonight, but I really am looking forward to mounting this little fellow on my Nexstar mount for some visual.

When the galaxy season is over, I will move my MMAG guider and ASI EAF autofocus motor to the little guy to use for imaging. It comes with a 0.8 FR/FF for a fl of 268mm at f4.5.

Looking forward to using the ED102 for some visual!
Jim

Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
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Bigzmey United States of America
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Re: My New Little Toy

#2

Post by Bigzmey »


Which one is the scope, again? ;)

Congrats on the new toy Jim, so cute!
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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Re: My New Little Toy

#3

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Make sure you follow its proper exercise and feeding routine so it grows up to be a big healthy refractor one day! :lol:
That looks like a good one Jim, Sharpstar do make some nice telescopes.
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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SkyHiker United States of America
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Re: My New Little Toy

#4

Post by SkyHiker »


Juno16 wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 10:08 pm Quite the inverse of Henk's "Medusa", this is one cute little guy!
No the Medusa is just the electronics with a bunch of cables hanging off it, not the scope!
Juno16 wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 10:08 pm Meet the Sharpstar 61 EDPH2.
That looks great! I've been wondering how I could attach a camera lens to my 2600, maybe something like that is the answer!

In fact last night in our online astro meeting from our local club one of the participants showed off some pictures of his redcat 51, they were mind blowingly beautiful! He gets better resolution with his redcat than me with my 12" so it seems (just an impression, it can't be true of course), so there is much to be said for such a little guy. It would work well on my AVX I bet.

That looks like a great scope, you will be taking some great wide field images!
... 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: My New Little Toy

#5

Post by Gordon »


Jim,

Are you sure your mount can handle all of that weight? :lol:
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
Eyepieces: a few.
Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.

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Juno16 United States of America
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Re: My New Little Toy

#6

Post by Juno16 »


SkyHiker wrote: Wed May 05, 2021 2:13 pm
No the Medusa is just the electronics with a bunch of cables hanging off it, not the scope!

That looks great! I've been wondering how I could attach a camera lens to my 2600, maybe something like that is the answer!

In fact last night in our online astro meeting from our local club one of the participants showed off some pictures of his redcat 51, they were mind blowingly beautiful! He gets better resolution with his redcat than me with my 12" so it seems (just an impression, it can't be true of course), so there is much to be said for such a little guy. It would work well on my AVX I bet.

That looks like a great scope, you will be taking some great wide field images!
Sorry Henk! I was thinking Medusa “monstrous”, not the electronics/cables. Medusa cabling/electronics describes quite a scene!
I’m hoping to have a lot of fun with wide field. Thanks Henk!

Gordon wrote: Wed May 05, 2021 4:51 pm Jim,

Are you sure your mount can handle all of that weight? :lol:

It will look kind of funny, but when I dress it out with the guide scope, focus motor, FR/FF, filter drawer, spacers, and camera, it will have somewhat of a bigger appearance. Should be well under 10 lbs and with the fov, I’m hoping for some really nice and sharp stars.
Supposed to be clear tomorrow night. I plan to get it outside with the Nexstar mount and do some “looking around “.

Thanks Gordon!
Jim

Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
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Re: My New Little Toy

#7

Post by lostone »


I was looking at one of these smaller scopes to maybe use as a guide scope on either my RC or Edge. Still thinking about them.
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most! :tease:

Scope: Explorer Scientific 127CF, Askar FR600, Planewave CDK 14""
Guide Scope & Camera: ASI 174, ZWO OAG-L
Camera: QHY 268 Mono, QHY 600 Mono
Mount: Planewave L-350, Skywatcher EQ8-Rh Pro, Losmandy G11
Accessories: Moonlite Nitecrawler WR30, WR35, Eagle 3&4 Pro, QHY CFW3/7 Filterwheel, QHY Polemaster,
Software: N.I.N.A., CdC, Planewave 3, Pixinsight
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Re: My New Little Toy

#8

Post by Greenman »


Congrats Jim, I’m sure you can pack a lot of photons into its compact form. Can’t wait to see what you produce.
Cheers,

Tony.

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Smart Scope: Dwarf II - Club and outreach work.

AP Refractor: Altair 72EDF Deluxe F6;1x & 0.8 Flatteners; Antares Versascope 60mm finder. ASIAir Pro.Li battery pack for grab & go.

Celestron AVX Mount; X-cel LX eyepieces & Barlows 2x 3x, ZWO 2” Filter holder,

Cameras: main DSO ASI533MC; DSO guide ASI120MM; Planetary ASI224MC; DSLR Canon EOS100 stock.

Filters: Astronomik IR cut; Optolong L-Pro; Optolong L-Enhance.

Binoculars: Celestron 15 x 70.

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Re: My New Little Toy

#9

Post by JayTee »


Congrats Jim.

Remember it's not the size of the toy that matters it's the fact that you now possess it.

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°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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Re: My New Little Toy

#10

Post by starfield »


Looks like you can have a lot of fun with the new scope. It's nice to see scopes starting to ship again!
Scopes: Esprit 100, 12.5" Telekit Dob
Camera: 294 MC Pro, 224 mc, 2600mm
Guiding: ZWO 290 mini on 120mm guide scope
Mounts: EQ6R-Pro, EQ Platform.
Filters: Optolong L-Pro & L-Enhance, Chroma 36mm LRGB, 5nm HA, 3nm OIII, 3nm SII.
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Re: My New Little Toy

#11

Post by Ylem »


Congratulations Jim!
We all love looking at new toys here, have fun :)
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


Member; ASTRA-NJ



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Re: My New Little Toy

#12

Post by Robko »


Little scopes are fun, guaranteed! Enjoy
scopes: Obsession 18" classic / Tak. Epsilon 160 / Tak. FS60c / Vixen FL55ss
mount; Gemini G41 field
camera: Nikon D810A
eyepieces: Nagler 5, 7, 13mm Vixen LVW 22
All stored in a small obervatory located 2 meters below (current) sea level
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