New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

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JuanM Spain
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New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#1

Post by JuanM »


Hello everybody :)

After years of enjoying our loved Orion XT8i, we decided to pull the trigger and go for a 12-inch. Aperture fever??? Well, I guess that's possibly the main reason...
It took quite some months to receive it, due to restrictions, temporary closures, shortages, etc., apparently caused by the pandemic. But it finally arrived !!!

It's a relatively unknown brand from Poland, even for those of us living in Europe: Taurus Telescopes. Among the reasons behind our decision, it is quite lightweight, easy to transport and, hopefully, with good optical performance, as well as a "push-to" system for us not to get lost after successfully using Orion's Intelliscope for so long :P

We have had very few chances to use it, though experience is very good so far. What I can't tell is why the price has increased c.25% since we ordered the scope by end of last summer, to be honest...

I could be writing for a while about it, but we thought it would be a better idea to describe it with images, so we created a small video on the assembly, which we hope will be informative:
Taurus T300 - Overview and Assembly

Hoping you guys will enjoy it :)

Clear skies to all.
Scopes: Taurus T300 Dobson 12" f/5 and SW 80/400 refractor on EQ3-2 mount. Binos: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70. EPs: Baader Hyperion 31mm aspheric, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Mark III zoom, GSO 2.5x APO Barlow. Filters: Lumicon UHC, Orion SkyGlow broadband, Baader variable polarizer.

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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#2

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Congratulations with the new telescope! :D

I hope you get a lot of use with it.
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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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#3

Post by Bigzmey »


12" - that's some serious light gathering power, enjoy!
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#4

Post by MistrBadgr »


Congratulations on your new scope. It is beautiful. :)
Bill Steen
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#5

Post by Ylem »


Wow! That's a sweet looking scope!

Enjoy!

Me want!
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#6

Post by Michael131313 »


I have never heard of it before. Thanks for the video. Looks great. Have a good time with it.🔭
ES AR 102 102mm, f/6.5, ES 254mm f/5 DOB, Obie 10x50, GSO SV 30mm, ES 68° 20mm, ES 82° 14mm, 11mm, 8.8 mm, 6.8mm, 4.7mm. Twilight 1 mount.
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#7

Post by Graeme1858 »


Nice video. That's a fine looking beast of a telescope Juan!

Regards

Graeme
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#8

Post by The Happy Parrot »


Very interesting and attractive telescope. Felicitaciones Juan.

Are the mirrors made in Poland as well?
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#9

Post by JuanM »


The Happy Parrot wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 11:53 am Very interesting and attractive telescope. Felicitaciones Juan.

Are the mirrors made in Poland as well?
Hey there !! The manufacturer offers 2 differnt kinds of mirrors, the standard range, made of BK7 glass with a 93% reflectivity, which seems to be made by them in Poland, and the professional range (like the one in our scope), made of SUPERMAX®33 glass (something similar to Pyrex) made in Germany by SCHOTT, which seems to have better thermal expansion characteristics, with a 96% refelctivity and a more accurate parabola.

This better optical quality was one of the factors that we considered when making our choice.

Here's the link to their website: https://www.taurustelescopes.com/en/optics/

Clear skies !!!
Scopes: Taurus T300 Dobson 12" f/5 and SW 80/400 refractor on EQ3-2 mount. Binos: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70. EPs: Baader Hyperion 31mm aspheric, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Mark III zoom, GSO 2.5x APO Barlow. Filters: Lumicon UHC, Orion SkyGlow broadband, Baader variable polarizer.

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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#10

Post by Makuser »


Hello Juan. Wow, that's a beautiful new light bucket telescope. And, I really enjoyed your video presentation. Congratulations on the great new purchase Juan, and we all hope to see a first light report on this fine instrument soon.
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#11

Post by JuanM »


Sure !!!

I just need a good night to do it properly :Astronomer1:

Thanks for your comments :)
Scopes: Taurus T300 Dobson 12" f/5 and SW 80/400 refractor on EQ3-2 mount. Binos: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70. EPs: Baader Hyperion 31mm aspheric, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Mark III zoom, GSO 2.5x APO Barlow. Filters: Lumicon UHC, Orion SkyGlow broadband, Baader variable polarizer.

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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#12

Post by helicon »


Congrats on the new scope. You were very patient
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#13

Post by AstroBee »


Beautiful scope. I'm eagerly awaiting the second video that shows the push-to feature in action.
Congrats.
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Scopes: Celestron EdgeHD14", Explore Scientific ED152CF & ED127 APO's, StellarVue SV70T, Classic Orange-Tube C-8, Lunt 80mm Ha double-stack solar scope.
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#14

Post by JuanM »


Hello again everyone !

As promised, we've made another short video showing how to use the Push-To Digital Setting Circles system that we bought as an option with our T300.

Concept is simple, angular encoders attached to the azimut and altitude bearings, with a precision of 8192 steps per revolution, which connect by cable to a control unit. You then connect via BT or Wi-Fi to this unit from your mobile phone, tablet, etc., and use one of the typical astronomy apps, like SkySafari, for example.

As you may have imagined by now, you will need to align the system in the app with a couple of bright stars, and you will be ready to search for any object in the database by moving the telescope to the direction indicated in your favorite app.

It is not a live session though, as our intention was only to show how to configure the connection settings, perform the alignment and use the push-to function in the app to search for anything.

We've just been able to use it a couple of good nights and seems to be quite accurate. At least as good as the Intelliscope that we were using in our previous scope, an Orion XT8i.

These DSCs seems to be quite common these days in Dobsonians, however normally sold as optional equipment. I'd say this particular kit is basically the same that one can found in some brands sold here in Europe, like the push-to system sold by Geoptik for their Nadirus series.

If you're interested, this is the link:
Taurus DSC Push-To

Hoping you wil enjoy it !

And yes... a proper first light report is pending !!!

Clear skies :D
Scopes: Taurus T300 Dobson 12" f/5 and SW 80/400 refractor on EQ3-2 mount. Binos: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70. EPs: Baader Hyperion 31mm aspheric, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Mark III zoom, GSO 2.5x APO Barlow. Filters: Lumicon UHC, Orion SkyGlow broadband, Baader variable polarizer.

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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#15

Post by Richard »


Nice scope and seems to be made of good material , how does one adjust tension ? if one puts a large eyepiece on or a camera ? is there a balance bar on as its not a huge scope , lastly I have never had a push to scope only GO TO , so do you have do the that procedure every time you set up ?
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#16

Post by JuanM »


Hi Richard.

There's no tension knob. It has a counterweight bar set horizontally on the front side of the altitude bearings. It is self-balanced for not very heavy eyepieces. The manufacturer claims that it will do the trick for EPs between 1 and 2 kg. For heavier ones, they have optional counterweights which go attached in the back of the primary mirror.

In our case, we only have Baader Hyperion EPs, which are not so heavy and it works quite well, unless yo go below 30° of altitude where you notice that the mirror's weight is pulling the tube upwards.

In terms of using the push-to system, once you have entered the connection settings in the app, they will be retained for the next session. What you will always have to do each time is to align with one or two stars.

Hope it helps!
Scopes: Taurus T300 Dobson 12" f/5 and SW 80/400 refractor on EQ3-2 mount. Binos: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70. EPs: Baader Hyperion 31mm aspheric, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Mark III zoom, GSO 2.5x APO Barlow. Filters: Lumicon UHC, Orion SkyGlow broadband, Baader variable polarizer.

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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#17

Post by The Happy Parrot »


Nice DSC system and video Juan. Curious to hear your first impressions in the field.
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#18

Post by AstroBee »


Great demo of the DSC system Juan. Thanks.
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: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#19

Post by Ted »


Hi Juan,
I loved your videos, thanks for that, I've ordered a Taurus myself now, such beautiful instruments.
One question, what do you use for collimation?
Thanks
Ted
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Re: New Telescope Arrived !!! Taurus T300 DOB

#20

Post by JuanM »


Hi Ted.
Thanks for watching them and congrats on your new telescope !!!
The laser collimator that you may have seen in the videos is the Baader's Laser Colli Mark-III
(https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/l ... k-iii.html)
Enjoy you new light bucket and clear skies :Astronomer1:
Juan.
Scopes: Taurus T300 Dobson 12" f/5 and SW 80/400 refractor on EQ3-2 mount. Binos: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70. EPs: Baader Hyperion 31mm aspheric, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Mark III zoom, GSO 2.5x APO Barlow. Filters: Lumicon UHC, Orion SkyGlow broadband, Baader variable polarizer.

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