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Conditions (near full Moon and high humidity) were pretty bad, but I had a free evening and at least could test some equipment on the Moon.
The first thing I wanted to try was Burgess 1.9x OCA in the binoviewer. It did deliver wider FOV compared to the front lens from 2x barlow I have used before and there was some in-focus travel left with Stellarvue. This means I can get away with using 1.6x or maybe even 1.25x OCAs. The views of Moon were nice and sharp, and observing with two eyes very relaxing. Then I swapped BVs to 8” SCT (no OCA needed) and have enjoyed some nice views as well.
I also wanted to test my new Apertura 50mm RACI optics at higher powers. The Moon was nice and sharp with BCO 6mm (33x, 1.5mm exit pupil). Surprisingly I could not detect any CA. Then I added Baader 2.25x Q-barlow for 74x. The view of lunar disk was dim at 0.5mm exit pupil and now I can see some CA at the rim. The focus was softer, but that could be due to bad seeing. I will revisit under better conditions and will try some bright DSOs.
My last goal for the evening was to binoview something other than the Moon. It has been a while since I catch any asteroids. The sky was terrible, hardly any stars visible naked eye; just a few in 10x50 RACI. It took me long time to navigate manually to the first target, but I managed. I look through BV installed on SCT 8” and the view was really dim and soupy.
Determined to catch at least some asteroids I have reconfigured my setup to mono-viewing and also replaced SV 102ED with Celestron Onyx 80ED to be used as a large finder. I have re-aligned everything using Polaris and went back to asteroid hunting. Even in mono mode all views were dim and soapy. Moon light combined with high humidity and low transparency made terrible concoction. I did ick three asteroids and called it around 23:00.
(419) Aurelia, mag 10.2, F-type asteroid in Sagittarius. Celestron 8” SCT/Pentax XW20 (101x).
(584) Semiramis, mag 11.3, S-type asteroid in Sagittarius. With estimated size of 27 km it is the third smallest asteroid I was able to observe. Been able to see something small like that ~200 million km away is mind blowing. Celestron 8” SCT/Pentax XW20 (101x).
(83) Beatrix, reported mag 12, FAILED to detect.
(105) Artemis, mag 11.4, C-type asteroid in Hercules. Celestron 8” SCT/Pentax XW20 (101x).
Thanks for the update, Bigzmey, on your work with the binoviewer as well as the trip through the sky.
I have been looking at binoviewers. Orion currently has two showing on their website. One has red eyepiece holders and sells for $499, I think. The other one sells for $209 and comes with a little suitcase looking case. Is your binoviewer either one of those current listings?
Thanks,
Bill Steen
Many small scopes, plus a Lightbridge 12, LX 70-8R,6R,6M
Many eyepieces, just not really expensive ones.
MistrBadgr wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 6:26 pm
Thanks for the update, Bigzmey, on your work with the binoviewer as well as the trip through the sky.
I have been looking at binoviewers. Orion currently has two showing on their website. One has red eyepiece holders and sells for $499, I think. The other one sells for $209 and comes with a little suitcase looking case. Is your binoviewer either one of those current listings?
Thanks,
Thanks Bill! Mine are $209 model.
They are basic but get the job done. Mine came well-collimated and operate nicely. It seems that they are best suited for brighter targets like Moon and planets, but that's what most people use binoviewers anyway.
Thanks, Bigzmey. My wife told me I needed to get something as a father's day present. The $209 binoviewer seems to be an all around good choice for me. I can use my two sets of Meade 5000 series Ploessels with it, I think.
Bill Steen
Many small scopes, plus a Lightbridge 12, LX 70-8R,6R,6M
Many eyepieces, just not really expensive ones.
A nice session Bigzmey, good to hear you are getting the BVs out working as well.
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both 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, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1011110) The only culture I have is from yogurt
MistrBadgr wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 7:17 pm
Thanks, Bigzmey. My wife told me I needed to get something as a father's day present. The $209 binoviewer seems to be an all around good choice for me. I can use my two sets of Meade 5000 series Ploessels with it, I think.
Absolutely! My favorite pairs are 32mm and 26mm Plossls. Not sure if BVs will work in a reflector, do you have any fracs?
MistrBadgr wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 7:17 pm
Thanks, Bigzmey. My wife told me I needed to get something as a father's day present. The $209 binoviewer seems to be an all around good choice for me. I can use my two sets of Meade 5000 series Ploessels with it, I think.
Absolutely! My favorite pairs are 32mm and 26mm Plossls. Not sure if BVs will work in a reflector, do you have any fracs?
Yes I do. From 60mm to 102mm in 10mm steps. They are all introductory scopes that I have flocked and did other things to them. If necessary, I would not hesitate to take an introductory scope and cut it down a bit to get the focus right and then use it exclusively with the binoviewers. On my 6 and 8 inch reflectors, the focusers are fairly long and then the transition piece is long enough to be removed to allow an imager extra space. If push comes to shove, I can change out the original focuser to a simple type Moonlite that I have waiting in the wings.
Bill Steen
Many small scopes, plus a Lightbridge 12, LX 70-8R,6R,6M
Many eyepieces, just not really expensive ones.
MistrBadgr wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 7:17 pm
Thanks, Bigzmey. My wife told me I needed to get something as a father's day present. The $209 binoviewer seems to be an all around good choice for me. I can use my two sets of Meade 5000 series Ploessels with it, I think.
Absolutely! My favorite pairs are 32mm and 26mm Plossls. Not sure if BVs will work in a reflector, do you have any fracs?
Yes I do. From 60mm to 102mm in 10mm steps. They are all introductory scopes that I have flocked and did other things to them. If necessary, I would not hesitate to take an introductory scope and cut it down a bit to get the focus right and then use it exclusively with the binoviewers. On my 6 and 8 inch reflectors, the focusers are fairly long and then the transition piece is long enough to be removed to allow an imager extra space. If push comes to shove, I can change out the original focuser to a simple type Moonlite that I have waiting in the wings.
Nice! You are all set then. Taken a saw to a scope if you are willing will get you a native focal length with BVs. Less drastic approach is to use OCAs or barlow lenses to get focus. It adds to the scope's focal length, but for Moon and planets it is actually beneficial.
Senior Embedded SW Designer
Telescope: OrionOptics XV12, Mount: CEM120, Tri-pier 360 and alternative dobson mount.
Grab 'n go: Omegon AC 102/660 on AZ-3 mount
Eyepieces: 26 mm Omegon SWAN 70°, 15 mm TV Plössl, 12.5 mm Baader Morpheus, 10 mm TV Delos, 6 mm Baader Classic Ortho, 5 mm TV DeLite, 4 mm and 3 mm TV Radians
Cameras: ZWO ASI 294MM Pro, Omegon veLOX 178C
OAG: TS-Optics TSOAG09, ZWO EFW 7 x 36 mm, ZWO filter sets: LRGB and Ha/OIII/SII
Explore Scientific HR 2" coma corrector, Meade x3 1.25" Barlow, TV PowerMate 4x 2"
Some filters (#80A, ND-96, ND-09, Astronomik UHC)
Laptop: Acer Enduro Urban N3 semi-rugged, Windows 11
LAT 61° 28' 10.9" N, Bortle 5
I don't suffer from insanity. I'm enjoying every minute of it.
Congrats Bigz on winning the VROD for 6-23! Very nice report on the lunar stuff, binoviewing and the asteroids.
-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 Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50 Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl Camera: ZWO ASI 120 Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs Latitude: 48.7229° N
turboscrew wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 9:29 pm
Nice! Especially the asteroids!
Thanks Turboscrew!
helicon wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 12:43 pm
Congrats Bigz on winning the VROD for 6-23! Very nice report on the lunar stuff, binoviewing and the asteroids.
Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars List Counts:Messier: 75;Herschel 400: 30;Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16 Brett's Carbon Star Hunt
Hi Andrey. Another great observing report from you. And as usual, it was a fun read and well written. You did a great job with the new binoviewers. Thanks for your latest report Andrey, and congratulations on winning yet another TSSVROD Award.
Marshall
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
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