A quick view with new kit.

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John Donne United States of America
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A quick view with new kit.

#1

Post by John Donne »


Last night, 9/3/21, I had high thin cloud layers racing overhead. I figired it was a no-go.
I had to go with my wife to Champaign, about 30 miles away,  to drop off her Sienna for some brake work Sunday evening for early Monday service. On the way back home I noticed a lot of stars. I began to hope that by the time I reached home the sky would still have a few openings.


I have an Orion 150 f9 Richey Chretien that came from Henry's collection. I do not think he ever used it. I had played around with it in daylight to figure how many spacers I would need to reach focus with a diagonal.
20211004_092703.jpg
There is one large opening in the tree cover near the house so I set up the CG4...too light, but it was quick and quick was what I was after.
Resized_20211004_092155.jpeg
I mounted and balanced the RC by the light of my cell phone and sat down in my trusty Vestal viewing chair behind a Meade 40mm wide FOV EP for my search and view adventure. I had no finder scope mounted.

I had nice view of Altair, a cold white/blue in color. Slipping east and north to Tarazed revealing a slightly golden color. Fine views. Tarazed was naked eye visible. Then west and south to Alshain which seemed more yelliw than Tarazed.
The RC gave nice contrasty pinpoint views.

I waited for Jupiter to clear the trees and spent the rest of my time there.
With my 12.5 docter EP Jupiter revealed the GRS moving from right to left in my fov. There were moments of sky when the redish hue of the storm peaked. The north and south equitorial bands were nice. The north band was dominant.
Saturn had already passed out of view behind the trees ahead of Jupiter.

It was a short outing but it was satisfying.
My objective was to see how the f9 RC worked for visual. It works very well for me.
As you may see in the site photo the opening was small, but at least it was open ! 😊

Peace and clear skies to you all.
SCOPES :ES127 f7.5, SW100 f9 Evostar, ES80 F6, LXD75 8" f10 SCT, 2120 10" f10 SCT, ES152 f6.5.
MOUNTS: SW AZ/EQ5, MEADE LXD75, CELESTRON CG4, Farpoint Parallelogram.
BINOCULARS: CL 10X30, Pentax 8X43, 25X100 Oberwerks.
EP: Many.

"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#2

Post by The Happy Parrot »


Nice report John. Sounds like your 150 RC provides really detailed views of Jupiter. I don't think I've seen Jupiter quite as clearly with my Z8, I'd love to try an RC some day.
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#3

Post by John Donne »


The Happy Parrot wrote: Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:05 pm Nice report John. Sounds like your 150 RC provides really detailed views of Jupiter. I don't think I've seen Jupiter quite as clearly with my Z8, I'd love to try an RC some day.
I cannot compare it well in one outing, HP, but It seemed very close to what I get with my ES 127 APO and maybe a bit more contrasty across the fov. This surprised me as the RC has a pretty large secondary obstruction. The baffling in this RC tube is extensive.

When I have a long duration clear I will mount them both and do a side by side. This RC came with several very robust spacers to mount on the visusl back so as to acheive focus for either AP camera mount or visual viewing.


The sky condition was very transparent for a short time last night and this helped.

Thank you for reading my brief report.

Ckear skies to you.
SCOPES :ES127 f7.5, SW100 f9 Evostar, ES80 F6, LXD75 8" f10 SCT, 2120 10" f10 SCT, ES152 f6.5.
MOUNTS: SW AZ/EQ5, MEADE LXD75, CELESTRON CG4, Farpoint Parallelogram.
BINOCULARS: CL 10X30, Pentax 8X43, 25X100 Oberwerks.
EP: Many.

"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#4

Post by Makuser »


Hi Mark. A very nice observing report with the limited open sky available to you. And you got a chance to work with some legendary RC optics too. Thanks for your report Mark, and the best of wishes for many clear skies and observing opportunities.
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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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#5

Post by JayTee »


Nice report Mark. I'm glad you decided to use your RC as a visual scope. I knew you'd like it.

Cheers
∞ 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
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∞ 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: A quick view with new kit.

#6

Post by John Donne »


JayTee wrote: Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:32 pm Nice report Mark. I'm glad you decided to use your RC as a visual scope. I knew you'd like it.

Cheers
Thank you JT.
And if I want to try some AP ... I never say never. 😊
SCOPES :ES127 f7.5, SW100 f9 Evostar, ES80 F6, LXD75 8" f10 SCT, 2120 10" f10 SCT, ES152 f6.5.
MOUNTS: SW AZ/EQ5, MEADE LXD75, CELESTRON CG4, Farpoint Parallelogram.
BINOCULARS: CL 10X30, Pentax 8X43, 25X100 Oberwerks.
EP: Many.

"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#7

Post by John Donne »


Makuser wrote: Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:57 pm Hi Mark. A very nice observing report with the limited open sky available to you. And you got a chance to work with some legendary RC optics too. Thanks for your report Mark, and the best of wishes for many clear skies and observing opportunities.
Thank you Marshall.
I may try to find some more sucker holes tonight. 😊
SCOPES :ES127 f7.5, SW100 f9 Evostar, ES80 F6, LXD75 8" f10 SCT, 2120 10" f10 SCT, ES152 f6.5.
MOUNTS: SW AZ/EQ5, MEADE LXD75, CELESTRON CG4, Farpoint Parallelogram.
BINOCULARS: CL 10X30, Pentax 8X43, 25X100 Oberwerks.
EP: Many.

"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#8

Post by Juno16 »


Really nice that you were able to het some views in Mark!
Henry would be pleased.

Sounds like a great scope for either viewing or imaging.

Hope that you get an opportunity to really put it through the paces very soon!
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
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#9

Post by helicon »


Hi Mark, thanks for documenting your observations through the 150mm RC that belonged to Henry. I am sure he would be happy that you put it to good use with both some stellar observing and Jupiter- congrats on today's VROD.
-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
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#10

Post by KingNothing13 »


Congrats on the VROD, Mark!
-- Brett

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

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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#11

Post by John Donne »


Thank you all for the VROD encouragement. 😊
SCOPES :ES127 f7.5, SW100 f9 Evostar, ES80 F6, LXD75 8" f10 SCT, 2120 10" f10 SCT, ES152 f6.5.
MOUNTS: SW AZ/EQ5, MEADE LXD75, CELESTRON CG4, Farpoint Parallelogram.
BINOCULARS: CL 10X30, Pentax 8X43, 25X100 Oberwerks.
EP: Many.

"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#12

Post by Butterfly Maiden »


Congratulations Mark on receiving the TSS VROD.
Vanessa

Nikon D82 Fieldscope with 30x/45x/56x angled eyepiece.
Olympus DPS-1 10x50 binoculars.
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#13

Post by Bigzmey »


Glad that the Orion 150 f9 Richey Chretien works for visual Mark. Looks like a fun scope. And congrats on TSS VROD!
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: A quick view with new kit.

#14

Post by Unitron48 »


Congrats on the "new" scope...and the VROD!! Always fun to break in different optics!

Dave
Unitron (60mm, 102mm), Brandon 94
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http://www.unitronhistory.com

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Albert Einstein
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#15

Post by John Baars »


Congratulations on the VROD!
Nice instrument you have got there!
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#16

Post by Graeme1858 »


You need to take a chain saw to those trees Mark!

Congrats on the VROD.

Regards

Graeme
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#17

Post by John Donne »


Graeme1858 wrote: Thu Oct 07, 2021 11:58 am You need to take a chain saw to those trees Mark!

Congrats on the VROD.

Regards

Graeme
Yes...well Graeme I have taken one or two out in my SE view with said instrument..., but I must consider all of my furry and feathered friends who share this little bit of Eden. 😊

The two swaths I now have, SE-S and SW-W are used effectively by setting up my kit and letting the earth rotate the targets into the zone. I can view "upcoming" targets in Skyfafari to plan these astronimical ambushes.

This works for leasurely visual outings near the house.
Thank you Graeme
SCOPES :ES127 f7.5, SW100 f9 Evostar, ES80 F6, LXD75 8" f10 SCT, 2120 10" f10 SCT, ES152 f6.5.
MOUNTS: SW AZ/EQ5, MEADE LXD75, CELESTRON CG4, Farpoint Parallelogram.
BINOCULARS: CL 10X30, Pentax 8X43, 25X100 Oberwerks.
EP: Many.

"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
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Re: A quick view with new kit.

#18

Post by helicon »


I have a 20" Stihl chainsaw that you can borrow!!!
-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
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