requirements for a gift. recommendations?
- notFritzArgelander
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requirements for a gift. recommendations?
So here are the requirements:
1) the optical design shall be a refractor
2) the acquisition budget shall be $100
3) the mount shall be a self contained alt-azimuth type with no additional support needed
Likely candidates include:
https://www.highpointscientific.com/tel ... case-21035
https://www.highpointscientific.com/tel ... ount-21036
https://www.highpointscientific.com/tel ... ker-80-azs
My inclination is to go with the longer 70mm because of less chromatic aberration. But I worry about mount stability. Maybe one of the shorties would be supported better?
What says the collective wisdom? These are illustrative examples only. Non Celestron suggestions are welcome.
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
JT
∞ 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 EQ6R, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
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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."
- notFritzArgelander
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
That would be a candidate as long as the mount is steady.
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
Reviews for the 70mm f10 are not bad. I think the mount will be stable. You will have to ditch the stock finder for a red dot Svbony. If you buy from Amazon/fulfilled by Amazon the return shipping is free. Buy it and test it out. Click the images.notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:40 am I've finally managed to negotiate a set of requirements for a 2nd telescope for a grandson. The first telescope was a Vixen Nature Eye which was sufficient to establish the durability of his interest. The obstacle is it's a table top tripod and so inconvenient to use. (One needs to take the scope and a tabletop to an urban park to observe.) Space is a premium. I think that the forest of scopes in my LR has my daughter horrified. I showed her Ed Ting's living room and it only deepened her terrors. From his existing kit he will keep the BCOs with Q-turret and I will repurpose the rest.
So here are the requirements:
1) the optical design shall be a refractor
2) the acquisition budget shall be $100
3) the mount shall be a self contained alt-azimuth type with no additional support needed
Likely candidates include:
https://www.highpointscientific.com/tel ... case-21035
https://www.highpointscientific.com/tel ... ount-21036
https://www.highpointscientific.com/tel ... ker-80-azs
My inclination is to go with the longer 70mm because of less chromatic aberration. But I worry about mount stability. Maybe one of the shorties would be supported better?
What says the collective wisdom? These are illustrative examples only. Non Celestron suggestions are welcome.
Here is a great YouTube review
- Lady Fraktor
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
Everyone of these will supply eyepieces to sacrifice to the cloud deities (heaven forbid you let your grandson view with these!) and they would all benefit from a diagonal upgrade.
It does not have to be an expensive one but an upgrade will help.
5x24 finder scopes, upgrade to a cheap
At least he will be able to wring the most out of any of them using the BCO eyepieces and they will not overload the focuser.
So 70mm
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 (1000101)
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
- notFritzArgelander
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
Thanks!SkyHiker wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:21 am If $1.99 over budget is permissible, here's a 90 mm with 1 good review: https://explorescientificusa.com/collec ... e-az-mount
- Lady Fraktor
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
A bit better price through
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 (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- Thefatkitty Online
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
Personally, I'd go with either the 70mm
All the best and good luck with the decision!
"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4, AZ-EQ5 and SolarQuest mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.
Solar:
H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
Ca-K - W/O 61mm, Antares 1.6 barlow, Baader 3.8 OD and Ca-K filters with a ZWO ASI174mm.
W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.
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- notFritzArgelander
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
Thanks.
- Lady Fraktor
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
I am sure he will be quite happy with it.
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 (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- notFritzArgelander
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
Yes. I think it oversteps his Mum's severe volume requirements but I have a massive case justifying that....!Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2019 6:07 pm I assume this is the Observer II package?
I am sure he will be quite happy with it.
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
It's an ST80
Long tubes with narrow
-Jeff
Member; ASTRA-NJ
Orion 80ED
Celestron C5, 6SE, Celestar 8
Vixen Porta Mount ll
Coronado PST
A big box of Plossls
Little box of filters
- smeyer8015
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
https://www.celestron.com/products/omni ... -telescope
X-Cel LX 18mm, Luminos 15mm, F/6.3 reducer, Luminos 2.5x barlow, Telrad, Celestron 9x50 RACI, DIY Baader Solar Filter, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Bresser EXOS-2 Goto, Revolution Imager R1
No trees were killed in the sending of this post. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced
- notFritzArgelander
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
Your POV is well advised usually but in this individual case I've observed he's very patient with target acquisition.
A good choice in general but for fear of overstepping parameters.smeyer8015 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 6:57 am A bit over budget, but Costco Warehouse has the Celestron Omni 102 AZ for $149
https://www.celestron.com/products/omni ... -telescope
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
X-Cel LX 18mm, Luminos 15mm, F/6.3 reducer, Luminos 2.5x barlow, Telrad, Celestron 9x50 RACI, DIY Baader Solar Filter, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Bresser EXOS-2 Goto, Revolution Imager R1
No trees were killed in the sending of this post. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced
- notFritzArgelander
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
Yes it has many virtues. The die, as they say, is cast.smeyer8015 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 8:38 pm This scope is normally a $199 scope. It also appears that it can accommodate a 2" diagonal.
The scope I selected will be for home use in a light polluted area. For field trips my flotilla is ready to serve.
- notFritzArgelander
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
In any case, I'll unpack the scope and do indoor acceptance testing with artificial stars and suchlike.
- notFritzArgelander
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
Earlier in the day we set up the scope for a shakedown cruise doing terrestrial viewing and tests with an artificial star. We set up out of doors to have the artificial light sources far enough away that the tests would be reasonably accurate.
The scope selected was the Orion Observer II 70 mm altazimuth f10 refractor. Assembly was fine and easy. I was dismayed (but not surprised) at the abundance of plastic screws, etc. but those can be replaced later. The included red dot finder needed no adjustment to target the center of the
Artificial star testing showed good optical quality. I thought I could maybe see some under correction but it was less than 1/4 wave so I'm not going to complain. The scope is diffraction limited. We used the BCO 6mm for testing. He has a complete set.
An absolute surprise were the supplied 25 and 10mm Kellner eyepieces. While certainly not on the same class as the BCOs (he noticed, tee tee) they are serviceable. I suggested that the Kellners be used sharing views with friends and the BCOs be kept "en famille". The non erecting diagonal was fine.
We turned the scope to look at the ridgeline of the Wasatch mountains and got the most marvelous contrasty views of the thermals at higher powers. This is where comparison of the supplied Kellners and the BCOs showed the greatest difference. Edges of the thermals were brilliantly crisp in the BCOs and were a tad softer in the Kellners.
Maternal unit accepted the size differential just fine on condition I remove the previous scope. So I returned with a Vixen Nature Eye that will likely be refashioned into a finder maybe?
- Lady Fraktor
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Re: requirements for a gift. recommendations?
At least with the longer focal length even the Kellners worked reasonably well and as you stated are a better choice for when others are viewing.
Next Christmas a nice Konig?
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 (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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