Some tests and viewing (finally)

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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Some tests and viewing (finally)

#1

Post by Lady Fraktor »


I finally got some reasonably clear skies to do some long awaited viewing and decided to do a bit of testing as well on some pieces of kit since it was still quite cold outside (-25°C)

The AOM 105 mm is a oil bonded triplet lens and one of the main issues is thermal shock of the lens/ optical emulsion used between the elements.
Most oil bonded lenses now do not use a oil but 2 part emulsion for long term clarity and less chance of leakage.
Since my astro shed is 5°C inside the inside/ outside was a 30°C change.
When I purchased the new refractor I also purchased a HPRC 6500 transport case. https://www.hprc.it/en/resin-case_hprc6500w.html
With the heavy wall and cube foam inside I wanted to see how well it would deal with the temperature drop.
I placed a temp sensor at the lens cap and one at the focuser then placed the case/ telescope outside at the mount.
It took 87 minutes to reach ambient temperature inside the case which is 1°C per 2.9 minutes so I was quite happy about that.

The other item I wanted to test was the case for storing the Vixen Starbook 10. https://global.vixen.co.jp/en/product/35652_2/
The case attaches to the tripod leg which makes it quite convenient to use.
The Starbook 10 being a mid sized LCD screen is temperature rated to 0°C so I had purchased a Kendrick eyepiece case heater to try out.
I also used my Thousand Oaks 4 channel heater controller to have the heater on a individual channel. https://thousandoaksoptical.com/shop/de ... trol-unit/
Due to the outside temperatures I had the heater set on 70% for the session and the interior stayed about 3°C for the duration.
There was no sluggish reaction time or dimming of the screen due to the cold. Another bonus for the night! :)

Seeing and transparancy were both 4-4.5/ 5 for the 3 hours I spent observing. Jupiter, lunar, Mars (for the first time this season!) and a few doubles.
A good evening observing and nice to be able to step into the astro shed to warm up as well.
Telescopes used were the Vixen 115 mm on a Vixen SXP mount and AOM 105 mm on a Vixen AXJ mount.

The last half of 2022 was rough for me after losing two very good astro friends and my grandfather
so it was nice to be able to get out viewing and think of them.
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
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Greenman Great Britain
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Re: Some tests and viewing (finally)

#2

Post by Greenman »


Glad you had a good night!
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.

Latitude: 52.219853
Longitude: -1.034471
Accuracy: 5 m
Bortle 4 site. https://maps.google.com/?q=52.21985,-1.03447

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messier 111 Canada
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Re: Some tests and viewing (finally)

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Post by messier 111 »


the sun always ends up showing up, thx.
I LOVE REFRACTORS , :Astronomer1: :sprefac:

REFRACTOR , TS-Optics Doublet SD-APO 125 mm f/7.8 . Lunt 80mm MT Ha Doublet Refractor .

EYEPIECES, Delos , Delite and 26mm Nagler t5 , 2 zoom Svbony 7-21 , Orion Premium Linear BinoViewer .

FILTER , Nebustar 2 tele vue . Apm solar wedge . contrast booster 2 inches .

Mounts , berno mack 3 with telepod , cg-4 motorized , eq6 pro belt drive .

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.”
― Isaac Asimov

Jean-Yves :flags-canada:
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Bigzmey United States of America
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Re: Some tests and viewing (finally)

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Post by Bigzmey »


Nice that you have managed some observing Gabby, and that the all equipment behaved nicely.

Sorry about your losses in 2022. That was a bad year for many, let's hope 2023 will be much better.
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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helicon United States of America
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Re: Some tests and viewing (finally)

#5

Post by helicon »


Sorry about the losses - my condolences.

Sounds great that you were able to try out some new things.
-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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Juno16 United States of America
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Re: Some tests and viewing (finally)

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Post by Juno16 »


Sounds like a nice evening Gabby and my condolences for your losses last year.

Glad that you got out and had an enjoyable time! I grew up in the NE US and now that I live in the south US (since 1973) the idea of -30 sounds challenging. I'm glad that you are up to it, equipment ran well, and had a nice time.
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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