Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Sat May 21, 2022 12:47 pm
SHRIMPY is a nice add OIen!
TheSkySearchers
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Your refractor - let's see it
Page 5 of 10
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:42 am
My new Svbony 48P, 90mm, f5.5, sliding shield, 2" 2 speed focuser all for $350 C. A perfect pal for my NP101, excellent performance, great views.
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:55 am
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:40 am
Looks like an
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 11:36 am
I've forgotten. Now I have a refractor.
Omegon AC 102/660 on AZ-3 mount.
Sorry for the stuff behind.
Omegon AC 102/660 on AZ-3 mount.
Sorry for the stuff behind.
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 4:09 pm
Thanx for posting this, it helps some of newbies to see what folks on here are using.
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2022 9:51 pm
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2022 8:42 pm
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 12:45 am
@davesellars What do you mean by, "they've stopped making them for visual only purposes"?davesellars wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 10:54 pm ... Although the Moonlite focusers are lovely (such a shame they've stopped making them for visual only purposes).
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:28 am
The latest iteration of my setup.
Explore Scientific ED152 CFAPO
Moonlight NiteCrawler Focuser/Rotator
TS Optics TS2 flattener (1x)
ZWOOAG -L w/ASI290mm Guider
ZWO 7x36 filter wheel w/ Chroma LRGB and 3nmHa ,OIII, & SII filters
ZWO 2600mm Pro camera
All that sits on the iOptron CEM70EC mount and iOptron Tri-Pier w/extension. The 8" pier extension allows this long refractor to point up towards the zenith without hitting the pier legs. I no longer have to worry about getting close to themeridian during flips as I can now track at least 10 minutes past the meridian with no issues.
Mounted on the pier is a dovetail plate that used to piggyback on the scope. With the through-the-mount cabling of the CEM70, I was able to move everything off of the top of the scope to the pier.
On the dovetail is a Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2 that acts as a power and USB distribution center. (Now, with the through the mount cabling for USB and power, this device is not as essential as it used to be.) Above the Powerbox is a small i3 NUC running Win10Pro. Attached to the top of the NUC is a small USB powered WiFi travel router, Model TL-WR902AC. The NUC is hardwired to the router and it creates a hotspot that allows me to use TeamViewer or RDP to log into the NUC wirelessly from my laptop or Android tablet. You will also notice there's a small 500GB SSD drive plugged into the NUC. Files are saved to this drive so at the end of the evening I can just unplug it and transfer easily to my desktop for image processing.
Also, you might notice, that directly below the Powerbox/NUC/Router stack is a small Voltage transformer. The Pegasus Astro Powerbox V2 only outputs 12v power but the NUC requires 19v power to operate efficiently. That's where the 12v-19v transformer comes into play.
On the ground below is a YETI 400 battery with an additional 70amphr battery attached to it. Combined, I have roughly 140amp hrs and a typical 8-hour imaging session leaves me with about 50% power at the end. I wish it was more efficient, but it is what it is at this point. Most nights are single-night outings but when I camp, I have a 100w solar panel that will charge the system from 50% to 90+% in about 5 hours of sunshine.
It's been a long process to get my rig to this point as can be seen from the several previous iterations I've shared here in post:
https://www.theskysearchers.com/viewtop ... 41#p138310,
https://www.theskysearchers.com/viewtop ... 40#p153448,
& https://www.theskysearchers.com/viewtop ... 60#p177823.
Explore Scientific ED152 CF
Moonlight NiteCrawler Focuser/Rotator
TS Optics TS2 flattener (1x)
ZWO
ZWO 7x36 filter wheel w/ Chroma LRGB and 3nm
ZWO 2600mm Pro camera
All that sits on the iOptron CEM70EC mount and iOptron Tri-Pier w/extension. The 8" pier extension allows this long refractor to point up towards the zenith without hitting the pier legs. I no longer have to worry about getting close to the
Mounted on the pier is a dovetail plate that used to piggyback on the scope. With the through-the-mount cabling of the CEM70, I was able to move everything off of the top of the scope to the pier.
On the dovetail is a Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2 that acts as a power and USB distribution center. (Now, with the through the mount cabling for USB and power, this device is not as essential as it used to be.) Above the Powerbox is a small i3 NUC running Win10Pro. Attached to the top of the NUC is a small USB powered WiFi travel router, Model TL-WR902AC. The NUC is hardwired to the router and it creates a hotspot that allows me to use TeamViewer or RDP to log into the NUC wirelessly from my laptop or Android tablet. You will also notice there's a small 500GB SSD drive plugged into the NUC. Files are saved to this drive so at the end of the evening I can just unplug it and transfer easily to my desktop for image processing.
Also, you might notice, that directly below the Powerbox/NUC/Router stack is a small Voltage transformer. The Pegasus Astro Powerbox V2 only outputs 12v power but the NUC requires 19v power to operate efficiently. That's where the 12v-19v transformer comes into play.
On the ground below is a YETI 400 battery with an additional 70amp
It's been a long process to get my rig to this point as can be seen from the several previous iterations I've shared here in post:
https://www.theskysearchers.com/viewtop ... 41#p138310,
https://www.theskysearchers.com/viewtop ... 40#p153448,
& https://www.theskysearchers.com/viewtop ... 60#p177823.
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:31 am
They only now make the Moonlite focusers with motors (serving only theAstroBee wrote: ↑Sun Jul 17, 2022 12:45 am@davesellars What do you mean by, "they've stopped making them for visual only purposes"?davesellars wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 10:54 pm ... Although the Moonlite focusers are lovely (such a shame they've stopped making them for visual only purposes).
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:41 am
That is so bizarre. Looking at the site, he claims this is due to a severe semiconductor and electronic component shortage. It seems like if that were the case, he would be making MANUAL only and no motorized versions. Something doesn't add up there. Thanks for the info.davesellars wrote: ↑Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:31 amThey only now make the Moonlite focusers with motors (serving only theAstroBee wrote: ↑Sun Jul 17, 2022 12:45 am@davesellars What do you mean by, "they've stopped making them for visual only purposes"?davesellars wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 10:54 pm ... Although the Moonlite focusers are lovely (such a shame they've stopped making them for visual only purposes).AP interest). I believe the reason was because of the lack of materials at the time meant they had to concentrate on one area, so they stopped making the single and dual speed focusers (for visual use).
Oh well, I guess that makes my E.S. 127
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 10:29 am
Seems to be two issues. 1st was supply-chain issues in general... so they cut the manual focusers. The other (possibly later issue) is with the semi-conductors which a lot of companies are still facing at the moment, thus they are giving a very long lead time on getting your focuser. Whatever, it doesn't sound a brilliant situation for the company.AstroBee wrote: ↑Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:41 amThat is so bizarre. Looking at the site, he claims this is due to a severe semiconductor and electronic component shortage. It seems like if that were the case, he would be making MANUAL only and no motorized versions. Something doesn't add up there. Thanks for the info.davesellars wrote: ↑Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:31 amThey only now make the Moonlite focusers with motors (serving only theAP interest). I believe the reason was because of the lack of materials at the time meant they had to concentrate on one area, so they stopped making the single and dual speed focusers (for visual use).
Oh well, I guess that makes my E.S. 127APO with the old-style focuser that also has a motor on it even more valuable.
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 12:19 pm
My AT72EDII
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 4:49 pm
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 11:12 pm
@Doodlebug , I love your scope; nice deal!
Speaking of small scopes, my second-hand (500CDN) and not a mark on it William Optics Zenithstar 61mm. One-handed special!
Unfortunately, in the month and change I've had it, not a single good night for viewing, though it does take a good shot of the Sun (properly equipped, of course).
To make matters worse, I just today received two Japanese-made Plössls I bought used... Gonna be a long few cloudy months for Thefatkitty!!!
All the best,
Speaking of small scopes, my second-hand (500CDN) and not a mark on it William Optics Zenithstar 61mm. One-handed special!
Unfortunately, in the month and change I've had it, not a single good night for viewing, though it does take a good shot of the Sun (properly equipped, of course).
To make matters worse, I just today received two Japanese-made Plössls I bought used... Gonna be a long few cloudy months for Thefatkitty!!!
All the best,
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2022 1:27 am
My CR150HD6
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:13 am
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2022 3:23 pm
My skyshed pod and my scopes survived Hurrican Ian with no issues. set back up last night and despite a lot of mosquitoes I saw Jupiter Saturn the moon and andromeda after doing a simple alignment
Re: Your refractor - let's see it
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2022 3:25 am
.
Agema SD 120
Photo taken August 2021, not long after its arrival.
Here, riding on my GM-8.
https://www.agemaoptics.com/telescopes/agema-sd-120/
.
Agema SD 120
Photo taken August 2021, not long after its arrival.
Here, riding on my GM-8.
https://www.agemaoptics.com/telescopes/agema-sd-120/
.