TheSkySearchers

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:58 pm I've already provided a recommendation that you filter the Sun at the front of the scope. It's the only way to do it safely in a folded optics scope like yours. The fact that sunlight makes a double pass inside the scope makes it absolutely imperative to filter at the front end.

I find the GSO 0.5x focal reducers useful on Mak scopes.

Baader Planetarium makes good filters that don't degrade images like cheap filters do.

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:08 am It looks to me like you got a good price for a used optical tube but that you didn't get the mount that comes standard. With the other stuff in the kit you got a good deal if the optics are OK.

First thing is to get a proper mount for it. The series 4000 eyepieces are decent and Mak Cass scopes are very forgiving on eyepieces. You'll want things in the range of 15-30 mm focal length. Very rarely you might get away with 7.5mm.

But the mount comes first IMO.

Careful abut sun filters! With that scope you want a filter that covers the front of the scope like this https://optcorp.com/products/astrozap-s ... ade-etx125

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 3:07 am I use a cheap portable rechargeable battery hair drier. Sparingly!
A dew shield can be made from black matte construction paper.

Stonesinthesky wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2019 2:11 am I an pretty excited to have bought this as my first, as I didn't want to be deterred by poor visibility and grainy photos...I bought a meade etx125...
I can't wait to get out and start looking... have a boat load to learn. Hoping this is the place to do it.
I pick it up tomorrow.
It has a crappy mount, that I hope I can upgrade later, just a Manfrotto tripod and manfrotto 3130 video mount.
Comes with a 07210 #932 45° erect image roof prism, a 07427 #825 8x25mm right angle view finder, a Series4000 07175-03 26mm lp super plossl, and a meade electronic eyepiece.
Hoping I wasn't hosed on the price ($200cdn) but either way really looking forward to starting a new hobby...

Is there any other eyepieces or corrector lenses etc that I should buy to further enhance my enjoyment?
I am hoping to get a sun and moon filter. Not sure what I should be looking for or purchasing though...

Any help would be awesome.

Hankmeister3 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:20 pm

Maks are great, especially the ETX 125. I bought my GoTo Meade 125 Mak about five years ago along with an equatorial wedge. I toyed with the idea of doing some astro-photography, especially lunar and planetary but there were a lot of distractions in my life at the time so I mostly used it for visual work. But watch out, this hobby is extremely addictive! Next thing I knew I'm buying a bigger 180mm SkyMax Mak tube assembly, then a complete Celestron CPC 8-inch setup, then a Skywatcher Quattro f/4 8-inch, then a Meade f/10 8-inch SCT OTA (used), then an Explore Scientific 127mm f/7 APO refractor … well, you get the picture. Each one has its place in the pantheon of Hankmeister's eyes-on-the-sky most enjoyable hobby. But the 125 Mak should give you years of great enjoyment. Actually it's a very powerful optical instrument … and precision made. My only advice going forward, always hold out for the best eyepieces you can on your budget (heh, some eyepieces cost more than some of my telescopes so I'm not saying to only go after the bestest of the best) and generally you can't go wrong with some of the name brand Super Plossls that are out there. Most of my night viewing is with a DSLR camera but I've looked through some of DonQuixote's 'scopes using some very nice eyepieces that range from $75 to $400 and boy the performance of some of those eyepieces is simply astonishing compared to entry level glass. The Meade 1.25 inch 4000 and 5000 series eyepieces and the Luminos series generally prove to be affordable upgrades though I'm now partial to 2 inch Q70 and Baader Morpheus eyepieces myself with my 8 and 10-inch SCTs and 180mm Mak. Do some online research about what works best with Maks and you may be able to find gently used higher-end eyepieces for a good price on eBay or some astronomy forums. Just do a bit of research before committing to buying your next quality eyepiece. I personally prefer 70 to 80 degree afov eyepieces in the 8mm to 24mm range to get my most bang for the buck in visual astronomy. Well, that's my two cents!