reviews of astronomical telescopes and accessories

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Meade 34mm SWA eyepiece

I received a Meade 34mm SWA eyepiece. Since I won the fifth place in the competition for astrofotografiju, http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/news.asp?newsID=6046 , I got $ 130 and had to spend them in an opt-in.

The choice fell on the Meade 34mm SWA eyepiece, which is currently (still) on the action at $ 99, and a whole series of SWA eyepiece. Previous price was around $ 300 for the 2 "34mm and 40mm. OPT-sheep agree to send to Europe, with about $ 40 shipping.

Basically, after troubles at the post office in Branimirova and proving what I've ordered / bought, they gave me a huge package (huge for the size of the eyepiece). I think it would fit in a small microwave it

Finely packaged, it was slightly smaller box with the eyepiece.

I am surprised that so huge and difficult, the images on the net can not get that impression.

In Bobino style, I painted it with cans of beer and another couple of relief, when compared to. First light fell just a day and for night I'll have to wait for clear ...

Picture gallery

Posted in eyepieces: 20-50 mm .

Tagged with Meade , eyepiece .

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21/05/2010 By Vid - 21/05/2010

Ethos SX - 110 degrees

3.7mm Tele Vue Ethos-SX

(Simulator Experience)

Worlds 1st Astronomical Eyepiece with 110 ° Field Apparent

Posted in News .

1 comment

18/04/2010 By Vid - 18/04/2010

ORION UK OD 300 S De Luxe

Telescope has not arrived today, of course, he had already seen two big PGSP, but - as he recently cleaned (washed) primary mirror, and yesterday he brought from Zlatko who set screws in the cell of the primary mirror - the telescope is now as good as new and somehow the time to introduce myself.

English is the Orion telescope, primary mirror diameter of 300 mm. "S" means that it is a short version of 1200 mm (L version exists, focal 1600 mm), a "de luxe" that the improved optics.

The barrel length is 1115 mm, white, only slightly wider than the diameter of the mirror, the inside is very well protected against the rough black glare. Installation of wood, heavy 15 kg, and barreled big, diameter 30 cm and the tube is great and holds a position in which direction you're set. Fokuser the Crayford 2 "with 1.25" adapter, in order to obtain a focal length of optical (non-photographic) use is necessary to use a ring of 40 mm.

When buying, I had more choices: about the fact that the telescope will be dobson I had no doubts. I wanted the larger diameter and there are problems then begin - all the pipes with large mirrors were too heavy for my opportunities. Orion (UK) is the only offers a large aperture with an acceptable weight. To "acceptable" is nicer to look like an advertisement than in reality. The pipe is in fact advertised as only 12.5 kg heavy. Advertising is a little older - so the tube instead of the 12.5 kg came to me with the 16 kg weight. True, I later read that the weight of the pipe increased the demand of customers because of the ultra-light going to the pipe bent and had to think of what to do: add a third ring and the wider rail, a custom metal trays or a third solution. Orion himself to solve the pipes are now weighing 16 kg.

Today, this telescope offers a montage of strong aluminum, but the wood for the eye more comfortable (I believe it is aluminum, with aluminum rings, equally stable).

The viewfinder is 8 × 50 and I took the variant with a 90 º view because we are so eyepiece viewfinder eyepiece and the main view in the same direction. When searching for objects is good, because the telescope moves as I see in the viewfinder, only after looking at the object to be transferred to an inverted image - but it's just a matter of habit.

Below the podium I gave less-wheel mounted telescope, and so drive to the car (because it would have been impossible for the deal). On each edge of pedestal I built a larger Allen screw - to raise the viewing assembly for which a millimeter that the wheels stay in the air and it increases stability.

Optics is the Orion uk top - in this de luxe version with lambda _^sixth (the difference with ¼ to ¹ / ₆ cost of some € 400). The reflection of light is 97%. Practically this means that as Jupiter without a filter can hardly watch. Resolution on the other hand really well, and the M42 at 240x increase with the stars see a trapeze-fifth zvijezdu.Naći appropriate telescope is very difficult and very individual: to arrange a number of factors - the desire, goals, cost, weight and size of the telescope. Now and for now I'm satisfied.

Posted in lighting .

Tagged with Orion , a reflector .

1 comment

16/03/2010 By ediglavas - 16/03/2010

Celestron Ultima LX 13mm and 17mm

Nowhere on the net I managed to see a photo of Celestron Ultima LX eyepiece with something familiar, so here's one of my. Parafokalne Ultime LX were 0.6 kg heavy eyepieces with a field of view of 70 °, 16mm Eye Relief, Fully Multi Coated, 8 elements and the reception of a barrel of 2 "and 1.25". Acceptance of the filter is 1.25 "or with a ring that extend 2" barrel on the eyepiece, it is possible to use a 2 "filter.

Finishing is performed perfectly accurate. Because of the rubber lining eyepieces perfect lie in the hand during all manipulations. The rotating ring on the town of view through the eyepiece can be raised or lowered, allowing a pleasant view of the distance of the eye that suits us. The entire field of view of eyepiece is sharp edge to edge, maybe for my brain 70 ° bit too big, because you can not see the plane view, so I had to circle the eyepiece. The stars are the dots from the edge to the edge of the eyepiece. The view through the window as the spaceship, I know, I never looked through that window, but you must be seen as

I managed twice to look through Ultime LX. Both times I looked at M42. Each star can be seen clearly and separately from the mist which envelops them, the mist spread "wings" through 70 ° visual field Ultime LX 13mm (115x), perhaps bigger, but I'll find out when seing it better. Other times I looked at M42 through Ultima LX 17mm (88x). Although I had a smaller increase than the 13mm (115x), it did not bother me at all, because the view through the eyepiece is phenomenal. I believe that I will soon, at a gathering can look through them, to compare Ultime LX with Hyperion, Ethos, Nagler and Pentax. For now, I only made a comparison with Hyperion 5mm and not looking through them, but only by holding in his hand. Ultime LX is a little "bucmastije" and in my opinion a much better final processed. Hyperion operates roughly in the final analysis.

Insert the Barlow Ultima LX, lost a good part of the world, so we need to wait around to get used to the smaller amount of light. The Moon is not so noticeable, but the M-42 and you how. The width of the visual field remains impressive, with much more detail in the M-42.

So far so much!

Posted in eyepieces: 10-20 mm .

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20/02/2010 By Mario Stefanovic - 20/02/2010

SkyWatcher Skyliner-300P FlexTube Dobson 305/1500mm with auto tracking

Telescopes come in two boxes, which would be to force the afternoon on a spring marathon. What is normal, because this is primarily Dobsonian from respectable 305 mm diameter primary mirror. In the photo are two boxes that touch the floor.

Editing:

When opening the box, I was comforted to have such protection because of Styrofoam and cardboard. Expectations were partly to achieve, but when compiling the assembly, it is far exceeded the dimensions of the cardboard boxes. For a while I stared at installation and tried to convince that it is not so great, but I failed. Installation is huge!

Ida master, enjoys the assembly

Composed assembly is very solid, no rocking or unnecessary movements. The whole stands on three legs, which are the underside of the rubber and does not slip out.

Tube Telescope:

Tube as the tube and start thinking I was taken out of the box, ooops and get back to me with a pipe back into the box. Side where the mirror, surprised me with their weight and now I have to consider where and how to receive the tube that is anchored to the assembly. Tube šminkerski leaves an impression, and it was my mother look at him. Black and white combination was hit just a taste. Three rings that hold the moving rods, from an aluminum alloy (I guess), and bars. Rod sliding through the rings, without getting stuck, wherever held hose. So there is no progress bar when they released. All I was expecting a šlampavost, but to my great fortune, I managed to find. SW can be compared with my former refractor 120/1000, which I živcirao every Serafico, especially on fokuseru, but in this Dobson, really have no objections. Excellent it was designed and built. Asylum 9 × 50 is flat and it looked great wide views. Fokuser is laganoklizni Crayford with separate aceptances 2 "and 1.25" and it's the only thing you have not yet managed to explain why!?! But if this is the only flaw ... I'll survive through.

... The photos of the fokuser with sliding tube by turning in the "new" gear. In particular it is placed 2 "adapter, and especially the 1.25" adapter, that can be mounted T2 ring. Odvrnuo thread I have to see better, or will be rolled up to the end.

I thought that the engineers in the SW, a little zadrijemali and overlooked the possibility of placing the handle on the tube lights, which facilitated his transfer and insert the assembly. But that does not make sense. One does one handle is not sufficient for quality handling this impressive pipes and must be held with two hands. The handle should probably, and any additional reinforcement inside the pipe, because only two seraphim who would hold the handle, something to pervert the heavy pipe.
One detail I find it hard to assess. The tube is always in balance, it was without anything on it or add to it: finder + 2 "Barlow + 2" eyepiece of 600g. which is considerable weight. It seems that the "clutch" on all the engines hard enough to keep. Pipe down, begins to "decay" just under 10% slope pipe, but the position of observation never and is not important, anything above that, a great holding balance. With mounted EOS 20D + battery grip, holding the balance of just over 45% and that it should some kontrauteg because fotić quite difficult and beyond the center fokusera or remove battery grip.

Sliding rods work amazingly smoothly for disassembly and assembly tube. On each of the three reservoirs, springs located within the ball that "clicks" into the holes on the tube. Thus, no additional tensioning, pipe coming into your site. EXCELLENT solved!

Engines:

Motorization assembly has a 6-speed, of which I first tried only the fastest (800x). I got the impression that I was easier and faster to move the telescope using motors in the desired position, but rotate it by hand and wait for "clutch" that instead.

After I translated the instructions for working with motors, buttons on the controller have more options and combinations with double buttons.
After I overcame and motorizaciju may notice. Auto tracking, probably in SW means that the car before driving upališ, and then manually vrtiš pritišćeš steering wheel and pedals under your feet and if it is not automatic, changing the speed of a hand.
So there is this controller is no software that would keep the object in the visual field. If the telescope usjeveri per instructions, tracking is precise, while holding the key forward, with a correction to the above, if the observation made in the eastern part of the sky, or down if it is done in the western part of the sky. Engines respond to the keys and I am more than satisfied, and automatic object tracking, along with any corrections and GO-TO, you'll get another controller, which comes with the EQ6 Skyscan HEQ5. I found on the net, it is already possible with the new version of software, and every going to improve, and perhaps in SW selling release that with this clever controller Dobson, because it is their goal. (At the time of writing this review, there were also the first official version of the GO-TO.)
There is an option CRUSER and it seems cool. She "comb" the sky, in the range 45 ° to the left and right before each return, to raise some 2.5 to 5 °. With some wide-angle eyepiece, large focal point, it might be cool ... at least for short.

Motorization in practice:

Move the telescope by Az gives considerable resistance when spinning by hand, while Alt is going very smoothly, and if the tube is well balanced, there are no frictions, no resistance to the engine. At Az axis, the resistance engine is noticeable when the entire telescope moves to one side, move to another has "Luft" from a few millimeters, maybe 2-3mm. The Luft's suppose, for handpiece hose that allow the telescope rotates by hand, although the engines are in operation. When observing the movement of the telescope using motors, Az axis perfectly accompanies naciljani object, but if by chance the object "overtake" the guidance, it is better to wait than to come back across the telescope using motors. Because of these 2-3mm reaction to witchcraft takes about 5sek. while the "bagpipe", and the position of "slow" runs for 2-3sek, while the "fast" reacting under 2sec but lost object. Responses engine moving in Alt axis is the current, no load and I am now a bit confusing, because these engines operate and allow manual scrolling, and no downtime as the Az axis. Is that normal or not, I do not pojima, but hand on heart and it's not a mistake, because when you go in one direction of observation, with two buttons everything runs smoothly and precisely.
I mentioned already that heavy eyepieces and a 2 "Barlow, and especially 20D, slightly distort the balance tube, so I'm looking for kontrautegom, came up with the idea that in the case which is normally worn around the waist, put the tablets and 1kg of lead pellets that some cases we have and the case volume of the tube. If necessary, move back and forth and the thing works super, and I do not have any punch and šerafiti tube.

Optics:

Telescope was totally dekolimiran and had kolimirati and secondary and primary, as the laser collimator, was almost 10min. The primary mirror is made of glass Pirex. Telescope does not lose when the collimation tube satavlja disassembled for transport and observation.

Current conclusion:

Very comfortable I izneneađen build quality in all aspects of the setup

First, visual observation:

I had a Celestron Newton 114/900 klimavoj at an assembly, SW 120/1000 refractor on EQ5 motoriziranoj, homemade refractor 80/900 on Celestronovoj viljuškastoj installation and CALD Dobson 200/1200 ... all this and double that someone now has to offer, in exchange for Celestron Ultima LX eyepiece ... not to take a look through it when inserted in the addressed telescope, will be hard to choose any other pipes before I look through it.

The air is very hazy, not quite satisfactory seing, but I look at the moon through a 13mm I took the breath away ... after they have better eyes got used to the darkness, I literally zinuo. With any previous telescope, I have not seen such a clear and contrasting picture .... wonderful.
Then I looked and M42. Each star can be seen clearly and separately from the mist which envelops them, the mist spread "wings" through the entire field of view Ultime LX 13mm of 70, perhaps bigger, but I'll find out when seing it better.

First Astronomy:

Picture of the Moon, 19:30 pm, 18.2.2010.g.

ISO: 100
1 / 200 sec
f / 4.9
Dob-305/1500 mm
EOS 20D
single frame

Fullframe

Crop

Posted in lighting .

2 comments

20/02/2010 By Mario Stefanovic - 20/02/2010

Aluminizacija mirrors in the labs

An important novelty is that recently in Croatia can aluminizirati mirror (mirror) reflector telescope. The company performs a service labs doo thin layer of aluminum on a reflexive indented primary mirror telescope diameter to 300mm. In Ghetaldusovoj vacuum chamber on a glass disc (polished into a spherical or parabolic shape) first applied a layer of aluminum, and silicon dioxide protective layer that prevents oxidation of aluminum.

Price aluminizacije 1.10 Kuna / mm diameter mirrors + VAT. Therefore, for aluminizaciju large mirror diameter 300mm to pay about 350 kuna, a protective layer is included in the price. Reflectivity layer of aluminum is 91%.

This notice is published Stipe government first October 2009. in internet forums "nctu.club.astronomy and experts were immediately realized its importance, because until now aluminizaciju mirrors must be carried out abroad (Italy, Germany, Hungary ...).

In my astronomy inventory of more than 20 years I have kept the two parabolic mirrors in Newtonian reflector telescope diameter of 120mm, which I bought from Sarajevo Center amateurs. Mirrors are most likely made in Sarajevo in the factory air optics. One of these mirrors is a mistake on a flat aluminised - nebrušenoj side and therefore was unfit for the manufacture of telescopes. This glass parabolic profile I donated to the school where I work (OS Vladimitra Nazora, Virovitica), provided that schools pay the cost aluminizacije and that this is a mirror to serve students SAMOGRADNJA Newtonian telescope with Dobsonovom editing.

Mr. Darko Seles from company labs demonstrated exemplary business efficiency by opening opportunities aluminizacije mirror the terms in December 2009. Or during January 2010. Glass is coated with several layers of corrugated cardboard and cotton wool, mail promptly sent to aluminizaciju in the December period and a week later returned. Aluminizacija was successfully carried out and an old piece of glass for the first time the sun's rays are focused in the snow shackled schoolyard at the time of winter solstice. Young astronomers expect to nastrpljenjem SAMOGRADNJA Newtonian telescope during the winter school holidays. Aluminizacija 120mm diameter mirror of this cost is 162 dollars, or a total of 220 kuna, when it added the cost of sending registered mail.

Among the amateurs in Croatia has samograditelja that his telescope assembled from factory-made optical and mechanical parts. But among them there are fewer so-called. "Glass slide" to creatively enjoy grinding spherical or parabolic mirrors our own hands. Before 40 years, the first process of grinding the mirror in the Belgrade magazine popularized Kosmoplov ing Mladen Hudec and his son, Goran Hudec , now a doctor of science and university professor.

Twenty years ago grinding mirrors for telescopes taught at summer schools of astronomy in the Istrian Višnjanu under the leadership of Dr. Zeljko ANDREIĆ and prof. na kojima svoja bogata iskustva mlađim naraštajima nadahnuto prenose vodeći hrvatski samograditelji teleskopa dr.sc. Korado Korlević. has been recently held in Korenica summer school grinding mirrors for telescopes , where his experience to younger generations inspired transmitted leading Croatian samograditelji telescope, Ph.D. . Zeljko Andreić, Berislav Bračun and Stipe government .

Over the past few years, many are faceted and polished glass telescopic remained unusable because it was impossible to aluminizirati in Croatia. Now this is over now! Economic crisis and the creative and research inclinations soon may result in numerous projects of mirrors and telescopes amateur SAMOGRADNJA in Croatia.

Maybe we will in future labs to enable selection, instead aluminizacije at a somewhat higher price of our telescope mirror posrebrimo for higher reflectivity (95-97%). If you solve the problem of efficient removal of the old, the used layers of aluminum with telescopic mirrors for applying a new layer of high reflectivity, many of the owners of the old factory-made telescope mirror might want to labs and specialists to their "pets give new youth", ie, extend service life!

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