Posts Made By: Ed York

Dannon,

I am surprised no one has mentioned the AM sponsor MoonLite. They make a nice focuser, somewhere between JMI and Feathertouch. I have a MoonLite on one scope and the JMI on another. I definitely prefer the Moonlite, but not enough to take a hit upgrading the JMI.

The JMI is a very nice focuser. I would only upgrade if it was a one speed and I wanted to go to 2 speed.

Ed

Bill,

The Meade 24.5 SWA is a very good buy right now. The 5000 series are coming out so the price on the 4000 series is dropping. I had one (until today) and really liked it. The only reason I sold it was the 27 pan fit my progression better.

Ed

Beautiful shot Greg. Thanks for sharing!

Omega Centauri is such an amazing target. From my lattitude I can see it, but at 13 degrees above the horizon, it is still in the murk. Even with this, it is an unbelievable sight and seems to deserve it's own class of DSO.

Again thanks for sharing with those of us that don't get it directly overhead.

Ed

I had a night like this a couple of months ago, but of course the Ring was up at 4:00. It was the only time so for that I viewed it with my 12.5 dob. I've viewed in a number of times in my 8" and a couple of times in an old 17" coulter at a weekly star party. The view in my 12.5 blew all of those away. M4 is also very nice. It is a very interesting glob. I'm surprise you skipped M5.

From your location, can you get Omega Centauri? It is simply amazing. Even in the murk it is a sight. I had my scope on it and the guy next to me with a 22" asked what I was chasing. He then followed suit. OC in a 22" with a Swayze figured mirror. Need I say more.

Ed

I was out chasing it earlier in the year and it maxed out at about 13 degrees at 1:00 am. We had an 8", a 12.5" and a 22" scope all lined up on it. Yes we were all allowed to take a turn on the 22". It was stunning in all 3 scopes.

My first site of it was a month earlier and everyone else bailed because it was getting too late. There was no one there to frown about my hooting and hollering when I saw it. There is no such thing as too late for that object.

Ed

No can do Mr. Blue. At least not yet.

If I list out the EP's that I think are the best bang for the buck prior to catching a good deal, I'll never get a good deal and fill the holes.

Ed

1) Celestron 114GT

2A) For planets - 8" f5 Newt on a SVP mount. Scope was originally Orion but I had the mirror refigured, replaced the secondary, new focuser, flocked ... It is the original Orion tube, but I did paint it.

2B) DSO's - 12.5" f5.9 truss dob with Swayze primary. Finish built from an uncompleted project bought on AM.

Ed

Jay,

It looks really good.

I built in similar, but added a battery to the bottom of the mirror box and wired in. I tucked the controls under the truss poles and put in a variable control. The switch on the other side is the face fan.

The fan on the bottom has a switch on the black face plate. That face plate also has in input for charging (or external power if the battery dies) and a fuse.

I did later realize that I can actually charge through the dew connector on the side of the box for easier access.

Ed

I've owned the 32mm 2" Konig, some of the SWA's and some Panoptics. My 2 cents:

They give better views then the Konig. My 40mm is good but does soften around the edges in my f6 scope and considerabley more in my f5. The view is pleasing and I like the light transmission. The konigs have good light transmission as well but are a little softer and the field is smaller (I think it is like 55 vs 68). The konigs are a little cheaper (about $100 vs $125 here on AM).

The Panoptic gives a crisper view. The contrast is also "better" on the Panoptics. However, you lose some light transmission for the contrast. For the big wide views I prefer the light transmission over the heavy contrast. For a big wide view the softness is a preference thing. It doesn't bother me on this view as much as if I dropped in something in the range of 10-15mm. On the 32mm, I'm typically concerened with a big wide macro view instead of picking apart tiny detail. The killer on the Panoptics is the price. In this size you're around $300 here on AM. I use my 27 Pan plenty and really like the view, but I think of that sticker price everytime I pull it out.

I hope this helps.

Ed

Dave,

On average, how long does a GRS transit last?

Ed