Posts Made By: Timothy Hornbeck

I took apart the eyepiece again. I put a 36mm achromat between the PCX and the triplet. This would give me around a 15.5mm focal length. The design is a Konig. It really expanded my FOV. I didn't test it at night, because the added element really brought out the scratches and blems in the surplus optics. I did test it during the day and it wasn't bad. It was still soft around the edges, but again it was in the ST80 at f/5. The scratches and black spots really bothered me. So, I pulled out the achromat and shortened the distance between the PCX and the triplet. Then I tested it at night in my 8" dob at f/6. It was improved. Still had some softness, but not as much. Larger FOV than my UO Ortho, but that eyepiece is sharp to the edge. If I field stop the eye lens on the homemade eyepiece this should help.

Overall not too bad. I have only $14 invested.

Clear skies,

Tim Hornbeck

Bill Vorce has the Meade 390/395 models in parts. I bought a 90mm (f/11, multicoated) achromat in aluminum cell, the original Meade baffled tube for the 90mm lens, and a dew shield from another scope. Received it in parts and assembled it. The dew shield needed some tape on the cell to fit snug. He had the 1.25" plastic and metal focuser, but I wanted a Synta/Vixen style with dovetail finder mount. I found this on Astromart. All completed I have $75 in the scope. It is not to bad.

Of course, there still is the purple fringe at high power. I think I might purchase a minus-violet filter. I can also use it for my ST80.

Bill also sells the alt-az mounts and finders that were supplied with the Meade 390.

Surplus Shed sells a $10 mirror diagonal.

This would be a great project for you and your nephew to work on. It will give him a better understanding of optics and a better appreciation for the sky.

Check this links on the Meade 390/395 :
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/8501/

http://www.photostop.net/395.html

http://www.meade.com/manuals/m395/

Hope this helps. Keep us updated, please.

Clear skies,

Tim Hornbeck

Here is a better stacked image from another night. Had better conditions too. I took a AVI for 2 min. then made frames into BMPs. Took the best 95 shots and stacked. Made some minor adjustments in Paintshop Pro.

Meade 390 (90mm, f/11)
Ultima 2x barlow
Philip Vesta Pro 680 webcam
CG4 mount

Clear skies,

Tim

Those are some awesome shots!

- Tim

My Meade 8.8 UWA has a recessed eye lens. Eye relief is pretty close, if you want to soak up the entire FOV. If you wear glasses while observing, this eyepiece is not for you. I don't wear my glasses when observing, so the eyepiece works great. This is my first premium eyepiece, so I can't compare it to other premiums.

Clear skies,

Tim Hornbeck

My first scope was a 60mm refractor from a store called Essco (catalog company with store front, during the early 80's). Scope would not come into focus, so I returned it to the store. They did not have a replacement scope, so being the 10 year old that I was, I needed to have some thing right then and there. Video games were the rave. Atari's were impossible to get, so I opted for an Odyssey II game system. As I look back, what a mistake.

Two years ago I got interested in astronomy again. I now have 3 scopes and a pair of 15x70 binos.

Every chance I get, I share the views with both young and old. Hopefully, my efforts will help spark someone elses interest into the universe of astronomy and not let them experience the same mistake I had made.

Clear skies,

Tim Hornbeck
Black River Astronomical Society

Really cool. How big is it supposed to get (in arc seconds)?

Clear skies and no dust storms,

Tim Hornbeck

I second that statement, but I still like to drool over the equipment in the ad section.

Mmmm...I wonder if I can fix those 25x100's binos going for $150. = Wait I already have some 15x70's, if I can just remember where I put them.....

- Tim Hornbeck

Looks like to rattle even extends into the other models too.

http://www.scopereviews.com/page1b.html#8

- Tim Hornbeck

Use some rubber contact cement. Swab both the rings and felt, let them sit for 30 -60 sec., and stick together. If you need something thicker than the felt use both cork and felt. I picked up some cork and felt at a craft store for less than $8.

Good luck,

Tim Hornbeck