Posts Made By: Chas Ericson

I just ordered a 12.5" Discovery PDHQ. It comes with a 25mm and a 10mm 1.25" Plossl eyepieces. I also ordered a 2x Barlow with it. I would like to get another eyepiece or two, but am hugely confused as to which. Rather than blindly purchase something and hope I am happy with it I was hoping someone would share their advice or experience.

Which focal lengths are preferred?
Which manufacturer?
Which type?

I would like to compliment the scope I have on order, but my pockets are only so deep. (After I pay for the scope they will even be more shallow.)

Thanks,
Chas

Not owning a Tele-Vue eyepiece I must rely on peoples comments in forums such as these. It appears to me that Tele-Vue is kind of what people use as the standard by which others are judged. Are these eyepieces worth the extra cost?

Currently I am looking for an eyepiece in the 4mm range for a 12.5" F5 Newtonian. Eventually replacing my other EPs with better quality ones as I go. I am just trying to get a feel if the extra $$ will be considered well spent.

Thanks,
Chas

I currently use a Helix laser collimator for setting up my scope. I have read about Chesire collimators, but have not used one. Can anyone offer some advice as to what they use and how happy they are with the results.

I'm curious as to whether or not this is adequate, or if there are easier, more efficient or more precise methods.

Thanks,
Chas

I am interested in getting a computer program to help me learn the sky and plan out nights for observing. I have a plain Dob, no DSCs or servos, just a scope. So, I don't need any software to program with. On nights that aren't good for seeing I thought it would be nice to have something to wander around with that is a fair representation of the actual sky.

As far as price, cheaper is better, but a low cost item that isn't any good is a waste. On the other side, I don't want a wiz bang do-all, end-all program (I get enough of that at work.) Simple is a good thing.

I would appreciate comments and experiences.

Thanks,
Chas

Hi all,

Back some time ago I started a thread about collimators (thanks to all who responded). After an extremely long move I have settled in to the families new digs and am ready to set my dob back up for some action. I have decided to get a chesire collimator (as opposed to a laser), but I am uncertain as to whether there is one that is better than the other as the prices for these vary somewhat. So, to make a long question longer here is where I hope to get some help.

Is there any major differences between chesire collimators? If so, which is the preferred piece?

The only "complete" collimation set I have found is the Tectron set. This set contains the sight tube, chesire and the auto-collimator. It runs $115. As I am on a budget is this set worth the money (a chesire alone runs somewhere between $30 and $50 depending on where you get it)? Will a cheshire alone get me where I need to be for the short term and I can acquire other pieces later?

I have a 12.5" f/5 discovery dob.

Thanks for the input,
Chas