10" Orion Optics Newt : First look.

[+Bino-viewer]

Hi folks...

 

Here's my new OTA.

It's a long tube  F/6.3  Orion optics Newtonian

No mount as yet. I'll probably go for the dedicated OO Dob mount when funds allow.

 

Got it from a London based observer, which he sold on eBay.

Only paid £450 for it ; its 18 months old, and works out at less than half the cost of a new tube.

It also has the highest spec 'ultra' 1/10 Pv optics. 

Its a big tube, no doubt, and best of all SWMBO is pretty cool about it. ("its only a bare metal tube with a small mirror in it that i want to 'refurbish'   ")

"It can live in the shed, and / or at our society observatory." 

 

Its a big tube....it certainly won'f fit across the back seat of my car like my last reflector.

Even with the back seats down it has to go at an angle so it rests between the front seats. But still transportable.

Regarding the tube itself, its only rolled aluminium. 

Its a bit flimsy. Not as good quality as i'd like. Easily dented. I'd have preferred a thicker more robust tube.

But, i think it will do me ok, and i think at F6.3 it will hold its collimation ok.

The tube covers however are rubbish. They are cheap plastic, and hardly fit at all, and will acutely fall off if i tilt the tube enough.

I have consigned them to our 'blue dustbin' and have replaced them with fabric stretch over covers (Astrozap, from TS)

 

Here's the specs and a few images.

 

250mm primary, 'Hilux' coatings with 1/10 Pv optical upgrade.

Focal length 1600mm

Tube is 1550mm long by 280mm wide, rolled aluminium.

Weight is 12Kg

Secondary measures 50mm, so a 20% obstruction

It has a good quality CNC 9 point mirror cell, with a fan to assist cooldown.

The finder is a TS 8 x 50 straight through. Unfortunately the end caps to it are missing.

But i will probably upgrade this to a 90 deg correct image model. It also has a telrad base fitted. (and i have a spare Telrad   )

It has 3 tube rings, but only a poor quality short Vixen style dovetail. 

There's no way i would ever consider equatorially mounting a tube of this size with a vixen dovetail.

I may look for a Losmandy long length dovetail bar at some point, and try mounting it on my DM6, but i will probably just use this scope in 

Dobsonian mode only, and then look into getting a Dobsonian tracking platform, if i decide to image.

 

The focuser is non standard. ( I WILL DISCUSS THE FOCUSER IN A SEPARATE THREAD )

I believe it is a Skywatcher model. Please correct me if i'm wrong.

Its also badged as the "Kasai" low profile micro-focuser.

 

VX10L by VX10L by

[Tweedledee]

Very nice Rob

I suspect your 31mm Nagler won't reach focus but could be wrong.

I use one of these...

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4340_TS-2--Rotating-Helical-Focuser-with-M48-Connection-AND-variable-extender.html

There are many variations available on extension tubes. To get you by temporarily, some 2" Barlows have lens units that unscrew and make good extension tubes.

[M.]

I'm assuming this isn't for 'grab and go'

How will this stack up against your current scopes?

[+Bino-viewer]

You're wrong Martin.  

 

This will be my grab & go scope. 

It will reside in our garden shed.

Only the Dob mount, which is all metal, and the OTA to carry out.

There's no trusses to faff around with, no bolting bits together. No shroud. No collimation.

As quick to assemble as it gets. 

 

I'm itching to get it out and see what it can do.

I've ordered a Dob mount from OO.

I naively thought they'd be a stock item.

John quoted 3 or 4 weeks.

His invoice arrived in my inbox earlier : it said 6 to 7 Weeks.

And if i know OO, it will probably take double that.

Maybe i'll have it by Christmas   at least Jupiter will be up by then !!

 

(i do have the option of getting hold of a dovetail, and mounting it on my alt-az. But at 12kg+ and 1.6 metres long, probably a crazy idea)

[M.]

I see, I understand now.

[Doc]

Looking good Rob and as you say a bit of a bargain.

 

The focuser looks like the one I had on my 12" dob, I changed the stock focuser with a low profile Skywatcher focuser and it looked exactly the same as yours.

 

Collimation should be dead easy in a F6.3 scope, what collimator do you have?

[+Bino-viewer]

Hi Mick.

 

No collimation tools at all as yet. The wallet is empty. (again)

Don't know if the scope is collimated or not.

 

Got a bit of a shopping list going for the IAS on October 3rd.

 

I shall be calling in on FLO...

 

One of these is on my list :

 

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/premium-cheshire-collimating-eyepiece.html

 

But not sure if one of these is needed :

 

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/howie-glatter-collimation-tools/howie-glatter-single-beam-2-inch-laser.html

 

together with one of these.................

 

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/howie-glatter-collimation-tools/howie-glatter-tublug.html

[Doc]

The Howie Glatters are excellent but maybe a bit OTT for a dob at F6.3.

 

I would get the Hotech, maybe a second hand one about £70.

[BAZ]

I find the Barlowed laser method works well for me, it is quick and accurate. I found this, which is quite informative.

 

http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/learning_center/collimation/

[Daz Type-R]

I just use a Badder MkIII laser collimator and a Cheshire. On my F6 it does the job spot on.

Example at Kelling last week, Collimated with the Cheshire and the laser, borrowed Micks Hotech and the difference was miniscule, for visual, doubt I would have been able to tell.

[+Bino-viewer]

I'm a novice where collimation is concerned. 

I've learned quite a bit though watching the various online videos.

 

Is a laser the way to go with a very long tube though.....?

This thing measures over 1.5 metres.

 

My eyesight is a factor here.......how will i see whats going on in the Cheshire when i'm adjusting the primary ?

 

The Howie Glatter Tublug thing looked impressive in action.

Probably OTT yes for my scope, but further down the line if i go for a faster scope, maybe a good investment. 

I like my gadgets too......! Maybe FLO will do me a deal at IAS.......?