Popular Post Smithysteve Posted January 8, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2018 Tried out the 16” Dob and trolley last night! The moon was out of the way, the sky was clear, the new trolley easily manoeuvred the scope from the garage to the back yard. It was then levelled and the scope was built up, it probably took 10 mins! I started a post on ‘Dob Renovation’ several weeks ago, I will update same very soon, but the upshot is that the scope, a ‘push to’ 16” Meade Lightbridge, was in need of a major fettle. The optics have been recoated at Orion Optics, the optical tubes have been stripped, powder coated and flocked, the rocker box has been replaced with a homemade arctic ply rocker box and a trolley has been designed, built and is undergoing trials and mods prior to same being powder coated. I have added a Wixey and azimuth setting circle and a few other bits and bobs. The result is a scope I was dying to try out! I had only seen an aerial on a neighbouring house prior to the scope being stripped down! Last night I wanted to compare the 16” to known views from my 10” LX200 in the dome. An astro buddy of mine turned up at 20.30hrs as planned. He has a Meade 10” Dob, but did not bring it over last night, he was as excited as me to have a gleg through the 16”. Orion hung brightly in prime position, so we naturally started the session with M42 (Orion neb). We have probably seen this a few hundred times in various scopes, but we were both excited and impressed! Our eyes were not dark adapted at this point so we returned to this about 3 hours later and WOW! it looked twice as good as earlier! Such detail in the filaments! I have got to go back to this object and give it a proper serious looking at! ? We moved on to several other well known items, all seemed bigger than normal, stars were much brighter, these objects included M1, M45, Bodes M81 & M82, (M82’s dust lanes were visible - excellent stuff). Also NGC884 and NGC869 (the Perseus double cluster) this was mind blowing, pin sharp stars! Best view my buddy and I had seen of it. Also, M97, M45 (Pleiades), and M31 Andromeda galaxy - and I have never seen its companions so well! (M32 and M110) - they jumped out at you! Brill! Ok, I am trying to keep this brief...☺️ The Wixey and azimuth setting circle worked a treat! They were on the money all night. I just need to build in a red led light rather than use a red torch. Also the trolley/wheels never got in the way either, though the wheels could have been removed if necessary - all in all the trolley and scope are really coming together now! Ideas for improvement are still coming, but at last I have a working system, so I am well pleased! It was good to share in the joy of seeing stuff with my astro buddy! We were both in our elements, enthusing quite loudly as we gazed on each object. A great night and one that must be repeated soon! Looking forward to seeing more... the spring galaxies are going to be awesome! Cheers! fwm891, philjay, Tweedledee and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 What a fantastic job you've done there Steve. It must have been such an exciting first light, you must be very proud how you've pulled it all together. The cart looks very stable. Lovely report. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 You have given an old scope a new lease of life, and with the effort and work you have put into it, there is years of life left in it now. I think it's quite possible the mirror is better now than the original. Well done Steve, I look forward to your future reports. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 It looks awesome Stephen, love the trolley, and the setting circle is ingenious as well. Makes we want to track one down and do the same mods as you have. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Well done Steve - it looks smashing. And you've made a fabulous job of the rocker box. Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Impressive stuff Steve ! You have done yourself proud there The trolley looks great. Nice work ! I use a B & Q 'Dolley' to move my own Dob about, but as its only a 12" its a bit easier to manage. Denn and Smithysteve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denn Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Good job. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted January 11, 2018 Author Share Posted January 11, 2018 On 08/01/2018 at 23:38, Tweedledee said: What a fantastic job you've done there Steve. It must have been such an exciting first light, you must be very proud how you've pulled it all together. The cart looks very stable. Lovely report. On 09/01/2018 at 07:32, Doc said: It looks awesome Stephen, love the trolley, and the setting circle is ingenious as well. Makes we want to track one down and do the same mods as you have. On 09/01/2018 at 10:09, Brantuk said: Well done Steve - it looks smashing. And you've made a fabulous job of the rocker box. On 09/01/2018 at 11:15, Bino-viewer said: Impressive stuff Steve ! You have done yourself proud there The trolley looks great. Nice work ! I use a B & Q 'Dolley' to move my own Dob about, but as its only a 12" its a bit easier to manage. On 09/01/2018 at 06:01, BAZ said: You have given an old scope a new lease of life, and with the effort and work you have put into it, there is years of life left in it now. I think it's quite possible the mirror is better now than the original. Well done Steve, I look forward to your future reports. Thanks for the comments everyone, I am really pleased to have a working scope at last! I am still buzzing from the Sunday night session to be honest. Memories of the observed objects just keep popping into my head ... Also, setting the scope up in the dark, working with the setting circle and Wixey, the joy of finding out that the scope was delivering beautiful views of stuff, that it actually worked, was a real relief! Also, it dawned on me what future delights lay in store as I quickly ran through my mind the potential targets for the year ahead. It’s been a long process to get to this stage and i am still spending several hours most days continuing with mods and tweaks. One thing leads to another, but each tweak will enhance time spent at the eyepiece. I can honestly say that my ambitions for acquiring a big scope, the mods, like flocking, setting circles, the Wixey, the rocker box replacement and many more things, came mostly from EMS members and their inspiring helpful posts! So thanks, ? you all know who you are! BAZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 15 minutes ago, Smithysteve said: One thing leads to another, but each tweak will enhance time spent at the eyepiece. A fan on the beck of the mirror is a useful addition (if you don't have one already). It really does make a big difference visually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted January 12, 2018 Author Share Posted January 12, 2018 Thanks Kim, a fan is in place, but I don’t have a battery pack for it - yet! That’s another thing on my list ?? Brantuk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Sounds amazing. On M32 and M110, I have seen them both in my 127mm Mak but keep forgetting which one is which. Did you try a focal reducer? I'm sure it would be a great help for most DSOs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 34 minutes ago, Sunny Phil said: Sounds amazing. On M32 and M110, I have seen them both in my 127mm Mak but keep forgetting which one is which. Did you try a focal reducer? I'm sure it would be a great help for most DSOs. Hi Phil, thanks for your comments, M32 looks closer to the core of M31, and is smaller, rounder and brighter than the quite elongated wispy M110. I can get all three in the FOV using my ES 40mm, 68 deg. A FOV, giving me 1.5deg. TFOV, (well, not all of M31 can be seen, just the bright core ?). I have a Meade 6.3, focal reducer for the LX200, but not the 16” Dob, but the 16” is quite fast at 4.5 fl. cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 I bet your 16" view of M110 was more like most people's view of M31. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 On 14/01/2018 at 11:11, Sunny Phil said: Sounds amazing. On M32 and M110, I have seen them both in my 127mm Mak but keep forgetting which one is which. Did you try a focal reducer? I'm sure it would be a great help for most DSOs. Not a good idea with a fast Newtonian Phil. If you were to add say a .63x focal reducer (and i'm not sure if you could) you'd end up with a F2.8 focal ratio which would give some iffy views, and too big an exit pupil, limiting Steve to something like a 10-15mm eyepiece. To achieve the best option for widefield (and image brightness) with an F4.5 its best to use something like a 20 or 25mm ES 100 degree. Or a 21 Ethos. Something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuckstar Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 I have avoided the 25mm 100° es. It seems it is the runt of the litter. Can highly recommend the 20mm although you may well get some coma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 6 minutes ago, tuckstar said: I have avoided the 25mm 100° es. It seems it is the runt of the litter. Can highly recommend the 20mm although you may well get some coma. My ES 25mm 100 is one of my favourite eyepieces and always performs superbly and gives a completely awesome view. No complaints here Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuckstar Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 That's good news Pete. I keep seeing reviews saying it's not as good as the others. Might make it back on the someday list after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 I wouldn’t mind trying the ES 20 or 25 mm. 100deg. Ep’s out at some point ? My 20mm Nagler, is a favourite of mine, it gives me 82 deg. AFOV, a TFOV of about 56’, an exit pupil of 4.4mm and 91x magnification, the Uwan 28mm is excellent too, but I do wonder about a 100deg AFOV. Ep.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuckstar Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 (edited) The 20mm in my 250/1200 gives me 1.7°. It's a joy to look through. You would be welcome to try them but I don't think you will want to drag the 16" to a darksite! This is what I'm aiming for at the moment. Still the 5.5 and the 30mm 82 ° to get. Edited January 16, 2018 by tuckstar Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 (edited) I think any eyepiece with a 100º deg fov and especially given its cost, its going to be pretty special to look through. I've only ever looked through one i think : a 21mm Ethos. I've also looked through an ES 30 / 82. We have one in our DDAS society. Its excellent, and through my eyes, the same as my 31Nagler. With a scope like Steves though, i'd lean towards a 21E or an ES20/100 rather than the ES 25/100. I think it may be too big an exit pupil at 5.5mm Great if you have young eyes though. I'm 50 and i have quite small pupils so my optician tells me. I've tried my 31N with my F4 Dob, and to my dismay (but not surprise) i simply cannot use it. But here is a different and perhaps a more compelling option : Buy a Denkmeier binotron 27 binoviewer, and 2 pairs of quality eyepieces. Then with its powerswitch, you have 3 magnifications with just the one pair of eyepieces and the joy of observing with both eyes. Edited January 16, 2018 by Bino-viewer Smithysteve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 (edited) Well, I would love the 21mm Ethos, who wouldn’t, just looked at the price tag at telescope house £810.00. The ES20/100 is more attainable at £423.00 looks like I will have to settle for the 20mm Nagler etc for now, but I have started saving £2 coins again! Maybe I will get the chance to compare views with mine and the 21mm Ethos etc, If i can lug the scope to a meet - which i plan to do at some point ?? Edited January 16, 2018 by Smithysteve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 A WO 28mm Uwan is fabulous in the 16" Lightbridge - especially with dso's. Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 8 hours ago, Brantuk said: A WO 28mm Uwan is fabulous in the 16" Lightbridge - especially with dso's. Agreed that's the combination I used to use all the time. Brantuk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithysteve Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 9 hours ago, Brantuk said: A WO 28mm Uwan is fabulous in the 16" Lightbridge - especially with dso's. 29 minutes ago, Doc said: Agreed that's the combination I used to use all the time. Thanks guys, it’s all good stuff! just waiting for the next good opportunity, and getting together a nice long list of potential targets... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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