Astro Photography

[406tm]

Evening all. "Er In Doors" is thinking of getting me this for Christmas as the D200 is not out yet and she does not want to risk getting it at the last minute. She has said that she will get the D200 in the new year. The scope has the adapters for my D70 / D200. What do you think of it?

www.pennineonline.com/acatalog/copy_of_MEADE_ETX_90EC_KIT.html

Dave

406TM

[Mr Noble]

I would go all out and get the ETX 125 or even the 175 that I think they are now making. I would love to get one of these and have been lusting after one for years.

I bought a cheap russian (TAL) refractor a year or so ago, but here in Cambridge its so "Orange" that I never saw anything through it other than the moon. So, I took it to my folks house it the country where it now looks lovely in their conservatory. And, I still have never seen anything decent through it!!

Bit tricky to use, and also, I don't know where to point it.

I have a meade brochure and have always had a ambition to take pictures like the ones in the brochure, but I think you need to have a 10"+ and a superb location (like Africa) to be able to get good shots.

Interested to get your views if you buy one!

ps. Dave, There is a great shop/centre in Dry Draton near Cambridge called Green Witch that stocks all this etx kit. If you go over at 4.30 ish on a clear night, they are always more than happy to get out the kit and let you test it.
(plus, they know where to point it!!)

Greg

[HankScorpio]

Mr Noble said:

I don't know where to point it.

Get this program:
www.5star-shareware.com/Windows/Hobby/Astronomy/skymap.html

The sky from any point on earth at any point in time between 4000BC and 8000AD.
I used to use it when I worked in a uni with an observatory.
Fascinating bit of software.

[406tm]

Mr Noble said:

Bit tricky to use, and also, I don't know where to point it. Greg

Greg

This bit of software is supplied with it. The "scope" also has Auto North, Auto levelling and a built in computer with 300,000 starpoints that it will go to automatically when they are selected from the DB so it should be easy

www.meade.com/autostar/as_suite_etxpe.html

Dave

[Bee_Jay]

www.starrynight.com - starrynight enthusiast is an outstanding piece of software, especially the flying around the universe bit...

>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Thursday 1st December 14:33

[Mr Noble]

I mean I don't know where to point my budget scope!! I have sat out in the cold for hours before scanning the skys and taking reference from my "Turn left at Orion" book (which is great) but the damn thing wobbles so much with a high power lens in that you can never get anything into focus.

I think thats partly what you pay for with better scopes. The tripod is all important.

Greg

[Mr Noble]

Dave have you seen these and the host of others on e-bay?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Meade-DS-2114-ATS-Telescope-49

Not looked too hard but seems a bloody good price for a full goto Meade scope with 1000mm.

Thjoughts?

Greg

[406tm]

Mr Noble said:

Dave have you seen these and the host of others on e-bay? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Meade-DS-2114-ATS-Telescope-49 Not looked too hard but seems a bloody good price for a full goto Meade scope with 1000mm. Thjoughts? Greg

Hi greg

Yes, we looked at those on Ebay but The other half said she wanted to get me something that I could fit the D70 or D100 (D200 after Christmas) to easily and would be covered by a warranty. She ordered the ETX105PE and camera mount today. It will be delivered tomorrow - she has said Ican't have it till Christmas day tho Looking forward to scanning the skies/

[Mr Noble]

Can't wait to hear what its like. I will be keen to get one too if your comments are good. Hopefully GreenWhitch would let me trade in the TAL one they sold me.

Was so dissapointed when I used it and realised that it was not going to be much good.

I once saw Jupiter and 4 moons through the low power lens making the lot about the size of a pea on a dinner plate but when you put the bigger lens in to make it like a 50p coin on the plate, the damn thing wobbled so much that you really couldn't focus it at all.

Keen to hear of your tests.

PS. Maybe you could secretly use it while the missus is not looking. Pretend your 6 again!

Greg

[Frik]

My only concern would be that 4" is not a particularly big aperture so you might have trouble collecting enough light to see the more interesting things the night sky has to offer, especially in this country. I'm no expert though.

Looking forward to seeing the results after Christmas

[Mr Noble]

Dear Santa,

I have been good all year (apart from crashing both my cars!)

Please may I have one of these. www.meade.com/lx200gps/index.html

Only $2000 in 8" form (which is actually not too bad!)

GN

[406tm]

Mr Noble said:

Dear Santa, I have been good all year (apart from crashing both my cars!) Please may I have one of these. www.meade.com/lx200gps/index.html Only $2000 in 8" form (which is actually not too bad!) GN

I guess your will be bigger than mine BUT I do have a D70 and a D100 + a D200 in the new year

[Mr Noble]

Don't think I will be affording one of those just yet. Not till I have a wife and kids in a quiet house in the country. And that may never happen!!

Looking forward to hearing (or seeing) the verdict on your ETX.

Did you see the new astrostar finder upgrade on the meade site. The new system comes preset and does not need you to do anything for it to "lock-on" very clever!.

Greg

[406tm]

Mr Noble said:

Did you see the new astrostar finder upgrade on the meade site. The new system comes preset and does not need you to do anything for it to "lock-on" very clever!. Greg

Yes, these new scopes even level themselves and find North via built in GPS. There is a database of millions of stars and all you do is pick which one you want to look at. apparently, these 105's can even show a clear pic of Jupiter. All very clever. Cant wait till we have an astronomy photo competition

[Mr Noble]

Wonder who would win that?

[406tm]

Mr Noble said:

Wonder who would win that?

Patrick Moore

[pete_w]

Not sure, but you might find that astrophotography is a bit hit and miss with an ETX, primarily because the drive systems on the scopes are not great to start with and will likely be stressed with a DSLR body attached. People mainly use webcams with these scopes.

[406tm]

pete_w said:

People mainly use webcams with these scopes.

I want to use my DSLR because of the flexibility it offers - Plain and Simple. With the Premier Editions, the motor has been uprated to cope with the extra weight of the DSLR. Anyway, you can attach them when you find what you want

[pete_w]

Not checked on the current ETX drive spec, but a couple of years ago it was dire, using plastic cogs and under-powered motors, hence the webcam and image processing to recover images.

With a long exposure you'll be requiring a smooth worm drive, the smoother the better.

>> Edited by pete_w on Sunday 4th December 00:16