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[katodog]

I once again am in a very awkward position. I find myself having to apologize for the impending doom of cloudy skies and bad seeing. I have to get down on my knees and beg and plead with everyone to not be mad at what I have done. And I feel that this time is not going to be like when I got the AR6 or the AT80. This time, it's going to be like 40 days and 40 nights of rain. I think I'll go out and start on the ark now. I know my cousin is probably going to kill me.

Okay, would you like the long list or the short list?

How about the long list, since it's waaay more fun to read:

Meade 12" LX200R
Meade DSI Pro with Meade DSI Color Filter Set
Meade Series 4000 Focal Reducer
Astrozap flexible dewshield
Peterson Engineerng Mount Assist
Peterson Engineering Get-A-Grip
JMI Hard Case
Meade-#1403 Weight set
William Optics Binoviewer

And I still have yet to order a SkyGlow filter.

Maybe I'll treat myself to a nice Tele Vue eyepiece. Although they are pretty expensive. I think I'm just trying to mask the expense by burying it within the other purchases. We'll see. I almost bought one, but couldn't bring myself to it. It's harder than it seems.

Of course, when it all arrives, and after I wake up from passing out, I'll take the necessary unveiling pics, and this time I'll stay out of the photos. I wouldn't want to deaden the impact with my ugly face.


So, I guess I have to figure out how to make all you guys happy when the clouds start rolling in. I'm sorry, but the astro devil made me do it. ;D

[katodog]

We, as if on cue, the clouds are wreaking havoc on our friendly skies. I wonder if it has anything to do with this...

William Optics Binoviewer w/ a pair of 20mm, 66° wide-angle eyepieces




Or maybe this...

Orion SkyGlow Filter 2"




Or possibly this...

Smart Astronomy Right Angle, Correct Image finderscope




Okay, maybe it was this...

Meade Series 5000 20mm Plossl, 60° fov




Geez, I don't know. Maybe the clouds were caused by this...

Meade DSI Pro w/ Color Filter Kit




You guys think it was these?

Peterson Get-A-Grip Handles and Peterson Mount Assistant




I think maybe the clouds came from this...

Smart Astronomy 2", 2x ED Barlow




I know, I know. You guys think I'm a big show-off. Well, if you think that's showing off wait until the scope comes. Then you'll all want to lynch me!!!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Kdog,

Great new toys!

I like binoviewers and the extra dimension they provide is quite dramatic. Not good for star parties, but for solo observations. Views of the Moon will be spectacular!

I'm not too much of a fan of pollution filters. They add an un-natural eerie glow to the desired image, and maybe the light pollution here in the heart of the city is too great, but I have not found them to be versatile.

Barlows are always good. The most economical way to double your eyepiece collection!

That color filter set-up looks nice. I use filters mostly on planetary objects, to bring out the bands of Jupiter and the Ice caps of Mars for example.

Sixty degrees in a FOV for an eyepiece is quite comfortable for a 20mm. Excellent buy.

Straight thru finder scopes are so awkward and right-angled ones are the way to go. You won't regret it.

What does the mount assistant do, and where will you be attaching the handles?

Do we think you are a show-off? Naw.

The whole point of the forum is to display our tools and share our experiences with them. The more the better I say, and reviews of said equipment serves all amateur astronomers.

Excellent acquisitions!

[katodog]

Not that I will be needing help lifting the scope, but the handles are for a better grip when lifting the scope onto the tripod. The mount assistant is a plate that goes on the top of the tripod. It has three rubber coated pins on it and when you put the scope on the tripod, you butt it up against the three pins. Then, with the plate being wider than the scope base, you can let go of the scope to put the threaded rod into it from underneath. I guess this is a hard task to do by yourself, since you have to hold the scope and thread the rod at the same time. I guess guys have a heck of a time doing it in the dark. I don't worry about the weight of the scope, since it's a lot less than my max curl weight, but I got the plate anyway. It's better to be safe than really, really sorry.

The light pollution filter was my cousin's suggestion. He says his helps out a lot on his scope, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to use it. He's pretty good at the suggestions he gives me about accessories. He hasn't been wrong yet. Worst case scenario is I either leave it in the case, or sell it. I'm used to the little color difference the contrast filter puts into the views, so the SkyGlow color probably won't bother me. Besides, if I take photos, the color won't be an issue, since I usually use the different light settings, and they impart different colors of their own.

The filter that I got for the DSI are supposed to be optimized for photography, so I haven't got a clue if they will be any good for visual. But, I'm going to stick them in the eyepiece and see what they do. If they work out nice, if I decide to sell the DSI, then I might keep the filters.

The Meade eyepiece was something I bought to fill in the gap I have in magnification. If I wasn't such an idiot, I would have remembered the two ep's that come with the binoviewer. Those are 20mm, and have a 66° fov. But, you can never have too much stuff, right???

And I am really sick of cranking my neck to look through the finder on the AR6, especially when I've got the scope aimed up. Plus the crosshairs broke in it, so that's why I got the new finder. I think the old one is going to be on eBay soon.

Now, all I'm waiting on is the scope, the focal reducer, and a few power cords. I'll post pics of the scope when I get it, but the first light report will probably be from my cousin's house. He gets to be the first person to get a showing. If it's clear out, that is.

[katodog]

Is it cloudy outside?? Is it going to rain??? Why is it cloudy today???

This is probably why...

This shall hence be know as "The reason I can never have sex again"




Sweeeet coatings!!!




Is this where you look through?




And now you guys get another shot of my ugly face to look at.




The unofficial unveiling at my cousin's house. I say unofficial because of two reasons; one being that I had it open at work, and the other neing that it's freakin' cloudy and we couldn't give it the shake down.

I should really read the print when I buy a telescope. It came with a Series 5000 2" Diagonal, which I had no clue it was going to, and it also came with a Series 5000 26mm Plossl. I expected an eyepiece, and I expected 26mm, but I was thinking more along the lines of that typical 26mm that has the 5 feet of distance from the top of the barrel to the lens. You know, the one that we all have about 30 of and don't use any of them.

We did look through the scope at stuff across the street, but that's not a good test for a scope of this stature. So everyone will have to wait until it clears up. I got the grip handles installed, which was a piece of cake. When I got home I played with the Autostar a little bit. That GPS and Level North and all of that stuff is pretty cool. I played with the Automatic Align, and then told it to GoTo Jupiter, and it pointed pretty much where Jupiter would be.

Well, I can't say anything about the scope yet. Once I can beat on it on a good night, then I'll post the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Signing off for now, Me and the Monster from the Meade Lagoon (otherwise known as "the reason I'll never get sex again).

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Kdog,

It's a handsome SCT and growing with accessories all the time!

This weekend should provide some clear skies to put it thru it's paces. Do you assemble the beast all by yourself? I have lifted the Adler's SCT on it's tripod mount alone, and it's a killer.

You are a one man observatory there!

Thanks for sharing and anticipate your reports...

[katodog]

The weight is no problem. It the fact that you can't really get the right grip on it to carry it around. If it was just an 80 pound block with a handle, it would be a piece of cake. I don't have any problem with it though, and put it up on the tripod myself. But my cousin was right next to me in case I needed a spotter. When I got it home, I lifted it onto the kitchen counter pretty easy, and that's higher than the tripod when collapsed, so it shouldn't be a problem with the tripod extended. I installed the grip handles pretty easily, and they do make it easier to carry. The way that they are bent makes it easier to get a good grip and easier to lift it high.

It came assembled, the scope on the fork mount was in one box, and the tripod was in another. I have to admit, the tripod is bigger than I thought it would be. The tripod spreader and threaded rod had to be installed, which is no problem, but it's too long to fold the tripod all the way closed. I had to take the rod off to close the tripod. Gotta figure that one out.

Hopefully, I won't have to wait long to use it, and give it a good beating. Moe info when it happens.

[katodog]

Here are the official "Let's see how big it actually is" pictures.


The Monster




The other monster




And the other monster. For scale, I squeeze in at 5'8".