Post by Paulie pchris00 on Oct 21, 2011 5:55:19 GMT -6
Well, for a guy that's never exactly rolled in dough, I sure picked the wrong hobby. I'm lucky to have the telescopes I already own, the Dob being purchased with a stimulus tax check, and my 4.5" go-to a Christmas gift. Serious telescope upgrades won't be happening anytime soon.
Recently, however, I was able to do some sidework, and have a little bit of cash to spend on my hobby. I have around $250 to play with, but if I go over a little, I can absorb that cost. I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck, but I'm trying to keep it close to $250.
I spent the last couple of days looking around the internet, making a wish list, and then prioritizing that list. Here is what I came up with.
Solar Filter
With the Venus transit next year, I really want to gear up now. This might be my only chance, so a solar filter(s) is a must have. I took a serious look at a white light filter my 6" Dob, but at $119.99, it eats up a lot of my budget.
www.telescope.com/Accessories/Telescope-Eyepiece-Filters/717-ID-Orion-Full-Aperture-Solar-Filter/pc/-1/c/3/sc/48/p/7723.uts
Also, since I want to use my 4.5" go-to for the Venus transit for tracking capability, it doesn't make much sense to outfit the Dob with a white light filter. I didn't find an exact match for the go-to, but I figure one would be in the $80-$100 range.
By default then, I'm opting for a sheet of Baader solar film. I won't be able to go full aperture, but I can make offset filters for both big scopes, and for one of my 60mm refractors. I've seen the Sun with the Baader film, and the views are very good. Bottom line is that I can have three solar scopes for 1/3 the cost of a white light filter for the Dob.
www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=12296&src=goog
Eyepieces and Filters
Here is where decisions get a little tougher. The eyepieces I have are perfectly acceptable, but since I have a limited selection, they all get used at public sessions. I'd like to have a set of decent eyepieces for myself and private observations with other astronomers. I know my budget won't get me anything great, but I'd like a wider selection of magnifications, and with limited use, will be able to keep in good condition. My current eyepieces can be used for public observing.
I don't know how effective filtering will be with only 6" & 4.5" scopes, but I've seen the difference they can make on bigger scopes. It's worth a try. Filters like OIII, Ha, and Hb are a bit too pricey for me right now, but I want to have narrow band colored filters and a neutral density Moon filter in my arsenal.
This is my leading choice at the moment. Orion Premium 1.25" Telescope Accessory Kit
www.telescope.com/Accessories/Telescope-Eyepieces/Orion-125-Premium-Telescope-Accessory-Kit/pc/-1/c/3/sc/47/p/8890.uts
What I like:
5 eyepieces, 6 filters (including Moon filter), and a 2x Barlow
What I don't like:
The 7.5 and 6.3mm eyepieces are pushing very high magnifications on my scopes, possibly past the practical limit most nights. Would rather have something in the 25-32mm range, although with the Barlow, I cold make the 40mm a 20mm.
Next Choice.
www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=42&ProdID=271
What I like:
Again, 5 EP, 6 filters (with Moon filter), and 2x Barlow.
32mm EP
What I don't like:
Again, I'd like a 20-25mm EP. The 32mm is good, but It leaves me no magnification range between it and the 17mm.
Both the Orion and Celestron premium eyepiece sets run almost $160. I'm comfortable with that.
The last eyepiece/filter option runs a lower total cost, but gives me fewer options of magnifications and filters, and is pieced together, rather than coming together in one nice case.
www.telescope.com/Accessories/Telescope-Eyepieces/Orion-125-Telescope-Accessory-Kit/pc/-1/c/3/sc/47/p/8889.uts
Here we have just two eyepieces, 20mm & 7.5mm, and a 2x Barlow. Included are four filters, Red, blue, yellow, and a Moon filter. No green. I thought the best views of Jupiter this late summer were with a green filter. Of course, that's with the 16", and maybe it won't be as good in smaller aperture, but I'm a little disappointed. Moon filters are cheap and easy to get individually.
This set still leaves me with no low mag options below 20mm. I would need something to complete the set. Below is a used 32mm Plossl, which combined with the 2x Barlow, would give me a nice range of magnifications with only three EP and Barlow, for a total of $130. It competes well with the 5 EP/6 filter sets above. It would also free up a little extra cash for a camera.
agenaastro.com/clearance-gso-32mm-plossl-eyepiece.html
Cameras
I'm not looking for deep sky imaging, or even the greatest lunar & planetary images, but something that will do a decent job. I'm also thinking of something that can be used to collect data and images for the Venus transit. I have three options here, and all can be used to run a live view on my laptop, which is something I'd like to try more of at public star parties in light polluted areas (read Adler).
www.telescope.com/Astrophotography/Astrophotography-Cameras/Orion-StarShoot-Video-Eyepiece-amp-Windows-Capture-Device/pc/-1/c/4/sc/58/p/101459.uts
Haven't looked into this one much yet, but with Night Sky Network capability, it could be promising.
www.telescope.com/Astrophotography/Astrophotography-Cameras/Orion-StarShoot-USB-Eyepiece/pc/-1/c/4/sc/58/p/52173.uts
This is another possibility, especially if I get one of the $160 EP sets.
At the moment though, I'm leaning towards this one, but I would have to compromise on the eyepiece/filter set to try to get my total cost down.
www.telescope.com/Astrophotography/Astrophotography-Cameras/Orion-StarShoot-Solar-System-Color-Imaging-Camera-IV/pc/-1/c/4/sc/58/p/52175.uts
With the StarShoot, I think I would eventually want the focal reducer, especially for lunar viewing and imaging.
www.telescope.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&keyword=StarShoot+focal+reducer
Any thoughts? I'm itching to pull the trigger, but want to make the best overall decision. Any input (or other suggestions) would be very much appreciated.
Recently, however, I was able to do some sidework, and have a little bit of cash to spend on my hobby. I have around $250 to play with, but if I go over a little, I can absorb that cost. I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck, but I'm trying to keep it close to $250.
I spent the last couple of days looking around the internet, making a wish list, and then prioritizing that list. Here is what I came up with.
Solar Filter
With the Venus transit next year, I really want to gear up now. This might be my only chance, so a solar filter(s) is a must have. I took a serious look at a white light filter my 6" Dob, but at $119.99, it eats up a lot of my budget.
www.telescope.com/Accessories/Telescope-Eyepiece-Filters/717-ID-Orion-Full-Aperture-Solar-Filter/pc/-1/c/3/sc/48/p/7723.uts
Also, since I want to use my 4.5" go-to for the Venus transit for tracking capability, it doesn't make much sense to outfit the Dob with a white light filter. I didn't find an exact match for the go-to, but I figure one would be in the $80-$100 range.
By default then, I'm opting for a sheet of Baader solar film. I won't be able to go full aperture, but I can make offset filters for both big scopes, and for one of my 60mm refractors. I've seen the Sun with the Baader film, and the views are very good. Bottom line is that I can have three solar scopes for 1/3 the cost of a white light filter for the Dob.
www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=12296&src=goog
Eyepieces and Filters
Here is where decisions get a little tougher. The eyepieces I have are perfectly acceptable, but since I have a limited selection, they all get used at public sessions. I'd like to have a set of decent eyepieces for myself and private observations with other astronomers. I know my budget won't get me anything great, but I'd like a wider selection of magnifications, and with limited use, will be able to keep in good condition. My current eyepieces can be used for public observing.
I don't know how effective filtering will be with only 6" & 4.5" scopes, but I've seen the difference they can make on bigger scopes. It's worth a try. Filters like OIII, Ha, and Hb are a bit too pricey for me right now, but I want to have narrow band colored filters and a neutral density Moon filter in my arsenal.
This is my leading choice at the moment. Orion Premium 1.25" Telescope Accessory Kit
www.telescope.com/Accessories/Telescope-Eyepieces/Orion-125-Premium-Telescope-Accessory-Kit/pc/-1/c/3/sc/47/p/8890.uts
What I like:
5 eyepieces, 6 filters (including Moon filter), and a 2x Barlow
What I don't like:
The 7.5 and 6.3mm eyepieces are pushing very high magnifications on my scopes, possibly past the practical limit most nights. Would rather have something in the 25-32mm range, although with the Barlow, I cold make the 40mm a 20mm.
Next Choice.
www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=42&ProdID=271
What I like:
Again, 5 EP, 6 filters (with Moon filter), and 2x Barlow.
32mm EP
What I don't like:
Again, I'd like a 20-25mm EP. The 32mm is good, but It leaves me no magnification range between it and the 17mm.
Both the Orion and Celestron premium eyepiece sets run almost $160. I'm comfortable with that.
The last eyepiece/filter option runs a lower total cost, but gives me fewer options of magnifications and filters, and is pieced together, rather than coming together in one nice case.
www.telescope.com/Accessories/Telescope-Eyepieces/Orion-125-Telescope-Accessory-Kit/pc/-1/c/3/sc/47/p/8889.uts
Here we have just two eyepieces, 20mm & 7.5mm, and a 2x Barlow. Included are four filters, Red, blue, yellow, and a Moon filter. No green. I thought the best views of Jupiter this late summer were with a green filter. Of course, that's with the 16", and maybe it won't be as good in smaller aperture, but I'm a little disappointed. Moon filters are cheap and easy to get individually.
This set still leaves me with no low mag options below 20mm. I would need something to complete the set. Below is a used 32mm Plossl, which combined with the 2x Barlow, would give me a nice range of magnifications with only three EP and Barlow, for a total of $130. It competes well with the 5 EP/6 filter sets above. It would also free up a little extra cash for a camera.
agenaastro.com/clearance-gso-32mm-plossl-eyepiece.html
Cameras
I'm not looking for deep sky imaging, or even the greatest lunar & planetary images, but something that will do a decent job. I'm also thinking of something that can be used to collect data and images for the Venus transit. I have three options here, and all can be used to run a live view on my laptop, which is something I'd like to try more of at public star parties in light polluted areas (read Adler).
www.telescope.com/Astrophotography/Astrophotography-Cameras/Orion-StarShoot-Video-Eyepiece-amp-Windows-Capture-Device/pc/-1/c/4/sc/58/p/101459.uts
Haven't looked into this one much yet, but with Night Sky Network capability, it could be promising.
www.telescope.com/Astrophotography/Astrophotography-Cameras/Orion-StarShoot-USB-Eyepiece/pc/-1/c/4/sc/58/p/52173.uts
This is another possibility, especially if I get one of the $160 EP sets.
At the moment though, I'm leaning towards this one, but I would have to compromise on the eyepiece/filter set to try to get my total cost down.
www.telescope.com/Astrophotography/Astrophotography-Cameras/Orion-StarShoot-Solar-System-Color-Imaging-Camera-IV/pc/-1/c/4/sc/58/p/52175.uts
With the StarShoot, I think I would eventually want the focal reducer, especially for lunar viewing and imaging.
www.telescope.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&keyword=StarShoot+focal+reducer
Any thoughts? I'm itching to pull the trigger, but want to make the best overall decision. Any input (or other suggestions) would be very much appreciated.