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ETX USER FEEDBACK
Last updated: 30 June 2000
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ETX USER FEEDBACK |
This page is for user comments and information of a general nature and specific items applicable to the original ETX model (now known as the ETX-90RA). Comments on accessories and feedback items appropriate to other ETX models are posted on other pages. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or answers to questions posed here, e-mail them to me and I'll post them. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message. Thanks.
Subject: Thanks! Sent: Friday, June 30, 2000 07:01:35 From: ycrad@wkhs.com (Youree Center Radiology) I would like to thank you for the great informative site. Your site was the main factor in my decision to purchase the Meade ETX90EC. All of the info on your site was invaluable in my research on what scope to buy and what accessories to buy with it. Keep up the good work. Thanks again, Bryan McCauslin Shreveport,LA
Subject: Site Sent: Friday, June 30, 2000 06:55:45 From: shelton@teleport.com (James Shelton) Just a quick and simple THANK YOU for your ETX website. I can't even begin to explain how valuable it has been to me and I'm sure you have a lot more to do then read e-mails about it. I spend a great deal of my time on it and all I can say is WOW..... and again THANK YOU! James
Subject: Barlow Question
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2000 11:48:41
From: plasmaknight@hotmail.com (Wei-Chieh Chen)
Sorry for asking so many questions.
Can you use the #140 Apochromatic Barlow Lens (that's supposed to be the
best Barlow that Meade has) be used on the ETX-90/EC? Or can only the
#126 Barlow Lens be used?
If only the #126 can be used for some reason, is it worth getting? (I
read that cheap Barlow lenses are usually of poor quality.)
Thanks for your help again.
WCC
Mike here: The answers you seek can be found by searching the site for "140". The first page that comes up (April 2000 Feedback) has your answer; just do a Browser "find" on #140 on that page. I realize the search mechanism isn't perfect but it can help.
Subject: adapter Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2000 07:42:52 From: ralphk@howyouwork.com (Ralph Koschnitzke) I really appreciate your website, as a new owner of an ETC90EC this has been a tremendous resource! Your wrote the following about a camera adapter: I now have an attachment to mount the Casio digital camera to the Meade Basic Camera Adapter. I purchased a Tiffen Casio Lens Adapter for my QV-10 (also works with the QV-10A and QV-100) for about $25. The adapter is normally used to mount 37mm lens (also from Tiffen). Unfortunately the threads do not match the Meade Basic Camera Adapter so it was necessary to purchase an adapter ring. After visiting two local camera shops and searching for a few hours I finally found a ring ($2) that was close to what I needed. (What was the size of this ring was it a 37 - ? step up adapter?) I have a 37mm thread on my camera and I'm trying to adapt it. But before I buy the basic camera adapter... Do you know the thread size on the camera adapter? that you adpted too or rather is it the same as the tmount adapter? Thanks! Ralph KoschnitzkeMike here: That experiment didn't work out for me. There wasn't enough thread surface to hold the camera securely. The Scopetronix Digital Camera Adapter (see the Accessories - Astrophotography page) works WAY better. More versatile too.
Added later:
Thanks!, Mine just came in the mail today!. I'm really looking forward to this new hobby. I'll be making a pledge to your site. Regards Ralph Koschnitzke
Subject: ETX Spotting Scope Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 10:58:15 From: commtech@pixie.co.za (Paul Meanwell) Hi, wonder if you can help. I bought the ETX 90 spotting scope. This comes complete with the erect image prism, and 45 deg. viewer. To assemble the scope is a simple matter of unscrewing the cap at the back of the scope, attaching the prism, adding the lens, and off you go. What confuses me is that there is now a gaping hole where the lens should go when used at 90 deg. While there is a cap for the back of the tube when this aperture is not in use, there does not seem to be anything to plug the hole when used as a spotting scope. I'm concerned that it is going to get dust, moisture, all sorts of things in there. Shouldn't there be a protective cap or something? Regards Paul.Mike here: Many people, including me, use a 35mm film can as a plug for the top eyepiece hole. Works pretty well. Caution: don't tighten the screw down since you don't want plastic or metal filings inside the ETX.
Subject: bincoular lense Sent: Monday, June 26, 2000 00:51:06 From: lennycal@pacbell.net (Leonard Schaustal) I was looking in astronomy magazine, at some of the bincular lenses so I could use both eyes for viewing, they range in price from $198.00 to $1000.00 plus. is it worth going to this and is the viewing better. what do you recommend? I'm new to this and just got the ETX90ec 3 months ago. I like your web site and have gotten a lot of information from it-since I;m a new at this. Lenny schaustal, lennycal@pacbell.netMike here: I did a search of the site for "binocular viewer" with the AND option selected; got a hit on the January 2000 Feedback page. There is an question there about their use. I didn't continue with the search; you can do that as well as I can.
Subject: NEW LX-90
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2000 20:53:59
From: Jimmy123ho@aol.com
I have owned an ETX for more than 2 years. Yesterday, I saw an ad on the
Astronomics website showing a new LX-90. Do you know anything about it
yet? It is basically a SCT on a improved and enlarged aluminum
computerized ETX mount. Write back if your get anything about it. Thanks.
J.H
Mike here: All I know is what is on Shutan's web site (click for the www.shutan.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=ML8F1&Category_Code=telcat6 direct link) and Meade's announcement.
Subject: Meade CTX100 Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2000 06:27:28 From: donburton_is@juno.com (Don R Burton) I am looking for a good telescope to start with and I think I can buy a never used, according to the owner, CTX100 for about 300 bucks, is this worth the money or should I just save up and buy the etx90 or 125?Mike here: I'm not familiar with the CTX100.
Subject: question... Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 20:37:21 From: twister1599@hotmail.com (twister1599) Just wondering if u knew if the ETX 90 RA telescope is compatible w/ AutoStar #497? Thanks.Mike here: The RA model is the original ETX and pre-dates the Autostar. There is no upgrade available to the "EC" model.
Subject: ETX site Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 13:32:01 From: Freybears@aol.com I just came across your site, after looking futilely for a good source of ETX info. I am a former 8" LX200 owner (donated it to local astronomical society), and an amateur for the last 25 years or so. I just ordered an ETX because I miss doing astronomy, but not the scope lugging required with the LX200. Just wanted to say "great stuff...looking forward to really getting into the site further." By the way, have you run into other amateurs who went from big scope to small, as opposed to the typical small-to-big? SteveMike here: Yes, some users have "come down" to the portability of smaller telescopes. As I've said many times on the site, the best scope is the one that gets used and larger scopes tend to end up in the closet due to the inconvenience factor.
Subject: Question Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2000 18:14:45 From: mvgasy@c2i.net (CHRISTIAN HAUGERUD) Now i have 2 questions: Can i use any other type of field tripod to my etx125 , than the very expensive original one ? And i know this isent a etx question - but does someone have any info about , or know a site on the 6" Alter M-603 (or maby the 7"...)? I realy think i "like" this scope...;-) Hope somebody can help me! ChrisMike here: With the proper mounting plate you can mount the ETX-125EC to any tripod. Just make sure it is stable.
Subject: help Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 15:00:40 From: mvgasy@c2i.net (CHRISTIAN HAUGERUD) Well , i have now desided to bye a new telescope - but i need a few gidelines from the experts! This will be my 2. scope ( my first scope was Meade 114mm reflector - with WERY poor kellner .965 eyepices!!!) I dont have a lot of money , so ive been looking at Meade Etx-125 ec , DS-127 ec and a 8" dobsonian. Now the Etx is my dream scope (with its small and portable size) , BUT i know there is a lot of bad talk about it... The DS-127 is only 0.5 inch bigger then my old scope , but will it show any more details (Now because i only had the realy bad EP , i never got to explore my scope fully. At 218.5x - jupiter looked like a oversisized white star , with 4 dots around it. I dont know if this is the way its suppose to looke like at that magnitude...?) ? And of course the 8" dobsonian , its probebly a good scope - but you cant track with it or use the autostar computer controller on it. Now these scopes are wery expensive - at least for me! -so i dont want to bye something that wont extend my "space exploring". So i ges my main question is : do i bye one of these telescopes or do i save some more money and bye a LX 10 - 8"(but , i dont know how portable this scope is...) ? I hope someone can help me with some of these questions. ChristianMike here: Obviously, the larger the telescope the less portable it will be. And unless you are dedicated, larger telescopes will end up unused since they are not convenient to move outside and set up. On the other hand, small telescopes like the ETX-90EC are easily setup (whether you use the Autostar or not) and so you can use them on a moment's notice. Yes, there are some limitations in small scopes but the portability usually outweighs that for many users. So, decide what you want to do with the telescope and what your expectations are. Then get the best telescope you can afford that will at least meet, if not exceed, your expectations. For many, the ETX-90EC and -125EC scopes are exactly what they want. For others, one of the various DS models works best. And some decide that a large Dobsonian telescope is best for their needs. Others go all out and get the LX200 model. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Subject: 10" Meade LX200 EMC Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 10:30:02 From: peter.leare@edwards.boc.com (Leare,Peter) Hello, Nice ETX site. I have recently purchased a 10" Meade LX200 EMC and am wondering if you know of any similar sites to yours for this scope? Thanks, Pete peter.leare@edwards.boc.comMike here: Check the MAPUG.com (Meade Advanced Products User Group) web site. Lots of links there.
Subject: 883 Deluxe Field Tripod Leg Fix Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 20:43:53 From: eparkyn@earthlink.net (Edward Parkyn) A mod kit for the slipping problem can be obtained free from Meade. ted
Subject: eyepieces Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 15:38:12 From: garyc@voicenet.com (gary) If you just got the ETX90EC for a first scope what 3 lens would you buy first and why? GARYMike here: See the Buyer/New User Tips page for some thoughts on eyepieces.
Subject: selling Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 11:30:15 From: grizz2@prodigy.net (Craig Schriever) Unfortunatly I have to part with my ETX-90/EC. I'm selling and am wondering if anyone is interested? IT is in wonderful condition no scratches dents or smudges! Optic's and mechanics are perfect! Here's what I'm sellin ETX-90/EC........Autostar controller.........Stock controller......... 3 Eyepieces........Meade SP26mm.........SP9.7mm.........40mm Scopetronix Plossl.........3 Meade eyepiece filters......ND96....#82A light blue........#8 light yellow............Meade #126 Barlow.........Meade 07356 Basic Camera adapter........Meade #64 T-adapter.......Meade #932 Erect Image Roof prism.............Scopetronix Flexi-Focus...........Scopetronix Dew clip and dew shield.........Meade Deluxe Field Tripod..........Scopetronix Tripod leg clamps...........Identi-View Sloar filter ( from scopetronix) I think thats it! $1000.00 takes it Any serious buyers e-mail me at Grizz2@prodigy.net I have really enjoyed my ETX and am sad to see it go but for now it has to..............
Subject: Meade Q... Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 04:27:43 From: snorre@statvoks.no (Snorre A. Selmer) Of all the ETX and Digital Electronic Series (DS?) telescopes, wich one would you recomend (don't worry about price) for 35mm photography... What extras would I need (filters, tripod (I have one for my camera, but I don't think it's sturdy enough), Autostar)? (I'll need a T-mount of course...)Mike here: What telescope (ETX, DS, or LX200) and accessories you want really depends upon what kind of astrophotography you want to do and what your expectations are. Small, mass market telescopes are not designed to produce long duration (minutes or hours) exposures of galaxies and nebulae. However, as you can see on my site, the ETX can do quite well on some objects with some patience and luck. So, decide what you want to photograph and what you expect the results to look like. Then get a telescope that will meet those requirements. Bottom line since you said to not worry about the price: get a 12" (or larger) LX200. You'll get GREAT astrophotos!
Added later:
Well, if I don't remember too incorrectly, the LX200 series is too expencive... I meant that within the ETX and DS series, I can afford all the scopes (I live in Norway, and prices here are kinda bloated)... The LX200 series is awesome, but too expencive (I think)... I was planning on a 2000-2500$ (maybe as high as 3000$) budget... And now, a couple of questions: Is the Autostar Computer worth the extra cost? Are the telescopes (ETX, DS, LX200) sturdy enough to NOT shake when I take a picture (when the mirror flips)?Mike here: The LX200 in the larger models is more expensive than an ETX-125EC. However, the LX90 8" looks pretty nice for the price. Shakes are a common problem with most telescope/mounts unless you really have a sturdy mount. The DS/ or ETX/tripod combination will exhibit a vibration when the camera mirror flips so people use the "hat trick" method (search the site for it) for long duration (seconds, minutes) exposures. If you know (or want to learn) your way around the sky you don't need the Autostar's GOTO capability. On the other hand, it is a convenient way to get started.
Subject: magazine Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2000 12:31:37 From: garyc@voicenet.com (gary) Can you tell me a good magazine to subscribe to for a beginer like myself? garyMike here: "Astronomy" and "Sky and Telescope" are both excellent magazines. I've been a subscriber to S&T since 1960. You should be able to find copies of both are your local newstand or bookdealer. Buy one of each and see which you like. Some people prefer one or the other.
Subject: TRIPOD & HOME POSITION Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2000 07:56:48 From: TLINEMAN@webtv.net (THOMAS MAHONY) The tripod i have is meades #887 advanced field tripod but i did not like the fixed height legs so i traded them in for the adjustable legs for the lx200 i finally talked to a tech at meade who could give me the correct mounting for the polar home position tried it out last night the only problem i had was going back to polaris the scope centered the star but the scope was upside down do you have a solution for this problem ? THANKS TOMMike here: Glad you got the scope into the polar position. What did Meade tell you? If the scope is upside down when viewing Polaris, then the scope is possibly 12 hours in RA out of alignment. Also, remember that Polaris is not exactly at the pole. Try redoing the Autostar alignment.
Added later:
THE ANSWER I GOT FROM MEADE WAS WITH THE SCOPE FACING NORTH THE WEDGE ON THE SOUTH AND THE CONTROL PANNEL ON THE WESTSIDE ,THE EYEPIECE ON THE TOP SET THE TUBE 90 DEGREES TO THE BASE (BASICALLY STRAIGHT UP FROM THE BASE)THEN ROTATE THE RA. COUNTERCLOCK WISE TO THE HARD STOP THEN BACK CLOCK WISE 1/3 A TURN SO THAT THE DEC. DIAL IS OVER THE CONTROL PANNEL ON THE WESTSIDE THIS IS THE HOME POSITION FOR POLAR ALIGNMENT ON THE WEDGE THEN YOU WOULD AD JUST THE TRIPOD AND YOUR LATITUDE FOR POLAR ALIGNMENT NOT THE KEYPAD WHAT WAS CONFUSING FOR ME WITH THE HOME POSITION WAS ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS SHOWING THE TELESCOPES SET WITH YOU VIEWING FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF THE WEDGE LOOKING OVER IT INSTEAD OF BEHIND IT ON THE SOUTH SIDE IT MIGHT LOOK GOOD FOR PHOTOS BUT IT SCREWED ME UP EVEN THE PHOTO ON YOUR WEB SITE IS WRONG . THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE EYEPIECE BEING UP SIDE DOWN WHEN I RETURN TO POLARIS WAS NOT THE ALIGNMENT WITH AUTOSTAR BUT THE COMPUTER DOES NOT KNOW ANY BETTER MEADE SAID JUST LIKE WHEN THE SCOPE WILL ROTATE 350 DEGREES INSTEAD 10 DEGREES TO THE NEXT STARMike here: It turns out (according to reports) that the HOME position is somewhat flexible. So users tend to use what works for them. Glad you have one that works for you.
Subject: ccd useage Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2000 06:17:58 From: bgalxie@fwi.com (Joyce & Bill Needham) Was wondering if you have any feed back o useing a ccd camera on the 125ec. I tried to mount my st7 with the large slr adapter and the scope would not stay put in dec,nomater how tight i had the dec lock,besides dont seem to have mutch clearence to pivot the mount anyway. How are most people mounting there slr cameras on the 125? Ihave the meade 64t adapture. Does the camera(om1 olympus) hurt the motors or the tracking? thanks Mike enjoy your site,.will give some feedback with somemore useage. BgalxieMike here: You likely will need to attach a counterweight to the other end of the ETX. This is true of many telescopes when you add extra weight to one end. Depending upon which CCD model is used, clearance with the mount could be an issue. Again, this may be true for other telescopes as well. There are others who are using CCDs successfully with the ETX models. You can search the site for "CCD" and you'll find lots of hits.
Subject: Question about the Eyepieces Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2000 21:45:45 From: plasmaknight@hotmail.com (Wei-Chieh Chen) Hi, For the Maksutov-Cassegrain Meade ETX-90EC astro telescope (1250mm focal length), it says that the maximum practical visual power is 325x. Is that a limit to what I can see? Because if I use a 9.7mm eyepiece (129x [rounded]), and I use a 5x Powermate, the power would be approximately 644-645. Would I be able to see things at 644 to 645 times their size or will the limit affect it somehow? If it is a limit, then I'll have to find exactly the right eyepieces and Barlow lenses to avoid further complications. If it isn't a limit, then what are the drawbacks? (Ex. blurred vision, etcetera) If there are no drawbacks, then I'm probably gonna get a Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl 6.4mm eyepiece with the Meade Series 4000 2x Barlow Lens. Please reply A.S.A.P. Thanks for your time. A 14 year old Astronomy EnthusiastMike here: The theoretical limit is about 50-60x per inch of aperture. So for the ETX-90 with its 3.5 inch aperture you'd get about 210x as a maximum. However, with good optics (like in the ETX) and some eyepieces, you can easily exceed this to something above 300x. The downside is that the object viewed will be very dim unless you are viewing the Moon or a bright planet. It will also start getting fuzzy as you go to the higher magnifications. This is true of any telescope. I suggest you read through the Accessories - Eyepieces page and the eyepiece comments on the Buyer/New User Tips page for some eyepiece suggestions. My apologies for not replying ASAP but I'm on travel.
Subject: Solar filter?? Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2000 20:39:57 From: jkell@prodigy.net (JK\DK) Hi I have a question about a solar filter. Do you think that a # 14 arc welders shield would work it would be easy to make wooden frame for a good fit over end. There are some models that have a mirror face on them to reflect some of light. What do you think? JKMike here: Some people will users will use these for solar eclipses. However, for telescopic use I would not recommend them as they may not be of optical quality. They may also still pass some harmful radiation from the Sun. Remember, it is not just the sun's brightness that is a problem for your eyes.
Subject: Meade Deluxe Field Tripod Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2000 18:11:51 From: denali@mediaone.net (Winn Horton) I just bought a Meade Deluxe Field Tripod from Natural Wonders. They've just started carrying not only the ETX-125, but also the tripods, cases, and other 125 accessories. They've been carrying ETX-90 accessories, except tripods, for quite awhile. Anyway, they had a 125 mounted on a tripod in the store. It seemed very, very stable and not as shaky as I'd expected from reading reviews and other feedback from other users. I'm not sure if Meade redesigned the tripod, as the store staff suggested, or not, but I was impressed well enough to go ahead and get one. They do have a 30-day money back guarantee and I was told by the staff to return the tripod if I wasn't totally satisfied for any reason. I told them that I will be literally "field testing" the tripod, as next week I will be going to New Mexico and Arizona for a 3-week vacation. Their price for the 125 case was comparable to Shutan and Pocono at $150.00; but the tripod was $20 less at $179. I wasn't able to find reference to #883 for the Deluxe Tripod, on either the shipping boxes or on the tripod itself, but it is written "Deluxe Field Tripod" on everything. So, I'm assuming I've got the same tripod. When I return from vacation, I'll send an update to the tripod's performance. Best Regards, Winn Horton Middleburg, Florida *********************************** See The Backcountry While You Can http://www.jacksonville.net/~denaliMike here: Were the legs extended? I use mine with the legs NOT extended. Pretty stable that way.
Added later:
Yes, the legs were extended. Both at the store and when I got mine home. I, too, plan to use it mostly not extended, as I enjoy using the telescope while sitting.
Subject: ETX-90 Focus? Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2000 09:22:31 From: Marko66@earthlink.net (Mark O'Brien) I have a ETX-90, and have been lookikg though it for a few months. I seem to have a hard time focusing on ET objects. I simply thought it was me, and what I did not know. However, I recently purchased a spotting scope (Astele 60, made in Russia) and everything is so clear, in focus, etc. What I am wondering, Is it possible that my ETX is a bit out of calibration? I have not had the nerve to hook up the Autostar yet. WHat do you think? Mark, Tucson, AZMike here: If you believe you can not reach a proper focus, try loosening the setscrew on the focus knob and slide the knob a little bit outward on the focus shaft. Retighten the setscrew and try to reach focus. Sometimes this is all that is required.
Subject: Re: etx90 barlow +50% Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 20:11:18 From: FaybE@aol.com thanks for your help. which barlow would you recommend for 3x? thus i take it there is no way to position 2x barlow to get extra 50%? (please excuse my somewhat limited grasp of mechanics of these matters.) again, thankyou for taking time. yours, OllO
Subject: HNSKY newsletter, the new SAC 7.1 deepsky database. Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 14:18:31 From: Han_Kleijn@compuserve.com (han kleijn) Newsletter of the HNSKY planetarium program. Date: 2000-6-16 Dear "Hallo northern sky" planetarium program user, The Saguaro Astronomy Club has created an other monumental work. They have released there new, highly improved SAC deepsky database version 7.0 and will release version 7.1 the next days. See what Steve Cou has to say in the text added to the end of this email. The number of objects is still a little more then 10.000 covering allmost all objects visible in amateur telescopes. So there is no need for UGC and PGC catalogs. SAC version 7.0 gives the latest and almost all answers for wrongly identified and missing NGC and IC puzzles. For background information it is a must to visit the internet domain "ngcic.com" of the NGC & IC project group. Very interesting historian information and other stories how they fixed/corrected missing and wrong entries of the NGC and IC deepsky catalog dated about 100 years ago. The Saguaro Astronomy Club can be found at http://saguaroastro.org/archive/home.htm. The SAC 7.1 database is now available as the standard HNS_SAC1.DAT, HNS_SAC2.DAT and HNS_SAC3.DAT files for HNSKY. Since the abbreviations and comments are often longer, I suggest to download HNSKY version 2.059. In older versions the statusbar text length is limited to 130 charactors only. You can use your old default.hns file but you have to switch on the stars to "ON" in the object menu. The following has changed in HNSKY since 2000-4-9: -00-06-14 Update for 2000+ plus help (v1.01) file with potporri of astronomical information such as annual meteor showers. -00-06-13 Release of version 2.053. Improved interpretator for abbreviations. -00-06-12 Release of version 2.052. Allows long messages on status bar. First preliminary version of deepsky databases based on SAC70. -00-06-07 Release of version 2.051. Improved time update routine. Up/down key for maximum star magnitude. Overvied for dark moonless nights for the next 30 days, Up/down key readable in "night vision mode". Action Arrow key in OBJECT menu improved. I will introduce HNSKY version 2.06 after two week or so. It will be almost identical to version 2.059. I like round numbers and I only want to improve a few very small things in HNSKY next time. Then hope again to slow down. Family is calling. And my new computerized telescope is coming... I still hope that HNSKY will described in Sky&Telescope or Astronomy one day. I you have good relations there, please inform them about HNSKY. That's all for this time. Thanks for all the replies and comments. Without those, this program would never be expanded to this state. ====Happy computing and clear skies, Han Kleijn, Bruehl Germany.==== ___________________________________________________________________________ The latest version can be downloaded from my web page: ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/han_kleijn/software.htm The program Hallo northern sky is an electronic version of the night sky. It displays all stars to about magnitude 12 (2.5 million stars) and 10607 deep sky objects. It also shows the all planets, Moon, Sun, moons of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, phases of the Moon and inner planets, solar and lunar eclipses, rings of Saturn and minor planets and comets. HNSKY has the ability to use the GSC or "Guide Star Catalog" and USNO CD-ROM database with a limiting magnitude of about 15 or more. The intention of the program is to familiarise you with the night sky and prepare yourself with a map for a night with your telescope. To help you with this, all deepsky objects are displayed in the correct size and orientation if available. This program is free. Please distribute and enjoy. Inform me if you liked it. Comments are always very welcome. This program stays copyright (C) Han Kleijn and you may not make money of it. Please distribute with original files only. ======="The README.TXT of the new SAC70 deepsky database" ==================================== Information on the Saguaro Astronomy Club Database version 7.0 dated June 4, 2000 by Steve Coe, SAC Vice President email: Steve Coe (stevecoe3@home.com) This club project started many years ago, when we wanted a listing of the brightest deep sky objects on our computers. Thinking it would be an easy task, here we are nearly 20 years later, still maintaining and updating a much larger listing of information about what to observe at the telescope. How far we have come from the list of objects from Burnham's Celestial Handbook, all typed in on my Apple II+. Time flies. As always, if you find an error, please let us know. This ZIP file contains five text files: This README.TXT file. SACDOC.TXT is the documentation for the SAC database, there is much information here on the data fields and what the data means. Please spend some time reading this info before trying to utilize the database, it will help you to use this data effectively. REVHIST.TXT is the revision history, a short file about the various releases of the SAC database. POTPORRI.TXT is a set of information about a wide variety of astronomical phenomena from white dwarf stars, red stars and meteor showers. These are useful files, but they did not fit the information style of the main database. SAC70.TXT is version 7.0 of the Saguaro Astronomy Club database in quote, comma, quote delimited form. Any modern database manager or spreadsheet will import the data in this form. I contains information on over 10,000 deepsky objects. There are a few changes to the database fields from the previous releases of the SAC database: 1) The SIZE field has been split into two fields, one for major axis and one for minor axis. The SIZE fields use the lower case letter [m] for arcminutes, [s] for arcseconds and [d] for degrees. Because the database is delimited (field separated) with a double quote, it was confusing in some programs to also use a double quote for arcseconds. 2) The addition of the BCHM field allows easy access to Messier or other references from prominent catalogs. 3) The NGC description field and the NOTES field are now next to each other, so that they can be easily included or left out of a printed observing list. Much time and effort was spent to update the data with information available on the NGCIC.ORG Web site. Thanks to Bob Erdmann for managing the site and providing this valuable resource. Both Wolfgang Steineke and Dr. Harold Corwin have many hours of searching for, and correcting, errors in the NGC. Their work is reflected in this release of the SAC database. A small fraction of the number of objects still persist as NONEXISTENT, compared to the beginning of this database. Brian Skiff of Lowell Obs. has also been a constant help with a variety of information about these deep sky objects. Thank you to the skill, knowledge and expertise of all who helped the Saguaro Astronomy Club create an excellent listing of what to observe in the deep sky. =======" REVHIST.TXT" ==================================== REVISION HISTORY for SAC DATABASE, The goal of the people working on the Saguaro Astronomy Club database has been to provide a listing which could yield an observing list for use at the telescope. The early versions covered plenty of objects for users of scopes up to 8" in size. As we added more objects and data, the list became more massive and we believe that it now covers a large portion of what could be seen in a telescope in the 10" to 14" range. Addition of many more objects will add many small and faint galaxies, seeing as that is about all that remains below 14 magnitude. We do not relish this task and probably will not undertake such a large work. Version 1.0 consisted of 1100 objects down to a magnitude limit of about 11.5. It was also the beginning of the navstar and multistr files. Version 2.0 started to add a variety of objects from the RNGC. We soon discovered an excellent list of corrections from Brian Skiff and Dr. Harold Corwin. Version 3.0 should not be used. It is easy to spot the erroneous data. Look at M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, if its' declination is -31, that is the bad version!! We certainly learned a lot about maintaining back ups to data. Version 4.0 combined data from version 2.0 with the data input by Jeff Weintraub from Sky Catalog 2000. This version contains much good info and started to show us how massive a fairly complete deep sky database was going to get. This was the first version to contain Dan Ward's Report Generator. This version was compressed with PKPAK 3.61. After the release of version 4.0 many SAC members joined together in a combined effort to try and find as much info as we could on objects each person was assigned. The listing of who-did-what is in SACDOC.TXT. Several intermediate versions were compiled within the club, and then: Version 5.0 fixed some problems with the DESCR field and included all the NOTES which members had found. With the inclusion of multistr, navstar, potporri and Jim Lucyk's photondx files, this was the best version to date. A medium to large telescope owner with good skies can keep busy with version 5 for many observing sessions. A.J. Crayon's install program will put this version onto hard disk. The files are no larger than 360K each, to accommodate BBS operators. SAC Report Generator has been rewritten to include several more features. This version was compressed with the old compression algorithm so that we would only have to include ARCE on disk to un-arc the files. Version 5.1 fixed a small problem with the Report Generator. It can now search for objects with lower case characters in the name, such as Cr or Tr. If you are using your own database manager or if you do not use SACREP to search for individual objects, the update is unnecessary. Version 5.2 added several corrections, given in the file "errata50.txt". Dan Ward updated the Report Generator. Several internal versions existed within the SAC as we updated the information and Dan Ward set up Report Generator to accomodate the changes. We dropped the SOURCE field, finding that we where doing a poor job of keeping track of where each objects info source. We added the SUBR field with info from RC3 on surface brightness. Sizes of several fields changed as the NOTES and NGC DESCR fields got larger. U2 and TIR fields got smaller because we found that we did not need to provide multiple chart numbers for each object. Version 6.0 contains all the changes mentioned above and accompanying changes made to Report Generator. Version 6.1 incorporates several changes which I believe are well worth doing. First, the database is in one large file and not small pieces, RA hour size. Second, nothing is compressed by the pkzip program, it all fits on one 1.44 Meg floppy. Third, the errors given below have been fixed in the data, I will maintain a complete errata list if you wish to add to it, please contact me. Version 6.2 takes care of a few errors, and make the data more consistent, such as finding a magnitude that was given as 08 and changing that to 08.0, so that all the data appears the same to the computer. Several SAC members have been working with the NGC project to update the NGC and make certain that all the objects are identified with the correct object in the sky. The fruit of this undertaking is in Version 7.0. Dr. Harold Corwin and Wolfgang Steinike have provided info on many NGC objects and have solved many puzzles concerning the NGC. The number of truly unknown or unverified objects has shrunk to a fraction of where we began and this version of the SAC database reflects that work.
Subject: Eyepiece Projection Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 11:43:49 From: GSkoubis@ussco.com (Skoubis, George) When shooting through an SLR attached to a camera adaptor using eyepiece projection, do you focus (i.e., the moon) through the eyepiece first and then attach the camera, or do you set your focus when all is attached by viewing through the camera? SkoubyMike here: With the camera lens removed for eyepiece projection, you have to focus on the camera's film plane, not to your eye. So you have to use the SLR viewfinder. Obviously a bright object is likely required. Some cameras have swappable viewfinders, some which work better with astrophotography.
Subject: etx90 barlow +50% Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 05:29:20 From: FaybE@aol.com hi there, want to thank you for your site which has been a help as i am a first telescope/etx owner. if you have a moment what would be best way for me to make my meade 126 barlow function for 3x magnification (as well as 2x)? or would i be better off with another barlow setup to complement my vixen 8-24mm zoom? i am wanting to achieve 50-150, 100-300, 150-450 magnification ratios. thanks again for your help. yours, OllOMike here: Best way to get 3X is to buy a 3X Barlow Lens. Unless you are real good at optics, modifying the 2X to get acceptable results would not be worth the effort.
Subject: GREAT SITE Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2000 16:16:31 From: TLINEMAN@webtv.net (THOMAS MAHONY) Found your site at scopetronics . I own a etx 125 started with the deluxe tripod it was too shaky returned that one. Bought the advance tripod with the fixed leg height but that assume all ground is level traded those in for the adjustable legs . Now i have a nice tripod . I would like to know if you have a diagram of how to mount the scope in the polar home position . Again love the site and thanks. TOMMike here: You'll need some sort of a wedge to mount the ETX in the polar mode. See the Accessories - Tripods page and the Tech Tips page for info.
Added later:
Thanks for your speedy reply . I forgot to mention that the tripod has a wedge .The diagram meade supples with it meade said was wrong .I look though your site but i did not see instructions on mounting the scope to the wedge in the in the polar home position or i missed it.Mike here: Sorry about the confusion but which Tripod and Wedge do you have? In any case, you are likely correct that there are no revised instructions about it on my site.
Subject: site Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2000 14:06:58 From: rmsandy@roanoke.infi.net (Robert Sandy) Very nice ETX site! Great Casio shots! Bob http://www.roanoke.infi.net/~rmsandy/astrophotography.html
Subject: [Fwd: RTMC trip] - another stolen telescope report Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 15:55:41 From: vernlw@teleport.com (Vern Weiss) Bruce Sayre wrote: > Hi, Vern and Jackie, > > We enjoyed your note. Sounds like the trip up 395 was a success for you. Nothing like a > little desert heat to make you long for cool, cool Oregon. > > We really enjoyed ourselves at RTMC, in no small part because of your company. It's not > quite a star party, is it? More a bunch of telescope nuts who are more interested in > building than looking. But it's a fun group. > > A sad note: someone stole Tom Noe's 10-inch Teleport. Here's a note he sent to RTMC (Mel > posted it on the ATM list for him): > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > TO BOB AND ALL AT RTMC: Thanks for a great telescope makers > conference. In spite of the unfortunate ending for myself and Linda, it was a good > one. I want to thank all who worked so hard to make it happen. > > It would perhaps be appropriate for all of you to line up and kick me > in the rear. I ignored your warnings and left my scope unattended and > vulnerable, and know I have only myself to blame. The integrity of > 99.9% of our community lulled me into ignoring the .1% who would do > something like that. > > I appreciate your offer to help spread the word via the RTMC web site. > Perhaps I'm still just naive, but I think there's a small chance my > scope will come back. The following is a plea to the one who stole it, > plus a description and photos for those who may encounter it sometime. > > TO THE THIEF: There are a lot of fine people in our astronomy > community who share a love of the sky and appreciation for the equipment that > helps us explore it. Have you looked at where this act puts you with > respect to that community? Have you asked yourself if that's where you > want to be? Can you ever really enjoy using a stolen telescope? Can > you ever share it with a friend? You must know that the rest of our > community will watch for you. > > Have you considered how you have affected other people in that > community? That scope didn't come off an assembly line. It is so much > more than its $2850 price. Besides the $1100 in parts, it's well over > two weeks of my life, and is a vital part of me. Making scopes > professionally is a labor of love, but is also now my livelihood. When > you stole it, you took almost 10% of my years effort, and almost 20% > of its net income. > > The lady in Oregon who had waited months for it will now wait longer. > Nine others who have put down deposits will see their deliveries slip. > I won't have another 10" scope for myself or to show until next March. > > We all make mistakes. Many of them can never be undone, but this one > can. Just put a label on my scope that says "Shipper #760-477, phone > 972-442-5456", set it inside the front of any UPS office in the > country, and leave. > > If you do that, I promise to never press charges against you, and that > I will in fact speak up on your behalf should you ever be caught. If you > don't, and the scope is traced to you, I will do all I can to insure > you are punished to the full extent of the law. At this point, you have a > choice. I hope you make it right for everyone, especially you. > > - ---------------------------------------------------- > TO MEMBERS OF THE ASTRONOMY COMMUNITY: Please look out for my > telescope. It should be easy to identify, as there are only a dozen > like it in the world. It is a 10" Teleport, the "telescoping telescope" > that lifts up for use. Closed, it's a small box. Open it's a 10" F/5 Dob. > It has a shroud with light baffles, a 2" custom helical focuser, and a > fold out Crossman LED type finder. Photos of the scope open and closed are > shown below. > > A label on the mirror box has the name of my wife, Linda Silas, my > signature, and the serial number TP10-004. The label is easily > removed, but the same serial number is also engraved on the edge of the Zambuto > mirror, and is visible when the mirror cell is removed. The mirror is > also easly identified even if the serial number is obliterated. It is > 7/8" thick Pyrex, with a flat ground back and a 3/8" wide bevel around > the back edge. > > Please learn what you can, about anyone you see with a 10" Teleport > (especially a vehicle license number) and contact me at once. The > thief missed the scopes ground board and slip cover (as shown folded up on > the open scope in the photo). A crude ground board and the absence of a > cover would also help quickly identify it. > > Thanks, > > Tom Noe > 4030 N. Hwy 78 > Wylie, TX 75098 > 972-442-5456 > tomnoe@wt.net > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Most unfortunate. This incident has left a lot of us pondering the risks of stolen > telescopes at star parties. The lighter and more easily set up a telescope is, the worse > the risk. My own telescopes are way to complicated to be lifted up with one hand and > carried away like a Teleport. Of course, there's Steve Swayze's theft -- someone just > climbed into his van and drove off, telescope and all. I suppose one should take > precautions against the 0.01% who live on the dark side. > > I'm pretty sure we'll be attending OSP, but we don't know what day we'll arrive. We'll let > you know when we figure it out. > > We're enjoying the pretty pitcher you gave us. Last night it was full of strawberries. > Thanks so much. > > Good summer stargazing, > > Bruce Sayre > P. O. Box 544 > Applegate, CA 95703 USA > mailto:sayre@foothill.net > http://www.foothill.net/~sayre I'm forwarding this to all my astronomy groups. somewhere this stolen Teleport has to show up. I have one (SN 003) and love it. I talked with Tom and Linda at RTMC and there are not two nicer people in the world. May the thief be condemned to study the sun forever without a filter. -- Vern Weiss 503 236-1059 Darker, clearer skies!Added later:
Here is a print of the scope that was stolen (the smaller one on the left). Tom oe and his wife, Linda are seated. Tom's email is >tomnoe@wtd.net< if anyone has any information or questions.
Subject: help Mike Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 15:18:16 From: garyc@voicenet.com (gary) I have been saving for a etx90 for quite a while and just saw the ads for the 60 and 70 I am so glad I cam across your web site it is very informative at first I thought $350 was great for the 70 as it includes the autostar with but as I read in the tips for new users the lens are nowhere near as good as the 90 and viewing is very small.I hate to bug you but would you happen to know a website that sells the ETX90 at the lowest price? Also can I use it right out of the box or do I need all these barlow lens that I keep reading about? As you can see I am a real novice I love the stars but never owned a tetescope and thought now that I saved up I will get a pretty good one. thanks for all the help Gary CopestakeMike here: ETX models continue in high demand, so like gasoline, low prices are rare. Sometimes places like JCPenney or The Nature Company have sales. However, your best bet is to buy from a dealer that knows what they are selling. The Nature Company, Discovery Channel Store, and telescope dealers online (like Shutan and many others), are good sources. Shutan sells used ones and sometimes you can find used ones on eBay. As to accessories, you can start with the just the standard supplied items and grow from there as your experience and enjoyment (and bank account) expand. I would recommend a 2X Barlow Lens right away as that will double the magnification you have available. Then as you add more eyepieces, you can continue to use the Barlow on them. Don't feel that you need to add the Autostar right away. Millions of amateur astronomers have gotten by without a GOTO computer for centuries. Learning your way around the night sky can be part of the enjoyment.
Subject: 8-inch "ETX" Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 20:21:21 From: bob@shutan.com (Bob Shutan) Since aperture fever is always ever present... thought your readers might be interested in knowing about the new Meade LX90 8" GOTO scope. It's an 8" SCT that is factory equipped with a 30,223-object Autostar! It looks like that really-big ETX on your home page! We have it listed at our web site www.shutan.com in the telescope section of our online catalog. Cheers! Bob Shutan bob@shutan.comMike here: Click for the www.shutan.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=ML8F1&Category_Code=telcat6 direct link. Click for the Meade announcement.
Subject: ETX Delux Field Tripod Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 18:47:39 From: Homda1@aol.com Has anyone experienced problems with the ETX Deluxe Field tripod? I have had problems with the legs slipping down even though the wing nuts are as tight as I can get them. Last night (middle of the night) one tripod leg slid down and my new ETX 125 bit the dust. Actually it was the cement floor of the garage. Would appreciate any feedback before I contact Meade. Pete Burtis Homda1@AOL.COMMike here: There have been some reports of legs slippage. A fix is on the Tech Tips page under the "Meade Tripod mod" from 9/10/99. Scopetronix sells a "Tripod Leg Clamp Set" that can help. Others have just inserted a US Quarter or similar disk between the leg and the bolt.
Subject: Linear S4 with CCD+ETX Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 13:46:22 From: guillaume.dubos@freesbee.fr (Guillaume Dubos) I've done my first CCD comet pictures with what I call my ETX-GP. I've imaged C/1999S4 (aka linearS4), this summer comet. Pictures are on the page : etxgp.free.fr/Audine/ETX/LinearS4/LinearS4eng.html (french version available at etxgp.free.fr/Audine/ETX/LinearS4/LinearS4.html) Maybe it's a little out of topic but I couldn't resist :-) Clear skies Guillaume Dubos