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Date: 23 Nov 2006 04:32:37
From: Terry B
Subject: Using a C14
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Dear All
I have started to use the orange tube C14 at our local club.
(see http://www.unentas.armidale.com/history.htm )
It is an old scope and has limited function.
It has a good RA drive that seems reasonably accurate. There are motors in
both directions and 2 different slewing speeds.
The problem I have with it is aiming it at all. I can release the clutches
and aim it at anything I can see in the finder with little problems but star
hopping seems very difficult. There is only a limited amount of travel on
the worm in dec. I can use the hand controller within that limit but then
would need to release the clutch and lose where I am aiming. Is there some
trick to using this scope?
Terry B
Armidale
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 05:23:43
From: George Normandin
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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"Terry B" < > wrote
.........
> ........ Is there some
> trick to using this scope?
>
Yes, and if you sell me one of those old C-14 counter weight bars I'll
tell you what it is! :)
I sometimes use a C-14 that is just a few years younger than the one you
have. It has both mechanical setting circles and old Lumicon digital setting
circles (from the late 80's, but similar to the current NGC MAX). Both will
put any object in a low power eyepiece. The scope also has a 70mm finder
that was added. I'd suggest that you either add digital setting circles or
learn how to use the mechanical ones.
George N
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 05:48:50
From: Terry B
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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"George Normandin" <georgepn@worldnet.att.net > wrote in message
news:zfa9h.337274$QZ1.176928@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> "Terry B" <> wrote
> .........
> > ........ Is there some
> > trick to using this scope?
> >
>
> Yes, and if you sell me one of those old C-14 counter weight bars I'll
> tell you what it is! :)
>
> I sometimes use a C-14 that is just a few years younger than the one
you
> have. It has both mechanical setting circles and old Lumicon digital
setting
> circles (from the late 80's, but similar to the current NGC MAX). Both
will
> put any object in a low power eyepiece. The scope also has a 70mm finder
> that was added. I'd suggest that you either add digital setting circles or
> learn how to use the mechanical ones.
>
> George N
>
Thanks George.
There are digital setting circles on the scope but I haven't worked out how
to use them yet. I am not in the habit of using the setting circles as I
found them pretty useless on my scope (vixen VC200L) and found star hopping
very efficient. I will have to learn.
Terry B
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 07:28:22
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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If you're well polar aligned, the C14's setting circles are quite
capable of getting you within .5 degree of targets with a little care.
On Nov 22, 11:48 pm, "Terry B" <bohl...@optusnet.nospam.com.au > wrote:
> "George Normandin" <georg...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in messagenews:zfa9h.337274$QZ1.176928@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
>
>
> > "Terry B" <> wrote
> > .........
> > > ........ Is there some
> > > trick to using this scope?
>
> > Yes, and if you sell me one of those old C-14 counter weight bars I'll
> > tell you what it is! :)
>
> > I sometimes use a C-14 that is just a few years younger than the one
> you
> > have. It has both mechanical setting circles and old Lumicon digital
> setting
> > circles (from the late 80's, but similar to the current NGC MAX). Both
> will
> > put any object in a low power eyepiece. The scope also has a 70mm finder
> > that was added. I'd suggest that you either add digital setting circles or
> > learn how to use the mechanical ones.
>
> > George NThanks George.
> There are digital setting circles on the scope but I haven't worked out how
> to use them yet. I am not in the habit of using the setting circles as I
> found them pretty useless on my scope (vixen VC200L) and found star hopping
> very efficient. I will have to learn.
> Terry B- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 07:27:14
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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HI:
You're trying to use the handcontroller for star-hopping? Not very
practical...on these old scopes it's really only good for object
centering and guiding corrections.
On Nov 22, 10:32 pm, "Terry B" <bohl...@optusnet.nospam.com.au > wrote:
> Dear All
> I have started to use the orange tube C14 at our local club.
> (seehttp://www.unentas.armidale.com/history.htm)
> It is an old scope and has limited function.
> It has a good RA drive that seems reasonably accurate. There are motors in
> both directions and 2 different slewing speeds.
> The problem I have with it is aiming it at all. I can release the clutches
> and aim it at anything I can see in the finder with little problems but star
> hopping seems very difficult. There is only a limited amount of travel on
> the worm in dec. I can use the hand controller within that limit but then
> would need to release the clutch and lose where I am aiming. Is there some
> trick to using this scope?
>
> Terry B
> Armidale
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 22:26:42
From: Terry B
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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"RMOLLISE" <rmollise@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:1164295634.510319.68310@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com...
> HI:
>
> You're trying to use the handcontroller for star-hopping? Not very
> practical...on these old scopes it's really only good for object
> centering and guiding corrections.
>
>
I found this out. It is not much use except for centering objects. This is
very different to my scope where the hand controller is very good. I now
usually use GOTO so am also out of practice with star hopping.
Terry B
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 21:33:02
From: nytecam
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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Terry B Wrote:
> Dear All
> I have started to use the orange tube C14 at our local club.
> (see http://www.unentas.armidale.com/history.htm )
> It is an old scope and has limited function.
> It has a good RA drive that seems reasonably accurate. There are motors
> in
> both directions and 2 different slewing speeds.
> The problem I have with it is aiming it at all. I can release the
> clutches
> and aim it at anything I can see in the finder with little problems but
> star
> hopping seems very difficult. There is only a limited amount of travel
> on
> the worm in dec. I can use the hand controller within that limit but
> then
> would need to release the clutch and lose where I am aiming. Is there
> some
> trick to using this scope?
>
> Terry B Armidale
I have an orange C8 and there's no problem releasing the RA/Dec clamps
for starhopping via the small finder and clamping Dec again and using
the RA wheel [lightly clamped] as a hand-drive when equatorial mounted.
Nytecam
--
nytecam
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 22:56:45
From: Eric
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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Terry B wrote:
> Dear All
> I have started to use the orange tube C14 at our local club.
> (see http://www.unentas.armidale.com/history.htm )
> It is an old scope and has limited function.
> It has a good RA drive that seems reasonably accurate. There are motors in
> both directions and 2 different slewing speeds.
> The problem I have with it is aiming it at all. I can release the clutches
> and aim it at anything I can see in the finder with little problems but
> star hopping seems very difficult. There is only a limited amount of
> travel on the worm in dec. I can use the hand controller within that limit
> but then would need to release the clutch and lose where I am aiming. Is
> there some trick to using this scope?
>
> Terry B
> Armidale
What does something like say M31 look like visually through a big scope like
that?
Eric
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Date: 25 Nov 2006 08:29:32
From: Terry B
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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"Eric" <NoOne@invalid.com > wrote in message
news:lNSdnYWuitQyCvvYnZ2dnUVZ_uOdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Terry B wrote:
>
>> >
> > Terry B
> > Armidale
> What does something like say M31 look like visually through a big scope
like
> that?
> Eric
>
Eric.
We looked at M31 last week. It is very low in the northern sky from our
lattitude and November is the only time is is easily seen in the evenings.
It is quite an impressive scene. With a 40mm eyepiece is still filled the
field. I could not make out the arms but it had a very dense central region.
I was able to frame both M31 and M32 just in the same field.
Terry B
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Date: 25 Nov 2006 01:56:45
From: Eric
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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Terry B wrote:
>
> "Eric" <NoOne@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:lNSdnYWuitQyCvvYnZ2dnUVZ_uOdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> Terry B wrote:
>>
>>> >
>> > Terry B
>> > Armidale
>> What does something like say M31 look like visually through a big scope
> like
>> that?
>> Eric
>>
>
> Eric.
> We looked at M31 last week. It is very low in the northern sky from our
> lattitude and November is the only time is is easily seen in the evenings.
> It is quite an impressive scene. With a 40mm eyepiece is still filled the
> field. I could not make out the arms but it had a very dense central
> region. I was able to frame both M31 and M32 just in the same field.
> Terry B
Thanks, Maybe someday i'll get to take a look through a nice scope like
that. I did a quick check and a 14 SCT would run around $5500 to $6000
which i could do but my wife would have a stroke.
Ever take a look at Saturn or Jupiter with it?(I'm sure you have) Must be an
incredible sight.
Eric
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Date: 25 Nov 2006 07:34:45
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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Hi:
It depends on what you want to see of M31. If you want details, like
NGC 206, the big star cloud; dust near the nucleus; the globulars;
etc., a C14 is a wonderful choice. OTOH, if you want to see ALL of M31
with it "looking like a galaxy," with it's dustlanes on display, you
need the widefield of a small refractor. That's why, much as I love my
SCTs, you'll almost always find a smallish APO piggybacked on my CATs.
Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
<http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland >
Eric wrote:
> What does something like say M31 look like visually through a big scope like
> that?
> Eric
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Date: 25 Nov 2006 19:57:34
From: SkySea
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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As others have pointed out, the fork version is not well-suited to
star-hopping. However, a well-aligned and poweful finder scope should
be sufficient to get you to a field well within the range oif the
dec's worm gear. The one on mine is a 10x40 (a bit dark for use in my
light-polluted skies, but I've found almost everything I've needed
to).
There are some things to help along the way. Before starting, position
the dec arm midway along the threaded shaft. That'll give you equal
leeway for error when you get to the field you want.
Balance the tube in dec so you can ease up on that clutch enough to
hop by hand using the finder without having to release/engage the
clutch. Remember to fully engage the clutch when you start using the
motor again. You can do the same for the RA clutch. I find that when
manually slewing, it's easier to forget about the hand controller
until its time has come.
If the finder is inadequate, you can get a piggyback camera mount (if
you don't have one already), and mount a decent pair of binocluars on
the scope. That'll definitely get you within range for the finder or a
wide-field eyepiece. This can be an enormous help in light-polluted
skies, or if you don't want to hold charts upside-down.
Get used to using the finder with star charts for hopping. I rarely
use the Telrad, because light pollution pretty much knocks out all the
naked-eye stars anyway. The finder is your friend. Get to know it.
On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 04:32:37 GMT, "Terry B"
<bohlsen@optusnet.nospam.com.au > wrote:
>Dear All
>I have started to use the orange tube C14 at our local club.
>(see http://www.unentas.armidale.com/history.htm )
>It is an old scope and has limited function.
>It has a good RA drive that seems reasonably accurate. There are motors in
>both directions and 2 different slewing speeds.
>The problem I have with it is aiming it at all. I can release the clutches
>and aim it at anything I can see in the finder with little problems but star
>hopping seems very difficult. There is only a limited amount of travel on
>the worm in dec. I can use the hand controller within that limit but then
>would need to release the clutch and lose where I am aiming. Is there some
>trick to using this scope?
>
>Terry B
>Armidale
>
=============
- Dale Gombert (SkySea at aol.com)
122.38W, 47.58N, W. Seattle, WA
http://flavorj.com/~skysea
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Date: 25 Nov 2006 12:07:20
From: laura halliday
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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Eric wrote:
> What does something like say M31 look like visually through a big scope like
> that?
I don't own a C14, but have used the C14 at Star Hill Inn.
Enormous fun...
In a scope that big, galaxies start to look, well, like galaxies.
You see spiral structure and detail, dust lanes, star clusters
and nebulae. They still don't look like photographs, but
they're lots more than faint fuzzy blobs.
Dark skies are important, as always. Under really dark
skies a few weeks ago (M33 was naked-eye) I had a
breathtaking view of M31 through my TOA-130. With
the wider field of view (others have mentioned the
importance of this) the spiral structure was obvious,
and I could see detail in the dust lanes. No globulars
in M31 (a stretch in a 5 inch!), though NGC 604 in
M33 was obvious.
Laura Halliday VE7LDH "That's a totally illegal,
Grid: CN89mg madcap scheme. I like it!"
ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - H. Pearce
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Date: 02 Dec 2006 04:26:24
From: ancient1
Subject: Re: Using a C14
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> I have started to use the orange tube C14 at our local club.
>
Is there some
> trick to using this scope?
>
> Terry B
> Armidale
>
Yeah, there sure is.. I have a C8 of the mid 70's vintage. Built before
computers were common or even available to get the most of one of these
meant really learning how to find your way around the sky, learning to use
star charts (an own several).
The hardest part is of course pointing the darn things. The Telrad was a
good beginning but I'm of an age where the bending as stooping to use one
was making enjoying the scope harder, and harder..
Now for my trick.. Replace the old finder scope with a right angle finder
(at least 7x50 mm), however get one that has a corrected view.. Also I use
a diagonal that is also corrected view..
(btw Orion is a good source for both.) Now I mounted one of those green
laser pointers (also available at Orion) with a mounting from Lumicon..
Once aligned properly the laser will take you to the area of sky you want
and the finder will help you zone in on what you want to observe. In fact
some times the objects are too dim to see in the finder but the laser puts
me close enough to scan for the object..
Star maps are a matter of personal choice. I have several but most often
use Sky and
telescopes "pocket atlas" 7.5th mag max @$20, and the soft cover Millennium
Star Atlas 11th mag max @$149.00 (ouch, but worth it)
At this point it's just a matter of practice, and learning the sky it's not
an easy way to do astronomy but it is a time honored method..
Hope this helps
Ancient1
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