Lidl "Computer Telescope" forum

I put the two side by side. Optically, they seem to be on a par - with 25mm eyepieces the views were pretty much identical - now this surprised me because of the difference in focal length. The Meade mount is great, the Skylux mount is not. Some tinkering is about to start...! The skylux finder scope though is absolutely fantastic! Its bracket isn't...
Dave

Dave,
With the longer focal length if the Skylux, you should be able to get higher mag images, (whats the focal length of that scope) or did you mean when you were using the 3x barlow on the etx?

I know I said it before but I'm really impressed with the barlow that came with this, I usually hate the things and avoid them if I can, but it work well here.

I also have to say that I'm happily surprised with the ETX mount, I thought there would be alot more play in the system but when the locks are closed, you need to use force to move an axis and there is no wobble or slack, one thing I did notice is that there is some backlash in the drive which does push the image around after you finish using any of the arrows on the keypad, but its not terrible, maybe in the order of a few arcminutes, its easily made up for by under/over compensating your manuvers..
Let us know how you get on.

I should have known that Dave Lillis would beat me to getting images up here from the ETX!

I tried working with the 3x barlow last night on saturn and the moon, I did try a lunar filter and a UV blocking filter but it didnt make much difference. For the image below I just used the webcam and the 3x barlow. The lunar filter did get rid of the rather coulourful moon that people have mentioned, though this abberation was not visible in stars.

Anyway, my image:


By far the biggest issue was with focusing. at 3x the image really bounces around when trying to focus so some form of focus gizmo would be a big advantage.

Saturn did look a little better through the eyepiece and titan was visible. I count get titan on the webcam, but I did on the 4" Mak (along with 3 other moons).

Cheers,
~Al

Albert,
Thats because I stayed up all night,
but you are the first to get the moon through the toucam
and it came out well, and yes focusing is a complete pain when pointing high, thats why I only went for Saturn with the webcam.
I've ordered the flexible extension for the focuser from scopetronix, this should make life much easier.

Considering the images the ETX is producing, it hard to believe that this thing is only 2 cm bigger then the viewfinder on my other scope!

Dave,
Shazzie here,a.k.a Sharon,the newest member od Shannonside.I am definitely doing something wrong.I've got fairly good clear images of the moon but nothing like you guys and when I try changing eyepieces I lose focus completely :twisted: Being a complete beginner,I know I'm doing something wrong,any ideas :?Also I think I've found Saturn but I cant get the image to stay still long enough to focus.Am finding it awkward using the autostar where I live cos its so bright and full of houses so am trying to find everything manually.
Would appreciate advice from anyone! :oops:
Shazzie

Hi Sharon,
I'd imagine its focusing thats causing you all the grief?!?
I also noticed thats you need to hold the controller steady since its attached to the base of the scope, if the cable wobbles, to scope will shake slightly making for blurred images.
What kind of camera are you using ?

The reason thats saturn is moving out of the field of view, is backlash in the motors, with practive you'll be able to compensate for this.
I can show how in the next meeting this Wednesday, I'll be bringing in the scope for a demo.
You really need to run the easy star allign, it makes life so much easier.

Hey Dave.
Focusing seems to be the problem,not using any camera yet,would like to see a few more things first.Would be glad of a demo on wednesday and I'll run the alignment in the meantime.