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Meade ETX 70 First Impressions
- spudnik
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20 years 4 weeks ago #6202
by spudnik
"Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine" Sir Arthur Eddington
Meade ETX 70 First Impressions was created by spudnik
Ok, this is my first ever scope and I wanted to give my impressions on it as a beginner.
First of all I haven't really got to use it a lot yet as it's been far too cloudy over the last few days. I did however get some nice views of the moon. Awesome.
For what I wanted it for the scope is pretty good (i think), its portable, easy to set up, its goto is definately a bonus for a beginner and itll complement my 10" dob nicely (whenever I finish it.......). Plus it was a bargain, good ol lidl.
I set it up and wandered out last night. It was cloudy but auriga and surrounds were clear enough. I aligned to north as best I could (i have no compass and polaris wasnt visible). I needed to set it up for two stars then to align it properly. So I set it up to capella, and eventually settled on what I thought was deneb (its pretty difficult to figure out which star is which when its cloudy!). It managed to find the moon on its own after that :shock: . The goto was working fairly well for a while but then disaster. I tried the andromeda galaxy (which I've seen before through binos) but couldn't find it.....maybe the moon was too bright? Anyway I kept searching for it and I must have confused the scope because it ended up thinking andormeda was in the middle of my hedge and I couldnt get it aligned again (damn clouds). Anyway, I dont care I got some great views of the moon; would've stayed out there all night if the clouds didnt ruin my plans.
Some things I dislike about it though. when the scope is tilted waaay up its a pain in the arse to use the focus knob and its a bit jerky when moved manually, ie without the motor. The left to right inversion also takes a bit of getting used to.
There was also something weird. When I was looking at the moon there was a thin bright yellow ring surrounding it. Is this a natural phenomenon or is this a failing of the optics...? I'm thinking optics, right?
All in all i think it was a good purchase.....plus I got a bag!
First of all I haven't really got to use it a lot yet as it's been far too cloudy over the last few days. I did however get some nice views of the moon. Awesome.
For what I wanted it for the scope is pretty good (i think), its portable, easy to set up, its goto is definately a bonus for a beginner and itll complement my 10" dob nicely (whenever I finish it.......). Plus it was a bargain, good ol lidl.
I set it up and wandered out last night. It was cloudy but auriga and surrounds were clear enough. I aligned to north as best I could (i have no compass and polaris wasnt visible). I needed to set it up for two stars then to align it properly. So I set it up to capella, and eventually settled on what I thought was deneb (its pretty difficult to figure out which star is which when its cloudy!). It managed to find the moon on its own after that :shock: . The goto was working fairly well for a while but then disaster. I tried the andromeda galaxy (which I've seen before through binos) but couldn't find it.....maybe the moon was too bright? Anyway I kept searching for it and I must have confused the scope because it ended up thinking andormeda was in the middle of my hedge and I couldnt get it aligned again (damn clouds). Anyway, I dont care I got some great views of the moon; would've stayed out there all night if the clouds didnt ruin my plans.
Some things I dislike about it though. when the scope is tilted waaay up its a pain in the arse to use the focus knob and its a bit jerky when moved manually, ie without the motor. The left to right inversion also takes a bit of getting used to.
There was also something weird. When I was looking at the moon there was a thin bright yellow ring surrounding it. Is this a natural phenomenon or is this a failing of the optics...? I'm thinking optics, right?
All in all i think it was a good purchase.....plus I got a bag!
"Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine" Sir Arthur Eddington
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- spudnik
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20 years 3 weeks ago #6236
by spudnik
"Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine" Sir Arthur Eddington
Replied by spudnik on topic Re: Meade ETX 70 First Impressions
i just realised this should probably be in the Observing Equipment section.....
could some kindly moderator please move it?? :oops:
could some kindly moderator please move it?? :oops:
"Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine" Sir Arthur Eddington
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- dave_lillis
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20 years 3 weeks ago #6244
by dave_lillis
Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: Meade ETX 70 First Impressions
Thats chromatic abberation,
I found that I coukld induce it be having my eye too far from the eyepice,
and if I have my eye dead center and close to the lens, the yellow goes away ?? a wierd affect that I've not seen before.
I found that I coukld induce it be having my eye too far from the eyepice,
and if I have my eye dead center and close to the lens, the yellow goes away ?? a wierd affect that I've not seen before.
Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
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- spudnik
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20 years 3 weeks ago #6245
by spudnik
"Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine" Sir Arthur Eddington
Replied by spudnik on topic Re: Meade ETX 70 First Impressions
i even managed to get it in green too.....weirdest thing to see the moon like that........
I looked up those meade ma eyepieces. Bottom of the barrell eyepieces apparently ( www.scopereviews.com/page3.html ). So, psychadelic effects are to be expected then I guess......
I looked up those meade ma eyepieces. Bottom of the barrell eyepieces apparently ( www.scopereviews.com/page3.html ). So, psychadelic effects are to be expected then I guess......
"Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine" Sir Arthur Eddington
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- dmcdona
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20 years 3 weeks ago #6269
by dmcdona
Replied by dmcdona on topic Re: Meade ETX 70 First Impressions
Spudnik - bottom of the barrel yes, but better than those supplied with the Skylux!
Wait 'til you get your hands on a 40mm Televue Nagler.... :shock:
I'm new to refractors so I'm looking forward to a psychedelic viewing session!
Dave
Wait 'til you get your hands on a 40mm Televue Nagler.... :shock:
I'm new to refractors so I'm looking forward to a psychedelic viewing session!
Dave
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- albertw
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20 years 3 weeks ago #6272
by albertw
bottom of Meades barrel would be a compliment to most eyepieces you get with scopes!
Those $500 hand grenades?
I've looked through a nagler once, and it felt as though I was falling into the eyepiece. Comparing these things to normal eyepieces is like comparing a TV to an IMAX theater! Once of these days I'll splash out on one.
Cheers,
~Al (yep cloudy and foggy again in Dublin!)
Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/
Replied by albertw on topic Re: Meade ETX 70 First Impressions
Spudnik - bottom of the barrel yes, but better than those supplied with the Skylux!
bottom of Meades barrel would be a compliment to most eyepieces you get with scopes!
Wait 'til you get your hands on a 40mm Televue Nagler.... :shock:
Those $500 hand grenades?
I've looked through a nagler once, and it felt as though I was falling into the eyepiece. Comparing these things to normal eyepieces is like comparing a TV to an IMAX theater! Once of these days I'll splash out on one.
Cheers,
~Al (yep cloudy and foggy again in Dublin!)
Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/
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