Re: Disastrous optics cleaning!
George it sounds like this is the opportunity to put away the white EDGE HD tube & upgrade to a carbon fiber version from Public Missles that already has a darker interior & your scope will look great, too. Plus the carbon fiber will reduce the weight of the scope by a couple of pounds, also. Fernando
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Re: Disastrous optics cleaning!
I had deposits on the inside of the corrector plate and cleaned them by inserting my hand bent at the wrist through the secondary hole - without removing the corrector. So it can be done on a C14. I guess one can also reach the primary if need be. Alexei
I have only cleaned the outside of the corrector on my C 14 Edge. Dew spots cleaned easily with cotton balls and optic cleaning solution. My mirror looks pristine. The scope is about 10 years old and lives in a roll off roof observatory. Lou
?Starizona have some great videos on optics cleaning.? Just some gentle advice though, don't sniff even small traces of acetone - it destroys the mucous membranes!
good luck.
Paul
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Re: Disastrous optics cleaning!
I have only cleaned the outside of the corrector on my C 14 Edge. Dew spots cleaned easily with cotton balls and optic cleaning solution. My mirror looks pristine. The scope is about 10 years old and lives in a roll off roof observatory. Lou
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On Mar 29, 2022, at 4:34 AM, paul K <paulskirk53@...> wrote:
?Starizona have some great videos on optics cleaning.? Just some gentle advice though, don't sniff even small traces of acetone - it destroys the mucous membranes!
good luck.
Paul
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Re: Disastrous optics cleaning!
Starizona have some great videos on optics cleaning.? Just some gentle advice though, don't sniff even small traces of acetone - it destroys the mucous membranes!
good luck.
Paul
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Re: Disastrous optics cleaning!
I haven't had to repaint the inside of the tube, but I did once take the OTA of a very old-model C-14 pretty well apart -- including removing the primary -- and I documented what I did here:
Perhaps that will help if you have to delve further into your own instrument, but as I said, my work was done on a very old model.
-- Jay Reynolds Freeman
---------------------
Jay_Reynolds_Freeman@...
(personal web site)
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On Mar 28, 2022, at 13:00, George Dunham via groups.io <gdunham@...> wrote:
I cleaned the optics inside and out on my C14EdgeHD today. It's been 4 years and it had gotten pretty bad. I took off the corrector and let it bathe in a soap solution and copiously sprayed the primary with what I thought was a dawn soap/water solution, blotted with cotton balls. At some point I noticed black marks on my gloves and thought perhaps it was some grease from the baffle tube. It turned out to be dissolving black paint from the inside of the tube. This whole affair turned into a panic mode operation. I finally got to a point where I believe I got everything off the primary and it looked pretty clean without streaks. In the meantime the paint on the inside of the tube near the primary has been streaked, blotted, and generally destroyed. I am assuming for now that the soap/water solution was something else. Perhaps acetone? My nose doesn't work so I can't tell from smelling. I just can't fathom why I would of put a solvent like that into my optical cleaning solution. OR...has anyone out there had the black paint inside their C14 dissolve in water and soap. Man! that was a big FUBAR project, I hope I never experience again. I will have my wife smell the solutions to see whats what. I may need to repaint the inside but that will be a whole other project.
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Disastrous optics cleaning!
I cleaned the optics inside and out on my C14EdgeHD today.? It's been 4 years and it had gotten pretty bad.? I took off the corrector and let it bathe in a soap solution and copiously sprayed the primary with what I thought was a dawn soap/water solution, blotted with cotton balls.? At some point I noticed black marks on my gloves and thought perhaps it was some grease from the baffle tube.? It turned out to be dissolving black paint from the inside of the tube.? This whole affair turned into a panic mode operation.? I finally got to a point where I believe I got everything off the primary and it looked pretty clean without streaks.? In the meantime the paint on the inside of the tube near the primary has been streaked, blotted, and generally destroyed.? I am assuming for now that the soap/water solution was something else.? Perhaps acetone?? My nose doesn't work so I can't tell from smelling.? I just can't fathom why I would of put a solvent like that into my optical cleaning solution.? OR...has anyone out there had the black paint inside their C14 dissolve in water and soap.? Man! that was a big FUBAR project, I hope I never experience again.? I will have my wife smell the solutions to see whats what.?? I may need to repaint the inside but that will be a whole other project.
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An alternate to precise tracking of the moon for imaging purposes, might be post processing software used for stacking multiple images of the moon and planets (usually individually extracted images from a video). They use selected common points of reference (like central crater uplifts or other stand out points). I don't know how precise you have to be. but the moon also changes size during the course of a night, as the earth turns, moving the viewer closer or further away.
Keith
On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 09:49:28 PM CST, Benoit Schillings <benoit.schillings@...> wrote:
your mount looks like it obviously can be programmed for non stellar
tracking rate.
starry night must have some way to set the tracking rate for an object
you click on.
-- benoit
On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 7:24 PM Ajay Talwar via groups.io <ajaytalwar80= [email protected]> wrote: > > Ah, I rather should have mentioned my mount instead of telescope. > > Mount is Celestron CGE Pro. I usually use Starry Night to control my telescope. > > Can I use this combination to follow the Moon precisely? > > Thank you Benoit > > On 02-Feb-2022 06:43, Benoit Schillings < benoit.schillings@...> wrote: > > Ajay, what kind of mount are you using and do you use some software > like TheSky ? The rate has to be recomputed (basically all the time) > and most mounts will only have an average rate for lunar tracking > speed. > If you have a goto mount, your pc software can update the rate continuously. > > -- benoit > > On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 4:34 PM Ajay Talwar via groups.io > <ajaytalwar80= [email protected]> wrote: > > > > Hello Everyone, my first day here, > > > > I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several hours and want to keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in the field of view. > > > > I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon does not move at the same speed every day. > > > > So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a particular day, and can I match with the same speed in a C14? > > > > Thanks for your insights. > > > > Ajay Talwar > > > > > > Nightscape Gallery: www.ajaytalwar.com/gallery > > TWAN Gallery: www.twanight.org/talwar > > > > > > > > > > >
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Hello Christian, Thanks for this information, quite useful. But I wonder if I can incorporate this in my mount - CGE pro (tracking rate). The other suggestion was to guide on a feature on the Moon using Firecapture was indeed suitable (Thanks to the gentleman who suggested, I lost that email unfortunately). Problem still not fully solved, as firecapture cannot use a DSLR. I may get to use a camera that firecapture recognises.
Best to All
Ajay Talwar
Nightscape Gallery:
TWAN Gallery:
On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, 02:07:37 AM GMT+5:30, christian viladrich <c.viladrich@...> wrote:
Hello Ajay,
Excellent question indeed !
I have an Astrophysics 1200 mount and I have been asking for
years for having a true lunar tracking. Mount manufactures don't
care at all. Probably because most people are only interested in
deep sky imaging ?
First thing, the Moon has a motion in delta and alpha. Both
motions, even the alpha motion, is not constant for one day to the
other. This means that the alpha lunar tracking rate changes
continuously.
You can get information here (sorry in French)
First, you choose the object (Lune = Moon) , then the period of
time.
The columns of interest are :
- (3rd from right) delta alpha cos delta = tracking rate in alpha
- (2nd from right) delta delta : tracking rate in delta
So for now, I don't know of any mount having tracking rate
according to the true lunar tracking rate.
As for myself, I am interesting in high resolution lunar imaging.
For example :
Having a true lunar tracking would make acquisition much more
comfortable.
If you need accurate long duration tracking, the most promising
method is to use the auto-tracking mode of Firecapture (or other
acquisition software). This solve the issue neatly.
Hope this helps
Christian Viladrich
Le 01/02/2022 à 15:04, Ajay Talwar via
groups.io a écrit?:
Hello Everyone, my first day here,
?
I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several
hours and want to keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in
the field of view.
?
I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon
does not move at the same speed every day.
?
So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a
particular day, and can I match with the same speed in a
C14?
?
Thanks for your insights.
?
Ajay Talwar
|
your mount looks like it obviously can be programmed for non stellar tracking rate. starry night must have some way to set the tracking rate for an object you click on. -- benoit On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 7:24 PM Ajay Talwar via groups.io <ajaytalwar80@...> wrote:
Ah, I rather should have mentioned my mount instead of telescope.
Mount is Celestron CGE Pro. I usually use Starry Night to control my telescope.
Can I use this combination to follow the Moon precisely?
Thank you Benoit
On 02-Feb-2022 06:43, Benoit Schillings <benoit.schillings@...> wrote:
Ajay, what kind of mount are you using and do you use some software
like TheSky ? The rate has to be recomputed (basically all the time)
and most mounts will only have an average rate for lunar tracking
speed.
If you have a goto mount, your pc software can update the rate continuously.
-- benoit
On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 4:34 PM Ajay Talwar via groups.io
<ajaytalwar80@...> wrote:
Hello Everyone, my first day here,
I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several hours and want to keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in the field of view.
I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon does not move at the same speed every day.
So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a particular day, and can I match with the same speed in a C14?
Thanks for your insights.
Ajay Talwar
Nightscape Gallery: www.ajaytalwar.com/gallery
TWAN Gallery: www.twanight.org/talwar
|
Ah, I rather should have mentioned my mount instead of telescope.
Mount is Celestron CGE Pro. I usually use Starry Night to control my telescope.
Can I use this combination to follow the Moon precisely?
Thank you Benoit
On 02-Feb-2022 06:43, Benoit Schillings <benoit.schillings@...> wrote: Ajay, what kind of mount are you using and do you use some software
like TheSky ? The rate has to be recomputed (basically all the time)
and most mounts will only have an average rate for lunar tracking
speed.
If you have a goto mount, your pc software can update the rate continuously.
-- benoit
On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 4:34 PM Ajay Talwar via groups.io
<ajaytalwar80@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Everyone, my first day here,
>
> I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several hours and want to keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in the field of view.
>
> I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon does not move at the same speed every day.
>
> So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a particular day, and can I match with the same speed in a C14?
>
> Thanks for your insights.
>
> Ajay Talwar
>
>
> Nightscape Gallery: www.ajaytalwar.com/gallery
> TWAN Gallery: www.twanight.org/talwar
>
>
|
Ajay, what kind of mount are you using and do you use some software like TheSky ? The rate has to be recomputed (basically all the time) and most mounts will only have an average rate for lunar tracking speed. If you have a goto mount, your pc software can update the rate continuously. -- benoit On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 4:34 PM Ajay Talwar via groups.io <ajaytalwar80@...> wrote:
Hello Everyone, my first day here,
I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several hours and want to keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in the field of view.
I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon does not move at the same speed every day.
So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a particular day, and can I match with the same speed in a C14?
Thanks for your insights.
Ajay Talwar
Nightscape Gallery: www.ajaytalwar.com/gallery
TWAN Gallery: www.twanight.org/talwar
|
Hello Everyone, my first day here,
I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several hours and want to keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in the field of view.
I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon does not move at the same speed every day.
So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a particular day, and can I match with the same speed in a C14?
Thanks for your insights.
Ajay Talwar
Nightscape Gallery:
TWAN Gallery:
|
The orbit of the Moon "around" the Earth is not circular. In
other words, Moon-Earth distance keeps changing, so the apparent
speed of the Moon. This is not a big deal for usual observation
Christian
Le 01/02/2022 à 20:15, Ray Stann a
écrit?:
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Show quoted text
Interesting question.? I didn't know about the
variable speed Moon.? That's new to me, so I'm interested in
the answer too.
?
Ray
Hello Everyone, my first day here,
?
I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several
hours and want to keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in
the field of view.
?
I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon
does not move at the same speed every day.
?
So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a
particular day, and can I match with the same speed in a
C14?
?
Thanks for your insights.
?
Ajay Talwar
|
Hello Ajay,
Excellent question indeed !
I have an Astrophysics 1200 mount and I have been asking for
years for having a true lunar tracking. Mount manufactures don't
care at all. Probably because most people are only interested in
deep sky imaging ?
First thing, the Moon has a motion in delta and alpha. Both
motions, even the alpha motion, is not constant for one day to the
other. This means that the alpha lunar tracking rate changes
continuously.
You can get information here (sorry in French)
First, you choose the object (Lune = Moon) , then the period of
time.
The columns of interest are :
- (3rd from right) delta alpha cos delta = tracking rate in alpha
- (2nd from right) delta delta : tracking rate in delta
So for now, I don't know of any mount having tracking rate
according to the true lunar tracking rate.
As for myself, I am interesting in high resolution lunar imaging.
For example :
Having a true lunar tracking would make acquisition much more
comfortable.
If you need accurate long duration tracking, the most promising
method is to use the auto-tracking mode of Firecapture (or other
acquisition software). This solve the issue neatly.
Hope this helps
Christian Viladrich
Le 01/02/2022 à 15:04, Ajay Talwar via
groups.io a écrit?:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hello Everyone, my first day here,
?
I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several
hours and want to keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in
the field of view.
?
I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon
does not move at the same speed every day.
?
So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a
particular day, and can I match with the same speed in a
C14?
?
Thanks for your insights.
?
Ajay Talwar
|
Interesting question.? I didn't know about the variable speed
Moon.? That's new to me, so I'm interested in the answer
too.
?
Ray
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hello Everyone, my first day here,
?
I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several hours and want to
keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in the field of view.
?
I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon does not move at the
same speed every day.
?
So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a particular day, and
can I match with the same speed in a C14?
?
Thanks for your insights.
?
Ajay Talwar
|
Hello Everyone, my first day here,
?
I want to photograph the Moon continuously for several hours and want to keep the Moon positioned (stationary) in the field of view.
?
I will select the Lunar Rate in the menu, but the Moon does not move at the same speed every day.
?
So how/where do I find out the speed of the Moon on a particular day, and can I match with the same speed in a C14?
?
Thanks for your insights.
?
Ajay Talwar
|
Re: illuminated reticle. polar alignment.
What mount are you using? Get a 35 to 40 mm eyepiece.
Most mounts have a built in polar alignment program, the Celestron has the all star polar alignment which would work.? You can also use your guide cope and its camera to polar align.? I have the SVT 70 using the ASIZWO174MM to guide. This setup is sucured to the Telescope with cradle rings instead of guide rings, this prevents any flexure.? This setup with a program such as the ASIStudip or FireCapture will allow you to center stars with the crosshair feature for precise centering, which will closely natch the 14"
Joe Rome, Austin, Texas
On Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 07:05:11 PM CDT, Peter Betts <peterfergieb@...> wrote:
hello all, thank you for allowing me to join the group. I am having trouble polar aligning my c14" edge hd using the drift method.( i am in the southern hemisphere, so no polaris)? i am using a 9mm plossl? illuminated reticle eyepiece. Am i right in thinking that is far too much magnification given that the focal length of the ota. is 3910 divide that by 9mm ( reticle eyepiece ) equals a mag of? 434x. i guess that the very small FOV wont help either, i cant even find one star in my eyepiece. i used the same eyepiece to drift align with a meade 12" and it? worked very well. any suggestions would be MOST welcome. thank you so much. clear skies! peter.
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Re: illuminated reticle. polar alignment.
I can say with certainty a 25 mm EP may not be wide angle enough. ?On my 11” Edge 24mm is not wide enough to put Polaris when polar aligned. I’d recommend 38mm to 42mm. Doesn’t have to expensive.?
Hope this helps.?
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Re: illuminated reticle. polar alignment.
Hi Peter,
Doing this visually is not easy, assuming your mount is capable of handling the C14, and as you stated finding stars is the problem, that suggests the eyepiece fl is too short for the high native FL of the C14. Try with a 25mm and see if you get some stars to work with.
good luck,
Paul
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Re: illuminated reticle. polar alignment.
The group might be able to help you more if you tell us what mount you are using.? Fernando
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Lou Halikman
George Dunham
Ajay Talwar
Steven