Nightrider I made by Johnsonian: It's now or never

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:11 pm

ACC,

That's a long time. Anyway, I find that it is an extra burden to have tracking because the scope already requires time for setup especially it is truss dob; unless it is Telepot. If it is a conventional GSO/synta dob, it would take so much faster to setup and setting up for tracking can be considered. So, in a way it is better without tracking. I would not op for tracking especially I have to setup my scope, collimate and plus Argo Navis DSC. I did some modications like attaching the encoder cables and power cables to my truss, battery modification and tangent arm modification to reduce the setup time for the AN. Now it takes like 5 minutes or less to setup the AN compared to like 10 to 15 min before.

. Therefore in total it probably takes me about 20 min to setup the whole scope, collimate, setup AN and align AN. If I add a tracking.. I really wonder what time I can start observing.

Lastly, since the scope like yours already has smooth motion, it would be good to rely on it since a lot of cost is paid in getting it to have smooth motion.

That's my opinion. No tracking for me. Less setup time, more time enjoying and less fuss, less things to carry and technical problems to deal with (assuming the tracking don't track properly etc.) I feel that anything that is electronic and mixed with mechanical gives a lot of headaches.. that's my experience with my AN. Thankfully, my AN is working well now and it has lots of great features.. but no chance to test it fully with crappy skies now.

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:48 pm

I think setting up tracking won't take more than 1 minute (rough polar alignment using compass before you put the dob on top). Tracking is very critical if you want to fully utilize your optics by pumping up your magnification to > 500X on planets and lunar. That is where the premium optics shine (at low mag, i don't think you'll see much difference between a $500 mirror vs a $2000 one). The only fussy thing is additional weight and to carry the platform (it can also replace your ground board, so no need to bring both).

Anyone want to join order the Round Table platform? http://www.roundtableplatforms.com/

Arief

Post by **VinSnr** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:48 pm

setting up tracking is very fast. For us, just put the platform on a level ground and point it close to North will do.

I am considering very hard on that platform because I need to do video with the scope.

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:52 pm

Yes on-axis would give the sharpest especially for Reflectors as the diffraction limited field is very small. However, if I were to put tracking, I think I would just buy a cheap dob with great optics and just mount it on the platform since I won't be pushing the dob much and do not require a smooth motion. It cost much cheaper too. Also, it is still very possible for a well made dob to hand track at 600x. It all depends on the seeing too. Also, there are few objects that allow magnification above 500x. Higher contrast objects like Moon and Saturn allows such magnification. It is like almost impossible or of no value to increase magnification of 500x on Jupiter as it will be swamped by the seeing. If I see the that the seeing is better in the eyepiece, I will put the object at the centre of the eyepiece to get the highest sharpness and contrast. The biggest hindrance I feel is the additional weight and setup time considering that there is already the INITIAL SETUP... makes me feel more lazy to setup more things. Perhaps I am lazy to carry and setup too many things especially when setting up bigger scopes.

Post by **VinSnr** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:11 pm

Canopus Lim wrote:Yes on-axis would give the sharpest especially for Reflectors as the diffraction limited field is very small. However, if I were to put tracking, I think I would just buy a cheap dob with great optics and just mount it on the platform since I won't be pushing the dob much and do not require a smooth motion. It cost much cheaper too. Also, it is still very possible for a well made dob to hand track at 600x. It all depends on the seeing too. Also, there are few objects that allow magnification above 500x. Higher contrast objects like Moon and Saturn allows such magnification. It is like almost impossible or of no value to increase magnification of 500x on Jupiter as it will be swamped by the seeing. If I see the that the seeing is better in the eyepiece, I will put the object at the centre of the eyepiece to get the highest sharpness and contrast. The biggest hindrance I feel is the additional weight and setup time considering that there is already the INITIAL SETUP... makes me feel more lazy to setup more things. Perhaps I am lazy to carry and setup too many things especially when setting up bigger scopes.

To an extend, I think it depends on that person. What you said is also correct.....if you have a very good dob, maybe there is no need to track. Unless you want to go into photography or videography.

However, if you have seen one and use one with tracking, you will never go back to hand push again. I have seen one and use one before in the past, and without that "mind-hand" connection, you tend to be able to see more.

If you don't want to have another piece of equipment, can always try Servo CAT GOTO. That servo cat is designed for Obsession scopes and yours will fit like a glove. Only thing is it is quite hard to install. I have that servo cat installation video.

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:54 pm

VinSnr wrote:If you don't want to have another piece of equipment, can always try Servo CAT GOTO. That servo cat is designed for Obsession scopes and yours will fit like a glove. Only thing is it is quite hard to install. I have that servo cat installation video.

Not to mention the price!

chrisyeo · Post by **chrisyeo** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:17 pm

*Changed the title of this thread*

Please help to ensure that your titles are clear so that people browsing and searching can know what they are about. Thanks!

Posting Etiquette (http://www.singastro.org/viewtopic.php?t=649) - Use clear, intuitive subject headings for your post. For example, instead of using 'Help!' or 'SOS', use 'Help required with collimation'.

Cheers,

Post by **acc** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:14 pm

Hi Canopus
It was a hard choice to make (to cancel the order) but as you noted, simplicity has its advantages and with the Portaball's smooth motion, I decided I can live with the inconvenience of manual tracking...

cheers
cc

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:55 pm

CC, why didn't you order direct to Round Table instead?

Post by **acc** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:59 am

Arief, buying from Mag1 costs only slightly more and ensures the platform comes ready with a pre-cut hole lined with the appropriate teflon-like material for the portaball's spherical base. It was supposed to ship together with my Portaball in Mar this year, so that would have meant some savings in shipping. When that time came, Mag1 said the platform will be delayed a 'couple' of weeks...

I don't know why my platform is delayed for so long even though roundtable's website said 4 weeks; other portaball owners have similarly long waits (~ 1 year). Could it be problems with vibrations at high magnifications in the Mag1 platforms that lead to the delay? Peter didn't tell me the reason. Previous portaball platforms seem to have suffered from numerous mechanical problems, though roundtable wasn't the manufacturer then.