Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

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Starry Jack
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Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by Starry Jack »

I need your suggestions for a travel scope to New Zealand's International Dark Sky site.

Requirements:
--DSO: DSC10c (I have an 2" to 1.25" adapter)
--SOLAR: Quark (has a 2" and 1.25" nosepiece with a ZWO camera
--Full plug-n-play in unfamiliar skies (I prefer using my Celestron StarSense accessory...that thing rocks at self-identification
--Strong on-board batter pack (I can't take my 60lb marine battery)
--Needs to compact to fit in luggage

The Celestron Nexstar 102XLT refractor package seems to match needs, but I can't figure out what I would lose in FOV.

Link to the proposed scope: https://optcorp.com/products/celestron- ... -telescope

Excitedly,
Starry Jack


Explore Scientific 152mm f6.5 achromat
Aeries D-ERF
Quark Chromosphere f27 native, (f14 when focal reduced)
Mallincam .5x focal reducer (large format)
12nm Filter
ZWO174 (IMX249 chip 5um)
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Re: Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by Montana »

Wow! the perfect astronomy set up for all occasions, good luck :lol:

The Celestron 102XLT is very big, I wouldn't like to take that on a flight (personally). I guess each to their own. However I wish they did that package when I bought mine, my mount was more than the total price of this package.
Field of views can be checked here https://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/

I took a Technosky 65mm refractor to the solar eclipse in America. It fitted in my hand luggage beautifully where I could keep an eye on it. Obviously it took the solar eclipse well with my Canon 700D but I have also used it for deep sky with my Canon and it took super images of the Orion nebulae and Seven sisters. I am not sure how it would work with a Quark as I don't have one.
http://astrograph.net/Tecnosky-65Q-F65- ... -RP-Focuse
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexandra ... 109020684/

Absolutely lovely telescope though.
Alexandra


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Re: Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by Starry Jack »

I thanks, Alexandra. What mount did you use?


Explore Scientific 152mm f6.5 achromat
Aeries D-ERF
Quark Chromosphere f27 native, (f14 when focal reduced)
Mallincam .5x focal reducer (large format)
12nm Filter
ZWO174 (IMX249 chip 5um)
Huge Sense of Adventure Viewing Creation
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Re: Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by Montana »

An Acuter Merlin mount. Nice and small and fitted in my hold luggage. It holds 8 regular AA batteries which last for hours.

Alexandra


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Re: Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by Montana »

This looks good, pity about the price :shock:

http://astrograph.net/Crux-140-Travelle ... aging-Capa

Alexandra


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Re: Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by c8er »

Hello Jack,

I can tell you that Starsense alignment works well here in New Zealand, because I was the Celestron early adopter and beta tester who some years ago found that it didn't work at all in this southern hemisphere at first, which they quickly fixed with some urgent firmware changes!!

I have one of those SLT mounts and it is certainly small and very light, although I just measured the tripod and fully folded without the mount head on it, it is still about 27 inches long, which needs a half decent sized suitcase to fit in lengthwise. I can't remember if I've used it with one of my Starsense units, although almost certainly I have in the past, and I see it is on the Starsense compatible mounts list.

NZ isn't a small country North to South (to drive from the north to south ends of NZ - 1300 miles driving distance- is close to the driving distance from the Mexican to Canadian borders along the west coast of the US - Tijuana to Vancouver is a similar 1400 miles of driving), and I am more than 750 driving miles away and on another island from the dark sky reserve at Tekapo where I think you are probably heading. Since I have a reasonably dark rural sky where I am I haven't been to Tekapo yet in my almost 63 years, but it is on my visit list.

PM me if you have other questions about your trip here.

Cheers,'Chris M


Location: Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
Solar Ha setup: Daystar Ha Quark, APM 140/980 refractor, Coronado SMII 60 DS BF15, McDougall Solar AutoGuider. Skywatcher ST80, Orion ED 80, WO ZS66 SD, and Nova 102mm f/6.5 achromat refractors.
Other scopes: C8,C11, ES Comet Hunter Mak-Newt, on 10Micron GM1000HPS, Celestron AVX, 8SE, CG-5 and Skywatcher Solarquest mounts.
Cameras: Celestron Neximage Burst Mono, ZWO ASI294MC Pro, AS120MC, ASI174MM, ASI290MC, Canon 60D, Celestron Nightscape CCD
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Re: Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Jack,
I just bought a AstroTech 72EDII refractor. I bought it because is is so portable. I used it for the first time tonight and it performs wonderfully. It and a small goto tracking mount would do great on a trip.

James


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
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Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by Starry Jack »

Thanks for all the tips! Chris...I will most certainly PM you or email: [email protected] is mine.

I found a wonderful local deal for an Orion 80mm ED f7.5. I also traded some equipment for a new Nexstar SE 6.

BTW I also sent my Quark back and they did some tweaking on it. I like it better now.

I am paying the $80 each way for a second checked bag and creating a "travel case" for all my gear to for trips in the future. I'll split my gear into several bags for this trip in case of lost luggage, but I'm excited for certain!

Cheers,
Jack


Explore Scientific 152mm f6.5 achromat
Aeries D-ERF
Quark Chromosphere f27 native, (f14 when focal reduced)
Mallincam .5x focal reducer (large format)
12nm Filter
ZWO174 (IMX249 chip 5um)
Huge Sense of Adventure Viewing Creation
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Re: Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by Radon86 »

Can you enlighten me about your Quark tweaking at all ? I am not happy with my Quark still, and am thinking of upgrading my computer laptop and retrying in the summer. My dealer were not happy to take a look at my Quark to see if it was faulty, so I am persevering with it for the time being.

What was the solution to your Quark problems ?

Thank you.
Magnus
London


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
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Re: Need a Travel Scope Recommendation for New Zealand

Post by Starry Jack »

Magnus, sorry about your Quark woes. I called Daystar directly. They are helpful and Tiffany (the manager) is knowledgeable. I sent mine back to them (expensive if you insure it for the full amount) and they “examined it and adjusted the temperature settings”.

My symptoms were fairly low contrast.

What are your symptoms? What is your telescope?


Explore Scientific 152mm f6.5 achromat
Aeries D-ERF
Quark Chromosphere f27 native, (f14 when focal reduced)
Mallincam .5x focal reducer (large format)
12nm Filter
ZWO174 (IMX249 chip 5um)
Huge Sense of Adventure Viewing Creation
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