I thought to take out my Jason Saturn Model 324 80mm/1200mm. I bought it on Kijiji about four years ago for $80. They do not have the best reputation, but for a buck a mm, why not give it a shot
Long story short, the views were indeed not the best. I took out the objective and found the crown and flint were not lined up together! After blackening the lens edges, I put it back together properly and that fixed that. A star test is perfect. The aluminum lens cell is colimatable, but it seems I don't have to go there.I cleaned out, regreased and tightened up the original mount. Even the screws holding the metal brackets were all loose, big difference now that they're tight. The mount is really solid for this scope, and it turns well on all axis. I also made a simple mod to take 1.25" parts on the all-metal, very solid focuser; turns out the drawtube has the same OD as 1.25 diagonals, etc. I use a 1/4 socket on a screwdriver end to tighten/loosen the hoseclamp. Since the drawtube and whatever 1.25 accessory I put in there both have machined straight edges, you just butt them up and tighten. I also put oversize thick plastic jar lids on both the tiny focuser knobs. Not a two speed, but much better than before
This is a picture of it with my Sears 60mm/700mm. Both have Towa glass, as do a lot of my scopes.
Anyways. I went out with it about 7:30 to see Venus. I use my Celestron Star diagonal with this scope; it's the one from my orange C80. The field of view is wider and somewhat brighter than my iOptron dielectric. I put in an 18mm KK and had a look.
Well, it's not bad considering the seeing and the lowness to the horizon. There was a dark area on the crescent; clouds or just the side of the planet opposite the Sun I wasn't sure. Then I thought to take a picture of it.
So get this: I put my Canon T3 with it's T-ring into the focuser. Turning the
What is wrong with me??
Man, Venus was jiggling around more on live view than my All considering, it could be worse. This is 35 stacked frames at ISO 800 and 1/2000 sec exp. Just PIPP and AS2, no Registax or the like; it really looked butchered
After that I went in and warmed up while unloading the camera. Back out at 8, and decided to do some more visual. It was a bit hazy, but I'm here anyways... Putting in my 25MM KK, I pointed the scope at the faint smudge I assumed was the Pleiades. Indeed it was. I sat down and had a look.
I forgot to mention I have only done a star test for visual with this since I fixed the objective issue; I actually ran out of clear sky that night. Needless to say, my neighbors all probably heard the "Wow!"
My best scope is my orange C80 by Vixen. Although I'm now thinking that this Jason might just be a tad better.....
The star colors, velvet background, un-freaking-real. I looked up and it was still not the best seeing. How is this even possible? Seriously, I spent about 45 minutes going from there to the "V" in Taurus, Orion for sure, and finishing with the Little Beehive cluster and Sirius and the Pup. My lens use was all Fujiyama KK's; 25, 18 and 12mm. 9mm was just too much. Even with the seeing, stars of mag 11 were no problem and just perfect little pinpoints on the blackest background I've ever seen from here. I've so gotta get this thing to a dark sky site!
And now I'm cold as it's really not warming up outside. I could see the moonglow to the east, so I thought to go in and warm up again and later try for that, both
By 10:30 the Moon was up enough to be visible to me and wash everything else out. There was a white glow around it; a result of bad seeing. Ah well, let's see. Popping in my 25mm, I looked at the "terminator" side with all the craters. Yet another Wow moment! The contrast was just spectacular! I must've said Wow about a dozen times, and that was just the 25mm
And try as I might, I could find no I spent another half hour with the Moon, and even got some descent views through the 9mm. I can still picture it, and I know I keep saying this, but Wow!!
Well, it's getting on to past 11. 6AM comes early. I put my T3 in the back and let it cool for a bit. Focusing on the Moon was somewhat easier than focusing on Venus; imagine that. The haze was a bit worse (it started raining just after midnight) so not the best. I only did 30 frames. I only have enough time to take 15 frames before it's out of the
Time to pack it all up and get warm for good
The mount is a bit of a "dance" to get in the door and downstairs, the legs don't fold in. The And some of my thoughts on
The
Also, most of us would get an ED or
One day I might get back out again. First the rain, clouds, and winds have to go.... Hope you have better luck!
All the best everyone,
