Hi
I've been looking for my future telescope for quite some time and have looped back to the 14" GSO carbon truss RC after a long conversation with a very experienced astronomer.
My main concerns with the GSO RC telescopes were collimation and cleaning of the exposed mirrors. I've been told that the latest versions aren't that difficult to collimate and don't need it very often, especially if used in an observatory. It was also suggested that cleaning the mirrors can be done as rarely as once a year and is not a major problem.
I've also read a few horror stories where the GSO truss has been causing serious errors in getting good collimation, with a lot of people proclaiming it's a quality issue. This was also disputed by the astronomer I spoke to.
This is not just my "next" telescope for me, it's "the" telescope. This is what I'll be using for a long, long time.
The primary use will probably be, at least in the beginning, imaging galaxies, planetary nebulae, quasars and other small objects at native focal length, but I'm likely to get a reducer and do wide field object as well in the future.
I have an observatory (astro-shed really!), am in the process of building a pier and will have it on an EQ8-Rh.
It would be great to hear your view about what I've discussed and anything else that would be good to know before deciding.
Thank you!
Cheers,
Dan
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
 Hi Dan, I’ve been working in getting my ioptron RC14 all rigged up. Just waiting on my pier to be constructed. I am using the 3” flattener designed for it that doesn’t change the focal length. I have use the same setup for the RC 10 truss version and it worked out really nicely… see my astrobin photos. I don’t find these scopes difficult to collimate as long as you collimate the 3 components in order; focused then secondary and lastly the primary. I am hoping that my pier will be ready by April and then I should be up and shooting away
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
It must be really hard to have that sitting on the dining table and just waiting for the pier!
I had a look at your images and if that is what you can do with 10", then I can't wait to see the images with the 14" :-)
Btw, are you using a laser collimator, and if so, which one?
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
Its killing me! I've had it sitting there since Dec. I use the RC8 for a long time, then moved up to the 10'' and used that for about 2 years. Now I'm at the 14" and can't wait to start imaging. I use the Howie Glatter https://agenaastro.com/howie-glatter-2-635nm-high-brightness-red-laser-collimator.html wich comes with the dot attachment but I also use the concentric circle attachment to get the primary mirror collimation pretty close https://agenaastro.com/howie-glatter-holographic-attachment-concentric-circle-pattern.html . I do my final adjustment to the primary with a star defocus test under the starts. You will also need a cheshire collimator to do the secondary https://www.highpointscientific.com/apertura-2-collimation-cap?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=APT-CC2&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20618277309&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjws-S-BhD2ARIsALssG0aeFJIE3LNQEEvLvKhr5ZfrTfpGpA-KtTtXjja_L6Bjr3YFovwUca0aAkbNEALw_wcBWith this you'll be all set to collimate any RC no matter how misaligned the optics are!
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
I have used a 13' GSO RC, but after some years of saving, finally could buy an expensive CDK 14.
The GSO was a good machine but not the best one. It's cheap, with high contrast regardless its central obstruction. I took many good pictures with it. BUT it have issues with the main mirror basis ("pintched" optics) and a raw border that produce rare reflection on stars. Once with a expert in optics we dismantle it, clean the mirror and paint the border with a permanent black pen, and the images get really better. Collimation was a nightmare because there was some misalign of the optics elements with the baffle tube…
Also, it have a quartz mirror, with more temperature expansion that other good ones (read it as refocusing with each frame)
At last: a good starter scope for deep sky objects, but not a really good one. You shall consider improve your images taken with it using software in a pre-stacking time.
Good luck,
Pedro Goles
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
With my truss RC10 I didn't use them, with my setup being permanent in my roll off obcservatory, I find that I can just roll to roof off 1-2 hrs before sunset and I have plenty of time for temperature to equilibrate. While cleaning my scope I found dust and dead bugs that get in there and so I chose to just cover them up. The foam and tape are somewhat breathable as well
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
Christopher Gomez:
Hi Dan, I’ve been working in getting my ioptron RC14 all rigged up. Just waiting on my pier to be constructed. I am using the 3” flattener designed for it that doesn’t change the focal length. I have use the same setup for the RC 10 truss version and it worked out really nicely… see my astrobin photos. I don’t find these scopes difficult to collimate as long as you collimate the 3 components in order; focused then secondary and lastly the primary. I am hoping that my pier will be ready by April and then I should be up and shooting away Chris Look forward to your test results Yuexiao
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
