I think this is the website:

http://www.starrynight.com/orion/

If you're running Windows and you don't have the Adobe reader the installer will install it. I have Sumatra as my default PDF reader but they downloaded it anyway. On Windows they also download other astronomical software. It's all good as they're all connected. During the process of installation it tells you what its doing like any installer. After downloading the installer just run it as Admin on Windows. It will then install the program.

The wheel nut is one of the great mysteries of astronomy lol. It's probably for a piggy back finder or camera. I don't think anyone actually knows. It ranks with the mystery of the 1.25" cap in Synta Newtonian aperture covers.

 

Yeah, mine looks weird with the 9x50mm Orion RACI. It's better for DSO's with the ST80 though. I can get away with a reflex site with the Apex. I'll probably only be looking at the Moon with it lol.



I'm pretty convinced this Orion SpaceProbe is exactly the same as my 130M (the Bazooka).

 

Speaking of software, this is what Starry Nights adds to a PC (Win 7). Everything with a red dot after installed with the software.

 

Congratulations, Ray! It's an ST80! Have a cigar.....

Not sure what exactly is intended for mounting on that wheel-nut thingy. Mine have the same mounting-rings and room for the 'wheelie' - but no 'wheelie.' So I guess it's for whatever will fit. A camera comes to mind. I think it's a 24/1-tpi? That's what a camera takes.

Enjoy your ST80, Ray! I'm certain you will!

Season's Greetings -

Dave

 

I find the focuser on the ST80 a little unsubtle. It isn't that bad but for high magnifications it could be improved. I doubt you'll need a magnification of above 50x for most Messier Objects, so very fine focusing wouldn't be a priority I should think. So, if you have to choose to buy the finder or the focuser first, I'd go for the finder.

The other problem with diagonals that have compression rings is that it more or less precludes their use with anything with an undercut or a taper. Which is a bit of a bugbear. TeleVue EP's are OK as they have lower lip tapers which work well. A lot of Vixen EP's have shallow wide undercuts which also work well and aren't difficult to extract. But the vast majority of aluminium undercuts can be troublesome, particularly for me. Although you could get around this by using a Barlow without a compression ring.

The beautiful thing about the ST80 is that wide exit pupils are no real problem. On the f/13.88 Apex I barely get 2.8mm with a 40mm Plossl. I can get 3.6mm for 25x with the reducer and a 25mm EP. With the ST80 my 19mm Panoptic will give me a 3.8mm exit pupil.

I just can't wait for the weather to improve and give the ST80 and the Apex some quality time on my Vixen mount lol.

 

Didn't he bring the wrong model? I told you he hits the port lol. Mind you, maybe he's smarter than we realise as he probably bought the better version. You need to ask him for a Vixen mount for it for next Xmas.

It actually is Boxing Day here now!

 

Good question. I'm not sure how you'd fit the Crayford to the ST80. I've found this short video, it doesn't help that much though.

 

I have the GSO shown above. Bought it from Agena as well.

The install on this is straight-forward: Take out the screws that hold the focuser and visual-back on the ST80. Wriggle it out. Wriggle the GSO into the OTA, line-up the holes for the screws. Screw it in place. Observe!

That's all, Folks!



Dave

P.S. A small dab of SuperLube with Teflon® helps with keeping the mechanism easy to turn to aid in aligning the 3-screws to attach the Crayford on the OTA.

 

I'm not sure Ray. I doubt I could do it myself with my disability. I think some of the Crayford is in the internal of the OTA when fitted so the original finder can be used.

 

I can guarantee that if I take anything to pieces, it stays that way lol. Even if I get it back together there's usually parts left over and I have no idea what they're for. I ruined a perfectly good refractor like that many years ago.

 

Saw a setting Venus and Mars again with the Apex at 65.7x and 156.25x (19mm Panoptic, 8mm TS Planetary).



Venus was at a good 20° even past transit. It took a while for Mars to be visible and was higher at 27.1°. The double star Sigma Aquarii was right under Mars and easy to view.

 

Just to clarify, the GSO 10:1 Dual-Focus Crayford's come with very simple mounting-hardware for finder-scopes. Attaches by turning a knob/screw - couldn't be easier. Complete with different mounting-shoes.

Here's the GSO 8 X 50mm RACI on the GSO:



No worries,

Dave

 

Thanks Dave, that's clarified a lot. I'm a bit tempted by a GSO Crayford now lol.

 

And there's this: http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_frc2.htm