The Equipment
I use different types of telescopes and binoculars for observing stars and star clusters. The choice of the instrument used depends not only on the size but also on the brightness of the object observed. At the moment I'm using four different instruments:
1. Celestron 12x60 binoculars
2. Vixen 15x50 binoculars
3. 4-inch TAL 100RS refractor
4. 300mm Orion Optics Dobson
More information can be found by clicking on underneath tabs
- 12x60 Celestron binoculars
- 15x80 Vixen binoculars
- 4-inch refractor TAL 100RS
- 300mm Dobson Orion Optics UK
Celestron 12x60 Binoculars (mounted on the SkyWindow mirror mount)
These binoculars have a field of view of 5.6 degrees.
They are used for observing larger objects, between 3 and 5.5 degrees in size, like the Hyades (Melotte 25, Caldwell 41), the Belt of Orion (Collinder 70) and the Alpha Persei moving cluster (Melotte 20).
They are used for observing larger objects, between 3 and 5.5 degrees in size, like the Hyades (Melotte 25, Caldwell 41), the Belt of Orion (Collinder 70) and the Alpha Persei moving cluster (Melotte 20).
Vixen 15x80 binoculars (mounted on the SkyWindow mirror mount)
The 15x80 binoculars have a field of view of 2 to 3 degrees and I use them for observing medium size star clusters like the Pleiades (M45) or the Beehive cluster (M44).
TAL 100RS, 4-inch refractor, f/10, mounted on an EQ-6
I use this Russian refractor for clusters that fit in a field of view between 1 and 2 degrees. The refractor is mounted on an EQ-6 mount.
In the table below you see the eyepieces I use in combination with this telescope. The first column shows the name and type of the eyepiece. In the second, third and fourth column you find the apparent field of view in degrees (AFOV), the magnification the eyepiece yields in combination with the telescope (MAGN) and the true field of view in arc minutes (TFOV).
In the table below you see the eyepieces I use in combination with this telescope. The first column shows the name and type of the eyepiece. In the second, third and fourth column you find the apparent field of view in degrees (AFOV), the magnification the eyepiece yields in combination with the telescope (MAGN) and the true field of view in arc minutes (TFOV).
f/5.3 300mm Dobson Orion Optics UK, focal length 1600mm
This is my favorite instrument for smaller star clusters and for double/multiple stars.
With the 300mm the color of fainter stars can be detected, which is impossible with the 100mm refractor. I use it in combination with the following eyepieces:
The 300mm is equipped with an Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer, a Telrad, a 2-inch focuser, a dew-cap and a fan (to get a laminar airflow within the tube).
Sometimes I use a few filters, to check if any nebulosity is involved.
The filters are the Lumicon UHC, OIII and H-Beta
This is my favorite instrument for smaller star clusters and for double/multiple stars.
With the 300mm the color of fainter stars can be detected, which is impossible with the 100mm refractor. I use it in combination with the following eyepieces:
The 300mm is equipped with an Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer, a Telrad, a 2-inch focuser, a dew-cap and a fan (to get a laminar airflow within the tube).
Sometimes I use a few filters, to check if any nebulosity is involved.
The filters are the Lumicon UHC, OIII and H-Beta