The New Deck

After many years of low observing activity, I recently decided to get back to visual observing. Instead of having to lug out the LX200GPS and wait for it to cool down, I figured a grab-and-go set-up using my 80ED would likely be more successful.

Because I had bought that telescope as a wide field imaging telescope mounted on top of the LX200GPS, and the Orion Paragon-Plus XHD tripod that I originally had purchased as an alternative mount many years ago has been a huge disappointment, I purchased a Vixen PORTA II mount. Now that is a nice mount for this telescope!

With ease I observed the following objects this evening, all found within seconds after pointing the Rigel Quick Finder in the expected direction:

• Double Star Mizar
  
• Quadruple Star Epsilon Lyrae
  
• Globular Cluster M13
  
• Globular Cluster M92
  
• Planetary Nebula M57
  
• Double Star Albireo
  

Now it helps that my 19mm Panoptic results in a 2.2° field of view with this telescope, but at 31x the magnification and contrast is rather low for a full enjoyment of the view, so I am really tempted now to buy a few extra eyepieces.

Note that it could be the low magnification, but the seeing looked considerably better than I expected from the DC area. I really ought to get out more often, and try the LX200GPS as well!

The setup used this evening was:

• Orion 80ED
  
• Vixen PORTA II Mount
  
• ScopeStuff dovetail bar and cradle rings
  
• Dew Buster with Dew-Not dew removers for the objective and eyepiece
  
• William Optics 2" Diagonal
  
• Televue Panoptic 19mm
  
• Rigel Quick Finder
  
• Pyramid PS9KX 5A/7A Power Supply
  

The DewBuster was turned off though, because it looks like its temperature sensor is busted after all these years of non-use. I still have to investigate that further.