Telescopes

Was able to get some info indicating everything seems to be OK with the Sierra Remote Observatory. Phew, that was a huge bullet dodged.

On a side note, going on a month since placing the order for my telescope. Unable to get any real status other than "I see it's being drop shipped" which cannot be backed up with a tracking code or even a delivery date.

I've decided on a different approach. We'll see if it works.

 

I sent Opt more of a demand note yesterday. I was thinking that as soon as I did that, I'd hear something.
I did but not from Opt. The freight company called to schedule delivery for tomorrow.

Opt also replied with more promises. I did reply and let them know at least the telescope will show up. Hopefully, I'll get the rest of my stuff soon.

 

Dealing with Freight operations can be really frustrating between handoffs for their service areas. I've had pretty good luck but it's stressful as hell with a $ involved. Good luck!

 

Freight handling is actually pretty easy to deal with and I'm less worried about that.

 

Freight guy showed up as promised with a giant box! I'm going to unpack it a bit later.

I'm pretty excited to say the least.


I'm waiting to get the wedge before lifting this behemoth onto the mount. But here it is in its boxed glory...

 

I did a couple of things recently. For the last month, I've been trying to get a status for the wedge, a power supply, and an adapter from another order. Nothing. I wrote a yelp review and basically said "don't buy from Opt" and quite honestly, I must have been an idiot for pulling the trigger on the wedge and a power supply but such is life-for a month, not a friggin word from them. Also filed a couple of complaints with my payment processor. These will go to Opt for resolution but through the processor. Maybe that will get their attention.

Looking for an alternative, I tried buying a couple of things from Highpoint. One was listed as back ordered. Got the acknowledgement of the order and a couple days later, a shipping notice and followed by "out for delivery notice". So far, so good. So, I ordered a filter wheel and a cover. The filter wheel is back ordered and I knew that going in. What happened next threw me for a loop. I received a note saying they didn't know how long it might be and would I like to split my order (no charge on shipping)? They created a new order and took care of shipping stuff separately at no cost.

This has just been a giant cluster but I see light. Soon at least.

 

I just run a basic C70mak. Nothing fancy.

 

Hey all, just ran into this thread and wanted to say hi. I started doing backyard astronomy back in elementary school with a 3” Gilbert reflector, and got hooked on viewing the moon during the Apollo era. Kind of hung it up during my midlife and pursued my photography interests mostly, but started looking up again at night after I got a used 600mm f/4 Nikon lens and used it as a telescope. We made the long drive up to Idaho from So Cal to see the 2017 eclipse, and I passed out a few solar glasses to kids and parents for free, and shared my Lunt 50mm Ha scope with a lot of interested campers there, while also taking pics of it with my 600mm lens fitted with a Bader visible light film and without a filter during totality

I recently bought a scratch and dent 12” dob too, which has dramatically opened up a lot of really amazing deep space viewing for me in my light polluted skies here in So. Cal. Anyways, hello and hope to see more of what you fellow skywatchers do here!

Cheers,
Anthony

 

Do you ever get around Trona or Joshua Tree for viewing?
I'd like to meet up.

 

We do go there on occasions, most of the time we go remote dispersed camping though out in the BLM parts of the desert since you cant do it in the park. I recently joined up with the Temecula Valley Astronomers group, and before Covid there were always some great star parties, even some held up at the campground on Mount Palomar. There’s some other astronomy clubs in the area that have a facility in the Mojave for members to camp and do astronomy. But don’t hang out to socialize at night with guys that like to do astrophotography, they set up their scopes outside and then disappear into their tents to remotely control their scopes all night by themselves. It’s pretty funny to watch all the scopes running with nobody around, but they do get some awesome images!

Have you ever visited the Sky’s the Limit Observatory in 29 Palms? It’s just next to the park entrance and they do public star parties there and during the daytime some awesome sun viewing with their big HA scope. Check it out sometime:

https://www.skysthelimit29.org/

 

In the Bay Area, there are several clubs with space available for viewing. The Rona has closed almost all or places requirements on usage.

Finding a spot in the desert to meet up would be nice. I know there are various groups that go up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest for events too.

I need to find a secure way to transport my scope. I can’t find a transport case for it.

 

I'll have to check that place out, we alway enter Joshua Tree from the South, we have friends in Palm Desert, we just drive down Black Eagle Mine Road to get away from passing cars, and use binoculars, we don't have a telescope yet.

 

Check this club out also, they have a great stay out in the Mojave:

http://www.rivastro.org/index.php

 

JMI makes cases and I would recommend them. http://www.jimsmobile.com/buy_cases.htm

I have a Meade 10" LX200 and it fits like a glove.

 

There are places you can actually rent for groups and that have accommodation.

 

Yeah. Not for 14" tho.

 

Bummer.

 

Yeah. They quit making them. The JMI cases are probably the best I've seen. The case they used to make would have been perfect.

 

Perhaps there is a used one out there with your name on it.

 

I've been looking

There's a company that builds road cases. I am not 100% ready to look there yet...