SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011
Celestron SP-C8
Originally, I entered detailed information about my telescope directly in the
blog. But I was unsatisfied with this, on many levels.
The telescope information was "falling" into history or archives
of the blog even though I was actively using, and changing, the equipment. This
also meant one had to rummage and dig so to simply find the information. As well,
my initial entries showed the current state of the 'scope, as opposed to how it
was historically received. The blog is revised to reflect how the telescope was
at the time.
This telescope was built by Celestron between 1980 and 1983. In 1980, they were still making the orange tubes; in '83, they introduced the black OTA, the StarBright coatings, 8x50 finder scope, fork mount, etc.
What follows is a detailed record of the telescope for easy access. It shows
the 'scope in its current configuration.
type: catadioptric (compound) /
Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT)
make: Celestron
model: SP-C8
obtained: December 1990 from Efston Science
technical info:
- focal length: 2000mm
- aperture: 8"
- focal ratio: f/10
- minimum / maximum magnification: 29x / 400x
sighting or finder scopes:
- optical, all
- Celestron
(included, transfer to Mom)
- 6x30, 7° field
- integrated reticle (cross-hair)
- straight-through
- Orion (upgraded, Aug 10)
- 9x50, 5° field
- integrated reticle (cross-hair)
- right-angle, image-corrected
- Telrad base
viewing equipment:
- visual back
- Celestron 1¼" (original, included)
- William Optics (Jan 08)
- 90° diagonal mirror
- Celestron 1¼" star (original, included)
- William Optics 2" dielectric (add Jan 08)
- 1¼" eyepiece adapter for WO 2" mirror
- eyepieces
- Celestron Plössl 26mm, 1¼" (included)
- baader planetarium Hyperion-Aspherical 36mm 72° 2" eyepiece with
removable rubber eye cup, removable 2" barrel, 3 end caps, pouch case (added Feb 08)
- Tele Vue Type 6 Nagler 9mm, 1¼" (added Aug 10)
- Celestron Micro Guide, red LED illuminater, rubber eye cup (loaner)
- Pentax 20mm wide angle (loaner)
- Celestron Ultima 2x Barlow doubler (added circa 92)
- Rod Ends binocular viewer, in small hard case (loaner)
- bino viewer proper with dual helical focusers
- 20mm WA eyepieces
mount type:
- Celestron Super Polaris (SP) mount
- German Equatorial Mount (GEM) design
- made by Vixen
- motor drive-ready (not included)
mount accessories:
- two counterweights and long shaft (included)
- integrated setting circles and Vernier scales
- polar axis scope with integrated reticle (included)
- reticle illuminated with detachable AA-battery penlight (included)
- bubble level (included)
- receptacle for compass (not included)
- small magnetic compass for tripod receptacle (added Aug 06)
- Vixen MT-1 motor mounted on R.A. axis (added Apr 07)
- clutch for MT-1 motor (added Apr 07)
- SD-1 controller (added Jul 07)
tripod:
- wooden legs with metal tips
- metal triangle tray table
- 10-32 bolts and wing nuts affix tray to tripod
- hex head bolts and nuts replaced with cam levers (Jul 08)
dew-fighting equipment:
- dew "reducing" tube, plastic (on or before Aug 97), fits
on OTA around objective
- Kendrick type IV controller
- 8" dew heater strap from Kendrick - corrector plate
- 2" dew heater strap from Kendrick - eyepiece
other accessories:
- user guide book (included)
- triangular accessories box (included)
- Meade t-adapter and "PS" t-ring for Pentax screw-mount SLR camera
body (circa Aug 91)
- Meade polar alignment wheel (purchased)
- plastic "lens" cap for corrector (included)
- trunk for protecting and transporting the OTA, custom cut (included)
- Orion triangular padded case for carrying tripod and triangle (added Aug 10)
- Orion cylindrical padded case for OTA (added Dec 10)
SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2011
weights
The Vixen Super Polaris mount cargo capacity is not specified in any of the included documentation. However, some numbers have bubbled up. It can support up to 15 to 16 pounds (or 7 kilograms). Apparently the predecessor—the Polaris—could handle 10 lbs, while the successor—the Super Polaris DX—could take 22 lbs.
- optical tube assembly: 13 lbs (5.9 kg)
- Orion finder scope: 17.2 oz (0.5 kg)
- counterweight: 6 lbs each, there are 2 (2.7 kg ea)
- counterweight shaft
- William Optics 2" mirror: 470 grams (0.5 kg)
- baader planetarium 36mm 2" eyepiece: 390 grams (0.4 kg)
- mount itself: 13 lbs (5.9 kg)
- tripod: 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011
photo gallery
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Missing pointer plate.
The declination axis pointer or Vernier scale had come unglued and fell off
sometime in 2006. |
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From another angle.
Can't use the setting circles without it.
I made a Vernier scale. |
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Missing polar scale.
I never noticed before but my 'scope mount was always missing this plate. I
made a replacement. |
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John's SP mount.
He sent this photo of the end of the mount so I could better see the polar
axis graduation scales and orientations. |
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My 'scope and binos at Awenda.
Binos clamped on to massive Manfrotto tripod and C8 with dew cap and polar
axis reticle and flashlight. You can just make out the triangular tray and box. |
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Full setup, summer '06.
Photo by Diane at Mosport shows 'scope, dew cap, compass, heaters, battery
pack, solar viewer, charts, etc. |
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Setup, summer '08.
Photo by Eric shows 'scope and mount in garage at Laurie & Stuart's cottage.
First shot with (pale green) RA motor, 2" mirror, and 2" eyepiece installed. |
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Setup for star party, fall '09.
Under the David Dunlap Observatory main dome. Waiting for darkness (and mozzies).
Borrowing power from the front lawn peer. Camera tripod in foreground. Small carpet
underneath aids in recovery when I drop small items, like screws, batteries, fuses,
wing nuts. Nearly-complete setup: adjustable height chair in background, dew shield, heaters, astronomy box α, comfy chair, etc. |
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Full setup for star party, fall '09.
Finally made it to Mew Lake for some camping with friends and some dark skies.
Saturday night, I brought everything down: carpet, booster battery power tank,
dew shield, heaters, portable picnic table, blinky red LEDs, warm clothes, glow-in-the-dark stars,
Red Bull. |
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Custom adapter plate, summer 2010.
The Orion 9x50 finder scope comes with a new little mount. Offers a quick release screw to allow unmounting the finder between sessions. The screw holes however do not match the original holes on the C8. Made a thin adapter plate. |
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Cleaned corrector, Sep '10.
Worked up the nerve and finally cleaned the corrector plate of the C8. Looks very good. Almost new! |
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Setting up for star party, fall '10.
Returned to "Dew Lake" with more power, determined to keep moisture away! New "power tank on wheels," an insulated cooler, with dual gel cell deep discharge batteries inside. New Orion "tripod" bag. Hard to see but the new Orion 9x50 finder scope is attached. |
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links
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