Re: [APML] Need Help With Meade 9mm Guiding Eyepiece

["William R. Mattil" <wrmattil@ix.netcom.com>]

Mmalone116astro@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I have recently just started using, or should I say, trying to use
> the Meade 9mm illuminated recticle guiding eyepiece
> I need some advice about the following issues:
> 
> *I have trouble finding suitable stars bright enough to see clearly
> through the eyepiece.
> I have had trouble when using the eyepiece with the off-axis guider
> and also when using the eyepiece straight on.

Finding guide stars when guiding off axis can be problematic and certain
areas of the sky seem to be devoid of suitable guide stars so even a
seperate guidescope can provide challanges. But I can tell you this for
sure the Meade guiding EP is much much much, did I remember to tell you
*how* much ??, too bright. I added two pieces of film that were quite
opaque in front of the LED and that helped. But it is *still* brighter
than I would like. I was never able to use it when guiding off axis
untill doing this.

Someone markets an aftermarket plug-in that pulses and has better
brightness control, sorry I cannot remember the URL or manufacturer.

> Sometimes I can see a star, but when I turn the recticle on,
> the 'guide' star becomes essentially invisble, even at the lowest
> possible brightness setting (which seems too bright anyway)

Heh ... I know <g>

> I've searched nearly a full 35mm field (near M13, high in the sky) of
> view without finding much more than
> dim stars that can hardly be detected when the recticle is on.
> 
> *The star image (when I have one) never seems to be steady.  the star
> is always bobbing around, and just slight movements of the hand
> controller cord seem to make this worse.

This has nothing to do with the EP but appears to me a mount problem .


>  Under normal observing
> magnification (80x), my obvious vibrations seem to damp within a
> couple seconds.

This doesn't sound very good to me.

> I had success guiding exposures while piggy backing
> with a 300mm zoom Lens (test shots with  and without guiding show
> clear difference), but I am concerned about prime focus.

You should be <g> Prime Focus would be more demanding

>  I am using a
> Meade LX90, with counter weights and vibration pads.

I am not familar with this mount so I will leave that for someone else
to address.

Hope this helps at least a little bit.

Regards

Bill

PS: I may be the only reader of this list that actually manually guides
<laughs>

-- 
William R. Mattil	| Fred Astaire wasn't so great.
wrmattil@ix.netcom.com	| Ginger had to do it all backwards
(972) 399-4106		| and... in high heels.

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