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Well, after playing with the NexStar 8se on the new/old EQ35 Pro mount tonight, I've made a discovery.
I definitely need 3 things to use it for any DSO work, or at least the first 2 to even do planetary.
#1 - dew heater(s)!
#2 - autofocus
#3 - guide scope (have to decide if want to do OAG or an actual scope mounted on a full length bar).
Put the scope out with a few hours to adjust to outside temps, but after the rain yesterday the humidity is high and the dew point was easily reached tonight.
The exterior of the scope had dew so thick when you ran your finger over it for an inch or so it was soaked. The lens was severely fogged also.
So now the hunt is on. Celestron makes an auto-focuser that works with the NexStar's, but I think you can use any on them, so have to make a decision on what route to go. They also make a nice dew-heater ring that goes around the end of the scope mounted adjacent to the lens, and I kind of like that idea as it doesn't interfere with the cover and you aren't dependent on an exterior "velcro" solution.
I also had to do some slight collimation adjustments, but with the Bob's Knobs, that was easy enough to do.
I definitely need 3 things to use it for any DSO work, or at least the first 2 to even do planetary.
#1 - dew heater(s)!
#2 - autofocus
#3 - guide scope (have to decide if want to do OAG or an actual scope mounted on a full length bar).
Put the scope out with a few hours to adjust to outside temps, but after the rain yesterday the humidity is high and the dew point was easily reached tonight.
The exterior of the scope had dew so thick when you ran your finger over it for an inch or so it was soaked. The lens was severely fogged also.
So now the hunt is on. Celestron makes an auto-focuser that works with the NexStar's, but I think you can use any on them, so have to make a decision on what route to go. They also make a nice dew-heater ring that goes around the end of the scope mounted adjacent to the lens, and I kind of like that idea as it doesn't interfere with the cover and you aren't dependent on an exterior "velcro" solution.
I also had to do some slight collimation adjustments, but with the Bob's Knobs, that was easy enough to do.
