When I have a terrible need of - shall I say the word - religion.
Then I go out and paint the stars.
- Vincent van Gogh
14" LX850
This f/8 SCT on an LX850 mount has been my primary telescope since 2015. The increase in light gathering compared to my 12" SCT is significant. The telescope + mount is a large and heavy but therefor stable combination that brings a lot of objects within reach.
The equatorial mount allows for a variety of OTA's to be attached. The Autostar controller's unique tour feature is why I prefer Meade.
12" LX200
Purchased in 2009, this f/10 SCT was my primary telescope until I acquired the LX850. It is mounted on a Mitty Wedge. I now use it to observe double stars from my backyard as it is quick to setup and easy to align. Using this scope I logged over 8500 observations for almost 7000 individual objects.
Accessories
It starts with a telescope, but a great many accessories prove useful, if not necessary.
A telescope without dew protection is useless in this part of the world: OTA's, finders, controllers and eyepieces are heated with Kendrick straps. Standard finders are replaced with right-angle ones. Dew shields are added to the SCT's to retain a little heat and to improve contrast.
When observing I use a digital memo recorder to store my observations. The eyepieces I use are TeleVue Naglers.
On astrotrips in Europe I use a Kendrick observer tent for a semipermanent setup.
Previously owned
8" LX200
From 2005 through 2008 this telescope was my instrument of choice. Observations with this scope inspired the creation of CSOG.
ETX-125EC / AT
Meade's ETX-125EC, with the crisp images of its Maksutov design, got me underway in astronomy in 2000.
In 2007 I acquired an ETX-125AT to use as a travel scope.
Other
Jurg Wagener's Celestron 11" CPC I used under the pristine skies of the Karoo desert in Sutherland, South Africa.
