magnilux - Astronomy Technology Today

NEWPRODUCTS
SCOPESTUFF
NewStuff from ScopeStuff
ScopeStuff has long been known as the
“if you can’t find it anywhere else, check
ScopeStuff before giving up” resource for
practical astronomers. Here are just some of
the new gadgets you’ll find there.
Antares-to-Vixen Finder Rings Adapter
If you have an Atarers F50DTB-type or
a ScopeStuff FRQ8 finder-rings set and
want to attach it to your scope’s Vixen/
Orion/Synta-style finder shoe or base, you
need the ScopeStuff A2VF adapter. It is precision
machined from solid aluminum,
black anodized, and clamps firmly to the
Antares-format dovetail with four stainless
steel setscrews. Price: $19US.
2X 3-Element Barlow for
T-Thread Systems
ScopeStuff’s 2X, 3-element, color-corrected,
multicoated Barlow is designed
specifically for use with T-thread camera
setups. Its male T-threads screw directly into
an SLR T-ring or camera front for the mostsolid
mounting possible. The Barlow element-to-focal-plane
spacing is adjustable for
optimum performance. The Barlow assembly
comes with three 10-mm spacers that
provide ample adjustment for use with most
focusers.
The Barlow insert should be adjusted so
the magnification is double that of a directprojection
setup. Moving the insert towards
the film or sensor plane will decrease magnification.
After adjustment, tighten the two
set screws to securely hold the insert using
the included Allen wrench. The telescope
will likely focus at a different focuser setting
with the Barlow in the optical train. If
enough out-focus cannot be reached, additional
spacers are available. Price: $129US.
SCT Thread 2-inch
Internal Spacer Washer
This washer performs a very simple, but
critical function: it fits inside a female SCT
2-inch Schmidt-threaded adapter and spaces
an inserted male SCT-thread adapter out by
1/8 inch. The spacer is sometimes required
to make a female collar-ring-style SCT
adapter fit short-length male SCT threads. If
you’ve ever experienced the frustration of
this particular problem, you know exactly
what this washer is for!
It is precision laser cut from black ABS
plastic, measures 1.95-inch OD by 1.80-
inch ID, and is not threaded. Price: $6US.
SCT Schmidt-Thread
Extension Tube/Spacer Ring
Here’s another specialty item that serves
a critical function. This spacer has male SCT
Schmidt threads on one side and female
SCT threads on the other side. Spacing is
1/2 inch, the center opening is 1.77 inch,
and the outside diameter is 2.175 inch. The
spacer is precision machined from solid aluminum,
black anodized, with interior baffles.
The spacer is intended primarily for
adjustment of SCT focal-reducer spacing.
Price: $16US each; $28US for a set of two.
Dovetail Shoe Upgrade for
EQ3-Type Mounts
How many times have we wished we
had one of these ScopeStuff’s dovetail-shoe
upgrade for EQ3-type mounts puts an end
to the frustration of bolting and unbolting
mounting rings from mounts that don’t use
dovetail bars, but that instead have tabs that
mounting rings attach directly to. The
ScopeStuff EQ3D system upgrades such
mounts to accept standard Orion/
Synta/Vixen-style dovetail bars and provides
a sturdy interface for the dovetail.
The upgrade kit works for EQ3-type
mounts with 5.875-inch spacing between
the tab mounting holes. See the accompanying
image for an example of this style of
mount. The upgrade kit includes the bar
with dovetail shoe attached, plus all of the
stainless-steel hardware required to attach
the kit to the mount. Price: $85US.
Compression-Ring Visual Back
for Orion Crayford Focusers
Some original-equipment Orion
Crayford focusers were equipped with
thumb-screw-only visual backs and this
precision-machined compression-ring-style
22 Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY