Are there any quality 80mm f/5 or thereabouts quality optics out there for $100-$150 that will significantly improve the performance of this model scope? I...
Hello Everyone, My name is Marc, I am a new member of the group. Both my wife and I are Amature Astronomers. We like Refractor's very much. We have three ...
In reading through this group's archives a while back (after I became the owner of a used Skywatcher ST 80) I learned that the Skywatcher's is not the best of...
The mounting shoe on the Skywatcher ST80 has four holes threaded to receive screws from below. Two of these holes are tapped 1/4 - 20. What is the thread size...
I ordered an ST80 for use as a guide scope and for birdwatching, but it is back-ordered until the 27th of Feb.. Anyone know if there is a story behind this?...
There is a bit of play on my ST80's focusser tube. I am fairly sure that there may have been a shim put in to stabilise it, but probably the glue holding it...
... Hi Gene, Sorry for the slow response, been away from my scope for a few days and unable to make the measurements. The focuser travel of my old Celestron...
I bought a very cheap (Chinese) 80mm scope to use as a guide scope. The lenses are dirty, but the objective cell is glued on and will require a painful...
Hello, 80f5'ers - The recent spam message has been removed from the board and the poster as well. My apologies that it got into our system. I'll continue to...
I'm on my 3rd ST80, after the previous two had terrible QC issues. This one fortunately star tests very well. It did have a very bad case of astigmatism due...
I picked up an Orion ST-80T on eBay yesterday. It came with an Orion Paragon HD-F2 tripod. No finder, diagonal, or EP's. I'll have to pick those up. I would...
Hi group - I just posted a video on YouTube of the comet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpUf19AbJH8 I recorded it thru a Celestron 80f5, using a security...
I have an Orion EQ2 mount and I want to purchase the ST80 OTA from Orion. They sell it with the EQ1 as a combo but I obviously don't need the EQ1. My question...
After reading news of the comet's sudden increase in brightness in the Nexstar group I setup my Nexstar 8i and got out the 80wa that I use as a spotter for the...
By now some of you have heard of the sudden increase in brightness of Comet 17P/Holmes. It suddenly jumped from MAG 17 to MAG 2-3. I read about it on the...
Hi All, After successfully splitting Izar @80x, Epsilon Lyra @66.6x (could elongate at 47x w/ 17mm plossl and 2x barlow), Alula Australis @133x and 170x, and...
Hi all, I have a fairly detail review of how the ST80-A can perform after being optimized. The review is at Astromart if anyone is interested. Clear Skies, ...
Hi group, I have been attempting to find out if the Orion Express 80 and William Optics Megrez SD 80 use the same glass in their objectives. If anyone knows...
Thomas Back, the talented optical designer responsible for TMB apochromatic refractors and TMB eyepieces, has passed away after a long illness. I met Tom years...
Hi all, Has anyone here done a side-by-side comparison between the older Orion ST-80's, and the newer ones with the "fully multi-coated optics."? If so,...
... With the pretty much "standard" 25mm supplied with most of these telescopes, you'll get 80x with a 5x barlow. 62.5x with a 32mm. A 2x or 3x barlow might...
Hi All, Anyone here ever use a Antares 5x barlow w/ an 80f5? I was considering purchasing one and would like any input. Thanks. Clear Skies, Patrick...
Hi Everyone, Another question here, does anyone have any ideas to improve the contrast of the ST80? Any ideas other than blackening objective lense edges or...
Hi all, I am new to this group. I recently purchased a Orion ST80 and am interested in find eyepieces that will work well with this scope and that help reduce...