ORION XT 10

Aperture fever came on quickly.  I bought an Orion XT10 in Feb 2003 and have since used it as a test bed for myriad modifications.  Some of these have proven useful, others, not so much.  Here are some of the modifications that I have found useful.

This list is prioritized in the order that I would do things if I were to start all over again. It does not include things like binoculars, books, charts, red flashlights, eyepatch or magazine subscriptions. It also does not include the most important thing a new telescope owner could do: join a local astronomy club. That single act will teach you more and save you more $$$ than any other thing you could do.

Without further adieux, here's my list:

  1. Shower Caps

  2. Cheshire/sight tube

  3. 2x Barlow

  4. Focuser Re-Lube

  5. Unit power finder

  6. Milk jug washers

  7. Observing chair

  8. 100x eyepiece (12-14mm for the XT6,8&10)

  9. Laser collimator + barlowed laser target

  10. Flocking

  11. Accessory Tray

  12. Focus lever

  13. Equatorial platform

  14. 25% neutral density filter

  15. Eyepiece Case

  16. Cooling fans

  17. Crayford focuser

  18. Ebony star

  19. UHC and OIII filters

  20. Binoviewers

  21. Magnets for counterweights

  22. Color filters

  23. Altitude hub mod

  24. Short Tube 80mm achromat for finder

 

If you told me to pick 3 things on that list that I would never give up, those three things would be the observing chair, the eq platform and the binoviewers. Those 3 items have added the most pleasure to my astronomical observing. I would be curious to see what others would list as their 3 indispensable items.

 

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