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:
- Shower Caps
- Cheshire/sight tube
- 2x Barlow
- Focuser Re-Lube
- Unit power finder
- Milk jug washers
- Observing chair
- 100x eyepiece (12-14mm for the XT6,8&10)
- Laser collimator + barlowed laser target
- Flocking
- Accessory Tray
- Focus lever
- Equatorial platform
- 25% neutral density filter
- Eyepiece Case
- Cooling fans
- Crayford focuser
- Ebony star
- UHC and OIII filters
- Binoviewers
- Magnets for counterweights
- Color filters
- Altitude hub mod
- 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.