Buy one, get one fr.........well actually it was "intend to buy one, end up with two!"

[Stu]

Got home at around 7.15pm, after a somewhat mammoth eight hour round trip to Plymouth, to pick up the lovely Sumerian Canopus 16" from Mike. True gent that he is, he fed me tea whilst going through setting up and breaking down the scope so I have a good knowledge of it already. Really looking forward to seeing what it can do under dark skies. No more averted imagination for me with my normal 4" refractors (not that they are going anywhere!)

I blame Shane for highlighting the VX10L to me! It somehow seems to have found its way into the car too and is now in my parents study, much to their displeasure ;-). Mike and I had fun working out how to fit it all in but we managed in the end!

This is a very lovely scope too, 1/10th wave f6.3, nice and light to carry out for quickish sessions. I can see this will be a favourite at home.

Given how tired I am, it's probably a blessing in disguise that I forgot my eyepiece case because it is lovely and clear out there tonight. Could have had first light on my first night with it but c'est la vie.

Will post up pictures and first light reports as soon as I get a chance.

Thanks Mike. A very grateful and contented BigMakStutov here, who now even more so needs a new name!!

Stu

[Qualia]

Great stuff, Stu and it is really good news to hear that this gear is going to a good home. I look forward to your reports

[John]

Excellent Stu - that OO 10" F/6.3 did look a peach of a scope

[scarp15]

Good to learn of the outcome of those scopes that Mike was selling, look forward to your on going experiences and reports.

[Uplooker]

Congrats Stu, and commiserations to Mike. Stu, you are a glutton for punishment, did you not sell a Dob 6 or 8 months ago. I hope you hold on to these ones for a bit longer :-)

Ian

[Moonshane]

Sorry honest. Awesome buys, both I reckon

[Stu]

Thanks all. Yes, sad for Mike to be selling. Both are lovely scopes. I think the 10" will get very regular use at home, largely on planets and other higher power/brighter objects. I've not used an EQ platform before, and still can't get my head around the geometry of them! Will be very handy though.

The Canopus (keep wanting to call it an Octopus, I guess it does have eight legs!) will go nicely in the car with camping kit and the odd child or two for weekends away at dark sites, or just for a trip to the South Downs. Should be fab on DSO's obviously. I may try an aperture mask for planets too.

Ian, although I am guilty of buying and selling plenty, I don't THINK I sold a dob recently. A significant re-org is required now though!! :-). To answer your question, yes these will be keepers.

Shane, all is forgiven :-), grateful for the heads up

[nightfisher]

Stu, you must have more scopes than FLO now 

congrats on your new purchase (s), shame it looks like PSP has fallen by the wayside, would of been nice to see them

[Stu]

At the moment I do, but without breaking the COC, I will just say that a 're-distribution' will be happening very soon to avoid the long suffering Mrs Maksutov seeking a divorce ;-)

We should try and at least have a small gathering around PSP time perhaps?

[nightfisher]

Yes Stu, see my post in star parties

[swamp thing]

Congrats Stu. That's a pair of well looked after scopes you've got yourself there.

Sad that Mike has left the hobby. Great guy and his sketches were simply superb. A loss to not only SGL but amateur astronomy. I hope he reconsiders one day.

[Stu]

Congrats Stu. That's a pair of well looked after scopes you've got yourself there.

Sad that Mike has left the hobby. Great guy and his sketches were simply superb. A loss to not only SGL but amateur astronomy. I hope he reconsiders one day.

They are lovely scopes Steve, and agreed about Mike's sketching. The scopes complement each other really nicely and Mike has sorted all the niggles out with them so they work beautifully, that was a big attraction for me. The Dob is so smooth!!

Secretly, and don't tell anyone I said this, I reckon Mike is just having a 'retreat and re-group', and will find a way back into the hobby when the time is right. Just don't tell Mrs Mike yet ;-)

[alan potts]

Congratulations Stu on the new scopes, when does the shop open?, I am after the F4.8 version of the same scope maybe around Easter time. Still don't know whether to go for the 1/10 PV, I want to see what the Sumerian delivers first I think.

Alan.

[Stu]

Congratulations Stu on the new scopes, when does the shop open?, I am after the F4.8 version of the same scope maybe around Easter time. Still don't know whether to go for the 1/10 PV, I want to see what the Sumerian delivers first I think.

Alan.

When does the Canopus arrive Alan?

I think 1/10th makes sense on the f6.3 as it will be more a high mag and planetary scope, particularly in the EQ platform.

Always tricky to know what to go for, although actually the upgrade cost from 1/8th to 1/10th is not so high?

[swamp thing]

Congratulations Stu on the new scopes, when does the shop open?, I am after the F4.8 version of the same scope maybe around Easter time. Still don't know whether to go for the 1/10 PV, I want to see what the Sumerian delivers first I think.

Alan.

Out of interest Alan, what are you hoping to do with it? 

Edit; The smaller scope that is

[estwing]

Very sad about mike73 helped me a lot when times were tough and vise versa I hope.its a great loss to SGL as mikes input was helpful friendly and funny but his sketches were truly outstanding and he will be sadly missed.I hope you enjoy the scopes as much as he did Stu and this will finally get you to a Dobfest!...clear skies!

[JamesF]

So glad you bought the Canopus and removed temptation from my path  Good to hear that Mike might be back at some point in the future too.  I was much saddened to see the scopes come up for sale saying he was leaving the hobby.

James

[Scott]

Bigfracmakstudob(soontobelivingintheshedifhiswifehasherway) man thats hard to type without spaces

[Mark at Beaufort]

A wonderful purchase Stu. I thought about the 10" OO Dob it was an excellent price. I look forward to photos plus first light in due course.

You now have the difficult decision of what to sell to keep the wife happy

[cotterless45]

Lovely scopes. Watched these on AB&S , good place to buy from astronomers.

Hopefully we can all meet up at Shallow Grunge, see what a bad boy can do !

Nick.

[estwing]

Forget the grunge stretch its legs down Elan way;)

[swamp thing]

Forget the grunge stretch its legs down Elan way;)

Don't worry mate. I'll be working on him from now on 

[Stu]

Don't worry chaps, I will be there like a shot if I can get away.

I really enjoyed PSP but largely for meeting people from the forum rather than observing very much. I see more when I'm down in Dorset.

The 10" will be largely home based, but now I have something that will fit in my car I will make the effort to get to some darker sites. Steve, I'll definitely try to get down to Ranmore sometime soon. If anyone fancies the South Downs that would be great too

[Pig]

Congratulations on the purchase Stu  If you buy anymore scopes there will not be enough Photons to go around.

[alan potts]

Stu,

I though joining the Dob Mob which we know is a secret society was a process with lots of secret ballots and a black ball vote, you seem to have got your feet under the table pretty quickly .

I was blackballed before I even applied .

Alan