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SW120ED saves the day... :)

jetstream

By jetstream
in Observing - Planetary

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jetstream

jetstream

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Saturn sure is low isn't it?! this in combination with some compromised seeing has resulted in the ousting of the VX10 in favor of the 120ED Pro, and I must say...Its saving the day (well, night)! 

This is exactly why I chose this scope (actually just copied John :embarrassed:  :grin: ) - it bridges the gap well for when I'm aperture limited by seeing. The wobbles have stopped, there is some great shading on the planet and I'm off back outside to get some more details out of the rings... :laugh:

These SW120mm ED's work- no joke, in good seeing it will go 240x on Saturn...

Cassini here I come lol!

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Stu

Stu

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We are safe here chaps, the dob mob go blind if they look at planets so they don't come in here often [emoji6][emoji6]

I agree Gerry, my 100mm was giving lovely crisp views of Saturn the other night when larger scopes were struggling due to the low altitude.

My 120ED arrived yesterday so I'll have to give that a go too.

Have fun. Cassini is looking great isn't it?

EDIT: it gets decidedly uncomfortable at times, having a foot in both camps!! :) :)

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jetstream

jetstream

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We are safe here chaps, the dob mob go blind if they look at planets so they don't come in here often [emoji6][emoji6]

I agree Gerry, my 100mm was giving lovely crisp views of Saturn the other night when larger scopes were struggling due to the low altitude.

My 120ED arrived yesterday so I'll have to give that a go too.

Have fun. Cassini is looking great isn't it?

EDIT: it gets decidedly uncomfortable at times, having a foot in both camps!! :) :)

Hi Stu, you purchased a 120ED? nice one! Doubles, planets and solar is mines specialty.... both Ha and WL are outstanding in this thing. Off my own topic here but yesterday the 120ED was amazing in WL on the granulation... Looking forward to your first light! :smiley:

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Stu

Stu

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Hi Stu, you purchased a 120ED? nice one! Doubles, planets and solar is mines specialty.... both Ha and WL are outstanding in this thing. Off my own topic here but yesterday the 120ED was amazing in WL on the granulation... Looking forward to your first light! :smiley:

Hi Gerry,

Yes I did, but it's the second one I've had. I foolishly sold the last one, should have kept it.

Anyway, picked up a good deal so am looking forward to using one again, as you say, Solar WL and Ha should be excellent.

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scarp15

scarp15

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Nice to read an account of Saturn whatever the scope. last Saturday I had a good vantage point for observing Saturn and it gave good crisp views in my VX14 up to x184 though I refrained from trying anything higher, just good to capture it after such a long absence. Regrettably this weekend for opposition is looking poor here so no trips out unfortunately. Will content myself with reading further reports.

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John

John

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Great to see some enthusiasm for the ED120 - I think they are cracking scopes :smiley:

I was clouded out before Saturn rose over the houses the other night but I did manage some star splitting with my ED120. I got Zeta Herculis again at 257x and 300x which still seems a very tight split with the secondary star right up against the primary. Delta Cygni and Izar were beatifully split and Epsilon Lyrae was straightforward but lovely. 

I've had great views of Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars with my ED120 during the time that I've owned it :smiley:

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John

John

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My challenge for next time out though is getting the Cassini Division in the Tak 60 :)

I could never get it with my Tasco 60mm Stu but I suspect the Tak might be in a slightly different league :smiley:

The wide open aspect of the rings at the moment make the division as easy as it's going to get.

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Stu

Stu

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I could never get it with my Tasco 60mm Stu but I suspect the Tak might be in a slightly different league :smiley:

The wide open aspect of the rings at the moment make the division as easy as it's going to get.

That's what I thought John, now is the best time for a good few years yet!

I'm heading off to Samos for holiday this year so it should be higher there, about 33 degrees I think. Trying to squeeze the 76 in :)

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Qualia

Qualia

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I've been trying all week with the 76 and just can't do it. I think on occassion I've caught a hint of the division, but nothing I'd like to wage my life on. Seeing has been alright and with the 10", Cassini's division jumps out with around 90x with ease but even at about 130x with the 76, I still can't do it. I gues it's a problem with my eyesight and resolution, for I also have trouble picking out the feature with the 4" achro  :dontknow:

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Stu

Stu

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I've been trying all week with the 76 and just can't do it. I think on occassion I've caught a hint of the division, but nothing I'd like to wage my life on. Seeing has been alright and with the 10", Cassini's division jumps out with around 90x with ease but even at about 130x with the 76, I still can't do it. I gues it's a problem with my eyesight and resolution, for I also have trouble picking out the feature with the 4" achro :dontknow:

I'm not hopeful of my chances Rob, but I like a challenge :)

It was very clear in the 4" the other night, so who knows, perhaps it's possible.

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Piero

Piero

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I was able to see the Cassini division on the left and right part of the rings with a classic newton 114 F8 many years ago. The seeing was very good though. So far I haven't seen it with the TV60, but I believe the low position is part of the reason. This because I cannot yet reach a similar degree of focus on Saturn as I can on Jupiter and Venus. I only tried before midnight.

Of course aperture can be the second reason.

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Qualia

Qualia

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Was out this evening viewing Saturn with the 10", 4" and 3". Seeing was reasonably steady and I was able to detect Cassini's division along the wings of the ring, and a lovely set of bands around the planet itself with the 3" f6, a 7mm B.G.O and x2 TV Barlow.

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Special K

Special K

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I haven't yet had the pleasure of seeing through an ED120 but can imagine it's a nice big brother to the ED80 with the same f ratio. I still get a rush just thinking about this type of kit!! Thanks for the report, it's going to have to be Saturn for me soon. :)

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damnut

damnut

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If I get a gap in the clouds, I'm off to a local field with some kit this evening, whilst not obstructed too much there is some heat shimmer from a lower down bungalow. And have a look at saturn, close to the moon though.

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