Rob

As others have mentioned here. Collimation is your stop!.. If you don't already have a collimating tool, get one. preferably this style as the longer style works well : https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/premium-cheshire-collimating-eyepiece.html 

Then look towards EP's.

Best Rob

2 hours ago, John said:

I used a William Optics Minus Violet filter with a 150mm F/8 achromat refractor a few years back and compared the views of the moons limb with and without the filter. I found that the filter reduced  the visible violet fringe by around 50%. The flip side was a pale lemon tint to the overall view. The CA was still visible but it was reduced.

 

I had one of the WO -V filter and found the same John. I now switch between a Baader Fringe Killer & Wratten #8.. that said I often dont use one at all!

Always found this helpful.. its from a post in CN. Its just nice to see a visual comparison. Rob

Nice!.. Looks great and delivered I see. Always nice to have a little gathering also for an event!. Good Stuff

Rob

Sure hope some of you are seeing this now

I know its no consolation to the real observing.. but here's a nice live feed

2 minutes ago, geordie85 said:

Panic sets in as I cannot find my t-ring

I feel your pain here.. gutted I'm not taking part!. I'm sat my desk with sun poring in through my office window here in Denmead.. grrrrr

Fingers crossed for you all. I could not find camera lens which has been covered in Baader film - Drat!. So its a live feed for me, plus I hope some images on here!

Rob

Wow!.. that's some eyepiece. Love to take a look through that. Can Only imagine the 'Space walk' feel from a 100 degree EP!.

I love my 200PDS, and have had many great nights with it. Its a workhorse aperture, and a real performer.

I find its a sweet spot aperture for UK skies as it can still provide pleasing views on mediocre nights of fair to poor seeing.

Yes its EQ mounted (did have it on the EQ5 as well as the HEQ5) and yes I'm also a 6ft 3in tall chap who suffers with back pain on/off . But the trick is a lot of tube rotation in the rings to find that comfortable position for observing. Its also the case to plan your session ahead for where your targets will sit in the sky.

Its fair to say I've been a Newtonian on EQ user for 25 years now. I've done some light imaging, but mostly observing. I found that I become one with that setup quite quickly, and now (to me) its a breeze to use and enjoy!.

Rob

Wow.. very nice indeed.

Rob

Quite a number of good points mentioned here. I would also make sure that you could pick 2 x mid range eyepieces within your budget. Now I'm not suggesting big money. But I started out with a 114 (4.5inch Reflector on an un-driven/non goto mount) I had a ball with scope over the following few years learning so much about the sky, star hopping & also about the scope, mount setup.

I soon realised after taking advise that if I could upgrade the bundled eyepieces, what an improvement it would be.  Wow so not wrong I recall moving on to a higher grade plossl and the scope seemed to come alive yet again!. So I would make sure you leave a a little in reserve for lets say a couple of BST EP's. A solid step up from the bundled. Now i know you may say what size EP's, that's one for when you chose your scope - type & focal length.

Good Luck!. Welcome & enjoy the Hobby

Rob

Nice Stu. Also great when you have earth shine.

We had horrid cloudy / mist skies here last.. great conditions for a spooky Halloween, terrible for Astro!

Rob

Wow!.. very nice. Enjoy.

Rob

@OuroborosSo I have an image of the scope ready for action at 8.30am Tuesday morning, followed by a shot at 7.09am Wednesday morning after bringing the scope back in... an Observing session that's etched in the memory now

41 minutes ago, Ouroboros said:

@Rob Shhhhhh! Don't tell 'em all or they'll all want to come here! 🙂  These are I think Bortle class 3 skies. Bortle 2 a bit further north. 

Tuesday night was indeed pretty good. I finally gave in at about 2:30 am. I didn't manage the early morning shift as well.  

Mind you, the rain and wind on Friday and Friday night were quite spectacular as I recall.  

Oh no!.. sorry cats out the bag now!. Such a really great place mind.

The skies last week just blew me away, and lucked out for a change!. You are so lucky!. Yes indeed, Friday night was rough.. and we traveled back on Saturday morning (A39 to A303) through really flooded roads.

Rob

So I've just returned from a week away in Morwenstow North Cornwall. We stayed in a converted barn with all the mod cons, set in a old beamed built building plus a rather nice log burner and no broadband . It was fairly remote ith high elevation, no broadband and all water from a borehole pumped from underground! And most importantly absolutely no lights to be seen for miles in all directions!.  

I had observing sessions on both Tuesday night, and then after grabbing 4 hours sleep. Wednesday morning. And then to my delight a short (but sweet) session on Thursday night.

The skies were a flood of Stars, it had been a while since being under such a site. The double cluster (in good detail) was visual by eye, and the milky way was so bright right across the sky. I took the Revelation ED80 and the motor driven EQ5, sure a simple setup.. but boy it delivered!. To be honest I was so flooded for choice of targets. I just ended up star hopping from one side of the sky to the other pulling in the all the photons I could. The seeing was very good, and everything just sparkled everywhere. Sure being out in the middle of the country side made it quite chilly, but that was not stopping me.

Night 1 = 4 Hours of east to west targets from horizon to horizon + 4 Meteors

Morning 2 = a further 1.5 hours to sunrise to continue the evening before sweep

Night 3 = 3 hours of random targets across the whole sky, plus visually gazing at the milky way and soaking it in.

Such an amazing 3 sessions. Not only was I recharged from work, but fired up with such excitement once again.

Rob

54 minutes ago, johninderby said:

I use the Baader on Big Red.

 

Nice setup all round there John.

I know the Baader focusers have a great rep. FLO have replied to me already. I need to measure the diameter on the scope. So that's the next step

I can see there are various connectors there. I'll drop FLO a line to see what can be done. Thanks Rob

3 minutes ago, johninderby said:

The Mmonlite looks nice but Isn’t perfect. there are others of similar quality for less. The Baader Diamond Steeltrack is a stronger and more durable focuser that is very highly regarded. The Feathertouch is superb but so eye wateringly expensive nowadays..

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/baader-diamond-steeltrack-focusers/baader-steeltrack-diamond-nt-for-newtonians.html

Thanks John. I assume the Baader ST focusers flange is equal to the FT one?. I know I would still need the Bresser Adapter, but that's fine. Humm I do like those ST focusers I have to say.

I Appreciate your replies all!. Thanks

I will contact Bresser as suggested firstly, may still go down the Moonlight or even the Feather touch upgrade as noted on the Bresser site (also movable to other Bresser & ES ED scopes)

Rob

17 hours ago, Rob Sellent said:

I think it's a great thought, Joe. Makes a lot of sense. I've recently ordered a Moonlite from FLO but only because I have a gorgeous old-time Vixen 102s fluorite whose focuser was letting down the side. A few years back I did the same for Lunt's H-alpha 60mm. If either of them had been less than keeper status, personally I don't think I would have bothered with such an upgrade.

I agree too Rob.........

17 hours ago, joe aguiar said:

ok heres my thought dont get mad just saying my opinion

i just repleced the stock focuser of my tak tsa 102 to a moonlight dual speed AND it was very expensive. iam talking about the whole focuser asseble tho not sure if u can just get a cheaper set-up. total cost me $712, now if i didnt have a expensive scope and it was a more entry level i probally wounld not have done it.

since i see u r talking about a 5" acro would it make sence to sell it and dont spend the money on the focuser and maybe just something bigger or apo? just throwing that out there. to me the focuser would be  2x the amount of the scope. Altho again iam not sure if theres a cheaper adptor that can be just attcked to the end to make it alot cheaper than mine was, cause mine is threaded from the end of the tube etc.

joejaguar

In principle I agree Joe.. and not mad at all!. Now 1 issue.. I cant sell it as it was a gift from what was then my wife to be (now wife ..aka Boss). Shes also asked that I don't sell..

Fortunately I own a good example. Its not that I don't like the Hex focuser in all honesty either. However I bought the 1:10 upgrade and fitted. Its not working correctly, and to add insult I cannot get the thing off!. It just works when it wants to. The grub screws are all jammed, so I cant even take it apart to regrease. Clearly a lemon!.

This broken 1:10 is annoying me hugely....

7 hours ago, TakMan said:

Thanks to SGL member David, who sold me this great looking scope last week... I was only looking for a second Ha filter when it caught my eye - I think the ad only lasted 14 minutes! (I got the filter as well which was hand delivered by Adrian, another SGL member).

Scope arrived safe and sound to the office today - via Hermes (which I thought was a nice astro touch!) Superbly packed for it's journey to me as well - thanks for that David 😀

Hoping it makes for a decent travel scope and perhaps a lower power (full disk?) solar scope (instead of the 'details' with the f/8 TSA102s), with the Quark.

I've looked at this 90mm for some time, so I'm well aware of the CA and inherant field curvature that a doublet running at f/5.6 will have, but it should be fun finding out which eyepieces work best... 31mm Nagler, Ethos or the 20mm Pentax XW, or perhaps something else.... I have a few hi-power Tak erfles that have never got much use as well.

Thankfully, my William Optics EZTouch alt/az mount never sold years ago when I placed it on AB&S, and my mate has just given me as an early Christmas present, an Altair Astro Vixen-style saddle clamp - so I don't mar the ADM dovetail that was already fixed to the rings.

I have to say the Tele Vue bag is rather nice (not that I'd pay over £100 for it new) and the included diagonal looks unmarked.

Just purchased the 1.08x DG Multi Flattener that's been sitting for ages in FLO's 'offers' section, just in case I want to take the odd photo with it in the future.

Damian

 

ooohh, that's very pretty. Enjoy!. Rob

Right!.. @DRT of course!.. thanks for locating Rob

I'm sure somewhere on the forum here I've seen a Moonlite focuser fitted to the New Bresser AR127L (hex focuser addition).

Does anyone have this setup?. Or could confirm that there is this option without modification?.

Thanks Rob