Rob

Between here and October it will increase in detail seen. Newt owners require a perfectly collimated scope. Also early morning (2am/3am) seems to be the best observing time with a more steady atmosphere. Finally.. don't push the magnification too hard. I find 200/240x most night's is good. On the rare very good seeing night's you could push 300x Enjoy the Mars session Rob

Wow Matt. That first image is magazine cover material. Nice Rob

Here's my Revelation 80ED.. She maybe FPL-51.. but a great visual performer all the same

Congrats on the reward.. and best wishes to you. Why not go for some black n green.. go treat buy Rob

Welcome back Sir!!

Nice choice. I've heard good things on this model. It incorporates an ED element (this does not mean its an ED scope), however the correction is meant to be good for a short FL. Enjoy it! Rob

Good thread here, and I've been following from the start. For me it just feels like I'd be tweaking kit constantly rather than observing!. The atmosphere is constantly moving, same as the 'seeing'. We all know those moments where seeing suddenly settles and you have that Wow moment. I'm sure for some this maybe a great tool. But I have found over the last few years that a small ED does seem to offer benefit while the planets are low.

Wow!... great work. I bow to you!

I'm following this thread with interest as I have a 5" achro with my sights set on Mars (for me THE target that I'm so excited about). I shall have to go on a selling fest to afford one mind. I need to feel its worth it.

Nice. Good capture!

Interesting to know.. looking forward to reading more on testing here

Managed it a few times this week, what a treat.. been waiting since Hale bopp in 97 for good one. I have taken some very average pictures just for my records, but I managed a nice view in the ED80 for some close up's Here's one - fully un doctored just resized 20 sec shot iso800 LPR filer also.

Really nice, great work indeed. I took few yesterday and will be back out with ED and a tracking mount tonight. Lets see....

Noticed also that sky safari have removed Neowise from the free to the pro version only...

Managed to see (naked eye) and take a few shots of the comet last night. And relax!. Fair bit of cloud dodging mind. Tonight is looking good, so I will setup the 80ed for a proper look + some better images

Good thread here for us Mars observers.. looking forward to the reviews now. Thanks

Thanks Andrew. Did not think for one minute it would reduce CA, just wondered if it would add a layer of complexity to use

My immediate thought is how well do they work with Achromatic refractor?

That's a super shot John

Been looking at SkiSafari from my location I should be good for around 11.30pm (with decent elevation or head to the water front)

Interesting indeed!.. I know you will do it proud..

Thats great!. I too have not seen it yet. Thanks for posting. Rob

Mars oppositions mean so much for me also. Keeping everything crossed for no storms!.. its tends to be a hand in hand thing mind. Grrrr

I'm the same as others here. It will need to climb higher to make it possible... just hope it keeps the brightness for this. From the above map I think I'm looking towards the 19th!

Ah, the hot debated ED glass.. Lots that have been said here is true and accurate. That said FPL-51 is a good performer in its own right, more so if your a visual observer. Also fair to say the focal ratio of the scope has another performance effect. My ED 80mm is indeed FL-51 with a focal ratio of f6.8 as a visual observer this max's out the performance of the 51 lens. The only slight CA (yellow fleck) that's noticeable is when I point the scope to Venus. I post this for newcomers who are visual observers on a budget. FPL-51 is a good performer, and should not be dismissed.