dweller25

My FPL53 scope on a Vixen GP mount

A Vixen GP-DX EQ mount...... A Vixen GP EQ mount My first scope on a Vixen Super Polaris EQ mount

I always thought - and I could be wrong that the mount will disperse the weight of your scope, with some of it going to the bolts. If you try to adjust the altitude under load the bolts will have to adjust the full weight and will be at risk of damage. Thats why I never adjust my mounts loaded.

Hello Dave, Just checked and my FS128 was made in 1997 - 20 years old and still going strong Generally I use mine for the planets, typical observing powers are : Jupiter : x148 to x225 Saturn : x173 to x235 Mars : x238 to x297 HTH

Hello Dave, Only just found this thread.... Welcome to the FS128 club MIne was made a year before yours and has given me 9 years of great views. I have replaced the original focuser with a Feathertouch which is a perfect match for the quality of the OTA. Have fun with it - and never sell it. Here is mine in action......

This what I did with my Skywatcher Dob

Just thought I would get everyone ready for Winter

Because the ED100 was easier to cool and could keep up with dropping temperatures through the night it gave sharper and more stable images quicker than the 127 Mak. The clear aperture of the 127 Mak is actually 120mm, which means the 46mm secondary gives a 38% obstruction - this reduces planetary contrast to about the same as a 2.9" refractor, so a 100ED will have more contrast - vital on the planets IMO. I have also compared the ED100 to my Takahashi TSA102. The ED100 gave embarrassingly close planetary views to the TSA102 !!!! In my opinion the ED100 is superb value for money.

I've had both the scopes you mention. The 100ED was the better of the two scopes on all the objects you mention and cooled down quicker than the Skymax 127.

How about sending the mirror to Orion Optics, asking them to re-figure it to 1/8th wave and then have them resilver and recoat it ?

Very nice APM152 Adam - that scope is on my wishlist.......

Mak attack !! Orion Optics OMC200 Intes Micro 715 Skywatcher 127

Here are some Newts I have owned......

Another Tal 125R....

Here are mine......

There's a 1/10th wave Orion Optics 10" dob on ukastrobuysell at the moment..... I have no affiliation with the seller

I have two 26mm Celestron silvertops as in the photo above. Thay are used as a bino pair and are excellent. I bought the first in 1986 and added the second a month ago. Well recommended.