dweller25

Yes, strange how a lot of people end up with fracs 😁

Fabulous setup @Captain Magenta 👍

Fluorite is fine, but flourite is bad news 😀

My oldest scope is a 128mm refractor - it’s 23 years old and performs great BUT it’s optics are made of Flourite 🙂 and I do worry about them dissolving when dew gets on them, also I live in fear or it falling off the mount as it only has 2 tube rings 😱😱 My other 3 scopes are all young uns 🧑🏻‍🍼

A rare beasty indeed. What are your thoughts on it and a couple of photos perhaps ? 🙂

@StarWomble So …. Did you buy the Meade ?

Never used or seen one in the flesh. Rothervalley had a used one for sale a couple of years ago for around £3k if my memory serves me.

Hello @O4 clearnights and welcome to SGL. Just a heads up, my Tal 100RS was supplied with the curved finder base to fit the tube but had the wrong spacing for the screws - so there is variability there too ! As already mentioned, It may be worth adding a standard finder base to your OTA, which would allow you to use the standard Skywatcher or GSO straight through or RACI finders.

A fine scope and viewing session Gerry, I just bought an M180 to replace my Intes Micro 715, will report soon…..

Oh, thats good news @johninderby, maybe I saw an old CC6 report ?? Do you remember where you saw the report you mention ? would like to read it.

Hello @StarWomble and welcome to SGL. I am visual only and have found that doublet refractors work just fine. The Skywatcher 100ED may be worth considering as you said you wanted grab and go. But perhaps a better all-rounder would be the skywatcher 120ED ? There are suggestions that the CC6 has a working aperture of around 138mm and it’s quite heavy but it’s relatively cheap and dew will not be much of an issue. Good luck in your search…..

Excellent 👍

And it will double up as a colli cap if you have a Newt 😂

The middle photo - collimation looks very good to me 👍 You just need to check/fine tune it on a star now

I would not buy the eyepiece kit just yet - its better to buy the scope, use it and learn for yourself what you need based on your observing experience. Eyepieces come in two width fittings 2” and 1.25” The 10” Dobdonian you have found will accept both as it has a 2” to 1.25” converter. 1.25” eyepieces are generally the norm and will fit straight into the 10” Dobsonian. A 1.25” collimating tool would be useful as you will probably need it sooner or later, a simple collimation cap like this would be a good start….. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/rigel-aline-collimation-cap.html But do take your time - the planets will still be there when you are an old man 🙂

Perhaps we should all check with @mikemarotta first before posting 😂😂😂

Hello @TheTeenThatLovesAstronomy and welcome to SGL. As already mentioned, the best value for money telescope that will give good planetary views is a “Dobsonian” like this…… https://www.bintel.com.au/product/bintel-bt202-b-8-inch-dobsonian/?v=322b26af01d5 It has an 8” mirror that gives good resolution, is very simple to operate and is relatively cheap. It will need collimating occasionally but it’s not hard once you practice it a few times. The 10” version of the above scope (has a 10” mirror) - if you can manage the weight will give even better planetary views. Sadly, there is a world wide shortage of these scopes due to Covid so you will have to be patient. In the meantime, do more reading around the subject and check out the sketching sections here and on Cloudynights as this is a better indication of what you will actually see at the eyepiece - don’t expect to see the details you see in photos. Also try to join an astronomy club if you can find one locally to benefit from the experience of others and see the kit they use.

Great sketch @Fraunhoffer 👍

You don’t need it. Where is it for sale please 😈

Nice eyepiece, did you get a middle eastern flat bread that is delicious with a hot filling with it 😂😂😂

Happy postday @John 😂😂

I enjoy staring for hours on end at planets, other get enjoyment from taking photos. We all enjoy what we choose to do. That’s it really 🙂👍

Another vote for a 120mm ED refractor…. Good resolution, fairly light and quick to cool, giving maximum contrast for the aperture.

Can you post a photo please ?

Which gives the best planetary views ?