dweller25

Great sketches @mikeDnight How do you calculate the magnification you have with the Binoviewers in your Jupiter drawing ?

I have seen that too - I think it’s morning mist/dew/fog/frost. Very good observation and drawing 👍

Superb 👍

Very impressive image 👍

Laurel and Hardy had nothing on you two 👍👍👍😂😂😂😂

There is also Orion Optics (UK) with guaranteed 1/10th wave optics, but they are very expensive - a new 8” is £970..... https://www.orionoptics.co.uk/VX/vxnewtonianrefle.html

To get the best out of a large aperture scope you may need to view away from the turbulence of Manchester. So you may need pick a scope that you can transport

APM are a good supplier 👍

As the scope Is now 27 years old the mirrors will need checking for coating loss, tarnishing, and fungus attack. Also check the eyepieces for fungus and glass chips too. The movement of the equatorial head should be smooth in both axis - it may be rusty. If the scope, eyepieces and mount are in good condition I would suggest £100 - £150 for the whole system ? It looks like a classic 6” F/8 Newtonian reflector which hopefully will give nice views.

The tripod solution has been answered by Andy above. In your price range a reflector will give you the best views, any refractor in your price range will show some false colour in the view - it’s called chromatic aberration - which reflectors as they are mirror based do not have.

The Skywatcher 200P is an excellent choice 👍 For a little more the Bresser version is considered to be a little better mechanically..... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-8-dobsonian-telescope.html Both sit within the area of the base and can be stored in an unused corner out of the way 🙂

Looks like the same style box my Tal 125R came in 👍

My TAL 100RS......

Hello Shannon, welcome to SGL This is within your budget...... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-heritage-100p-tabletop-dobsonian.html This is even better if you can stretch the budget.... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html Also you can download “Stellarium” - very good free planetarium software. Also see this guide to buying a scope here (this is a good supplier too)... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html

Great observation and drawing 👍

Excellent work - thanks for sharing

Hello Furkin 🤔 and welcome to SGL Most telescopes will weigh more than a bag of sugar so this makes things tricky. For your budget I would suggest this as it breaks apart into lightweight parts and is both simple to setup and use but also a very capable all-rounder...... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html For best comfort you could put it on a table and use it sitting down. Hope that helps.

Yes that’s the method I use for all my observing 😂😂

I had a 150 F/8 helios refractor on a Vixen GPDX and it was only just ok - an EQ5 would not be very stable whilst focusing at high power. I also found CA was too much for me and none of the CA filters helped much. A 7” Mak - which is a folded frac 🤪 would be a better option perhaps ?

Brilliant 👍

@Fozzie An ED120 but in a WHITE, better, Long Perng tube ...... https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4688_TS-Optics-Optics-120-mm-f-7-5-FPL53-Apo-Refractor-with-3--Focuser.html

@Fozzie Have you considered the SW 120ED ?

Whilst there are many filters for CA I found all of them disappointing and none of them could make the views as good as a reflector. For me the choice between the two scopes is easy but it’s what suits you best at the end of the day. Good luck

Good luck 👍 Just curious - but can you see CA visually ?

As the scope is new it may be time to return it ?