AstroNash

On 24/03/2023 at 19:39, MessierMatt said:

Hi all,

I feel extremely welcomed by you all so far and looking forward to further guidance (no pun intended) and advice as I venture into my new obsession. I’m already blown away with what I can achieve with my simple set up and hope I don’t spend my child’s inheritance as I seek to explore the universe! 

Welcome Matt  

Where in Norfolk are you? I’m on the North Norfolk coast, we’re lucky to have some very dark skys!

On 10/03/2023 at 10:02, IB20 said:

Fantastic anecdote Mike, I have read all of Roger’s reviews as he has looked through some seriously nice scopes. It’s probably not what I wanted to hear though! 
The 100DL sounds like my dream scope, it’s the one that grabs my attention the most, especially with my love of planetary viewing. Sadly they must be rarer than rocking horse poo on the 2nd hand market. 

It’s always periods of inclement weather that get me dreaming of “bigger and better” kit. I mustn’t forget what a wonderful scope I currently have, there’s a chance it might clear tonight so hopefully I get a chance to remind myself.

Don’t suppose it would hurt to start saving either though…

I think A DL is an excellent choice when you can get one. Being a proud owner of one myself, I can testify to their greatness! I’ve had a number of views of Jupiter, with equal if not even more detail as shown in Mikes excellent sketches. Best of luck with the search!

19 hours ago, niallk said:

Ask it how to collimate a dob, and let's see what it says about secondary offset! 😂

Haha ok here it is! I asked it to include details about secondary offset too 😂

Collimating a DOB (Dobsonian telescope) involves aligning the primary mirror in the telescope so that it is in the correct position and orientation. This process is necessary to ensure that the telescope produces sharp and accurate images.

Here is a guide on how to collimate a DOB:

1. Begin by visually inspecting the telescope to ensure that the primary mirror is securely fastened and that the secondary mirror is in the correct position.

2. Next, shine a bright light into the telescope's focuser and look for the reflection of the secondary mirror in the primary mirror. The reflection should appear as a small circle in the center of the primary mirror.

3. If the reflection of the secondary mirror is not centered in the primary mirror, use the collimation screws on the back of the secondary mirror holder to adjust its position.

4. Once the reflection of the secondary mirror is centered, adjust the primary mirror collimation screws to align the primary mirror.

5. Repeat steps 2-4 until the secondary mirror is centered and the primary mirror is aligned.

6. Finally, check the collimation of the telescope by looking through the eyepiece while aiming at a bright star. If the star appears as a small, sharp point, the collimation is correct. If the star appears as a blur, repeat the collimation process.

It's important to note that Secondary offset is the adjustment of the secondary mirror position in relation to the primary mirror. This is done by adjusting the position of the secondary mirror holder using collimation screws. Secondary offset is important in ensuring that the telescope is properly collimated and that the eyepiece is positioned correctly in the focuser.

Just now, Alien 13 said:

Looks good to me although I would only ever use a lens pen on a frac or camera lens..

Alan

Haha no I agree, but considering a computer wrote that. An amazing bit of technology!

Hello all, I’ve been playing with quite an advanced AI these past few days. I asked it to write instructions on ‘how to clean a refractor telescope’, it responded with this in about 30 seconds… Pretty incredible!
 

A refractor telescope uses a lens to gather and focus light, and it's important to keep the lens clean to ensure the best viewing experience. Here is a detailed instruction on how to clean a refractor telescope:

1. Gather materials: Before you begin cleaning, make sure you have the following materials:

• A clean, soft, lint-free cloth (such as a microfiber cloth)
• A lens cleaning solution (such as isopropyl alcohol or lens cleaning fluid)
• A lens cleaning brush (with soft bristles)
• A blower bulb or compressed air can (to remove dust and debris)

2. Disassemble the telescope: If possible, disassemble the telescope so that you can clean each individual component. This will ensure that you don't miss any spots and that you can clean each component thoroughly.

3. Remove dust and debris: Use the blower bulb or compressed air can to remove any dust or debris from the lens and other parts of the telescope. Be sure to blow air in the opposite direction of the lens to avoid pushing dust and debris onto the lens.

4. Clean the lens: Dampen the lens cleaning cloth with a small amount of lens cleaning solution. Gently wipe the lens in a circular motion, starting from the center and working your way outwards. Use a clean section of the cloth for each pass to avoid smudging. If there is any dirt or debris that is hard to remove, use the lens cleaning brush to gently brush it away.

5. Clean other parts: Clean the other parts of the telescope, including the eyepiece, focuser, and other metal parts with the lens cleaning cloth and solution. Be sure to dry all the parts thoroughly to prevent rust or mold.

6. Reassemble the telescope: Once you have finished cleaning all the parts, reassemble the telescope. Make sure all the parts are securely in place and that the lens is properly aligned.

7. Store the telescope properly: When you're not using the telescope, make sure to store it in a dry and cool place. This will help to prevent mold and rust and will help to protect the telescope from dust and debris.

It's important to note that you should avoid cleaning the lens too often, as the cleaning process can cause damage to the lens over time. Only clean the lens when it is visibly dirty or when the image quality is affected. Also, be gentle when cleaning the lens and other parts of the telescope and avoid using abrasive materials or chemicals. If you're unsure about how to clean your telescope, you can consult the manufacturer's instructions or consult with an expert.

6 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

I do hope you love your FC100. It's a big investment!

I do, it’s a beautiful bit of engineering. Although I’m only 29, I can tell it’s a scope I will keep for my whole life. Especially as I managed to get the DL version too!

10 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

What a brilliant post. 

When I started out in astronomy over 40 years ago, photography as it was then was nothing like today. Visual observers could make valuable observations that very often outstripped the majority of photographs in detail - I'm talking about observational sketches. Although today imaging has under most circumstances, made sketching all but obsolete as far as creating a scientific record; it has not replaced visual observing.

I'm what you might call "old school", or a bit of a dinosaur. I'm a purely visual observer, and an avid sketcher.  Sketching is a powerful visual observing aid. It forces the observer to slow down and search out the most subtle nuances in an object under scrutiny. I find that as wonderful as images are, they are a little like the art of taxidermy, in that they show an object frozen in time, and often cooked to reveal an aspect of a feature rather than the whole as it truly is. Visual observing when done correctly, shows the object to be alive, and its features presented differently, more subtle and almost three dimensional compared to those in an image.

You asked to be inspired. I hope you enjoy the following mix of my observations, from lunar & planetary; brighter deep sky & Comets, and Double star, to planetary mapping and globe making. Most of the following have been observed through a 4" refractor.

 

 

Loved this, thank you. I should also add Mike, that it was your posts that inspired me to get into visual astronomy and to get an FC100!

Great stuff, I was out with my DL the other night too. Could clearly see a white haze topping the planet and a dark surface feature, which looked somewhat butterfly shaped. I had a 5mm LE in, so about 180X

what app are you using there?
 

AstroNash

I might have also got carried away with these.. I have the Tak disease.. 

Here’s my Tak FC100-DL, mount etc!

Do you have any recommendations on scope size for the TV OIII filter? I’ve not used one before but I’ve heard they darken the view a lot so can’t be used on small scopes? I have a Takahashi FC100-DL

On 29/10/2022 at 22:47, JeremyS said:

Really sorry to hear this sickening news, Alan. Bad times! Good the insurance is paying up, though.

It was very hard to hear! I’m sorry to hear that’s happened. On this topic, what insurance recommendations are out there for premium scopes?

AstroNash

2 hours ago, NGC 1502 said:

I used to attend Kelling star party, between Holt and Sheringham.  One of my most memorable nights was viewing through a clubmates TeleVue NP101 with a 31mm Nagler. Under the dark transparent sky I was blown away by the views. I could hardly believe the fabulous view was given by a premium 4 inch scope.

So with your Tak FC-100 I would get a very low power wide field eyepiece. I’d also want a good nebula filter.

A top refractor is very versatile, very low power wide field, to high power planetary and double stars.

Enjoy your excellent scope under those excellent skies that Norfolk can offer👍
 

Ed.

That’s great, thank you. Funnily enough I actually live in Sheringham, so I know Kelling very well. Maybe see you there one day!

Thank you for the advice!

Hello all,

I hope you’re all well. I currently have a Tak FC100-DL, one of the first 100 made. It’s an incredible scope, I’ve been moping up amazing views of planets, especially Jupiter and Saturn recently.

I’m looking to turn my gaze to more deep sky objects and I was wondering if you had any advice on what to look for, eye pieces, how the scope might perform. I was quite surprised at the detail on the targets I’ve already observed, especially considering it is an F9. I have already looked at Andromeda, which for brief moments revealed dark dust track lanes, as well as the Orion Nebula which for briefly showed a pink hue as well as clear darker strands between the illuminated areas.

I have more or less a full suite of Tak LE eye pieces currently and under fairly dark (botrel 3/4) rural Norfolk skys.

I’m looking forward to hearing your favourite visual targets, eye pieces and what magnifications you’d recommend. 
 

AstroNash