melsmore

You're probably right, I need to try it a bit more under proper darkness and at higher magnification. Then decide on half-pillar or new mount. I hope it'll just do it, as I really like my GPD2. 🤞But it is at the very top end weight wise and quite long .....

Yeah, I think I may have to get one of those. Telescope house have them available. Do you think this one will be tall enough?

It does, very well. It just about handles the APM140 (10kg) ok too. I was more worried about not getting the synscan set up properly and crashing it into the tripod 😱

Upgraded my GPD2 with Skywatcher GOTO. Works well, but the housing cover doesn't fit very well. Thank goodness for American Tape. Here is first run for it - to see if I RT*M properly. I didn't want to risk my SD115D nor APM140, so the TS80APO it was.

Good points. And I've yet to see the SCP.

La Palma for some winter sun. New moon in Jan or Feb best.

Not really night, but as close as it gets at 53⁰N at this time of year. First light for my new APM140, which I collected today from The Widescreen Centre. A low Venus and the Moon, briefly before they dropped below the treeline, then Polaris and Mizar. My GPD2 mount managed the weight (around 10kg) just fine for visual. Too soon to have a considered opinion, but very pleased with it so far.

Brilliant sketch.

Brilliant, well done!

What @Merlin66 said and look at the Double Star Imaging group

I like my Vixen SD115S a lot, but it is F7.7 (f890) and over £2K new. It's not particularly light at 6.5kg either. But it's a doublet and a darn fine one. P.S. no, it's not for sale

Thanks for the encouragement @globular, @andrew s and @dweller25. Yes, I think the white patch at the bottom and left sides were cloud. I looked for a photo or competent sketch here and on ALPO for the same time to check with, but couldn't find one.

First the disclaimer. This is my first attempt to sketch Mars, or indeed any planet. Also, it started to rain and I had to abandon it with some urgency (hence no orientation marker). I used a HB pencil and a blending stump. But I think I can see a couple of features that match Ade Ashford's app. The Wratten 21 filter improved the view enormously (although you may find that hard to believe looking at the picture) helping show the surface detail and improving the seeing. I tried it the day before in my 80mm refractor, but that just made the image too dim, but on the 115mm it was very good, so I recommend it to anyone with 115mm or larger. I tried sketching the moon (Plato) several years ago, but SWMBO pronounced it (I'll paraphrase her here) more Feline Anatomical than Selenographical. While this one may look more like a two year's old attempt at drawing a rabbit, at least no one can confuse it with the rear end of the cat. So regardless of the criticism I receive here, I'll give it another go tonight (weather permitting). 🧐

Here is my newt, being diligently guarded by the head of security before he retired (to the sofa). It'll be 20 years old on 25/12/2020! Last seen by me in 2016 😭. We plan on going to the Moto Guzzi 100 year celebrations next September (subject to Covid-19 and/or the Grim Reaper), so may travel on down to rescue it after that.

Farpoint Desiccant cap for my SD115S and #21 orange filter to try on Mars.

Not far from me then, bit East of you on hols near Craster , fantastic skies here too... (Not tonight though).

There's a Test Report by Alan Dyer of it in September 2020 Sky and Telescope too. (Page 68).

And why not? It's always a joy to look at that combination.

New sleeping bag for SD115S. The dog seems to have retired from security duties, hence the alternative.

Excellent first light. Well done.

That's not an "unboxing", it's just a box. You're taunting us. ☹️

Yes, from me too. A terrific advertisement for TS and iOptron!

New (to me) Vixen SD115S set up for first light. Birthday pressey from SWMBO.

I agree absolutely.

Very sorry, I just checked the current models of C8 and C925 on FLO's website and it is certainly no longer the case concerning the secondary mirror sizes. C925: Secondary Mirror Obstruction: 3.35 in (85.09 mm)Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Area: 13.1 %Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter: 36.2 %Optical Tube Length: 22 in (558.8 mm)Optical Tube Weight: 20 lb (9.07 kg) C8: Secondary Mirror Obstruction : 2.5 in (63.5 mm)Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Area : 9.8 %Secondary Mirror Obstruction by Diameter : 31.3 %Optical Tube Length : 17 in (431.8 mm)Optical Tube Weight : 12.5 lb (5.67 kg) Sorry, next time I'll check before I post.