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I don't know who maintains it, but this website is a very good resource for the Messier catalogue: https://www.messier-objects.com/
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Thanks for all the replies, everyone! @Louis D I've thought about upgrading the visual back, but that would mean a lot more expense: a new visual back, a 2" diagonal/prism and 2" eyepieces. I wouldn't say 'never', but I've decided not to for now. The wider field sounds great, but the drop in brightness puts me off a bit. As for the 30mm NPL, I like it optically, but find the eye placement really problematic. As a long focal length plossl, it should have lots of eye relief, but the lens is so recessed that I can't see the full field (of only 50°) without mashing my glasses hard into my eye socket! Even with glasses off and the cup raised it still doesn't sit right. As a replacement for the NPL, I was hoping to find something with a slightly wider field (usable field, with glasses on) and better eye relief. I was assuming I'd be able to get something optically better too, but it sounds like there may be no significant difference in such a slow scope.
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Froglord started following Lightweight telescope design , Widefield eyepiece for 127 Mak and Eyepiece screws and wide barrels
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I know the Mak will never be truly widefield, but I'm looking for a nice 1.25" eyepiece to maximise the field, with a budget of maybe £100-120. Also I need good eye relief for glasses, which I'm estimating at 17mm absolute minimum, and preferably nearer 20mm. Assuming a focal length of 1500mm and an aperture of 120mm (based on reports that it's not a full 127mm), this gives a focal ratio of f/12.5. I'm pondering these: Stellalyra 24mm UFF 65°, giving 63x and a 1.92mm exit pupil. ES 26mm 62°, giving 58x and a 2.08mm exit pupil. ES 30mm 52°, giving 50x and a 2.40mm exit pupil. Has anyone used these in a slow scope like mine? Any other options I might consider? (No, not the Panoptic 24mm - it costs more than my scope!).
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Eyepiece screws and wide barrels
Froglord replied to Froglord's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
That's very generous! -
Eyepiece screws and wide barrels
Froglord replied to Froglord's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
I've only just realised they're the picture in your avatar - I didn't recognise them in their 'Priests of the Temples of Syrinx' getup. -
Eyepiece screws and wide barrels
Froglord replied to Froglord's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Worth looking into. Thanks, guys! -
Eyepiece screws and wide barrels
Froglord replied to Froglord's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Still makes it a faff trying to change eyepieces in the field. I suppose I could go 'full SGL' and buy one scope for each eyepiece ... 🤣 -
Eyepiece screws and wide barrels
Froglord replied to Froglord's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Thanks, Knightly (Rush fan, by any chance?). Is this what people do? Is it really that simple? I've tried this with the Hyperion Zoom and it works well, but then it has a ridged barrel for the screw to grip. On eyepieces with a smoother barrel I'd be worried about slippage. I'll have to give it a try. -
This is driving me slightly nuts. How do you screw in or unscrew an eyepiece when the screw is hard up against the barrel of the eyepiece? I've attached a picture of the Baader Hyperion Zoom IV on my Skymax 127 prism diagonal, and the barrel is touching the screw. This makes things fiddly and difficult, especially with hands numbed by the cold. I'm sure one of you must have a brilliant solution ...
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Eye pieces advice needed
Froglord replied to Maverik359's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
A second-hand BST StarGuider 8mm might just be within your budget. That would give you 94x magnification and a 1.6mm exit pupil. A complete change of pace from your 28mm and enough to get a good gander at the planets, moon craters, etc. -
Froglord changed their profile photo
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Hello, David, and welcome to SGL! I'm a few miles south-west of you, in Denmead, and would definitely be up for a few viewing sessions. I'm also fairly new to the hobby and so far I've kept my viewing to the back garden, front drive and the local park (whose abundance of trees shield many of the local street lights). However I've been meaning to get out to a dark sky site. The most promising locally seems to be Old Winchester Hill. Have you been there yet, and if so, how was it?
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Well, at least you had one target to observe!
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I'm finding it helps to screw the eyeguards all the way back down and widen the binoculars a tad.
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Welcome to SGL! My sister used to live in Richmond. Small world, innit?
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Lightweight telescope design
Froglord replied to PatrickO's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
I'd go for a Newtonian with some of the tube 'missing'. For example, the Sky-Watcher Flextube 150p has a 6" aperture and an OTA weight of 8 pounds (3.6kg): https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/sky-watcher-heritage-150p-flextube-tabletop-dobsonian.html