Grump Martian

I am fascinated by this eyepiece. I don't usually like the normal zoom eyepieces 6 - 21 mm etc.

What do owners of the Nagler 3 - 6 mm zoom feel. Does it perform in such a way that you don't need several individual high power eyepieces. Or do you pocess individual eyepieces aswell as the Nagler zoom.

15 hours ago, stafford_stargazer said:

I think Astrobiscuit on YouTube is by far the most engaging programme to watch.. in fact he'd be great on TV.. genuine enthusiasm he really knows how to capture your attention.

Wonder what part of the country astro biscuit lives. It looks like London, but never sure. He does seem to be plagued with light pollution. I liked his video going to the countryside with his binoculars.

I bought one last Summer. It is a great refractor,easy to mount and handle. The darker the sky the better. So you will benefit from being able to transport it easily.

Mine mounted on an AZ4 with a ten inch height extension.

Have you ordered it yet🙃

3 hours ago, Don Pensack said:

I'm surprised you don't use the 4" refractor on the SkyTee mount.  It is far more stable.

I had issues with shimmy using an 80mm f/6 refractor on the Porta-II.  Are you using the heavier tripod?

EQ5 tripod with a Berlebach castor mount

I have a Starfield 102mm refractor. I am considering changing some of my eyepieces to optimise my viewing with this great telescope.

My current eyepiece collection consists of the following;

ES 8.8mm, 12.5 Pentax XF, 16mm Nirvana, 22mm Nagler & 32mm Panaview.

The Nagler I will keep. The 16 mm is very good, but can go. The 32mm Panaview does a job. But can be improved upon. An Explore Scientific 30 mm and Televue 31mm Nagler eyepieces are very heavy compared to the Panaview.I feel that I should have another eyepiece with a shorter focal length than the 8.8mm that I have. But what focal lenght would be reccomended? A 5mm ?.

I would be interested to hear what eyepiece collections that other Starfield refractors users have.

Thanks for that.

Forgive me if this topic has been covered recently. I have set my television to automatically record the Sky at Nigh. But have just realised that I cannot remember seeing it for quite some time. What has happened to it's once regular monthly spot? Has it been quietly dropped? 

There is a possibility that I may have the chance if aquiring the above Tele Vue eyepiece. I once owned an ES 30 mm. At around 1.4 kgs it was heavy. The mount used then as was the telescope much larger than my current instruments.The Teleview is 1.4 kgs. My telescopes are an 80 mm and 102 mm ED refractors. So a Skywatcher ST 120. These are used on AZ4 and another Alt/Az mounts. My question is would the Tele Vue 31 mm at 1.4 kgs be too heavy for these telescopes and mounts?

Below is a link to an explanation on how a smaller galaxy The Sagittarius Dwarf has periodically collided with the Milky Way galaxy. I became aware of this after watching an episode of The Universe with Brian Cox. He explained that a collision between two galaxies would not result in the destruction of solar systems as there are emense gaps between the stars. The Saggitarius galaxy circles the Milky Way and has collided three times over millenia. This has left a trail of debris or stars. The first collision several billion years ago. Brian knows this as he was there to withness the first collision.

I am now left scratching my head. I tell you why, I always thought that the band of light arching across the zenith of the night sky in the Summer as seen from a lovely dark sky was our home Solar system's galactic spiral arm. But I now as a result of watching the programme I think that it is the trail left by the collision. Or am I wrong and now confused. Please help a lost inhabitant of the outer reaches of the Milky Way.

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Gaia/Galactic_crash_may_have_triggered_Solar_System_formation

15 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Hi Martin, 

Yes, the FS128 is very light for it's size..7.5kg for a tube that is almost 6" diameter and c. 1 metre in length. The finder, diagonal and big EP or binoviewers bring that up to c 9 kg.

The newer 4" Taks are even lighter. If the day comes when I can't lift my current setup (and that would probably be the only reason I would change it), I think I'd go for one of the FC100 range on a light  Altaz type mount.

I was very moved by Paul's post though and feel a) so fortunate that I can still lift my present setup and b) more importantly, so pleased for Paul and others like him that they have found a literally perfect "Holy Grail" solution for their needs.

We often joke and tease one another about which of refractors, dobs, newts, scts or maks are best..but surely, in extremis, surely the best scope is the one that prolongs our ability to participate in our wonderful hobby for longest.

Dave

Thankyou Dave for this.I was astonished at how light the Tak refractors were when I handled one at an Astrofest one year. My Starfield 102 mm is very easy to handle. But I have sold instruments on in recent years that were long and heavy. This was due to discomfort caused by injuries.

11 hours ago, F15Rules said:

I consider myself very blessed, and very content..

So much so that I no longer own any other scopes. "Trinity" has been with me  now for almost 6 years and is 24 years old.

Her objective makes me smile every time I look at it, as well as through it..😉😁.

Dave

 

Hi. It looks traditional and fantastic. I once had an ED 120 and an Explore Scientific 127mm. They gave great views but were quite heavy weight wise. I understand that the Taks are a lot lighter for similar sizes. Would you agree?

My own ED 102 F 7 refractor or an eight inch Dobbo. Both size and weight wise encourage frequent use. If a permanent location was available then the skies the limit.

Details regarding the picture below;

Telescope builder Mike Clements poses in front of the massive 70 inch wide mirror at the heart of his giant reflecting telescope. Credit: Steve Dodds

59 minutes ago, icpn said:

and you can't get a car across so how you are supposed to take equipment I don't know. I guess it is for the touchy feely wellness people, and of course being Wales it is probably cloudy most of the time.

There's something to be said for naked eye obseving in a true dark sky site. Even my Opticrn 8 x 40 binculars have given me some exceptional views in Dorset and South Wales.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64731286

A BBC link to a story about a dark sky site in Wales. Great, but not sure that the sky will be clear when I visit,lol.

The night skies in my area in South Hertfordshire are disgusting. Light pollution have rendered them very poor.

7 hours ago, Stu said:

@Grump Martian good luck with your quest! I do wonder whether aiming to see easier objects such as the Veil and North America Nebula might be a good stepping stone along the way? I know they are not well placed currently but do give them a go next time around.

I will keep searching for Barnards Loop while it rises Stu. Looking forward to The Veil when it rises. Thanks

7 hours ago, DrMike said:

 

One lives and learns. 

I guess that's correct.

I will pbtain the H-beta filter. When next in Dorset I will try with the ST 120 and ed 80mm. Thankyou for all for the advice. It will be a test of my observing patience

Barnard's Loop is an emission nebula in the constellation of Orion. It is easy enough to resolve the Orion nebula M42 with 4 or 5 inch telescopes. But who has resolved the outer nebula in Orion known as the Barnards loop? Even in a dark sky I have not seen it using my 4 and 5 inch refractors. Other dark sky objects such as the veil nebula and similar have not been seen by me. I would imagine a 12 inch or above would be best.

So sorry to hear of the damage. I wish you well and hope that you get it rectified satisfactorily

They do look spooky Scousespace cadet

Using my ST 120 on an AZ4 mount last night to observe the visiting comet. The silhouette was shown on a white painted garden wall. Illuminated by a light on the footpath.It reminded me of the  horizon scenes on older planetariums. Has anyone else managed to capture a silhouette of equipment in use?

21 hours ago, cotterless45 said:

As with so many things nowadays , nobody with the power to change things , cares .

I am a local Councillor here in Broxbourne. I am raising awareness of light pollution. Also in discussion with my colleague Councillors and officers. It is now scheduled for debate at an environment meeting. The hope is that we can add light pollution as a consideration for large commercial planning applications. We need to get intouch with our local borough and county Councillors aswell as writing to our MP's

As mention in previous posts on this topic. It's not just for dark skies and astronomy. But light pollution has a detrimental effect on the health of people and animals.

A year or two back, Venus was a delight to observe. It must have been higher up and away from roof tops. Not sure which direction it is traveling this time. Wheather it will get higher. I will take a look at the planetarium.

I live in Cheshunt, just North of the M25. It has become impossible to enjoy visual observing most of the time. The pictures give some examples of light polluted skies from where I live. First looking east towards Essex.

The second shows the cemetery across the road  with the settled snow just before Christmas. It was 3.00 a.m. and as bright as the day.

The third shows the results of a local business that insists on blue neon lights. And with more commercial development may well get worse.

I observed Venus earlier. Well the view was very poor in both of my refractors  80mm and 100mm. No resolved shape to it's phase and yellowy colour. 

Is it me or have others experience this. It may be because it is still too low.