Mark at Beaufort

Well done FLO the perfect telescope for Planet, double stars and solar (with appropriate filter protection). Not too bad on the brighter DSOs as well - excellent addition to your stocked range.

Sorry forgot Astro imaging.

I recently went on holiday and wanted to purchase a small refractor which I could use for astronomy and general terrestrial viewing.

I bought this scope - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284334028570?epid=9037411843&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4233a0f71a:g:MLQAAOSwwrlctHO2&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSwcmzw5CLtzTE60FqHcnq2J0zUmY9eHB%2FTPvqPO%2B933rKaBovkDcU3j6CQaYZA9ioqe%2FS0OtseGb3KCCzkqoTBi%2FKy3Xgoo5GT3ZDnQNhEx3w%2B2PKJbFGXTKO0DYCgir7RfBGPr9urkYBB05Cj3fM0YxVB0g0ZEOy6D%2B%2FGDkjJwYpc0nyOeTF3sXa4QzvkNZ1KVdn50szOgWEGVP67bv7Pmi271k4S4LddH58iKgF5762s9Qgaxe7B7GGkXEgt1Pf9WBLSBMXM5kOVJEjng7z5lD5Vj00IYAN%2Bq4fZsGSKvLiYyL70ORVgRB16rd7EGR9U11ajIVFX%2FRbJ0lgmWXPH5LGmOEZ9X0kwspmxLgqNX54SvG3kByPJ7kdHqJzUTBw5S4M0RPVqQzIXoSh3gaUrsxK8wBnDjSud1zVTLon2jr%2Fp5D%2BEIqpd62y8sbtBSS8j3AO5AFPH2nJdUjCgW%2BOO2N9LYWGXcXT72bwg8WVnVnB%2FBXUkmSaDpryYQZ4yCD8Gif6CtQYq0EEkeZHJsj5no%2FusCTMRVD0g6tEI0zrGU3zoMSu3DVjMIv3K4wj7O%2F2%2FyFujDePr2ZlBL3WX4sL8DuHWlsTFbVke%2FawOypqCvKqNhVzWqG4cIBr%2BwqhDt1ZB6K39%2BOKSDzXYC7xW5Rwo2l0SLbkHDXL221Yv%2B96KtmsVw%2FmjRB3eK02iGT1VhyHlJP%2BaSmjDfgSDI5%2BxkAeRZmp%2B0Vp5Dw8N9Eu90OSYeQN7AgXAn9fHxUth2HXdvcwMJC0k5Rg8AxHx5U0rDOlt9uPo%2F7CWBNz5RyN86h3vcNfTJ51flD5nM5HIzX4%2BzFbLqQ%2F4jy8xy05c1uaR%2F%2Bzuw%3D%3D|clp%3A2334524|tkp%3ABFBMnon1kaFf

In addition I purchased this diagonal from FLO -https://www.firstlightoptics.com/diagonals/stellamira-125-90-erecting-prism-diagonal.html

I am really pleased with this scope - it has very little CA and the double speed focuser is very good. I also purchased a Svbony 7-21mm zoom which is very lightweight but provides a good image.

Whilst away I had some good observing sessions picking up a number of DSOs. More recently I purchased a white light solar filter and a Baader continuum filter and have had many good sessions observing the Sun.

Okay I have a number of good and reasonable large scopes and some quality eyepieces but I am really pleased I bought this small refractor which is brilliant for quick grab and go.

Paul the Sun was good this morning in Ha - nice sketch.

I like the mount it looks ideal for the PST.

Jamile you need to post in English

42 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

I saw one of these close to recently. It's an absolute beauty.

Yes Michael it was rather nice together with the iOptron mount

On 06/11/2021 at 16:32, Stu said:

A few brief moments of Solar this afternoon, AZ75 with Tak and PST mod.

Very nice Stu. I have to say I have used many alt/az mounts over the years some with slow motion cables and some without. The quality of the az75 is amazing and wonderful. Tracking the Sun using your Tak today tells me I want one of these mounts and you really don't need the cables.

Last word brilliant.

P.S. I also now want a Tak😀

Neil thanks again for the heads up. I viewed 67P last night using my 6" Reflector . The clearest view came using 6mm Ethos.

Neil how did I miss this excellent thread. Really enjoyed the details plus the info on 67P. I have a clear sky at the moment so hopefully I will try and observe it tonight.

Excellent @John I really must have a go with the 12".

Yes @Stu I observed it using my Heritage 130p having obtained its position from Stellarium.

Great report Francis. Chris and I checked out the new observing site yesterday - you are going to like it with your 4" Starwave and we don't need to worry about others booking the site.

 Thanks @Stu for the heads up on Ceres. I have no record of observing this minor planet so because of its ideal location I will give a go over the next few nights.

last night I visited a new dark location close to Hereford with 360 degrees viewing with almost no light pollution. A local farmer has given his approval to use his site. Anyway like you I used binos (15x70) and saw the same objects as you recorded. I was pleased to observe both M33 and M101 so things are looking good for taking larger scopes.

I have both the 10mm and 17mm and I rather like them. You can see from my signature that I have 3 reflectors - 5" ,6" and my 12" Dob and I use these EPs in each of these scopes. I do have better quality EPs which I mainly use but I am happy to keep these because I am satisfied with the view they produce. However, I thought they were no longer available.

 have you found a supplier?

1 minute ago, Stu said:

That’s a man impressive haul @Mark at Beaufort! Sounds like the little Svbony is quite a find, great to have something small and compact that’s easy and quick to use.

I only wish I had a 2" dielectric mirror diagonal so I could try out my Ethos and Myriad EPs. I did observe Jupiter (a tiny bit of blue  on the edge) and Saturn (no Cassini division).

Also forgot to mention a very bright Meteor ending just above Dubhe at about 8.40pm

I bought this SvBony f5.5 frac a few months ago mainly for holidays but it has become very useful as a white light solar scope with a continuum filter.

Tonight was very clear and transparent so rather than watching 'strictly', with the wife, I went outside observing. The only diagonal I have is a StellarMira Erecting Prism which I used with my ES68 24mm EP, SvBony 7-21mm zoom, TeleVue Nebustar 2 filter and finally a Hb filter.

These are the DSOs I was able to observe or nearly in some cases.

M81, M82, M51 (just a glimmer), M101 (failed), M13, M92, M57, Both parts of the Veil (with Nebustar filter), North American Nebular (with filter), M27 (filter), M71, M15, M2, M31, M32, M110, NGC281, NGC 7790, Helix Nebular (with filter), M33, Double Cluster, Kemble's Cascade with NGC 1502, and finally tried California Neb with HB filter (not sure).

I am really pleased with the quality of this refractor which was not that expensive. I am also pleased with SvBony zoom (especially solar). I could have taken out a larger scope but I just wanted to experience a small refractor to see what I could observe.

Next time you observe M13 see if you can pick up the propeller.

A very enjoyable read. Using a 10" Dob under a dark sky can be very enjoyable. Some great objects. 

On 25/10/2021 at 21:06, Jonk said:

 

Also, the last time I went, Hereford is now casting a very white light over around 30% of the NW skies, probably due to LED.

 

There is certainly a glow from the NE - however some of this is caused by the car park lights at Holme Lacy College. I am going to Lucksall in 2 weeks and will drive past the College and will see how bad it is. I only live 10 minutes from Lucksall so I could easily go into the College and have a chat.

There is also Holme Lacy House one of Warners premier hotels but I don't think this is causing a problem - again I could go in and have a look.

Just been observing with the PST and DS. 

Sunspot AR2887 is showing a great deal of activity with large amount of Plage. Two other areas of Plage which relate to AR2888. Sunspot AR2886 is also showing Plage but not to the same extent as 2887. A lovely Prom on the SSE  - also various Proms around the surface including a filament close to AR2886.

Certainly worth a look.

I have the Skywatcher 150P which has the same mirror as the Heritage 150P. Had a good view of Jupiter last night with a lot of surface banding visible. Also viewed Saturn and could see the Cassini Division. So the Heritage 150P should be equal in performance.

I also have the smaller Heritage 130P and the amount of DSOs that I have observed with this scope is quite amazing.

You don't need to rely on the Dob base going into the future and I currently sit my Heritage on a Pronto mount. Also, I can store the OTA in a case for transporting. Here are a few photos to give you an idea.

9 minutes ago, Captain Magenta said:

Something I collected from @Grumpy Martian yesterday. OO with 1/10 grade mirror. A big upgrade to my existing 8” (a SW 200p which I’ll make available here in due course).

I’ll need to swap in my Baader Diamond Steeltrack focuser.

Magnus

Magnus the VX8 is a fantastic scope I always regret selling mine. I remember my first nights viewing I observed NGC 891 not the easiest edge on galaxy to see.

1 hour ago, RobertI said:

Are you sure she didn't say "I hope that is going in the garbage"?

Yes Rob you could be right 😂

Very nice John. I would never be allowed to have my scopes in the dining room. The 12" OTA is in the corner of the downstairs toilet. I am currently restoring  an old Helios 6" Frac and Pam said 'I hope that is going in the garage'.

Looking at the 8" Orion OTA I so wish I kept my VX8.

34 minutes ago, Tiny Clanger said:

That's interesting. Because I use my AZ5 with a 127 mak, , I have always used mine at the 'tall' setting simply to give enough clearance for the body of the 'scope to attain a decent alt., * if I get to the point where the diagonal is obstructed by the slo mo , I just drop the diagonal out and replace it 🙂 . I suppose it might  happen that a view might require me to take the slo mo off instead , but that's not happened yet !

Heather

* Because the dovetail  is on the 'bottom'  of the OTA I effectively have to use the mak 'backwards' on the AZ5 to have the finder shoe anywhere useful. 

I once had a conversation with OVL  the importers of Skywatcher scopes because I fancied using the 150L which is f/8. They advised that the 150L could not be used on the AZ5 because of it's length. I have often wondered whether the extra dovetail and saddle would overcome this?

I have owned the AZ5 for many years and its supported on the stainless steel tripod which it  states gives a payload of 9 kgs. I attach a part of the instruction manual which shows switching the Arm Profile. Part of the problem with the high profile is viewing items looking towards the Zenith therefore you tend to use the lower profile. 

Clearly the higher profile gives better stability so you need a method for using this without the scope hitting the mount or slow motion control.

I have outcome this by using an addition dovetail and saddle as shown in the photos.

I should have stated that the 150P fully loaded with finderscope (60mm), RDF + EPs (some 2") is over 7kgs