tico

Maybe the DX5" SCT more stable? In the SS explorer mount...? 

Really, the mount and tripod combo is good for the SCT 6"? 

For stability without too much vibrations? 

Thanks

Tico

Hello,
I am looking at a reflector telescope with possibly a 130mm mirror and 650mm focal length.
I have two options:
- Starsense Explorer 130 DX, comes with tripod and altazimuth mount and SS search system.
- Starsense Explorer, 130/650 Dobson, the telescope is identical to the previous one, but the difference is in the mount, in this case it is a tabletop, similar to the Dobson system, but single arm, and it is to be placed on a table although I think It could be placed on a tripod... the search system is the same, the SS.
What is your opinion on this?
advantages of one over the other?
thank you so much

... 

The Skyprodigy 130/650 -950 €

The SS Explorer 130DX-400€

Which is your opinión? 

Thanks

Tico

Hello,

Has anyone been able to compare these two telescopic alignment systems? Does one of them have an advantage over the other? By the way, are both completely automatic or do they ask for some type of data: time, date and the longitude and latitude of the place?

thank you so much

Tico

Anyone have used the 62ED Evolux for visual astro and terrestrial? 

Thank you

Tico

Hello,
Can a Skywatcher 150 Mak be mounted well, without vibrations, and without the telescope touching the base of the mount, on a Nexstar SE mount, 6"/8" model?
Thank you

Thank you for all your opinions.. I currently have a Nexstar SE mount, the 6"/8" model, my budget around €500/600. I had an ED80/600 that gave good lunar views, but the resolution was 80mm, and I want higher resolution on the one hand, and on the other hand it didn't work with my mount, it touched the base of the mount too soon,...yes, I'm really looking for a shorter telescope that can withstand my mount...few vibrations..., but with good resolution, that can achieve high magnifications, tell you that I have a small backyard where I could leave the telescope without problems..., Is there a big difference between a 5" and a 6"...? Thanks again Tico

Hello, Since the Moon is almost the only thing I can observe from my backyard, I am looking for information on a good lunar telescope, not too big or heavy (I have back pain) but with enough resolution to see lunar details... Thank you very much in advance. Tico

Hello, Does anyone use a Maksutov 102 or 127 for terrestrial observation? Thank you ,

Tico

The software of the Virtuoso GTi and the AZ-GTi is the same? 

Thank you all for your responses, yesterday I saw a 15x70, I think it was TS and it had some ep. huge, for God's sake, I couldn't fit my nose between them, what an awkward observation

What Altazimuth mount do you recommend for this 102ED/F7..? I would like it to hold it well so as not to have too many vibrations in the image.

Thanks Spock, I know how to do it next time, it was not my intention to blind anyone...

Hello,
I want to upgrade from an ED80, and I'm thinking about which direction to take...
And one of them is to upgrade to a 4" refractor, I usually observe from my backyard, the Moon, the bright planets, double stars and some luminous Messier... this is what my sky allows me. I would also like you to It wasn't too heavy or bulky, around F/7, and since I don't usually observe for more than an hour, mount it on an alt-azimuthal mount.
In your opinion, how does your 4" refractor perform for these objects?
What mount do you use?
Thank you very much in advance.
Paul

I've looking double Star with my ED80, very aesthetic view, Yes, but dark vision also compared with a SCT 6" near!! 

What diferente!! 

Hello, Currently I use an ED80 refractor, with which I observe visually from my backyard, especially the Moon and doubles and planets, the rest of the objects due to light pollution I do not observe.... The truth is, I would like to upgrade to a larger telescope, without being huge, with more resolution than the ED80 for planets and the Moon. To notice a difference about the ED80, in your opinion what telescope could it be? I prefer it to be a telescope that is not too bulky or heavy, short, the mount I have is a celestron nexstar SE, I had thought about a 4" or 5" Mak...maybe? or a SC C5.. maybe a C6..? Although I don't like collimating telescopes... thank you so much Tico

Hello,

Do you know which is the best battery to externally power a Nexstar 8SE mount?
I have tried AA batteries and it doesn't work well, a connection to the mains with a 12v output and it doesn't work well at all, although I don't really understand why...
Thank you
Tico

Hello,
How much weight can the Nexstar SE8 mount hold?

hello again,
I have spoken with a company that has this model and they tell me that it does not have threads and that they must be older models.
Tico.

thanks for your response.
Are you referring to the fact that the recent models of this model, the Helios Apollo 15x70, do not have threads on the eyepieces? ...only the old ones have it?

??????? 

On 14/09/2020 at 14:13, Ships and Stars said:

Due to very strong winds, I left the dobs at home and took a quick binocular trip to darker skies last night  - 21.19 SQM according to the Unihedron (LP map says 21.50...), not exactly world-class, but decent enough to see the Milky Way quite clearly. I couldn't go to my normal 21.7 or 21.9 spots due to cloud cover, but was thrilled to see dark skies once again. Think February or early March was the last time I saw the Milky Way.

This is a mix of a brief observing report and binocular 'trials'. It's by no means a detailed report or product review, but I did a quick running comparison between several pairs of bins on this outing - my trusty cheap and cheerful Celestron Cometron 12x70s which punch well above their weight,  the all-around wonderful Pentax WP 20x60s and the astro-champs, the Helios Apollo 15x70s with filter attachments.

Also along for the ride were a pair of Helios Quantum 20/40x100mm observation binoculars and my massive 'Kraken' scaffolding tripod, but the wind was absolutely howling a steady 30-35mph - even more on high ground to the point I had trouble standing at times - and in the end I didn't set it up as I already had my hands full with the three other pairs.  

I've had the 12x70 Cometrons for a few years now. Despite some poor comments out there online, I absolutely love mine as they are light and offer excellent wide-angle views, even with glasses. If the true aperture is reputedly less than 70mm, I can't tell!

The Apollo 15x70s and Pentax 20x60s are relatively new additions, as are the 20/40x100 Quantums, and I've been itching to give them a proper run under dark skies post-lockdown.

Last night's highlight was the East Veil and especially the North America/Pelican nebulae using UHC/OIII filters on the 15x70s. The NA/Pelican were absolutely alight through the filtered Apollos, just buzzing with energy and full of contrast. The North America nebula in particular just looked like it was battery-powered, situated against an inky-black background. Electric!

The Astronomik UHC filter proved a perfect match for binocular viewing, offering a bright, high contrast image over unfiltered views. The OIII was a bit much for the modest aperture, though it did really isolate the East Veil. Overall, the view though the 15x70s framed everything around Deneb, etc brilliantly. I'll have to pick up another 1.25" UHC so I'm using UHC with both eyes, though mixing filters does provide its own unique aspect as the brain combines the two images. 

If you've never seen the entire North America nebula or Pelican though UHC-filtered binoculars under dark skies, may I humbly suggest you put it on your must-see list!

The difference between unfiltered and filtered was massive. I've only seen bits of both it and the Veil through a telescope, albeit with more detail, but never soaked up the entire view at once. Widefield binocular vision is wonderful if the sky darkness is there!

Again had some excellent filtered views of the Veil with the 15x70s bins, but was pleasantly surprised to also see the east Veil without filters in the 12x70s, 20x60s and 15x70s, with hints of the west veil and Pickering's Triangle considerably fainter, going in and out of vision.

I also had a nice long look at Andromeda through all three. Somehow, the lowly Celestrons offered the brightest view of Andromeda, closely followed by the 15x70s, but here the smaller aperture and higher mag of the Pentax had a slightly noticeable dimming effect, though they are no slouch either and all three have their own style. In fact, the unfiltered views of the East Veil were brighter in the 20x60s than the Celestrons. This back and forth difference suggests there's a lot more going on here with various binoculars in regards to exit pupil vs surface brightness/contrast when viewing extended objects.

For astronomy, the 15x70s ruled the roost last night. They come into their own with the filter attachment which sets them apart from the others, but be warned, these are some robust, heavy binoculars. They weigh around twice as much as the Celestrons, despite being roughly the same dimensions. 

I didn't use a tripod or any support all night - a good workout 

The Celestron 12x70s continue to amaze me for the money. Maybe I landed an exceptional pair, but they provide wide, crisp, contrasty views, are comfortable with great eye relief for eyeglass wearers and are light. True sky-cruisers. Wish they had filter attachments!

The Pentax are superb do-it-all binoculars for terrestrial and astronomy. Excellent Pentax build-quality and optics, plenty of magnification, central focus, light and compact with a ton of eye relief. They only have a 2.2deg FOV, but in action this quickly becomes clear it's not a deal-breaker.

There was more planned, including the California nebula with Hb/UHC but I spent a long time on the Veil, NAN and Andromeda, then high cloud started creeping in, along with fatigue, as I did quite a bit of driving to find some holes in the cloud here.

More head to head binocular testing with this lot in the near future, vs the 20/40x100 Quantums (David and Goliath? Could be interesting?), hopefully under 21.5+ skies with much calmer conditions.

Which is the Best Filter or with More use in the Helios Apollo 15x70? 

Thanks. 

Tico

A good Night!! 

How is the eyerelief in this binocular? 

Thanks. 

Tico

Hello
Currently I have and use a 15x70 binocular, let's say "generic" of the Sky Master type or similar.... and I want to upgrade it to another 15x70 or 16x70 model since I like the architecture of this model, that is, its exit pupil and its visual field..., but I am looking for eyepieces with individual focus, the one I have is with a central one, I would like it to have better contrast, luminosity, sharpness, focus... etc.
Would it be a good model?
I would logically like to be able to see a good improvement in all these characteristics.
I would be delighted to have your opinions.
thank you so much