RobertI

Personally, if you have a bigger budget, I would not bother with this scope, the main problem being the horribly wobbly looking mount and tripod. If you did want to experiment you could buy a low power eyepiece like the BST Starguider 25mm and just try sweeping the Milky Way and some bright objects and see how you get on. You can always re-use the eyepiece on a better scope later. But the best option IMO is to get a scope like these which are much more capable: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/sky-watcher-heritage-150p-flextube-tabletop-dobsonian.html Hope that helps.

I agree about the minuscule stars, when I see a tiny faint pinprick of companion star, I often wonder how my eyes are good enough to see it. I’ve only experienced this in a refractor!

Lovely rendition of this pair John. I don’t think open clusters are given enough imaging attention, especially when there are “two in a view”. 🙂

Sounds like the right decision for you Dave in your circumstances, really sorry about your eye problems. ☹️ Sounds like you are working round your issue though. I have to say, the picture of @Saganite holding the scope made me laugh - he has a look that says “this is my scope now!” 😂

I tried this exact ‘anti-slip’ solution and it works fine, I have the ring clamp bolts permanently loosened so I can rotate the tube. Two things to watch out for though, you will probably need an ‘anti-slip ring’ at both ends to stop the tube sliding backwards and forwards, and you will also need to be careful that the ring clamp bolts are not at the end of their threads meaning the rings can pop open and the scope fall out!

There is this for sale used, it’s got the FPL53 glass and the same as the 102ED Starfield from FLO and Starwave from Altair Astro:

Revelation Astro are a well known brand, the optics should be fine, but I’m surprised they didn’t get the spelling of “Superview” correct! Perhaps it’s from a batch of seconds.

Sure is 👍

I don’t think anyone is saying the SW102 is not a good scope, it’s just that the OP has a budget of £500, so might as well use it and get the best you can! 🙂

What an amazing trip! Some lovely photos there which really convey the experience. That open deck observatory is just so cool, a sumptuous array of telescopes available for public use. I did a tour of that area some thirty years ago, and saw many of the sights you mention, but stupidly never visited the Lowell Observatory. I’ve been promising the family a trip to the US, so I think I may have to sneak Flagstaff into the itinerary! 😉

I’d agree with Olly on 4” or above. Two options that fit your budget at a small stretch are a brand new Altair Astro Ascent 4” F7 or a second hand Altair Astro Starwave 4” F7. I have the latter which is also available under the Starfield brand at FLO. I think the former would also be a great all rounder and a big step up from an achromat.

Wonderful image of an interesting duo of nebulae John. 👍 PS: Your text is invisible when using SGL’s default ‘white’ theme - thought you should know. 🙂

I managed to get both in the same field of view last night with my 102ED and massive Panaview 38mm eyepiece (giving 3.7 degrees), again showing how flexible a 4” can be, but the Panaview is not a quality eyepiece and there was some colouration and distortion on both objects away from the centre, I suspect the view through my 66mm APO and better quality ES 24mm eyepiece (4.2 degrees FOV) would have been even nicer.

Great that you have managed to get out, surprising what a boost an hour under the stars can give.

I did scurry out briefly last night, primarily to get both moon and Jupiter in the same FOV. The 102ED with the 24mm (2.25 degrees) was not quite wide enough, but the Panaview 38mm (3.7 degrees) got them both. The pairing looked rather lovely. Too cold, back indoors!

I would consider purchasing from Harrison Telescopes, who supply Altair Astro gear and who have always given me excellent service.

Welcome. 👋

I almost used the very same words, then chickened out! I have to say if budget is important the Sky-Watcher 72mm is hard to beat at £329. Glass type unknown I think but apparently very good for visual annd imaging. Apparently the dewshield, though not retractable, does easily slide off for transport.

Another plus point for the Askar is that it has a detachable section which allows the OTA to be shortened - this should allow you to get some delicious low power views with a binoviewer - if I were in the market for a 4” this would be top of my list I think.

I shall look forward to the results. 🙂

I had a 72mm APO which was about the biggest scope I could fit in my astro-backpack with eyepieces and accessories - it was an excellent travel scope and went surprisingly deep on DSOs, also light enough to sit on a decent tripod - I would thoroughly recommend something like this. A two inch focuser allowed for 2” eyepieces for those extra wide views. Stupidly, I sold it! I still have my 66mm, the views are similar, but the focuser is pants and only 1.25”. The Skywatcher 72mm does not have a retractable dew shield which is a bit of a pain for fitting into a backpack I imagine. The Stellalyra 66mm or 80mm look nicely specced and there are some offers available.

Excellent session and some lovely captures there. I really love your take on Orion’s Belt with the Flame and Horsehead, you don’t often see it like this and I think it nicely demonstrates the faintness of the nebulae compared to the stars. I have to confess, I had to google the Lump Star - I’ve learned something there. I’ve been through exactly the same problem and came up with exactly the same solution. 🙂 It’s been a while since my last EAA session and I hope to have a few sessions during galaxy season. I’ve been motivated a bit by ever increasingly bright skies which is spoiling visual a bit. I upgraded from a Lodestar to an ASI290M (I like mono!) and now have an old ASI V1 - had a promising test run with the 66mm but not used them in anger yet. Would eventually like to get back to the RC6 to get some image scale on those smaller galaxies.

Lovely detailed report - sounds like a nice session with with your super kit. I was all set to brave the -2C conditions, but when I stepped outside it had clouded over - I have to admit I was quite relieved. 😆

Nice purchase. Probably a stupid question, but it’s not orange! Has it been repainted or is it just an “orange tube” vintage? Are there any specific problems you have identified with the scope that require taking it apart? I’ll let others with more experience weigh in before I say anything more! 🙂

Lovely rendition of M42 👍