Space Hopper

Where is the flight case from and what size is it please ??

looks like you've captured Rigel 'B' in the middle image 🙂

Magnification ? Low power, generally 40 - 65x Higher power i have a 2.6x Baader gpc which lives in its own prism diagonal, so i swap over the diagonal (easy and quick to do with the quick coupler) rather than fiddle about with the gpc's themselves. I also have the 1.25 & 1.7x gpc's but don't use them so much, just tending to view san gpc for low power, and with the said 2.6x gpc for high power work (mainly lunar / planets) Using the gpc for high power is important, as it corrects for prism induced spherochromatism. Always use a gpc rather than say, a pair of 3.5mm eyepieces. With the 2.6x in place magnification is now 106x - 170x which is ideal for 90% + UK visual high power observing. I use 3 pairs of eyepieces : Televue Panoptics in 24 and 19mm, and a pair of 15mm APM ultra flats, with a Baader Mk 5 viewer. Scope is a 140 / 980mm apo refractor. I'm also testing a Zeiss mirror based viewer possibly the same as Jeremy's above. I'm also considering fitting Dioptrx to my 24mm. In the past i've used a C8 SCT. SCTs and binoviewers work well together (no focusing issues) as long as you keep the lightpath length as short as possible.

To Jeremy, Steve and Don & others, a big thankyou to you all for your contributions here 👍🏼 As i don't use a Newtonian and mainly use mid angle fov Panoptics I think they are worth me trying out. I'm looking at trying them with my binoviewing 24mm Panoptics....possibly using 0.75 and 1.0 Dioptrx, rather than my current 0.50 and 0.75 current prescription, and also ordering a 0.75 for my 35 Pan as well. Not pressed the order button just yet, though. 365 Astronomy seem the best price so far, but a 4 week leadtime.

Yes, i saw that one as well, it was a beauty. I was at M1 J28 motorway, so just shows you how bright it was.

Nice job, its come out very well i think. 🐴🔥🔭📷👍🏼🙂

Great explanation Don, much appreciated 👍🏼

Personally, i've never considered contact lenses. My wife has used them for years and has 'daily disposables' but they are not cost effective really (£400 + / year) I have used reading glasses for 10 years, and distance glasses for around 3 for driving mainly. I've tried varifocals, but couldn't get on with them at all. My eyesight is pretty average for my age really, just a normal and slow age related deterioration. Regarding Dioptrx, with them being a Tele-vue item, i would sell them on if my prescription were to suddenly change. I would expect a decent return for them second hand, like most of their gear, so no issues there really. You make an interesting point with exit pupils, because mine are already pretty small. Only about 3mm fully dilated i believe. I think the only way to see if they will benefit me is to try them, but i would be interested in users thoughts before i commit. Thanks

Hello all. I've been umm-ing and arr-ing over astigmatism correctors for a while now. I'm currently 55 and have 'distance' glasses for driving, but i've never used them for astro, and don't really want to go down that road if i can avoid it. When i look up to the stars without glasses, the stars look a bit contorted : no longer what i'd call sharp points of light. Looking through the scope, its a little better with good focusing, but i often feel my own worsening eyesight is the weakest link here. I often blame insufficient cooldown or poor atmospherics, but maybe its my eyes that are the real issue. I only have the one scope : an F7 refractor with very good optics. I binoview most of the time, and currently have pairs of Tele-vue Panoptics in both 24mm and 19mm. These are my main 'workhorse' eyepieces and they get the most use. I also have a single 2" widefield : a 35mm Panoptic. Dioptrx is compatible with then all, although i'd need adapters for the 19 & 24s Out of interest, i also use a 12.5mm Noblex (Docter) for single eye viewing, which is exceptional. But is this due to its 'anastigmatic' design, or something else ?? My latest prescription lists the 'cylinder' -0.50 left eye and -0.75 right eye, so fairly weak correction is needed. For mono viewing with the 35 Pan, or whatever else, i always use my left eye. My left eye is my better eye. I'd be interested in hearing anyones opinions here, and i apologise in advance if this topic has been covered in detail already. Are there any issues using then for bino-viewing ? I realise the eye-lens and eyecup will be bigger with Dioptrx installed. But my IPD is a very average 66mm and my nose is also pretty average in size, and i find binoviewing an easy pastime. And would i be better off getting a slightly stronger option : say 0.75 and 1.0 so i can 'grow in to them' as i assume my eyesight will deteriorate slowly in time ? I've quickly shopped around online and 365 Astronomy seem to be the best option price-wise (sorry FLO 😉) Thanks in advance.

I'm glad you are enjoying them ; the eyepiece holders and diopter adjusters are excellent aren't they. Beautifully engineered the German way. Was it me who sold you the Max 2's ?? I lose track.....

It looks excellent, good work ; and don't worry, we never tire of watching this stuff 😀

Indeed. And just how does it have quote : Shorter cooling time than similarly specified triplet telescopes

Yes, the 80mm version is 3.75kg so 4.2kg for the much bigger 115 is definitely incorrect. 15lbs (why are they quoting weights in imperial pounds ?) seems more like it : closer to 7kg. Triplets of that size are quite heavy. ---------------- My own 140mm scope is noted for being one of the lightest in its class : 8.2kg on its own and 9.5kg with rings, plate & finder. Not bad considering the large focuser. As its not 'air-spaced' the cell design is quite a bit smaller, saving some weight. Despite that, 140mm is as big a refractor that i can manage at my age.

Yes, i think daytime occultations of Venus are more common. Theres one on Nov 9 next year, i believe. Also Jupiter on May 17, both in the day. Of course, i will do my best to try and spot them 😀

So pleased that i got up to see it (despite only 4 hours kip) I think this was the first time i've seen a lunar occultation of a major planet and i can recall very close conjunctions of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn before, but never an actual occultation, so its one off the bucket list 🙂 I setup the scope, pointing out the front door at 04:45 in the morning as you do ! and watched Mars slowly disappear behind a dazzlingly bright moon (no filter fumbling at 5 in the morning!) It had clouded over a bit here in Derby an hour later, but i managed an 'atmospheric shot' 😄 of it with the dslr

Nice 😀 From Derby, i was watching it through the scope and i had contact at 04:57:30, with disappearance 04:58:10 (+/- a few seconds) Very bright, but it was fun to watch, and not something you see very often. I'll check for reappearance, but a few clouds have rolled in now.

I'm pleased to hear the scope has been repaired. Perhaps it would be worth considering changing over to a Losmandy type rail to prevent any chance of this happening again ?

It sounds like you have an ideal set up, and more importantly, good dark sky's in which to enjoy it. I'd get a couple of good widefields, maybe something in the 10-15mm range and something in the 25-35mm range and a Powermate. I really enjoy looking at clusters ; things like M35 and M37 which are two of my favourites and use a 12.5mm widefield with and without a 2x powermate.

That would me Mr Sod, and his famous law. But i wouldn't take much notice of Clear outside. I find it to be routinely hopeless.

Great job Luke 👍🏼

Is there any difference between the HEQ5 and EQ6 tripod fits with regard to AZ100 mounts, or are they compatible with both ? Reason i ask is i have a spare EQ5 top plate for a Planet tripod, so if i ever go down the AZ100 route........

Welcome to SGL @Moonlit Knight 4" refractors are good, as is an attraction to them. Please share pictures of your gear if you can ; we all like to look at telescopes and kit 😀🔭 I hope your journey to the stars is a good one....

I would avoid all of them. None are really suitable to carry a 1200mm focal length scope with that movement arc. And surely, you'd also have insufficient tripod clearance ; the long scope would be hitting the tripod legs ?

@LukeSkywatcher No my duck. It was October 25th. And it was pretty much clear for the most part 😀

Gorgeous 🔭👍🏼