Space Hopper

Aperture rules, but understand a 200P is a fair old size and may be pushing an EQ5 class mount a bit.

Interesting comparison John, and i look forward to reading your results. I myself own an APM 7-15, and have also tried the Baader 8-24 I much preferred the APM ; that was the 'keeper' for me.

Something to look out for...... Will this only be visible in the US or will it be happening here in the UK as well (ie above the clouds) ?

Thankyou very much 🤗 I've always been a big fan of Vixen gear, and am very impressed with your own scopes and mounts. I myself have a SXP2 mount which is a thing of beauty (that was another trade) So maybe its time to pair my mount and eyepieces up with a small Vixen refractor. What do you think....?? I love that little 55mm Fluorite you have, and narrowly missed out on a used one last year. I was half thinking of using it as a guide scope with my own refractor. Possibly sacrilege i know.....

Sorry Michael. It was a 'long shot wanted ad' on ABS. Another place they pop up is on the Japenese auction site 'Buyee'. I've bid on there for one that came up a month ago, but was 'outbid'. After about 3 months on ABS someone answered my wanted ad who lived only about 50 miles from me ! A really nice guy, and i offered him a trade ( a 35 Panoptic, which i seldom used ) and the deal was done. I also secured the LVW 5mm locally 2 or 3 months prior, and i purchased the 8, 13 , 17 and 22mm earlier in the year from a chap in Spain. Best of all, they are all in lovely condition. Super eyepieces, with that Japanese quality about them. Used they fetch £120 - £150 give or take, which considering the cost of other premium glass makes a lot of sense. I doubt i'll bother with the 2" 42mm version, as i don't think i'd get the best use from it with an F7 scope and 56 yr old eyes.

Well after a long search i finally found the elusive Vixen Lanthanum LVW 3.5mm eyepiece. Where theres a will, theres a way..... I actually owned the whole set 10 years ago, but regrettably sold them all on to help fund other gear. I really liked them, and both the 22mm and 13mm versions always had an exceptional reputation. Of course they have long since been discontinued, so the only option now is to find them on the second hand market, which i've now done. I'd actually been looking for one on a Japenese site, but had no luck. But i'm pleased i found this one, it was a trade as well, so the wallet (which is usually pretty empty these days) has remained intact. One thing sticks in my mind : i had what was my best ever view of Saturn through a 5mm LVW / Powermate x2 giving 370x magnification. The seeing must have been good that night.....😀

I wish they'd announce a return of the TSA 102 ...... These eyepieces look interesting, and its always nice to see new gear announcements, but i'm thinking 48º FOV is a bit of a non starter for me.

Great topic Jim. Thanks for sharing this info.

I'm the same as Highburymark : i use the 2.6x the most. To save time, i brought a second prism diagonal, and keep the 2.6 in there permanently. The quick coupler makes it an easy swap over rather than fiddling with a gpc in the dark. I'd probably drop it otherwise. Thats my high power option, and i mainly use 24 and 19 Panoptics and a pair of 15 APM flats if the seeing is up to it. I don't need any more power than the 2.6x already gives. I'm also able to reach focal natively without the gpc and mainly just use the 24's for low power viewing at around 40x mag. I also have the 1.25 and 1.7x gpcs as well. I don't use the 1.7x but use the 1.25x with the HW for solar work as i can't (quite) focus without it. Regarding eyepieces : Panoptics all the way. Perfect for binoviewing (19 and 24mm) and i purchased some of mine second hand to cut costs. I have tried 15mm Delite's but found eye placement and merging very tricky. HTH, Rob

The upgrade looks great. I really like those CF tubes. I've owned a OO CT10 before (used) but they are expensive to buy new. Although i'm not an imager i always found my old OO VX12 F4 held its collimation pretty well with only very minor tweeks needed.

I'd better not...........😀 I'm mainly a Lunar / Planetary guy with it to be honest. Still feeling my way around with doubles. I have Agnes' double star book to help with that. Before, it was just the 'usual suspects'. My favourite has always been the Alcor / Mizar double. Its a beautiful sight once you crank up the power. Also had a lovely split of the double double last month at our local dark site. I've split it plenty of times before, but that last time it looked textbook. Always helps though when things are at a decent altitude. Antares and Sirius will always be ultra difficult for me here at 53ºN. And factor in Midlands seeing conditions as well.....

Well done Nik. Good work 🫡 🔭👍🏼 I've been trying for years with no luck, Sirius as well. But i'm further north still, in Derby, so its only around 10º or so, and like you say, at that sort of elevation its just brutal.

Yes, exactly that. But sometimes intermittant. For instance, i've even had it come up when i tried the 'Notifications' button

Garry : this looks very similar to the case supplied with my scope, which is on the TEC website under accessories. Its the only thing i was disappointed in. Basically its poor quality, i would even say cheap rubbish. I dont trust it one bit. I worry the handle will break off so always have an arm supporting it if i'm moving it about. This one you link to is only a little bit smaller. Yet TEC list their version at $560 USD 🫣 They also list another padded version, for a still pricey $340 USD. I may look into purchasing one at some point, though i currently have no spare funds. *Apologies for drifting off topic here. Hopefully the OP will have a good idea now what to go for*

Still getting multiple error messages all over the forum. It seems worse tonight

Its very good ; its the users eyes that are not so good. I've read the Tak FOA 60-Q (with 1.7x extender - F/15) is the best double star scope out there, pound for pound.

And one obvious question to this thread is : What is an optimal scope for doubles, taking in typical UK seeing ?

Same scope as Gary's (above) but i use and prefer a non motorised mounting. As simple to use as they come. I don't need tracking all the time. An easy two or three star alignment and i'm good to go. The best bit ? No wires, no noisy motors, no counterweights, or complex set up routines. I've since upgraded the tripod to a "Planet' Much more solid, and mandatory really for a 5"+ sized refractor.

How about one of these that FLO sell ?? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescope-bags-cases-storage/oklop-padded-bag-for-100mm-900mm-apo-refractors.html

Me likewise ! 😀 Welcome along Daniel, enjoy your stay

Well done on splitting this one 👏🏼 I've tried many times with it (and Sirius in the winter) but no luck. I think in the Midlands Antares are just a bit too low to stand much chance.

I think a Gamma Ray burst in our direction is more dangerous isn't it ??

Theres also UKABS which has a good audience where you can register and buy / sell / trade straight away. https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/ I'm afraid its rather a buyers market at present. I've tried to shift stuff on here recently and not had a single enquiry. I don't think anyone has much disposable income in these current times....i certainly haven't 😟

.....and further to this Hopefully an opportunity to see a 'Titan shadow transit'. Not seen one of those either.

The rings are closing in again aren't they ? I'm guessing only another couple of years before they appear to be edge on. (Which i've never seen before, and is on my bucket list)