Space Hopper

Lets keep our fingers x'ed for this one. Big 'if' though, will it make it round the sun in one piece ? A lot of these promising comets that the media like to hype up often end up in bits before we get to see them. I should have a new camera by then as well (Perihelion is September 28)

Not so sure the focusers are 'better' as such. The ones sold on all my OO scopes have been rubbish. Replaced with Moonlite's, but sadly you can't even do that now. Maybe the current scopes have better focusers, i don't know. You can even spend £500 !! 😦 on the new 'Eris' focuser if you want. I've had both the VX10 short and long in the past, as well as a CT10 and a VX12 F4 as well. The VX10 short is a nice size and not too much of a handful. Optically all my OO scopes have been really nice. But they are expensive new. Not trying to talk you out of it or anything, but have you considered FLOs StellaLyra series ?

@Flame Nebula Did you say you were near Notts ? I'm in Derby so a similar latitude, and its always going to be difficult to see something like this at 53ºNorth with out dodgy seeing conditions sadly

@Mr Spockgood to hear the LVW 3.5 is performing well ; i had mine out last night as well 🙂

There may be more than one spider in there..........🙃

I wouldn't think so. I have 5.5" of Fluorite and find the 'E' star routinely difficult, but do see it from time to time. I've not conclusively seen the 'F' star which is much harder, and never got anyway near Sirius B. But my location has generally poor seeing and what i'd describe as 'fair on a good night. I'm also hampered by 56 yr old eyes and am observing at 53º north, so i have to be realistic about my chances. I do enjoy chasing these elusive targets down though. I'll get there one day.......😀

@powerlord Yes i'm exactly the same. I really am struggling with it all at the moment. Total lack of enthusiasm. Just the one dark site session this year. But i think lots of factors in play here. Awful weather, Bit of depression and seasonal adjustment disorder, shift work, declining health and eyesight, and i feel like the last 4 years have sucked the soul out of me in all departments. And yet, despite all of that, i still feel like buying a new scope / camera & lens.......

Spotting Venus at the point of inferior conjunction (the only time i've done it was during the 2004 transit event. That doesn't count 🙃)

Seeing a shadow transit of Titan across the face of Saturn.

Awesome images !

Almost an untenable hobby for me. I've only the one scope, but i often think it was a mistake buying it. I hardly seem to ever get to use it.

Found a pic of my old VX12 on its Dob mount, after i'd put the DSC mod on it.

A VX12 F4 would be too much of a handful on an EQ mount, and i think you'd soon tire of it. 14kg may not sound that much, but you have to take into account the volume and sheer bulk of the thing. I've owned my own VX 12 short tube a few years ago now, but on a dob mount. It was a big old scope. Not for the feint of heart in solid tube configuration. It excelled at low power, rich field, wide angle views with good quality eyepieces. This was what i used it for. I never used a CC. And i never considered it a planetary scope as such. The VX had quite a big secondary, and with that aperture, was always too fussy with seeing conditions. My 5.5" refractor is a much better planetary performer, and despite sometimes missing the aperture when looking at those fainter Messiers, i don't miss its bulk and humping it about. If you do go down the road of imaging planets with a big newt, then i take my hat off to you.

Welcome Jessica. You have a total solar eclipse happening on April 8, but its a bit to the north and west of you in NC (Ironically the 2017 event passed right through NC) I hope you get to see it anyway 🙂 These things don't come along too often.

Aperture fever showing several symptoms here i think.......

That looks so user friendly, even i could use it.

Asaph Hall had it easy. Next to no light pollution, good skys AND a 26" refractor.

I'm guessing its like trying to spot Phobos around Mars, but harder still.

I can see lots of lava, but unfortunately no aurora.

Stuck at work so had to pass this year. But in 25 weeks time, i'll definitely be at the IAS show (September 14) at its new venue near Coventry. The mortgage will be payed off by then too, so i may even have some money to buy something......

I thought they'd solved that with the ring thing......?

All i can suggest is not to discount the APM version https://www.apm-telescopes.net/en/apm-2-inch-erect-image-prism-with-fast-lock-and-ultra-broadband-coating Is has a 46mm clear aperture meaning all your 2" eyepieces will do their thing and show NO vignetting. And its a realistic price.

World war 2 vintage ? These are antiques really, and you may damage them if you try to 'open for vlesning' Instead, i would look at getting them professionally cleaned and serviced.

Hi, and yrs, that looks like the same one at a similar price to mine. I think its the same catalogue number too. One difference, mine is a few years older and is 'pre' the fancy BBHS coatings. I also have the big 2" mirror version WITH the BBHS coatings and it performs very well indeed. Regarding the AMICI : i haven't used it really on high power planetary : i always use my standard prism which has a 2.6x gpc 'permanently residing in it for high power planetary. This has a 'quick coupler on it that attaches on to my binoviewer, a Baader Mk5. The reasons why i purchased the Amici were for terrestrial work with a smaller refractor, and also to help me on Lunar observations. I wanted to have a crack at 'the Lunar 100' and much prefer a correctly oriented image to aid identifications of craters etc. I actually half considered the mega bucks Baader \Amici when they released it, but then some sense on my part kicked in. Nearly £600 on a diagonal is a bit crazy really. I'm pleased with the 'cheaper' version though. One would assume the newer version with the posh coatings will perform even better. The diffraction spike is only an issue on Venus really. And something really bright such as Sirius , Vega etc. I don't think it will trouble you on the moon. If you lived a bit closer to me, i'd happily lend it to you so you could try it out. The blue and white APM version is a good alternative though. I know a club member who uses one, and it performs very well.

Perhaps worth mentioning that it's quite difficult to make one of these diagonals well. Well enough, and consistently well enough for high power astro use. You only need to look inside one to see the complexity of the thing. Hence the sky high price of the Badder BBHS 2" Amici. With the more budget models you often see a bright diffraction spike through very bright stars etc. I have the 'cheaper' Baader version ; it performs ok, only giving the big diffraction spike on something really bright like Venus or Sirius etc. On Lunar though, theres no issues. Let us know which one you go far and how it performs on your C8 🙂