johninderby

Think anyone can access it from here.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01plr2p/episodes/downloads

Rowan will be coming out with an extension for the AZ100 mount which has a EQ6 type fitting. That will be great as Rowan quality is amazing.

Very stable. Think some have not fitted it properly. 

The SW extension is very solid and not too expensive.For some reason they show the extension upside down.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/skywatcher-eq6-extension-tube.html

Private email. I’m beta testing the motor system.

So at least the expected availability date isn’t the 1st April then. 😁

Pretty close on lunar / planetary although the 125 having the wider fov is better for other things of course. A better all rounder. The CC6 being a short OTA works on a lighter mount as well so better for grab’n’go.

Purely for lunar / planetary the CC is a great buy. On Jupiter / Saturn might change my mind next summer when they’re better placed.

The Rigel QuikFinder is excellent. Compact and ideal for a scope the size of yours.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/rigel-quikfinder-compact-reflex-sight.html

Someone who had the 6” CC and then bought a Mewlon said the Mewlon was better but not by much.

From Derek’s message this morning sounds like real progress is being made with some updates due very soon.  The updates to the alignment procedure will be very useful in particular. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

5 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

My favourite chapters was the one on Equipment. Patrick was always disparaging about pillar a claw mounts (quite rightly, although I don’t think I’d actually seen one), invariably describing them as steady as either a jelly (in this book) or a blancmange. I loved this idea. 
Strange no mention of Taks, though. 

Dated of course but still fascinating. If only Patrick was still here to present Sky@Night. 😢

Same here. The rotten weather has really limited my testing time. 🤬🤬🤬

I would guess it will be months yet before it is released for sale. Hardware wise it is pretty well ready to go but it’s the software development that is going to take time. 

An earlier edition of this book was my first astronomy book. Lost long ago but bought another copy a couple of years ago. 🙂

The ES or Altair focal extenders are very nice amd great performers. Very similar to a Televue Powermate in performance. They do 2x, 3x and 5x.

https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/explore-scientific-2x-barlow-focal-extender-1.25-0218750.html#SID=564

https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/altair-lightwave-2x-flat-field-tele-extender.html#SID=564

The focuser on the 8” is the Monorail one so slightly better than the one on the 6”

The stock focuser is OK but a Baader Steeltrack refractor focuser can be fitted if you want something better.

Performs somewhat like an f/12 newt. The mirrors are Hyperbolic secondary mirror and parabolic primary mirror which does indeed make collimation easier than the RC.

Find the CC maintains collimation nearly as well as a mak. Most arrive with good collimation and are fine for visual use but for imaging would benefit by fine tuning the collimation.

Having had two C8s I’m quite familiar with how they perform. With the CC find it’s a bit sharper on axis with a bit better contrast Just has the edge optically. The CC build quality is extremely good. Great fit and finish. When I sold another scope recently the buyer had a look at the CC and was impressed by the build quality and he owned a Tak Mewlon.

As it’s used for lunar / planetary diffraction spikes are not a problem and although this should degrade the sharpness and contrast it still has the edge over the C8.

No scope is perfect of course but the CC is a great compromise and very happy with it. 

I have the 6” CC as well as my grab’n’go setup.

Having recently retired the hobby funds are not what they were. 😢😢😢

Would love the SM90 as a grab’n’go scope but bank account says NOOOOOOO 😢

Had a SW 150PL that had decent mirrors but picked up a set of OO 1/12pv mirrors on ABS and put them in the 150PL.  An amazing planetary scope. Never should have sold it. 😢😢😢

Just checked and German dealers are saying the Bresser dobs are due mid April.

The SW, GSO and Bresser newt mirrors are pretty much the same quality and are actually pretty good and similar to the basic  grade of OO mirrors.