johninderby

With the Classical Cassegrain now getting established could be a good option sometime in the future. Should be a parts bin exercise for GSO to produce.

10” carbon tube Classical Cassegrain……….Yes please. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

This 1.25” crayford will fit the Skymax perfectly.  Unfortunately the focuser to scope adaptor has to be custom made at €84.

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p11734_TS-Optics-1-25----T2-Crayford-Focuser-for-Refractors--Cassegrains-----.html

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p9286_TS-Optics-custom-made-Adapter.html

Here’s a pic of one I had fitted to my Omegon 127 mak.

I converted mine to fit the Starsense on to to a standard finder shoe so it could be fitted to any scope.

Steve

Are we ever going to see a 10”  Classical Cassegrain solid tube? Would be a lot more affordable than the truss version I would think.

It’s a 45 gegree mounted mirror so points forward. Same direction as the scope.

The Skytee would cope with the 10” newt but the Report tripod would just be too small and unstable. You would need a UNI tripod or an EQ6 type tripod. Also lifting the 10” newt into place is really a two person job.

The 10” dob is the more practical option I think. 

A 10” Bresser on a Skytee and UNI 18.

As it’s a five meter roll you could make a five metre cable tie and if that’s not long enough. 😁😁😁

Just used it to fasten up some plumbing under the kitchen sink. 🙂

This is what I use. Nice and strong.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VELCRO®-Brand-ONE-WRAP®-Strapping-Metres/dp/B01LYDITWJ/ref=sr_1_7?crid=IVWNM71LU39P&keywords=velcro+roll&qid=1643231777&sprefix=velcro+roll%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-7

Think that pic is of an installation at a university. 🤔

11 minutes ago, mareman48 said:

Nice, thanks will look into that 👍🏾

Rupert really knows his stuff and a great guy to deal with no matter what you are buying. He deals in some seriously high end gear £££££££££ as well.

You might also consider the Tecnosky version. Rupert at Astrograph is an expert who can give proper technical advice if you have any questions. 

https://astrograph.net/epages/www_astrograph_net.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/www_astrograph_net/Products/AGTECAPO60

An APM 1.2 metre cassegrain perhaps. 😁

If you did get the Skymax127 on the AZ-GTi mount you could always buy a refractor for widefield use later on and use it on the same mount.

Useful vid.

4 minutes ago, Yubnub said:

Hi, newbie question:

The AZ GTi goto mount will slew to object with iPhone on wifi and find them, but will it also track a target once found?

Yes it does..

Forget about central obstruction. In the real world there are many more important factors that make for the best views.

Optical performance of the mak is in a different league to the Startravel with more contrast and sharper images.One thing you will quickly discover that no one telescope will do it all. Most on SGL own at least a couple of scopes. Commonly a lunar / planetary scope and a widefield scope for DSOs.

A smartphone can take good lunar or planetary pics. Here’s one with an 80mm refractor.

The Startravel 120 is a decent wide field low power scope but the Skymax 127 would be the choice for high mag lunar  and planetary observing.  

The Startravel suffers from CA when you try to push the mag but not a problem with the mak.

The Skymax 127 on the AZ-GTi mount is a good budget GOTO setup or the 127 on an AZ5 manual mount is also good if you want to find your own way around. Remember with a GOTO setup you will have to first align the mount before using.

Which is best? Neither really as both have their good points.

While an IR cut filter can be useful the IR pass filter is also usefull

FLO offers the 462 as a set with an IR cut filter and a Methane filter.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-cameras/zwo-asi462mc-kit-with-125-ch4-ir-cut-filters.html

That should be OK.

The subject of filters creates a lot of discussion with these cameras. I’m sure someone who knows a lot more than me about it will be along shortly.

The 462 is a newer camera with increased sensitivity but has smaller pixels than the 424 so matching pixel size to your  scope is important. I chose the 462 for my CC8” f12 as the pixel size is ideal.

There are online calculators that will help selecting the right pixel size.

The much increased sensitivity in IR means the 462 will work really well with an IR pass filter for planetary imaging. . 

If the mount is properly adjusted balancing should be easy and not over sensitive. Being a used mount you never know how it may have been misadjusted.

Having the clutches adjusted properly makes a difference. A touch of altitude lock may help. Also set the balance with the scope at 45 degrees not horizontal which would make getting balance harder.

CW aren’t needed with the AZ100 fpr smooth operation. You would only use a CW if the tripod was unstable because of the weight of the scope.

I first used the AZ100 with a UNI18 and thought it was really solid then when I got the Planet it was in a different league. Just so much better than the UNI and zero vibration.

My AZ100 with a 125 APO.

Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope 500 mm f/8.5 ( focal length 4250 mm )

https://www.apm-telescopes.net/en/maksutov-cassegrain-telescope-500-mm-f85-focal-length-4250-mm-

A mere €83193.28 ex  tax    Eeeek. 🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀

Wonder how many weeks it takes to cool down. 😁

Are you checking with one of the extenstion tubes connected or just the focuser?

Not quite sure  what you mean? 

Have a look at the collimation instructions in the manual.

https://nimax-img.de/Produktdownloads/62478_1_Anleitung-EN.pdf