johninderby

The correct acetate sheet finaly arrived so I can now flock the Bresser dob.. Oh and a corrector demister device that I’m reliably informed can also be used for drying hair. 😁

A bit of “classic” reading ahead then. 🙂

The AZ-EQ5 has factory installed belt drive. 👍🏻

If you only want an EQ mount then the HEQ5 is a cheaper alternative but for quick setup for visual the AZ-EQ5 is just so much easier to set up in Az mode. Don’t do an alignment and point the scope at say Jupiter and choose solar system align and that’s it you’re observing. Being able to just pick up the mount and move to a different part of the garden and being able to be back observing without having to do a full align is so convieient..

Had an HEQ5 but got rid of it as my interest was mainly visual. The AZ-EQ5 just suits my needs better. For quck looks in Az mode at Jupiter or the moon don’t bother with a proper align. Just use solar system align. And yes tracks in Az mode as well as the CPC but having encoders you can also release the clutches and manually move the scope to a new target without losing alignment.

Like this. 🙂

The feet are about the same size as the standard little rubber feet that come with the scope. You could always use a set of regular anti-vibration pads on soft ground though.

I intend to keep it a manual dob so no plans for goto. If I wanted tracking I’d go with an EQ platform like this. https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p10148_TS-Optics-EQ-Dobsonian-Telescop2-Drive----Platform-for-50--N-S.html The feet. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07HR97XXX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Waiting for the correct thickness of the acetate sheet to arrive so I can fit the flocking.

Bryan Greer of Protostar opinion on secondary offset. “When you get to the final collimation step of tilt adjusting the primary, you are pointing the primary back at the optical center of the secondary. Once again, the light cone will be intercepted perfectly symmetrically. The only consequence of not offsetting is that the primary mirror is no longer pointed exactly down the middle of the tube. It will end up oh-so-slightly tilted up towards the focuser. But this causes no optical problems at all, as there is nothing sacred about having a perfect 90-degree reflection at the secondary. Collimation, vignetting symmetry, and concentricity of the optical axis within the focuser drawtube are all still perfect.”

One of the Skywatcher or Bresser maks would do or perhaps the A 6” Classical Cassegrain? https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p10748_TS-Optics-6--f-12-Cassegrain-Teleskop-154-1848-mm-OTA.html

1.). Fixed Brightness Moon Filter These are called ND96 or just plain moon filters. Typicaly let through 13% or 25% light. 25% for scopes up to 4” or 5” and 13% for larger scopes. Different qualities available. 2.) Variable Brightness Moon Filter Also called polarising filters and let you adjust the light transmission to the exact level you want. Consists of two ploarising filters stacked together and rotating one adjusts the light transmission. 3,). Neodymium (moon and skyglow) Filter General purpose light polution filter but also helps give better images of the moon and Jupiter, Saturn etc. Won’t really affect the level of light transmission as that’s not what it’s for. Great filter to have. Do you need a moon filter? Only way to tell is to look at the moon and if you find it too bright buy a moon filter. If you find the moon too bright a moon filter will help you see more detail. Recommend getting the neodymium anyway as it is a great all round filter to have for general observing that also just happens to work well on the moon.

Easy to start in Az mode first. You need to download the full synscan manual as the booklet than comes with the scope is pretty useless and gives virtually no detail on using synscan. https://inter-static.skywatcher.com/downloads/Synscan_V4_Hand_Control_Manual_SSHCV4-F-161208V1-EN.pdf

Some people seem to need a filter to cut down the moon’s brightness but others like me don’t have any problem with brightness. Some people have trouble adjusting to brightness.and are bothered by bright light. A variable polarising filter lets you adjust the brightness to the exact level to suit you. I only use the neodymium filter for moon viewing as I find it gives the moon a nice neutral grey colour and increases contrast a bit.

A TS-Optics Concenter 1.25" Collimation Eyepiece and some new colimation screws for the Bresser dob. Rather expensive really but the Concenter is the best way of getting the secondary mirror spot on. Also does the primary as well. Can see the secondary isn’t centered. The stock secondary colimation screws bugged me being chrome rather than matt black so bought some replacements. Not sure if it’ll make any difference but can’t hurt.

As Seven of Nine would say......................😁

A couple of more things to sell and then.......🙂

The Nirvanna eyepieces are a great buy and while not a Nagler aren’t far off really in an F/5 or slower. Wish people would stop mentioning the Morpheus eyepieces. May have to buy one. 🤣

Yes so much is dependant on your typical local seeing conditions. So it’s a case of whart scope suits your location.

In a word no. Some cheap eyepieces are usable but paying a bit more will usually bring a big improvement. A £50.00 eyepicece can give very good views. When you get over the £50.00 mark eyepieces do get better but the level of improvement doesn’t keep up with the price increase. A lot also depends on the telescope. No point in going for a premium eyepiece on a budget scope. Also the ultra wide type eyepieces can ger very expensive.

I wonder if local seeing conditions has an effect on peoples opinions on what is the best scope, although there is no such thing really. 🤔

Don’t forget that resolution improves with more aperture. Something often overlooked. My old Equinox 120 was good on lunar / planetary but the Skymax 180 I have now gives more detal on lunar. What you need is one of each. 😁

Yes it’s the Skymax 180. I’m using a William Optics dielectric diagonal. I’ve also flocked mine for increased contrast.

My favourite lunar / planetary scope.

You knew this was coming. 😁 The original version of “Baa, Baa, Black sheep”, Bah, Bah a black Sheep, Have you any Wool? Yes merry have I, Three Bags full, One for my master, One for my Dame, One for the little Boy That lives down the lane.