Joe G

Hi Heather & Rob Thanks for all your feedback. I knew about the Great Conjunction & I should have realised it would result in Saturn “overtaking “ Jupiter. I had a quick look at the Skylive animation & it’s a neat feature in explaining what’s going on up there !! You’ve been a great help in getting my head around it all & again many thanks to everyone Joe

Hi Vlaiv Thanks for the useful feedback on the way planets orbit in the night sky .I did try to download Stellarium a few years ago but it wouldn’t let me. It was probably an older system but I’ll try it again later . Again thanks Joe

Hi apologies if this query has already been answered but I can’t find it. I have been viewing Jupiter & Saturn lately & I’ve been wondering why they have started to appear in the night sky later each year. It then struck me that, if I recall right, Jupiter used to always appear before Saturn . Has Saturn overtaken Jupiter or are I just having a bit of a “Senior Moment “. If I’m correct,is it to do with their distances from earth/ speeds of their orbits etc? I would appreciate any feedback from more more knowledgeable people on this forum & thanks in advance

Hi Graham you made a good choice. I replaced the cradle with the new rings. Now just need a handle to complete the conversation 😇

I hope to buy this focuser eventually as it looks the part. Looking at the flat plate , if the single hole was a slot type similar to the slot holes at other end, would that allow the focuser wheel to slide closer in ? Hopefully that makes sense

Just ordered the Tube Rings. Hopefully they’ll be as good as they look 🤞

I’m interested in this topic but it’s mostly beyond me. However, I would love to see a mini comparison review between your Tak & the Dob on some sample targets. It would be a great addition to any final conclusions. Someone once said that “ In theory, theory & practice is the same thing, but in practice it’s not”

I would be interested to see how the F/7.7 ED103S compares with the F/8 Tak FC100-DZ Hi Dave & John I had read that very interesting report as splitting stars are favourite targets for me. However, I suffer from floaters & a 5mm eyepiece is usually the lowest I go most nights with 4” scopes . With this new set up, I’m hoping to try binoviewing this year but not sure if splitting stars is one of the benefits or not Joe

Hi Dave I hope you’re not trying to put me on the spot now😁I haven’t had the scope long enough yet to truly test it out. However, there are two targets which I use to check optics with, that are available at the moment. If you look at the original photo, there is a building reflecting in the sun in the middle distance approximately 10 miles away. This building is the Almac Pharmaceutical main factory & is approximately facing east of me. The northeastern facade in the shadow has the company signage letters “ ALMAC “ approximately 2metres high. I’ve only been able to resolve the sign clearly with 2 scopes, both 4” fluorite refractors The other favourite target is the Trapezium in Orion. I’ve been viewing it every clear night these last few weeks & could clearly resolve Star E & almost certain I saw F a few times. The Vixen was a great scope but I hope this rather more expensive Tak will prove it’s worth later this year on targets such as Jupiter & Saturn etc Joe

Thanks Dave & David for that & yes I’m enjoying it a lot during the last few days & nights of clear skies Joe

7Hi Sunshine Its just a standard CG4 mount which can be configured to be used as an alt/az but with a niggles. I generally use the attached “ agricultural modified” Voyager mount, which is more than adequate on quiet nights

Hi All just had to show off my new to me DZ. Probably the best 4” doublet lens I’ve ever looked through & a happy new year to everyone on SGL

Hi Stu Best looking FL102S I’ve seen to date. The updated black focuser is a great match to the original. Enjoy Joe

Hi Craig Appreciate the quick response. Hopefully I'll get a peek before it disappears below the horizon but there's plenty of other good targets up there to view tonight Again thanks Joe

Hi All The sky here should provide good planetary viewing for tonight. I'm having trouble getting access to my Jupiter Red Spot Transit Times site. Could anyone here let me know if it is visible tonight up to approx midnight? Thanks in advance Joe

Hi All I totally agree that this thread should noy be used for any manufacturer/supplier bashing. That will only result in some guys not wanting to get involved in the discussion. The main reason for my contribution ( a big gamble for me as it might reflect any resale value) is hoping to get some first hand reviews/advice. My main issue is the optics, which IMO, does not perform to either the specification or the claims AA puts up on suppliers' websites

There are a few irritating issues but the main one is the optics. I believe my scope suffers from severe Spherical Aberration, which in turn, shows too much CA & a lack of any details on targets such as Jupiter. In case someone suggests Jupiter is too low at the moment, I did a " side by side" comparison one morning with a Bresser Messier 102 f/10 refractor on Jupiter. The Bresser showed the 3 moons & more detail than the Ascent. The Bresser was bought by my viewing friend complete with a Mons 2 mount from Lydl about 7 years ago for £200 complete. I would also appreciate any other reasons for the lack of contrast/resolution with my scope from more experienced guys on this forum

Hi All I bought & received an Ascent 102 f/11 on 22/1/19 and returned it on 13/2/19. It was supposely a direct comparison to a SkyWatcher ED100 ( which I previously owned) & the longer focal ratio which suited me best. Unfortunely my particular sample doesn't favourably compare. The supplier still has the scope & has forwarded it to AA for further testing a week ago. I have still not had the AA response. I had agreed not to discuss the issues until the AA report came back. That's no longer valid as I just started a PayPay Resolution procedure today. I may need/ appreciate some reviews from someone who either owns one or is going to Kettering & interested in buying this paticular scope. Joe

Hi Ive ben very intereted in this topic. The video shows the mount IMO to be quite capable & highlights the previous points about the slow motion knob positions. I'm wondering if knobs work better for a reflector than a refractor. I'd appreciate John's opinion as he has had a chance to try the reflector out. Thanks in advance

I've been following this topic closely for a number of reasons but can't figure out the thinking behind why generally telescopes with Crawford focusers with theit inherent " track line" issues, paint their drawtubes while telescope manufacturers such as Tak, Vixen, Stellarvule generally don't with their r&p focusers. I understand Moonlite giving costumer choice but GSO thinking makes little sense to mention

Dave I realise the GSO focuser is not one of the original focusers mentioned by Spaceboy but do " track lines" similar to the Moonlite eventually appear on the drawtubes after a certain amount of use? Thanks in advance Joe