DirkSteele

Nicely done.

Seriously! Can you imagine? I told the management to install a telescope. Their lodge in Namibia has a 12” LX200 so they do know about astronomy. I did a lot while I was there. Probably have another three write ups to do based on my observing log.

My signature would indicate that I am fairly well placed to speak about them given I own four of them, being the 105mm f/6.2, the 115mm f/7, the 130mm f/9.25 and the 180mm f/7. If we are speaking about the scopes with LZOS lenses (from Russia), then the quality of the scopes is as good as anything you can buy from any of the premium manufacturers such as TEC, Takahashi or AstroPhysics Inc. The build quality is great and they use Feathertouch focusers which are as good as it gets. I have not really had any experience with their non-LZOS scopes but I imagine they are also very good.

Thanks. I think the experience of star hopping for almost 30 years came into its own on this session, which gave me the time to actually stop and study each cluster rather than rushing to the next. But if I am honest, this might be the most successful star hops I have done in a long time, with very few missed targets and random searches. It was almost as if the stars aligned....

Armed with only a 3" scope, but under a Bortle Class 2 sky (limiting magnitude of +7) on Benguerra Island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mozambique, I attempted to observe every globular in Ophiuchus, which is second only to Sagittarius in number of GCs, in a single session while on holiday in July. Observing report is on the link below. It is quite a long one so you might want your favourite beverage while you read whether I was successful or not. http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2019/08/04/observing-every-globular-cluster-in-ophiuchus-in-a-single-session/ Three inch aperture is not that much, but when the zodiacal light is this bright only 80 minutes after sunset, you might have a chance.... Feedback always appreciated.

If you intend to transport the fragile optical components in the hold of an aircraft, I would think nothing less than a Peli case would do (or similar other brand offering). I would still be a bit nervous about doing that as they are called baggage "throwers" for a reason. I have taken a Peli 1510 in the cabin for long haul no trouble with a 4" refractor in it. Tripod and mount can go in the hold. Plus a Pelican case is a potential theft target as it is clearly holding something more valuable than clothes. Can I assume you are taking the 130PDS? Perhaps if you dont think you can take the whole scope in the cabin, you could remove the primary mirror and take that as carry on to keep it safe and just install and collimate at your destination?

I think it is quite popular in Japan (hence why Taks come with so many extension tubes!). I rarely do it as it is not super comfortable, but I have been known to pull out the diagonal if I am going for something super tough (usual a double split) and want as little junk between me and the wavefront coming in.

The most amazing Google Doodle I have ever seen to mark the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Includes a wonderful 4 minute narration from Michael Collins. Definitely worth a watch.

The &Beyond lodge on Benguerra Island in Mozambique. Latitude is -22 so Saturn crosses the Meridian at the Zenith. Light pollution maps classify as a Bortle 2 sky but it is only just missing being a class 1 by 0.01 (21.99 va 22) on the SQM reading. So it is rather good for a spot of astronomy.

This is the kind of view one could get used to after a long stargazing session that concluded with a sunrise. More DSOs than I can count, plenty of bright meteors with persistent trails, and even grabbed M42 which is rather early in the season. That bright star in the top right is Rigel.

Pleased to report a split with my Tak FC-76 at 90x, which just revealed the tiny grey-green secondary. Seeing was exceptional and Antares was at about 75-80 degree altitude. Which clearly helped a lot... However, a second attempt a few days later ended in failure. Better transparency but poor seeing and I could not see the secondary even at almost 200x, with the primary dancing all around. Was a night for DSOs.

I would not fixate too much on the transmission. Given the glass path length (glass absorbs light as it passes through) in the WX and the number of air to glass surfaces, it was unavoidable that transmission would be in the 80s. From what I have read of performance, no one has complained about image brightness. I would love to try them but given they weigh so much, I am not sure they would be for me as they defeat what I see as the primary advantage of bins, that they are truly grab and go in a way no telescope can be. They certainly feel like an exercise of “because we could” rather than “whether we should” but that does not make the achievement any less amazing.

I know it is a bit of a cheat but I am heading down to an island off the coast of Mozambique so I will have a crack when I am down there. My defense is I will only have a 3" aperture to assist me. Trying to recall if I have ever even attempted it in the UK.

This is where I keep going in Namibia. Does not get much better than that. This is where I went on my Honeymoon. This is where I am going on holiday this year. Why do I go to these places?? Because of this!!!! Welcome to central London....

Thanks. Glad you found it an enjoyable read. It is quite fun to go back over notes post a session like that and construct it to a narrative that is good to read at a later date. I will have to check my diary and remaining holiday allowance for the SGL camp. It would be good to meet some SGL members in person rather than always digitally.

The forecast leading up to the Spring 2019 AstroCamp was not looking that promising, but as yet another example of why we downtrodden (by the weather) astronomers should keep the faith was the first night which proved to be remarkably clear. Fortunately I decided to keep notes so was able to write up the log. Report is on the link below. http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2019/05/06/stargazing-in-the-brecon-beacons/ I decided to take my APM LZOS 115 for two reasons. One the weather did not look promising and hence the effort to carry something larger did not look to be rewarded (what was I saying about faith?) and second, I have recently had APM do a complete rebuild of the scope with upgraded tube and 3" Feathertouch so it was a chance to give the scope its first run out since getting it back. Here it is waiting for dark. Hope you enjoy the report. Clear skies!

I would think replication of topics is fine given the restriction on when the image is captured.

Great. Sorry about the delay, been incredibly busy. Glad you found my reviews useful. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

I will measure it all later and let you know.

As @Stu mentioned I have used a single tube ring which matches the diameter of the feathertouch to provide a base for the finder. Means I can rotate in to position. See photo.

Lens cell 122 for me, which was pick of the bunch in this last run. The serial numbers ran to 123, so assuming no reset of the numbers after it went from LZOS for TMB to LZOS for APM, then that is about 10 a year since the first hit in 2005. Not many! I think the 130 f/6 serial # go up into the 400s though, which really shows how astrophotographery has taken over our hobby since the advent of chips rather than film and auto-guiders. The focuser is the 3.7” APM model so first scope in my collection without a feathertouch on the back. APM said certainly not needed for visual only. The tube was all part of the deal to offer these scopes slightly cheaper than the old prices so it was made to spec by Long Peng I believe. It is aluminium. I like kruppax as it is really dew resistant. I think on the invoice breakdown the tube and focuser was around £1,600. Lens was close to £4,000.

Still have not managed first light yet as real life commitments have gotten in the way, but just testing out balance in my basement the other day for my new APM LZOS 130mm f/9 triplet. I hope it will see its first starlight in September. So if we suddenly suffer from monsoons and hurricanes next month, you know why!

I am not sure but I can probably say it is a Maksutov on a GoTo GEM.