DirkSteele

Has anyone used the Tak FC-100DC with the AZ GTI? I bought it for use with my FS-60 and FC-76 but the DC is only 2.8kg and fully loaded with finder, diagonal and eyepiece is probably 4kg. Under the 5kg “limit” but I am always sceptical of quoted capacity (and length of scope plays an important role as we all know). So before I damage the mount, anyone tried it successfully? Thanks

Absolutely! As someone who has fortunately spent several months stargazing in the southern hemisphere over the last decade plus it really is something special. Not only do you have access to amazing stuff that does not clear the horizon in the north, but the central Milky Way gets really high (in 2016 I was in Namibia and Mars reached 88 degrees!) but you can still see a lot of the northern showpiece objects as well! Our southern hemisphere astronomer brothers and sisters are very lucky indeed. Still in about 11 thousand years the milky way Centre will be nice and high for us so we will have the last laugh! (And way better in 125 million years, but I am not sure I will live that long 😉).

They will be very pleasing. different bins but I reviewed the vixen 2.1x42 back in 2014 after using them extensively in Namibia (Bortle 1). http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2014/10/25/vixen-sg-2-1x42-binoculars-review/

Now imagine that is Bortle 9! That is why I wanted “portability” so it could be used under some darker skies. like here at AstroCamp in Wales with The Sky at Night.

I feel pretty lucky as I do not have any Astro regrets (other than passing up one too many clear nights because it was a long day at work etc…. I live in the UK, what was I thinking? Grab every clear night with both hands in case it is 2023 again!!😉). I have generally researched heavily before a purchase and I have not really sold anything since my first two scopes back when I was a teenager (though my wife would suggest I should!).

I wanted to go larger than 180mm but while I live in central London with no permanent observatory (one day when I finally leave the big smog) my priority was the largest that could still be considered portable and 180mm just about qualified. And @Deadlake is right, I have owned the scope for just over 10 years and my per use cost is well over £1000. By the time the mount, counterweights and scope are dragged out, it is more than 70kg. It’s hard to want to set that up. Refractors over 6” need a permanent home.

Despite having stated that “mirrors are for shaving!” More than once, the ultimate for me would be a 20”+ Dob sub f/4 (so I can keep my feet on the ground when pointing at the zenith) with coma corrector.

2 sessions in January thanks to work and family commitments but it felt like there were a very high number of clear nights. Shame some of them were so chilly! Including one of my nights.

Good choices. I certainly see the 6mm in my future.

Certainly not cheap, but there was about a 5% discount from the list price.

Actually forgot to add these to the thread last week. Two books and a tripod riser (that was very expensive for what it is but wasn’t prepared to sacrifice any stability) because the Sightron mount impacts the top of the Gitzo tripods due to their triangular top surface (apparently for extra rigidity) so I needed an inch of extra clearance. Seems like a bit of a design oversight really.

Technically I was the postman as I picked these bad boys up at AstroFest yesterday. Looking forward to trying them out.

Really enjoyed the conference on Saturday. Some great presentations.

There was also a photo competition. Deep sky winner was a nice Orion image at the bottom.

While the exhibition was a little sparse compared to years gone by, there was still plenty on display for equipment hungry Astronomers at AstroFest 2024. Skywatcher had a lot on display as part of the large Widescreen Centre display. Good demonstration of how much larger Dobs get at 8”, 10” and 12”. Orion Optics had a few scopes on display including an interesting looking 10” long Dob. Founder Optics we’re well represented on the Widescreen stand with an interesting 72mm binocular scope and apparently the first example of the 62mm f300 quintuplet (which should be available in March/April to buy) While FLOs stand was a little small (along with Pulsar) what they did have on display was drool inducing. Everyone loves a C14 (the idea at least, if not the reality). On Widescreen. The Askar 185mm triplet on 365Astronomy stand. Looked a little under mounted on the Az-EQ6GT though not as big as I thought it will be. The Televue EPs (after I bought two big ones) on WS stand. Lots of nice refractors.

Yep, was rather good and many of us stopped stargazing just to watch it dance around the sky. 3 sec handheld iPhone photo. That is my toilet tent / scope tent in the bottom right corner.

It was announced this morning that they realised at dinner last night that 2024 was the 30th time AstroFest has been run (though not the 30th anniversary of the first). Next year was announced as 7th and 8th Feb 2025.

However, 365Astronomy has an Askar 185 on display. Not as imposing as my LZOS 180 but perhaps that is because it is in a big room.

Same for Saturday so far. Great lectures but exhibition is a little sparse. I wonder if they have attempted to charge too much for a stand and shot themselves in the foot, or if there was just less appetite given the need for London accommodations and parking for several days (given Thursday set up and Sunday pull down) for the national retailers to want to attend? Thankfully widescreen is here in a big way otherwise there would be little to look at scope and equipment wise.

I might have splashed some cash this morning. Was about a 5% discount on the Televue eyepieces I purchased from the widescreen centre.

I will keep an eye out for the bright green hoody. Should make you easy to spot

Was hoping the usual c,10% discounts might be offered but perhaps that does not happen anymore. My inbox used to fill up with emails around Astrofest from retailers (even those not attending) offering discounts for the weekend.

Always enjoy the random photos you see on boot up of the PC but the last 2 have certainly been more targeted towards my primary interest. 😄

To paraphrase an iconic advert from a very expensive watch company.... "you never really own a Takahashi, you merely look after it for the next generation."

I believe it is a rebranded scope made by Dai-ichi Kogaku Co in Japan. They provided scopes to lots of different brands around the world (often shops and department stores) especially after Towa went bankrupt. So likely late 70s to mid 80s. Does the plate look like this? There may be a manufacturer stamp on the underside of the focuser.