bomberbaz

you see i cant do that gavster, keep my premium ep's seperated,its like going to a pub to drink tea or something like that, just couldnt do it. I would be worried that some of them might get it into thier heads that I dont like them anymore and start giving bad views, (yes mine do talk to me to you know)

I believe if u look around you will dig out lots of more detailed discriptions of what you might see through your scope but none i have read cover such a range and depth in one post as per the OP's. I still remeber my disapointment of first light on Andromeda but part due to a better scope, part to better technique and big part due to better unddrstanding of the mechanics/physics, so basically evertything about what i am doing and viewing, my experience is a world away from that first light of this beautiful galaxy. Or simply with time ones experiences become more fullfilling. Steve

Agree with charic, a 10mn barlowed or 5mm will be perfect for ur high end eyepiece. Look at the skywatcher planetary range or bst but i also think a 4mn will be over gunning it. Your 8 barlowed would cover the rare occasuon conditions allowed. You say you got good views of saturn with the 3.6mm but how much definition and contrast did you really get? Higher magnification often comes with a loss of definition, especially in scopes with smaller appertures. I found this out the hard way despite a lot of good advice. Anyway, charics advice stands good in my eyes for a 5mm or equivalent option. Steve (on holiday in Portugal :-) )

Just read this and I am very impresed with the write up plus other stuff I have read. Now I am trying not to allow myself to pursuade myself that I need a 9mm but so far I am loosing the arguement, hehe

Me-think qualia was a poet of some standing in a previous life

Ok so went to shop to buy a frac and mount and the service was brilliant. For a start off I was in shop for 2 hours, got 2 cuppas and ate a bowl full of chocs (rude not to) Lee, who looked after me was excellent and even after I forgot my debit card we managed to sorted out a method of paying for it all. Next the scope I bought came with a budget finder and after discussing options, we were able to upgrade it to a top notch finder (I will be reviewing this later). Its the illuminated type and was very well priced. Today I phoned again asking for some advice and Peter this time went at great length to talk me through the website, what I was looking for etc, thanks again chaps.

sorrydont know what happened with the comet jacques picture, took that 3 months since, 5 second exposure using same PD1 and the mini dob 100p hand guided. I didnt count it as a DSO as it was only 53 million miles away at the time heheh

ok here is my first real attempt where I actually have the first idea of what I am doing. Ok not brilliant but onwards and upwards, using a PD1 astrocam and my 12" dob fitted a 0.5 reducer this time. comet jacques eedit.bmp

without doubt one of the most profound statements made that didn't come from david attenborough, you just made my weekend!

I see you have the Pentax 30mm Tinker. I looked at one of these but the exit pupil made me go for a 28mm EP instead. How do you find it, reviews are very good on the smaller ones?

I think you will find Ceres is a summer target though and unless you can get a good west aspect and find it just after sunset you may struggle

I sold my Axiom 31mm for several reasons. The views were excellent but it was heavy and the goto motors werent keen on it when low down, the exit pupil was a little large for my old eyes and its not brillliant with glasses although useable. That said, its a cracking eyepiece, just BIG, haha PS just realised I need to change my signature, hah!

Have you considered buying a zoom eyepiece rather than a basic set, it would probably serve you better

I refer to the beautiful little open cluster just off the bottom of Casseopia. The first time I saw it was through my dob and a highish mag, around 100x and the first thing I thought was wow, it looks like a giant bat! I have since found out it has names of the OWL, Dragonfly or even ET. So what does anyone else thing it should be called, any of the above or something else Maybe i should have made a poll,

I am saving this post and will make sure it comes back to haunt you ;-)

Found the listing, saw this on Ebay the othr day and to me they look very simlar. Maybe your 2 are copies of these Laurie61 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271565616163&ssPageName=ADME:X:eRTM:GB:1123 click on original listing link and scroll down for a bigger view, look identical! what dya reckon

I think that the 2 unidentified plossl's are later versions of this but maybe someone else can verify this http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=314549 i saw somewthing almost identical on ebay

you havew some very nice EP's in that there signature of yours fella. Particularly keen on the pana 32mm and the x-cels are great ep's for the cost, nice...

hahaha, love this thread. I daren't post my case on here as some of you OCD case brigade lads will be having hissy fits....... Oh go on then The revelation astro 42mm was bought for scanning the skies after I had done the cutting out hence the bit of repair done under the harry glaterrer. The gap is where my Delos 8mm sits and she is due to be returned to the fold very soon after being sent to America for repair and some RnR (My 2nd most used EP) The barlow will be removed once she returns as I use that on the 17.3mm Delos atm but its not the same. The beast is an Axiom 31mm/82 degree heavyweight with my now most used SW UWA 22mm underneath. (She is vastly under rated IMO, its a cracking eyepiece for the money and is worth double what I paid)

I think the etx would be ok for planetary imaging with a webcam, loads of threads on here but it would be ok i think. This link is the one I used when i modded one http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/131246-xbox-livecam-mod-cliff/

I am not brilliant on barlows either but pound for pound a celestron xcel x2 barlow is pretty hard to beat for quality. There are loads out there though and if cash is an issue a standard "deluxe" skywatcher 2x is still a reasonable piece of kit to be getting on with at under £30