AstroAdam

Okay, so been a while since the last post, but wanted to say thanks so much for this. Made making an M42 and M48 1.25" filter holder an absolute breeze 😁.

I’d say there’s a lot of subjective taste-based decisions when it comes to colour on Jupiter especially. I prefer the hues slightly warmer I must admit. Possibly somewhere in between the two above…

This is all marvellous stuff from a theoretical point of view @vlaiv, but for me it really robs the process of some of its subjective discovery and wonder. I’d prefer to be guided by theory at the high level, but sometimes love it when I or others try what we want to try and be surprised by the results, even if they don’t match up to that theory. I don’t have an infinite amount of time to be analysing what I get if it doesn’t correspond to what’s expected, if it’s a decent result (I.e. can’t be bother there too ask “Why is it so good?? It shouldn’t be better than the frac???”). Especially in my case, there are so many variables involved, and I’m not working with a kit setup where it’s easy to replicate a setup night after night (no observatory etc). If I find a method that works, I’ll use it, be glad my stars are round 😂, and enjoy the incoming subs (yes I still get that buzz when the subs download), and enjoy the results. Agonising over whether I’ve taken the path of least theoretical resistance is not something that really floats my boat so to speak. If the ACF has produced a better set of data than the smaller aperture Frac, and keeps on doing so then great, even if the theory says it shouldn’t be the case. I’m happy to get any decent data myself. Life’s too short for in-depth analysis of why something was unexpectedly better… I’m absolutely not criticising you here by the way - you obviously enjoy it, and are very knowledgable, so fill your boots . In the meantime, I’ll carry on getting pretty pictures with my limited setup and enjoying the hell out of it in the process. Cheers Lee for giving the ACF a run for its money. And no you can’t have it. Unless you have a nice camera you may be willing to trade?? 😙😋😆 Thanks all!

Oi! It’s my ACF - if I knew it’d cause this much trouble I’d have kept it away from you 😂😂😂🤪. Seriously though, it’s been great to see what results you’ve got from it, whatever the reason for it in the long run. I’d agree that no matter what the theory says, the real-world testing in the end has produced some interesting output! I’ll definitely be spending a bit more time with it myself in the near future… my bigger pixels will probably help to diffuse the matter somewhat 😉.

Sounds like you tuned out some of the row previously anyway then. Also, mine was an older HEQ5, even when I got it, so was probably louder due to wear by the time I modded it...

Mine was far quieter following modding, but to be fair it's not about that, it's about the accuracy and guiding performance anyway. Both of those were also much improved. Who cares if it still sounds like an old coffee grinder, as long as it's guiding like a champ .

Borrowed a pair of revelation 20x100s (I think?) for a bit - fantastic bins when they were working well - some amazing views through them, but went out of collimation virtually every time they got moved around! I'd love another pair of big bins though...

Sorry - typo - 102ED....!

No - you're right. The TAL does show more than the 120ED, but a lot less than I was expecting. The F/10 of the TAL is great for planetary viewing though, and like I said, the CA is below the threshold where it begins to bother me. Cheers, Adam

I bought one of Stu's TALs last week, and have to say I'm really impressed. I'm really enjoying it the pin sharp views and am glad I grabbed it when I did going by the availability forecast! I also have a Starwave 102ED, which is excellent but only f/7. The f/10 of the TAL really makes a big difference, and I can't say the CA is an issue at all for me. Not noticeable in most situations. Maybe I'm just not very sensitive to it...!

Yup - Generally it would be assembled so that the EP is sticking out of the side.... Mine is actually modified so that the focuser is at 45 degrees - much easier when you get down loooow....

Same as mine ilya Same as mine Ilya

I may aswell contribute my Dob in the light of all the other marvellous examples on show here 305mm Explore Scientific Ultralight Dob. Lovely bit of kit. Very portablr, and packs down small (ish), which is what I need! Seem some incredible views through it!

Heh - there's 'black and green' and then there's THE Black and Green Seriously though, MVs are great EPs. I've stopped at 28mm as the exit pupil starts to become too big with my main setup at 34mm. Nice to finally have some decent EPs though, and it's only recently I've discovered the joys of OIII and UHC filtration

I only used the stock Skywatcher 25mm and 10mm for years after I bought my Skyliner 200p .