johnturley

14 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Can't wait for this to come round tonight.

 

Happy 1 April

John

1 hour ago, Naughty Neal said:

Not looking good it is , if that is a predicted sceanrio.

The latest BBC Weather Forecast is now indicating cloudy skies in Mexico on 8 April, and rain showers in Texas, ironically the best chance of clear skies now appears to be in the Great Lakes area, but all that could change.

John 

5 hours ago, lukebl said:

Thanks for rubbing it in. I'll be 4000km away under the clouds.

At least I saw the 2017 eclipse in Wyoming under clear skies. And the 1999 one from near Dieppe.

We were originally planning to observe the eclipse from near the Niagara Falls, followed by going to New York, and then a trans USA Amtrak Rail Trip ending up in and flying back from Sam Francisco. We decided to accept a lower chance of being able to observe the eclipse, offset by visiting New York, followed by the trans USA Rail Trip and San Francisco, however Astro Trails decided to cancel this trip due to lack of interest, so we opted for the Mexico trip instead.

John 

The best chance of clear skies (but not guaranteed) along the track of totality, is from the Torreon area in Northern Mexico, which is one of the observation sites that Astro Trails (UK Tour Operator) are organising, and with whom we are travelling.

John 

2 hours ago, garryblueboy said:

Having owned all of the scopes in the original post I would say the Tak gave the best views the 150 ED was a fine scope optics very good and yes image larger but still lacked the sharpness of the Tak the 120 I had was a very good equinox model and was in my opinion close to the Tak but I had another 120 which was not I have had several C9.25 and didn’t think they gave me any more than the C8HD edge Having tried most large apertures from top brands and Chinese makers there were two that really impressed me the Altair 130 EDT and the APM 140 which ultimately led to me obtaining a TEC140 which is now perfect size to handle I still own a Tak FS102 which gives sublime views and a great grab and go scope for me obviously other people have different opinions we all get the aperture bug but quality still outperforms quantity as I found the bigger scopes were more hassle to use and I didn’t use them as much as I do know but it was a fun and expensive journey .

This would indicate that the Esprit 150 is significantly superior to the ED 150, I would be interested to hear from someone who has compared them.

When I compared the view of Jupiter (and not under particularly good viewing conditions) through my Tak 100 DZ, with that through my Esprit 150, the 100 DZ (with a Strehl ratio measured by Rother Valley Optics of 0.987) did not even come close, the Esprit 150 was streets ahead. Note also that the 100 DZ is also technically superior to the 100 DC (which seems to be the benchmark 100mm Tak), although several observers have stated that there is no discernable difference between them.

John 

On 16/03/2024 at 15:59, Flame Nebula said:

Hi Earl, 

Do you know if FLO will hand pick? If not, who would do that? 

Thanks 

You could ask whether Rother Valley Optics could carry out a Zygo test on a C9.25 purchased from them, or whether they would allow you to reject the scope if it did not come up to the expected standard.

I had a Zygo test carried out on my Tak 100 DZ, and the Strehl Ratio came out at 0.987, they informed me that if it didn't come up to the expected standard, then the scope is sent back to Takahashi

John 

On 16/03/2024 at 16:22, Earl said:

If you could guratee the quality of the scopes howver I am very aware of a very large amount of variance in both the C9.25 and C11 a good C9.25 will outperform an average C11

Some observers used to claim that the C9.25 was superior to the C11 on planets, due to the longer (f2.5) focal ratio of the primary mirror, would be interested to hear from someone who has compared the two scopes.

John 

On 16/03/2024 at 15:59, mikeDnight said:

Most definitely! I've seen a 120ED give significantly better lunar views than an excellent 200mm Dob; so much so in fact that the observers I was with were in disbelief at first. Then when both scopes were aimed at Saturn, the air turned blue with expletives, as they learned an important lesson - aperture isn't always King!

My Esprit 150 gives sharper planetary views than my 14in Newtonian on the majority of nights, although the the colour of the GRS, and the blackness of satellite shadow transits show up better through the 14in.

John 

I had quite a good view of Comet Pons-Brooks last night through my 14in Newtonian before it disappeared behind a neighbour's roof, and for the first time I was able to try out my Baader Swan Band Comet Filter, and it did appear to enhance the view. I would estimate that the magnitude is now around +6, in line with predictions, so it will have to brighten up quite a bit to be visible with the naked eye during the Total Eclipse of the Sun on 8 April.

John 

19 minutes ago, Flame Nebula said:

Thanks John, 

The plan, all being well, is to get a AZ-EQ6. I like the idea of a good zygo test result, prior to agreeing to purchase. I also wondered if FLO may also be prepared to do that. 

That sounds like a good plan, if just for visual with a C9.25, you could get away with an AZ-EQ5 or HEQ5 mount, but for imaging I agree that you would probably need an AZ-EQ6 or EQ6-R or equivalent.

John 

My C9.25 gave quite good planetary views, and I personally wouldn't describe them as mushy, unfortunately I never got round to comparing the views side by side with my Esprit 150 when I owned both scopes, but my feeling is that the Esprit 150 gave sharper views. One point bearing in mind however is that my Esprit 150 resides in an observatory shed (piggybacked on top of my 14in Newtonian), whereas my C9.25 (CPC version) was stored in a conservatory (which can get quite hot in summer), and would have suffered from longer cool down times.

Based on several observers comments, it does seem that the optical quality of C9.25's can be quite variable, some suggest that the Edge HD versions are more consistent, but a lot more expensive. I bought my C9.25 from Rother Valley Optics, who are quite local to me so that I was able to pick up the scope in person, and they did check the collimation for for me before I picked it up, and if you purchased from them, you could ask whether they could carry out a Zygo test like they do on Refractors. 

As mentioned in another thread, I would recommend purchasing the OTA and mount separately, rather than getting the CPC version, you would would them be able to mount another scope such as a 4in APO on the same mount.

John 

8 hours ago, Flame Nebula said:

So, I read the Roger Vine article. Interestingly, the 100DC came out well. I checked the DZ version on FLO, and it's a grand more! I really do like sharp images, but not prepared to pay 50% more. I also  wonder how much more the SW 150ED would give me for the same price as the 100DC. In theory I'd get 250-300 x on jupiter with good image quality, compared to 200ish for the 4". 

If the SW 150 ED performs anything like the Esprit 150, you will see a lot more detail compared to the 100 DC.

John 

43 minutes ago, IB20 said:

I haven’t always been so, but I’m starting to creep into the “aperture wins” field especially when it comes to refractors.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/offers/offer_stellamira-125mm-ed-doublet-f78-refractor-telescope_420375.html recently saw this on offer, nice and light for a 5”…

If the OP is looking for a general purpose scope, I would be inclined to go for one of these while on offer, plus save over £1,000 compared with the price of a Tak FC 100.

John 

23 hours ago, Flame Nebula said:

So, here we have a Tak with an excellent reputation vs two skywatcher ED refractors. Price range £1500-2000. 

I'd be interested in which of these you would recommend, based on comparative viewing. No limits on what was viewed. Given that the 6" ED is similar price to the Tak, I would assume it would be the best choice, as I find it hard to imagine the 4" apo being able to match it? But, perhaps the magical qualities of Taks can do this? 

I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has used the tak and either/both the skywatchers. 

Thanks 

Mark 

A couple of months ago, I compared the views of Jupiter and the Moon through my Tak 100DZ, with that through my then ES 127 FCD 100, and Esprit 150 Refractors. The view through the Tak did not even come close to that through the Esprit 150, which was streets ahead of that through both the 100DZ and ES 127. I would expect the Esprit 150 to have the edge over the Skywatcher 150 ED, but they may well be close, and I think someone on Cloudy Nights did a comparison between a Skywatcher ED 150, and a TEC 140, and the ED 150 compared quite favourably. One point to bear in mind though, is that according to Es Reid, the quality control tends to be better with the larger Esprits (he vary rarely has to adjust or send one back), which also I think have a more robust lens cell than the Skywatcher ED Refractors.

Regarding the comparison between the ED 127 and the Tak 100DZ, I thought that they were very close, but maybe the 100 DZ had the edge over the ES 127, when it came the sharpness of the view. Bear in mind though, I purchased the 100 DZ, mainly because I wanted something lighter and more portable than the ES 127, rather than because I expected it to give superior views.

Some Tak owners also state that they can comfortably use 100x or even 125x per inch of aperture with their Tak scopes, this may well be the case when it comes to double stars, but on Jupiter, and admittedly not under the best of viewing conditions, I felt that the 100 DZ ran out of steam if I tried to go above 200x (50x per inch of aperture), and found the image rather dim and nor very sharp. 

John 

On 06/03/2024 at 01:28, Flame Nebula said:

Hi, I'm not sure about the seeing in my area, if I'm being honest. The scope would likely be stored indoors if an sct or the garage if a newt. I'm aware of cool down issues. I think that if I'd heard more favourable comments about the C9.25 with respect to visual observation, I would be going for it. I'm interested in visual observation but would like to do planetary AP too. 

Thanks 

Mark 

Based on the comments observers have made in other threads, there does seem to be a lot of variability in the optical quality of C9.25's, if you get a good one it will be an excellent planetary scope, and at the time I got mine they were highly recommended by Damien Peach (a renowned planetary imager), and some claimed that they gave better results on planets than the C11, due to the longer focal ratio of the primary mirror. I don't know whether the quality control is better with the Edge HD versions, but they are a lot more expensive, although the 8in Edge HD works out about the same price as the 9.25 XLT.

My C9.25 was quite good on planets, but other observers have said that theirs' gave mushy views, and were outperformed by a 4in APO. Unfortunately I never got round to doing a side by side shoot out with my 14in Newtonian and Esprit 150 (which is an excellent planetary scope, but big and heavy), before I sold my C9.25. As I stated in another thread, I would not recommend the CPC version of the C9.25, as (especially with suffering from back problems), I found the combined OTA and fork mount too heavy to lug around)

John 

12 minutes ago, Rob said:

 

After cleaning the removed the lens. The only additional step I take before re-screwing the lens back into the tube is that I wrap my dew heater strap around the lens cell and leave powered on medium level (its a usb type) for 15 mins. This should allow you to feel sure all liquid has evaporated even if it had moved between the air spaced lenses. 

Good post mind, Thanks

Some Refractor manufacturers, including Explore Scientific specifically state in the manual that the lens should not be removed, saying it is not possible to reinstall it in an accurate position without expert knowledge.

I wouldn't have a clue how to remove the lens from my Esprit 150, and wouldn't attempt it anyway. I know that deposits can build up on the inside element of a lens, and I used to remove and clean the lenses in both the Vixen 102mm Achromat, and Astro Physics 6in f8 Refractors that I used to own, but the lenses in both those telescopes were easy to remove and replace.

In order to reduce the possible build up of deposits on the inner lens elements of my Esprit 150, and Tak 100DZ, I keep one of these desiccant caps in place as the end of the focusing mount when the telecope is not in use.

John 

Astro Essentials Dual-Fit Desiccant Cap Red | First Light Optics

Does anybody know it this company is still in business, we had a very successful trip with them to see the 2019 Total Solar Eclipse from Argentina, and were planning to book a trip with them to see the 2024 Mexico/USA Total Eclipse, but there was nothing available to book on their website, which incidentally is out of date as they are still advertising the 2023 Australia  Eclipse, so we booked with their rivals Astro Trails. 

We also had thoughts of going on a trip to see the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse from Spain, and tried to contact Astro Eclipse ton see if they were running any trips, but when I rang I got number unobtainable, and they haven't replied to an email I sent them either, so suspect that they are no longer in business. 

John 

Just had a look through my Esprit 150 (with a solar filter of course), and yes there is a large and prominent sunspot group, which I can imagine would be visible through eclipse glasses.

John 

The C9.25's used to have a reputation for providing superior planetary views, due in part to the longer (f2.5) focal ratio of the primary mirror compared to the C8 and the C11, however based on some of the above comments, it does appear that the optical quality is quite variable, and the one I used to own may have been one of the better ones.

If buying a C9.25, I would  recommend buying the OTA and mount separately rather than the CPC version, one reason I sold my CPC 9.25 was because following recent back problems, I found it difficult to carry out, and fiddly to put the OTA/Fork Mount assembly on the tripod. 

Although I never managed to do a side by side comparison, I felt that the planetary performance was better than my  Tak 100DZ, but not as good as my Skywatcher Esprit 150.

John 

1 hour ago, GriffinUcos said:

Well....... I might have a cunning plan! 

The Astrosystems 6" is now in bits and some painting has been done.

I went to the local electronics shop to buy Ferric Chloride. Sorry but we don't sell it any more, how about some nice Sodium Perchlorate! Quick intake of breath. No thanks, definitely don't want anything with sodium.

 

 

 

 

I'm surprised that the shop offered you sodium perchlorate, if I remember correctly from my chemistry days, it potentially quite explosive. 

John 

11 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

New to me, an old scared 50mm Tak finder for my DZ.

After sanding and a respray -

 

And now on its telescope -

 

I think that the scratches are as a result of the secondary set of all metal screws on the Tak finder bracket, I don't know why they don't use plastic ended screws, as with the primary set.

John 

3 hours ago, Space Oddities said:

Postman delivered this beauty today! Ordered on Thursday, it took less than 2 days to arrive from Germany to France. That was fast!

I'll finally be able to image small galaxies. It's a whole new territory for me, I guess I'm in for a lot of head scratching and problems I never faced, but I'm very excited to put this to test!

It came with a nice Losmandy dovetail bar, but, for the life of me, I can't figure out how this beast can hang off-balance being secured by only 3 M4 or M5 screws... they seem way to frail to hold the telescope. I need to investigate that!
 

Unusual to see a white tubed Celestron, I assume that this is the XLT rather than The Edge HD version.

John 

Got my first glimpse of Comet Pons-Brooks at around 18.45 tonight through my Esprit 150, I was just about to take the mirror cover off my 14in Newtonian, to see whether it gave a better view, when it started spotting with rain, so I closed the roof of my observatory shed very rapidly!

This comet has previously eluded me despite a predicted magnitude of around +8, but had very few clear evenings recently to search for it. I usually find that in my fairly light polluted Bortle 5 skies, and with my poor eyesight, the limiting magnitude for diffuse objects is around +9. Not surprisingly therefore I've been unable to spot Comet P Kushida with a predicated magnitude of around + 10, but for some reason the Sky at Night magazine seem to have been hyping this comet, despite it being too faint to spot visually at least, through most amateur telescopes.

I hoping that it might be possible to see Comet Pons-Brooks during the total eclipse of the sun on 8 April (which we are viewing from Mexico), especially if it does according to some predictions, reach magnitude +2. 

John 

27 minutes ago, YogSothoth said:

Hi All. While putting my FC 100 away last night I discovered a small purple/black circle with concentric rings around it. It’s not on the front of the objective and it’s quite noticeable so it must have only recently appeared. I’ve not seen anything like this before on any other scopes. Any ideas as to what it is and what I should do about it? The scope is less than a year old. Many thanks.

I think that they used to be referred to as Newton's Rings, I had something similar with a Vixen 102mm f10 Achromatic Refractor that I used to own, I assumed that it was caused by two of the lens elements touching each other.

I don't see something similar with my Tak 100 DZ .

John 

37 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

The TSA102 and FS128 have gone to new homes leaving the TSA120 which I plan to wear out from overuse 👍

Then when I’m old and decrepit I will start using the FC100 🙂

Out of curiosity, how did you find the TSA 120, compared to the FS 128.

John