johnturley

6 hours ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Star hopping thread here:
 

I'd be really interested to see what everybody has to say, beginners like myself, more experienced observers, etc.

With my 14in Newtonian (on which my Esprit 150 is piggybacked), I use old fashioned setting circles and a sidereal clock (actually an app on my phone these days). It's on a massive fork mount built by Astro Systems (Luton) in the 1980's, but because of its age it's not GOTO, just mains synchronous motor with variable frequency oscillator. It would be nice to upgrade the mount to GOTO, but because of its design, it would probably cost a fortune to do so, if it was even possible.

John 

On 29/12/2023 at 08:24, Meluhanz said:

 

Finally

What am I doing wrong here? I was expecting the astro camera to capture what I see through the lense, maybe more.   

 

To me it looks like the gain has been set too high, i.e. Jupiter is overexposed and the brightness of the image has swamped out any surface detail that might be visible. 

What imaging program are you using, I use Sharpcap which is available for free download, and I prefer it to the ZWO ASI software.

John 

My recently acquired Helios Stellar II 16 x 80 Binoculars tripod mounted.

john 

1 hour ago, JOC said:

So what is the upshot here - If clear I was going to set-up to have a look between 5pm and 6pm will I be able to see a double shadow transit - if not I won't bother 'cos it will be cold.

Unfortunately not much chance of it being clear on 23rd December for most of the UK.

John 

2 hours ago, F15Rules said:

A nice vintage 6mm Japanese volcano top ortho in great condition.

Bought to use on doubles with the 80mm F15 Vixen (x 200) and the FS128 (x173 or x295 with 1.7x Glasspath Corrector and Baader Zeiss prism.

Dave

Looks similar to, if not identical to the Fullerscopes branded Ortho's.

john 

Arrived today from FLO (actually 'Drop Shipped@ direct from OVL), a pair of Helios Stellar II 16 x 80 Binoculars, I decided to go for the Stellar II version, as I don't think that I will end us using them enough to justify spending twice the price on the Lightquest version.

Although due to the weather, I've not had the chance to try then out yet, on first impression however I'm very impressed with the overall build quality, plus quality of the coatings compared to my Celestron (basic model) Skymaster 15 x 70's. I was also surprised by how much bigger and heavier they are compared to the 15 x 70's, despite just an extra 10 mm of aperture, I'm pleased that I didn't go for the 20 x 100's, which I briefly considered, and aren't actually much more expensive.

In addition I like the tripod mounting rail, which I find makes it much quicker and easier to attach then to a photographic tripod than the standard tripod adaptor that some large binoculars come with. I will probably use them mainly with a tripod, but maybe  occasionally use them hand held for short periods. I can't understand why only the 100mm, and not the 80mm, Liqhtquest Binoculars come with a tripod mounting rail 

Only ordered on Friday from FLO and arrived today, 'Drop Shipped' direct from OVL (Optical Vison Limited), a pair of Helios Stellar II 16 x 80 Binoculars. I thought that they might be useful in particular for the upcoming comet apparitions of Pons-Brook and Tsuchinsham-Atlas, and a step up from my current Celestron Skymaster 16 x 70's. 

I was amazed however how much bigger and heavier they were than the 15 x 70's (good job I didn't go for the 20 x 100's which I briefly considered), but at least they do come with a sturdy tripod mounting rail.

John 

48 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

Didn’t feel comfortable with just a single carry handle, so….. 😁

 

Which tube rings and carry handles are those ?

John 

12 minutes ago, John said:

That's great if you use a 2 inch eyepiece holder with that diagonal 🙂

I used to use a very similar arrangement.

If you use a 1.25 inch one (as I do now) the risk is there because there is no lip to stop a long eyepiece barrel, at least with the ones I've tried, including my current Baader click stop 1.25 inch holder. I use a T2 extension between the eyepiece holder and the diagonal to remove that risk.

My arrangement is this for 1.25 inch eyepieces:

 

 

John

On a slightly different note, I notice that you have fitted a micro-focuser to your Tak 100 DL, I just wondered which version that was, and how you rate it.

John 

19 hours ago, Stormbringer said:

FLO used to do the Apollo range maybe Helios have stopped producing them ?

I've just looked on OVL's (Optical Vision Limited, Main Importer of Helios Binoculars) website, and they only list the Stellar II and Lightquest ranges in Observation Binoculars, so I assume that they have discontinued the Apollo range, however some dealers may still have some models in stock.

John 

Has anybody owned, or had experience of the Helios Stellar II 16 x 80 Binoculars, I was thinking of getting a pair of these for the upcoming comet apparitions of Pons Brook (March 2024), and Tsuchinsham ATLAS (October 2024), and a step up from my Current Celestron 15 x 70 Skymaster (basic not Pro version) Binoculars.

I have also looked at the Lightquest version of these, but these cost about twice the price (£500 as opposed to £250), and although no doubt of better optical quality, don't have the tripod mounting rail that the Stellar II version come with (just the 100 mm Lightquest Binoculars come with the tripod mounting rail).

John 

1 hour ago, IB20 said:

Maybe I should change the title to “I have a 5” ED doublet”… 😁😁

Thanks for all the input and hurry up postie!

Did you go for the StellaMira ED 125 Doublet then?

Would be interested to hear the First Light reports.

John 

23 minutes ago, bosun21 said:

The Apollo 15x70 are superior to the Stellar range and slightly below the Lightquest range. I bought mine new from Harrison Telescopes who actually drop shipped them from OVL. They cost me £259 as below. 

Thanks for the info

Most suppliers don't stock the Apollo Range, just the Stellar II and the LightQuest, Harrison Telescopes appear one of the few that do.

John 

On 07/12/2023 at 23:07, bosun21 said:

Another thumbs up for the Helios Apollo 15x70's. Excellent binocular.

Are the Helios Stellar the same as the Apollo's, FLO just list the Stellar range in the larger binoculars.

RVO also list the LightQuest in the larger sizes (15 x 70, 16 & 20 x 80), but these are roughly twice the price of the Stellar range.

John 

1 hour ago, John said:

Over the years I've been in the astronomy hobby I've found the best cure for an "itch" is to scratch it. I read a lot of different view points from a lot of different sources but there comes a time when only "seeing for yourself" will do. 

Occasionally I have regretted that, and the example of the 6 inch F/12 achromat refractor that I acquired, as mentioned by @Stu earlier in the thread is one of those. But I learned from it and it's quite possible that had I not actually tried it, I would still have that itch of curiosity for a really long, large aperture refractor. They do look so alluring 🤩

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

There are several excellent 6 in f7ish Refractors on the market now though, and which will probably give better results than that f12 Achromat

John 

19 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Nothing wrong with window shopping 🤣

I spend ages looking at things I've no intention of buying. 

John 

On 09/12/2023 at 13:20, johnturley said:

I gather that the 2061 return (although its extremely unlikely that I'll be around to see it) will be another unfavourable return of the comet, unlike the favourable returns of 1910 and 1835, and possibly worse even than the 1986 return. When Halley's comet reached perihelion in February1986 it was on the far side of the sun, and to make matters worse, when at its closest and brightest, it was below the horizon from UK latitudes. I was never able to see it with the naked eye from the UK (although easily visible with binoculars), but it was an easy naked eye object from Tenerife in April 1986.

 

John

Correction to my earlier post, I've looked up online more details about the 2061 return, and apparently it will be much more favourable, in particular for those in northern latitudes, than the 1986 return. According to the following article in Space.com, the comet will appear to track some 21 degrees north of the sun at perihelion, and from July 25 to July 28 2061, it will be possible to see it against the late twilight sky as both a morning and evening zero magnitude object.

Halley's Comet begins its 38-year journey back toward Earth tonight | Space

It was something I read in a book or an Astronomy magazine at the time of the 1986 return, that lead me to believe that the 2061 return would be another unfavourable one, of course back in those days there was no internet to search to obtain details of the 2061 return. Its now even more disappointing for me to know that its extremely unlikely that I will be around for the 2061 return, but something to look forward to for the younger SGL members.

John 

13 hours ago, PeterC65 said:

The two saddles are out of alignment in azimuth by 1.2 degrees and there's no adjustment for that so I'll need to give it some thought in daylight.

 

 

 

That's what I found when I mounted both my Tak 100 DZ and ES 127 Refractors on this mount, there is fine adjustment in altitude not not in azimuth, please let me know if you come up with a solution.

Also I couldn't get the mount to track very well in AZ mode, I tried one star alignment using Jupiter (while looking at Jupiter), but it still didn't work very well. Which tracking mode did you use, after I have sold my ES 127, I think that I will put the mount back into EQ mode. 

John 

I gather that the 2061 return (although its extremely unlikely that I'll be around to see it) will be another unfavourable return of the comet, unlike the favourable returns of 1910 and 1835, and possibly worse even than the 1986 return. When Halley's comet reached perihelion in February1986 it was on the far side of the sun, and to make matters worse, when at its closest and brightest, it was below the horizon from UK latitudes. I was never able to see it with the naked eye from the UK (although easily visible with binoculars), but it was an easy naked eye object from Tenerife in April 1986.

However according to the BAA's website, there are favourable signs coming from Comet Pons-Brooks, which reaches perihelion in April 2024. It is currently much brighter then predicted, and it is possible that it could reach 2nd magnitude around the time of perihelion, making it as bright, if not brighter than Halley's comet was in 1986, and moreover unlike Halley's comet, it will be quite favourably placed from UK latitudes. It will be interesting to see whether it is visible to the naked eye during the Total Solar Eclipse on 8 April 2024, which we are viewing from Mexico.

John

20 minutes ago, CCD Imager said:

Go for the Esprit!! I once had an Astrophysics 160 and the Esprit gives it a good run for its money!

Adrian

I used to have an early (pre-Starfire) Astro Physics 6in f8 Refractor, and the Esprit 150 is both better colour corrected, and gives sharper views. 

John 

20 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Indeed it is - the T2 Zeiss. I will be selling my other diagonals, including the Tak, shortly   I can confirm after looking through it the 30mm UFF does not vignette! However, the 42mm LVW does - not bothered though.

That's good, I'll definitely order one (they are currently out of stock at FLO), it won't matter to me either if it does vignette with the 42mm LVW, as I use the latter mainly with my Esprit 150 (with it I can fit the Pleiades in one field of view), and to which I have fitted the Baader 2in BBHS Diagonal.

John 

26 minutes ago, Fegato said:

Yes, I think you certainly succeeded with that. Great advert for the Esprit 150 too...  must admit I'd like that scope to complement my RASA. But with so little clear sky time here I just fear it wouldn't get enough use and targets would disappear before I'd finished them! I sometimes wonder about having one permanently down in Spain, but that's a lot of expense and complexity...

The Esprit 150 is an excellent scope on planets too, probably virtually as good as a Tak TOA 150 or TEC 160, and about one third of the price.

The Esprit gives a more pleasing view on planets than my 14in Newtonian 9 nights out of 10, the latter only giving a better view when viewing conditions are very good.

John 

54 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

My xmas pressies have arrived. Since I don't have anyone to buy for me, and I don't have to buy for anyone, I treat myself!

 

Is that the Baader 36mm T Thread Prism Diagonal, I was thinking of getting one for my recently acquired 100 DZ, its supposed to be as good, if not better than the Tak Prism Diagonal.

John 

1 hour ago, Mr Spock said:

No observing for me. I was in hospital all last week and I'm spending this week and next week recovering. It's forecast cloudy anyway 

Still, I have a few exciting items arriving today from FLO to cheer me up. More in the what did the postman bring thread later 

Wishing you a speedy recovery too.

John

1 hour ago, PeterC65 said:

It seems that a replacement focuser is always going to cost the thick end of £200 and that's just for a standard Crayford. For anything better you need to pay nearer £300 and at that price the best option is probably a Baader SteelTrack (they seem to get good reviews).

 

I've been very pleased with the Baader SteelTrack Diamond Focuser that I've fitted to my 14 in Newtonian, one of the great things about this focuser is that it allows a bit of sideways adjustment to get it exactly aligned with the secondary. 

Its a pity though that it doesn't come with the Click Lock Clamp as standard though, you have to pay extra for this.

John