Pig

2 hours ago, DRT said:

Do you mean the weight of the ED120, ED50 or both together?

Just the 120 Derek ?

@DRTdo you ave any info on the scopes weight or better still have you weighed it ? I was wondering if my mount could cope with it ?

I guess focuser options are purely down to an individuals preference... I have used a 21mm Ethos with my TAK micro-focuser without any issues, if I am honest I can still achieve focus using the larger / standard focus wheel without any concerns in excess of 300 X magnification ... the observed view just snaps into focus  preference not necessity is my take. If I had known this prior to my purchase I would not have upgraded.

I too have the Tak micro focusser and it works just dandy ? 

Being able to achieve 500 x mag on the lunar surface features can’t be bad !!! 

If you buy the Tak dovetail you get all the fixings included ?

It would be great Simon and lets hope it does happen...... but I doubt £1700 would cut it, but hey bring it on SW ?

 I was thinking of getting the 2” but £450 put me off initially, but I may still get one ? as the Astro fund is building up nicely again.

Takahashi dovetail and clamshell for me

2 hours ago, BGazing said:

Pulled a trigger on FC 100 DF. Can't wait for it to come!

I am loving mine, quite exceptional thus far ? Congrats on the purchase.

It looks like you have attracted a UFO in your second image Peter, or is it a crow sat on the pylon cable ? Fantastic scope.

I have tried binoviewers for lunar observing in the distant past when I had my 6” SCT and in all honesty I did not find them very comfortable. I must admit though the views were pretty spectacular and maybe it is something I should revisit now I have more experience under my belt..... I think they were WO and quite inexpensive ?

I have to admit the view was very nice today even though the sun is pretty low in the sky...... roll on summer ?

On 19/01/2018 at 13:34, Moonshane said:

In some respects (when there's a fair bit of activity) I prefer white light solar as the detail can often be jawdropping. It's great too in Ha and good to have both but you have to work a bit harder for the detail in Ha.

LoL. Unless you have a Quark....then the detail is effortless ? mind you I haven’t used a wedge with a scope that has an aperture lager than 80mm for white light..... I will get another wedge soon as they do show spots extremely well.

Just managed to get first Solar light with the Tak.... wonderful views ?

Paul it’s finding a zoom that is low power enough..... remember the Quark has a 4.2x Barlow built into it !! 

Paul the lower power the eyepiece the better I find, anywhere between 32 & 40mm. The eyepiece field stop doesn’t make too much difference ?

Paul here is mine in a 66mm

I think that is a wise choice Paul, if you feel the heat coming out of the rear of the scope without any attachments fitted it is quite surprising, even after a few seconds. I know a lot of diagonal mirrors are bonded to thier substraights and I do not see any point in subjecting them to any extremities if a form of protection is available ? a bit of a no brainier to be honest ?

Yes I saw that but I still think it is a little woolly and would not risk it for such a small outlay ? using the filter certainly does not affect the views.

37 minutes ago, Merlin66 said:

Pig,

Sorry to correct you.....

http://www.daystarfilters.com/inout_article_base/index.php?page=view/article/26/Energy-Rejection-for-QUARK---UVIR-or-Front-mount

 

It appears NO addition energy rejection is necessary with apertures less than 80mm

 

I am not so sure having read the content, it does say if a diagonal is used a UVIR is required..... for the sake of £50 I would not risk ruining my oberving equipment, including my eyes

Thats a great link......

i have removed the remainder of this comment.

6 hours ago, LukeSkywatcher said:

My refrac is 70mm (f5).

So, with 70 mm, i should be good to go with optical train as above. No need for an ERF,UV/IR filter.

Paul,  you need a UVIR filter with a Quark and it screws into you filter thread on the diagonal barrel. Ie the end of the diagonal that goes into the focusser. An ERF filter is completely different application to a UVIR filter and covers the objective of your scope.

For your scope you only need the UVIR blocking filter to fit onto your diagonal, either 1.25 or 2” depending on the size of your diagonal. (The Quark fits both the 1.25” & 2” diagonals)

So = Eye>EP>Quark>Diagonal>UVIR>Scope.

It could be that your default settings are set to the country of manufacture and thus a different hemisphere.

I believe a filament is a prom... just viewed from a different perspective. A prom is protruding outward from on the limb, as we see it.... where as filament is a birds eye view as if flying over it ?

12 minutes ago, LukeSkywatcher said:

Do i look/sound deflated?. I feel deflated. 2018 was going to be my year for Solar observing. Now it seems that isnt going to be very productive. My new Quark might make a nice paper weight.

I doubt it Paul... there are still some great proms to be seen and the surface detail is very different to white light ?