Nicola Fletcher

What a great photo - thank you for posting it!

I’ve been popping outside on semi-clear nights, that aren’t clear enough to justify setting up a scope, with my new binoculars and I didn’t quite believe the extent of Andromeda that my eyes were telling me is there. This has properly convinced me that it it really is that big!

It’s been really nice reading everybody’s stories - thank you for resurrecting this great thread!

30 years ago, when I was 12, my parents moved to a small farm in the Wicklow mountains in Ireland. The night sky was incredible (and still is), so many stars it was overwhelming. About 10 years later, my uncle bought a 10” Meade LX200 from a retired university professor and I couldn’t believe anyone could own something so amazing. A few years after that, I asked him if I could borrow the telescope and he said I could, as long as I promised never to give it back! It turned out, it was too big for him and so I brought it to Wicklow. It was fantastic to own it although I didn’t have a clue what I was doing and it was far too big for me. I eventually got a 5” Mak and really enjoyed using that - I learned a lot and travelled many places with it. 

What a beautiful image!

9 hours ago, Gfamily said:

According to a tweet from Mark McCaughrean  (@markmccaughrean), the rain wasn't a particular problem, but the wind direction would have been.

A northerly wind on Friday meant it wouldn't be safe to launch then, but the direction is due to change by Saturday.

Mark McCaughrean is the Senior Advisor for Science & Exploration at ESA; well worth following if you're on Twitter, and a great speaker if you ever get s chance to hear him. 

That sounds like good news- really hoping for a safe launch on Saturday! 
I’ll follow Mark McCaughrean now 😊

Weather doesn’t look much better on Saturday- still, better to postpone as they only get one chance at this!

I had this scope for about ten years and loved it - I still miss it!

I bought a set of BST Starguiders and the Baader Hyperion Zoom - these were great and I use them in my refractors now so they were good for future telescopes too.

I did find that the tripod was quite wobbly, but setting the telescope up on a lawn really helped with the shakiness. 

Apart from the eyepieces, I didn’t make any further upgrades to the setup. It was great fun to use and I found the optics great. I hope you enjoy it!

Welcome! I hope you get lots of enjoyment from SGL!

I'd also go for the Tak, but perhaps consider the FC76-DCU as suggested by Jeremy. It screws in half so can fit in the smallest travel bag, and I think is more portable if you ever want to fly with it. 

As @MalcolmM says, getting the FS60Q, and later the FC76 objective upgrade, is an option and would give you the flexibility of the FS60 plus the 76.

When deliberating my options for a very portable setup, I read http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2017/03/12/takahashi-fc-76-dcu-review/ and his other reviews and this was what helped me make my final decision to go for the FC76-DCU. I don't regret it!

1 minute ago, F15Rules said:

Thanks Nicola🤗..

I named the scope firstly for the character in the Matrix Trilogy, which I love, and also for my Christian faith, which is important to me..

When I was much younger I could never have imagined owning such a scope, and everyone I use the Tak she brings a smile to my face😊👍.

Dave

I immediately thought of the Matrix 😊

My little FC76-DCU brings a smile to my face whether I’m looking at it or through it - I can’t believe I own it still. Must think of a name now!

17 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

"Trinity", my Tak FS128, hoping to get a rare outing this evening

It’s an absolute picture - what a fabulous scope. Love the name too!

On 20/11/2021 at 18:22, JeremyS said:

I might go my my Tak FC 76DCU as it is so convenient for travel in that it splits into two so I can carry in a backpack. Consequently it’s traveled all round the world with me, allowing me superb views from unusual locations when I might not otherwise have had them.

For me, so far, it has been my Tak FC-76 DCU as well. It’s not as well travelled as yours but it has been to a public observing event and has been on holiday to Bortle 3 sites. It’s an absolute delight to use and the views through it are fantastic. It’s equally good on a Giro Ercole Mini and a GoTo mount. 

Looks like a beautiful classic setup Mike!

It wasn’t a great night for it but I got a quick look at Jupiter with my new AZ-EQ5 and not-so-new Starwave 102 ED-R.

On 17/11/2021 at 00:19, Captain Magenta said:

@Nicola Fletcher did you just roll up on a whim or did you have to book? I'm 3.5 hours drive away and fancy a visit! I hadn't realized it was so close.

Magnus

I booked because I wasn’t sure whether I’d need to, and didn’t want to be turned away when I got there. There was actually no need to book and lots of availability when I got there. I’d say you would be safe enough to just turn up!

Definitely not - I’ve been infected with a severe variant of Takahashi-itis which I fear will take me a while to cure. 

Welcome to the Lounge!

Im sure you will get some great help and advice - people here are so friendly and willing to help people getting to grips with the hobby. I’m sure you will enjoy it and SGL is a massive reason why I am so obsessed with astronomy.

I went to my first Astronomy Society (Birmingham Astro Society, while I was working in Birmingham, which was excellent) for a while before I bought my first scope. They had an 8” Celestron SCT and I had the opportunity to view various targets through it before buying my own telescope. I had lots of advice but ended up taking the advice of one of the members and buying a 127 Mak on a GoTo mount. I loved it and had it for many years - it came everywhere with me as I moved back and forth between the UK and Ireland. It was super portable and so much fun to use. I’ve since upgraded with help and advice from SGL members and am still really enjoying the hobby. 
 

I know it can be overwhelming when you look at the variety out there and you don’t know what to choose but there are lots of options that will give you many enjoyable nights under the stars. The one thing I have learned is to enjoy choosing equipment as well as enjoy using it. Best of luck!

37 minutes ago, Peter_D said:

Thanks for the photos! I'm originally from Ireland but never visited the castle, it's on my (light) bucket list!

Reading up on the Parson's family, interesting for me to see the Earl's youngest son, Charles, was  inventor of the marine steam turbine, a version that was later fitted to HMS Dreadnought. I had seen the surname before but didn't know they were so closely related.

One of the turbines was on display and there was great information in the museum about the development of the turbines. His designs were also used in the Titanic, Mauritania and Lusitania according to the information boards. I definitely recommend a visit!

45 minutes ago, JOC said:

That report says it was restored.  Is it known if anyone now ever looks through it, i.e. uses it?

I can’t find anything online with details of viewing events. There is an article in an Irish Astronomical Society’s publication that says it has been restored as a museum and tourist attraction rather than a working observatory: http://www.irishastrosoc.org/orbit/articles/irish.htm. It would be interesting to see what the views are like through it.

1 hour ago, fifeskies said:

Google tells me it did have some azimuth adjustment. 1hr only (15 degrees), primarily restricted by the side walls.

That’s interesting- thanks for posting it. I thought its azimuth was fixed but you can see there is room for small azimuth adjustments. 

8 hours ago, tomato said:

Great report and photos. On another thread I nominated this telescope as the worst telescope I could ever own. In no way was it meant to detract from the folk who built and used this monster, it was more a tribute to their commitment, tenacity and dogged determination required to construct, maintain it and actually make observations.

It’s really an incredible construction isn’t it. I’m fascinated that it only moves in altitude - how frustrating if something interesting was just outside its field of view! It’s predecessor was a 35 inch, but I don’t know if it had the same design. I think it’s amazing that the astronomers discovered and recorded so much with it - as you say a testament to their commitment. And an extreme case of aperture fever.

17 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

Wonderful photo's Nicola. I really enjoyed looking at those amazing sketches. What an exciting time of discovery it must have been back in the 1880's, playing with such a powerful instrument. Thanks for posting! 😊

Glad you enjoyed them - it must have been amazing, sitting up there late at night sketching (and wondering how you were going to get down in one piece!). Seeing it up close was a fantastic experience.

I visited the Leviathan at Birr Castle, Ireland, yesterday. I had been hoping to see it for a long time (funny how we are less likely to visit things on our doorstep!) and it didn’t disappoint. 

The great telescope had been restored in the past number of years and looked like it is in working order. Apparently the mirror has been replaced and the wooden stairways and platform system that can raise the observer to the eyepiece looked in very good repair.

The grounds were stunning with the autumn colours and the I-LOFAR low frequency radio telescope was also visible. The Science Centre had a lot of very interesting displays- I’ve posted a few photos including one of the absolutely massive EPs from the telescope. One of the highlights for me was some of the beautiful sketches that had been made at the telescope (reminded me of the fabulous sketches of Mars by @mikeDnight), as well as a sketching box and an old red lantern that was used telescope-side.

I hope you enjoy the photos - Also I hope it’s ok to post this here. I wasn’t sure if History of Astronomy would be a better place.

I thought that was a great episode - I wish it was on more often!

Thank you for posting all these fantastic photos and the description- I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the build and the end result is jaw dropping - I hope you have many happy years in it!

Thank you both very much - I didn’t think I’d be the first one to have this issue. Magnus, I’d really like to take you up on your very generous offer - I’ll PM you now. Thank you!