Telescope40

52 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

Perhaps the question should be the other way around ?

Correct. I have a 5in frac BTW 👍

4 hours ago, Alan White said:

I can see a certain parallels here, 
Your named John, You Model make and
Have a Handle thing going one..... Sounds a familiar tale for one late of this parish (RIP John in Derby).
Oh and your oop North to me.

Telescope40 aka JohnOopNorth 🤣

 

Sorry, I will go take my medication.


 

Alan. Very flattered being mentioned in the same phrase as @johninderby

Sanity confirms while John was premier league when it came to his help and knowledge, I am definitely more NorthernPremier league. 
Had many dealings with John. Always a pleasure with his knowledge, patience and time freely given to us lesser Astro mortals. 
Miss his posts and updates. Pretty sure a comment would have come against my latest “handle” post. 
 

John 

Hello. Postman delivered yesterday. I'd been looking for a nice handle to go with my Tak clamshell on my FS128. Saw an advert from Steve @Saganite for a Vixen handle in white. Snapped it up. So glad I did. 

Found that the allen bolt that came with it was approx 7/8 mm too short. No problem. Was able to sort a suitable bolt/washer/nut combo from the shed. 

Paint job commenced. I like to do airplane model kits. Always have done since being a kid. Similar to my astro hobby. Anyhow, checked my paint pot supplies and came across a Revell, Aqua Color pot containing "Himmelblau" colour (Sky,matt) No 59.  Had been used as part of a paint job for a Messerschmitt BF109E version Circa 1940. A great match to the Tak Green (Mint) paint colour. Photos don’t quite show how good - weird ?? 

Really pleased with the result and a nice match up of Takahashi / Vixen kit.       John 

Finally. Caught up  with Comet Pons-Brooks last night with my Canon 10x30 IS binos last night. Much easier than I was thinking. Happy camper. 🙂😃  John  

“You’re gonna need a bigger tub of fluid !!”

😂😂😂. John 

Steve @Saganite  V V nice set up for sure. I do like the “ bling” if I’m honest. Had some nice Primaluce rings etc on a SW ED 150 I had a while back. Looked fab !! 
I can’t quite convince myself my FS128 would benefit from some red accents. 
Enjoy the views. As already noted. A report would be a great read. 
John 

My tuppence worth. Can’t see a price mentioned by the OP, so think I’d go the 120. 
John 

2 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

Well Tomorrow's the big day. I wonder who's chickened out?

Don't forget to set your alarm's!

 

 

Mike. Not me but my wallet did. Probably be up for the IAS in Sept ?? 
Enjoy yourself and anyone else who is attending 

John 

HHMM    Quite a question. Here goes - no particular order - 

OO 10 in reflector 

Celestron ED80

Celestron ED100

Borg 100 achro

Stellarvue 102

Skywatcher 200p

Meade LX90 10 inch SCT

Orion ST80

Skywatcher ED150 

Celestron C9.25 ( to @JeremyS ) 👍

Meade ED127 

Skywatcher 180 mak 

A much shorter list than I imagined. Dependent on memory cells which are on the decrease.    John 

Hello all. Bit late in an update here. Had this Meade LXD55 8 in SCT since early Feb. Full disclosure. No postman involved as I went and picked it up. No first light as yet. I'm not gonna comment re that subject.

Fancied a 2nd scope as about 15 years back I had a 10 in LX90 ( full fork setup) which I still have fond memories of. Only sold as my house at the time required a full carry up and down a set of stairs of the unit before attachment to the tripod. Gave great views but I know Meade as a brand aren't everyone's cuppa. 

Anyhow. Optics look nice and clean. Few cosmetic marks and a ding here and there but hey. Had to have a white one due to OCD so the LX versions were ruled out. Serial number 848490 with a metal Meade serial number plate showing Irvine, California. I'm assuming it's vintage by now 😀 Looks neat on my Rowan alongside the Tak. 

Been reading with interest a few threads about owning more than 1 scope. As I have a TAK FS 128 I was more than contented but hey, live a little John, get yourself a second one. Also came with a Meade  1209 microfocuser thrown in.  Winner all round I think once I get to use it.   Thx for reading if you've got this far. 

Clear skies - DOHHHHHH !!     John  

2 hours ago, dweller25 said:

Hello John,

Are you saying the ED150 was a little better than the FS128 or vice-a-versa ?

Hello Dave. FS128 somewhat better. Not by much though. 
Salmon colour of the GRS better with the Tak 👍👍

John 

15 hours ago, Flame Nebula said:

Hi, everyone's opinion is appreciated. 😀 The more opinions, the better the decision may be ( unless all the opinions are factually incorrect of course, but I'm not talking to people who believe in faked moon landings, flat earth etc.... 😆). 

The path I'm taking is designed to leave the option of adding a (6-8 ") newt to the az-eq6 or if the fever kicks in later on, a 12"f5 newt. I think the latter would only happen, if I ran out of doubles and fuzzies with smaller scopes. 🤣 I have read some mouth watering reports about 12" dobs though......

 

Hello. +1 for the ED150. Early scopes had delivery issues re poor packaging!! 
Mine was a nice, spot on OTA. Big but nice. Had some great sessions with it. Views not far away from my Tak 128. 
 

HTH. JOHN 

1 hour ago, plyscope said:

 

Here it is, sadly on the table and not on the mount. I will try and get better pics when I get to use it.

 

That looks rather nice !! Somewhat tempted for my FS128. Nothing wrong with my current clamshell, but ???? 
I should never have looked should I 🤔🤔🤔

John 

17 hours ago, plyscope said:

Received a new K-Astec ring set from Japan. 

 

This one weighs only 1.53kg complete, compared to 2.85kg for the original.

 

A nice birthday present for my FS152 which is 20 years old this year. 🙂 

 

They look the business. Sure Mr JohninDerby would have been impressed !! 
John 

Steady as she goes there @mikeDnight👍👍

15 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

I'd be happy to do a free finder respray John, if anyone's brave or daft enough to let me loose on their precious Tak finder. 

Mike. I may take u up on that offer at some point. My Tak finder has few “nicks” on it. Nothing major but my OCD doesn’t help. 
Any attempt by yours truly re a respray would not have such a positive outcome 😂😂

John

3 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

A slightly battle scarred 50mm Takahashi Finderscope arrived at my Tak Hospital this morning, complete with Tak Green finder bracket. 

Now, after some delicate surgery, which required dismantling, a little fine sanding, protecting the Made In Japan sticker, then respraying the finder tube. After which the green finder stalk was given a Tak Blue makeover and placed in recovery.

And finally after only a few hours, in pride of place on its new telescope companion.

Daylight pic's to follow eventually, probably on a different thread.

Very nice job, Mike. Do you do any subcontracting ?? 😂😂

John 

14 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

 Hi John,

 When my scopes are on an equatorial mount, I situate the finder directly opposite the counterweight arm. That way the finder never finds itself under the tube where it can't be reached comfortably.

 As for the angle of the binoviewer, In my observatory I'll often observe from a seated position using a hydraulic swivel chair, so I angle the viewer for comfort, the angle of which changes as the position of the scope alters. Observing from a comfortable position helps me concentrate on whatever I'm looking at. I can also nod-off at the eyepiece without falling over.😴😴

Hello Mike. Appreciate your explanation and I quite agree with every word.  I've got to the point where being comfortable while observing lies just behind the sky condtions.

I got myself a Nadira observing chair a couple of years back and can reliably confirm it transformed my sessions. Think it was well worth the expense and upgraded my viewing experience rather more than a couple of the black and green eyepieces that everyone raves about.   

Regards    John 

4 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

I never used a binoviewer on the scope in the pic. It was a FS152 and the pic was taken around 2007, a couple of years before my introduction to binoviewer's. I'd probably expect to remove the 2" extension on the FS152 if I had a binoviewer back then.

I regularly use binoviewers on both my FS128 and FC100DZ. 

FS128 with Binoviewer.

FC100DZ with 1.6X extender-Q and binoviewer.

Hello @mikeDnighta d with apologies for the thread diversion. 
Somewhat intrigued by your photos of the binoviewers and FS128. The scope tube being used “inverted” and the BV’s sat off to one side. Personal preference??  Keep the Finderscope out of reach of your bonce ?? 
I tend to look directly down the scope using the “traditional viewing pose”. Each to your own, obviously 👍
 

John 

2 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Lovely Mike..

That mount looks as if it was made for that Tak!👍

Dave

Dave. Made for a Vixen 115 too.  Just saying  🤣

John 

8 minutes ago, Alan White said:

 

He is making a quad scope obviously, just two more to find now….

My FS128 ain’t available for such a project 😂😂😂😂

John 

Dave. This has been a great read. The Vixen has already hit the mark with you, if I may be so bold. 
As others have said I’m looking forward to your adventures with “Superfox”. 
 I’m immediately thinking it will be giving you as much viewing pleasure as you got from the Tak and maybe more so given your reasons for your very measured change of kit. 

BTW - my 128 is staying put with me and I’m still grateful for  your help when I was looking to become its custodian. 
John 

Hello all.  Thought it might be a bit of wheez and might help get this sometimes frustrating hobby of ours into perspective given the wonderful weather we have here in the British Isles.  Please note that overseas contributions are more than welcome and may add a different point of view / flavour but no gloating, please. 🤣 

We all have wonderful gear that sometimes gets underused and this can drive us all at times to a state of apathy.  The thread may turn into a bit of a monster so apologies to the  Mods / admin if a version 2 is needed by tomorrow. 🤣   Here we go as I am now keeping a log of time under clear skies  !!   

Days in the month -January - 31

Clear nights - 6 

Sessions - 4 

Might be just me but I'm thinking January 2024 went rather well in comparison to the whole of 2023.        John 

1 hour ago, Saganite said:

This Lyra Optic 102mm f11 was collected a week ago but had first light last night.  

Steve @Saganite   That setup looks the business. 👍👍👍

John

I do know a bunch of guys who may / are able to help if required 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

John