Telescope40

Steady guys. @F15Rules @JeremyS No handles in the offing. Don’t want to go down that wormhole, thank you 😂😂 Any attempt from my point of view will ruin its pristine look. I already have a handle on the clamshell. It helps nicely when mounting my AZ100. John.

Hello. A couple of pieces of Takahashi gear recieved over the last week for my FS128. I think I am done as I am considering it is now back as stock. New objective dust cover. The original "dustbin" design was missing when I bought the scope. This is actually for a TOA 130 N. Sourced from Takahashi Europe with some help from FLO. It's in Tak green and is an excellent fit too !! Also a Takahashi finderscope Reticle illuminator. Had a generic one fitted but felt I had to " finish the job" so to speak. Silly / bonkers amount of money for what is it I guess but hey. Sourced from RVO. John

Stu. That explains me seeing this pair more than once, as I’d seen a post from Dave @F15Rules showing he’d acquired a pair as well. 😁😁

Stu. Very nice. Fancy a pair of these for my BV’s. Any particular source or just a wanted ad ?? Thx. John

Great info. Think this report may have tipped the balance and this EP is now on my radar for my EP collection. Thx. John

Sorry @IB20but I’m really struggling with “ amazing cloud formations “ Any cloud after dark is a pain in the you know where or maybe I’m just being a bit of a grump. Probably the latter ??!! 🤔🤔🤔 John

Very nice !! Proper finder too 😂😂 Regards. John

Just had a quick 20 min session with my Canon IS 10x30’s. Other duties got ahead of me today. Main target comet C/2022 E3 ZTF. After a little panning around under a line between Mizar and Pherkad (y Ursa Minor), I’m chuffed to say - I got im, sir. Looked rather good. John. 👍👍

Dave. Great stuff you being able to get hold of a pair of these. Superb piece of kit. Found them to be spot on with my Tak. Sorry to hear your other news. Thoughts are with you at this sad time. Regards John

Hello @jock1958 Akready splashed out on a Tak MEF 3 focuser unit before Xmas, so that is sorted. Only one thing left to add really - an original Tak reticle illuminator for the Finderscope. RVO have them but a lot of dosh for what it is. Nothing wrong with the one that’s fitted ATM. At some point the wallet may allow it as a pure indulgence!!! John

Hello. Couple of deliveries for my 7x50 Finderscope on my Tak 128. Set of dust caps from FLO and a Takahashi FQR-1 quick release bracket from ENS Optical. Think I’m done for now on the kit front. Look to use it all as much as possible now. Clear skies all John

I sympathise. Till this comet is in the evening sky at a more reasonable time, it ain’t happenin. Lazy astronomer. I can’t do middle night / early morning session’s. Just not happening - me bad John

Hello. Quick session completed just before teatime. Set up FS 128 just about sunset time. All of 40 minutes. Jupiter. Seeing was rather "in and out" but good in the nice moments. Caught the Io shadow transit and Ganymede transit. Good to note the shadow of Io was very much darker that Ganymede - expected I guess. Also Io just finishing a transit as well. Nice view as it came off the limb. Multitude of band detail. Looks like Jupe has a rather wide scarf wrapped around his midriff ATM 🙂 No time for Mars. may try again later but the seeing may be an issue for any views worth fighting for. John

Cloud 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

Steve. The Tak is just awesome. Couple of additions for it in the post ATM. Will be nice add ons. Hopefully ?! 👍 John

Hello all. What a great night at last. Went for a double session earlier. 5pm till 6 pm chasing Jupiter and Mars. Jupiter giving a great display with the GRS on or about meridian. Mars was good also showing some great features. Tried a couple of new to me coloured filters. Definitely helped tease out a bit more detail. Quick gander at Uranus and Neptune. Break for some teatime. Back out about 7.30. Still not a cloud to be seen. Fired up Sky safari using my Rowan mount. Nice to have it tracking these days. A few doubles me thinks. Usual suspects - Castor, Altinak, Mintaka and Rigel. New one for me - Wasat in Gemini !! Mizar and Polaris. Messier time - M36 M37 M38 - always all three of these. M50, M41, M35, M48. M81/82 looking real good. A real good haul in about 2 hours. The usual suspects but nice to get re acquainted. Torn between enjoying the views or chasing new stuff. Went old favourites. Only baled as the feet were beginning to cry out. Did anyone mention it's a wee bit nippy. Best session for a very long time. John

RIP John. He will be missed. Interacted with him on a number of occasions and I was all the better for it. Knew his hobby thru and thru. Very sad news indeed. John

Hello. Nice set of 7 filters via Flea of the Bay. Antares - Seem to be well manufactured. Never had any as part of my armory for planetary. Been reading a few good posts on the subject of late. Hoping will give me a hand in being happy at last with my observations of Mars with my Tak. John

Hello. Very similar in Mancland this afternoon. Out about 4.30. Very steady as noted. Saw Ganymede occultation, a vivid GRS and had fun trying for Plato craterlets. Got 2 for sure. Mars was definitely worth a look. Could be my best Mars session of the last month. John

Couple of arrivals today. Baader diagonal. I have 2 now. One permanently attached to my Maxbright binoviewers and this one for cyclops. Baader clicklock eyepiece clamp arrived too - great timing. john

Maybe not !!?? I'm not helping. Apologies. John

Hi. The review from Roger Vine will not help matters - just kidding !! 🤣🤣 John

Great scope. Congratulations You will be gettinglots of “assistance “ as regards “options” for a Tak. Not sure where to start. Brace yourself. 🤣🤣👍👍

Jock. That’s great. Didn’t realise Baader do a 1.25 in clicklock that fits this diagonal. He heads for the FLO website 🤣🤣££

A quick lock on the eyepiece side ?? Please tell me more 👍 John