Telescope40

Hello. Just home following a few hours at the show. Was also thinking the attendance was a bit low compared to a previous visit I made. Sure will be different tomorrow. Purchased a couple if items and tempted by quite a few more. Good chat with the Rowan team about to motor kit for my AZ100. Should hopefully be a Christmas present for myself. Also got to physically see a TSA 120 in ze flesh. Very nice it is too. Now looking for a darkened room to have a long lie down in. 🤫 John

Hello. Can I ask if the power cable has the car lighter option as standard. I’m looking to use this I’m hoping. Nevada PS-08 6-8A Regulated Linear Power Supply https://www.firstlightoptics.com/power-accessories/nevada-ps-08-6a-8a-regulated-linear-power-supply.html Presume @FLO could confirm in due course Thx John

Quick session with Jupiter just completed. Watched the end of the Ganymede eclipse. Fascinating how the brightness takes a good few minutes to crank itself back up to "full chat" so to speak. John

Hey. Think this thread is going rather well. Good to read the whys and wherefores as to how people have so few OR many 👍👍 John

As I started this I’m really happy my EP collection is somewhat on the low side ?! Louis. I think your collection is rather epic. 👍😎 John

Hello Garry. New scope looks awesome. Sure it will fit the bill for you. Might I ask about the TSA120. I know you have had quite a few, rather nice, refactors over the years. Has the TSA120 ended up out living them all. Does it do practically everything you ask of it. I have a couple of fracs now that I am very happy with but every now and again it crosses my mind to sell up and go for a 120 as my one and only. John

Hello. Unsure if this question has been posed on here before. Just wondering how many bits of glass you may have currently. I'll start. 13. Thought I had more to be honest. Range from a 2nd hand 27mm Panoptic down to a 25mm standard SW plossl ( a pair actually that I use in my BV's ) Are you looking at getting more or is a "cull" in the offing. John

Hello Dave. I was looking forward to giving the transit a go last night. 2nd nite on the bounce for me too. Friday night was nice and steady. A real calm evening. Great views between 9 and 10.30. Last night however everything was turning to jelly. Not even getting a couple of seconds of steadiness. Could not make out the GRS or transit. Good that your session bore some fruit for you. Such is astronomy. John

Whoops. Would help huh. The Evostar. Just brighter and clearer. 4mm Nirvana EP at 300x. Some binoviewing included on both scopes. Very steady. The180 in its defence was great. I’d made sure it had cooled nicely. Please note I am no expert - just say what you see - LOL. Was a pretty good evening compared with the night before. Moon out of the way for a while helped.

Hello. Bit of a shootout last night between my SW Evostar 150 ED and SW Skymax 180 Mak. Targets Jupiter and Saturn. Nicely caught a shadow transit for good measure. (That’s Jupiter in the background) Lovely session - it had been a while as life got in the way. John

Looking forward to looking thru this thread. Fraid I am a "lesser mortal " as a Tak is not in ownership and never has been. SW and Stellarvue ATM. Always nice to look at kit of all types. Thought crosses my mind here and there. Sell the 3 scopes I have and go Tak. TSA 120 seems like a nice number?? LOL Time will tell. One day maybe. John

Hello. Many thanks for the info. I have options now. Was somewhat baffled with all the adaptors made by Baader. 👍👍 John

Hello all. Got myself a Baader 2in diagonal a little while back. Quite happy with it but I seem to have found the light path is a little longer than a Meade 2 in diagonal I also own. Anyhow. I'm looking to add directly my Maxbright II BV's to the diagonal as am stuggling with in focus ?? Pretty sure Baader do an option. The clicklock may well need to be removed - carefully ! Been on the Baader website but cannot for the life of me pin down what I may need. Anybody on here done this so far. A couple of pictures added to help. TIA. John Mods. If I’m wrong area please move if required. 🤔

Hello. Via ABS website. Baader Skysurfer V RDF. Great condition. Already had one. Why not have two - for each of my refractors. nicely sat now on my Stellarvue 102 ED Thx John

Evenin all. Just seen a Facebook update from the guys at Rowan. They confirm all the testing of the tracking system has now been passed. Website soon to have pre order details. My c card has already done a runner on me ??!! 🤣🤣££££££. 🤔🤔👀👀 John

Hello all. Finally decided to give the planetary line up a go last night. Been meaning to try for a while now - my bed was always winning out. First real session at my new house / garden - has a very nice southerly aspect. Sure will be getting me out more and more again compared with the last garden. Watched Macca at Glastonbury and stayed away from my bed. Out about 2 am which in hindsight was a bit early. Scattered clouds and rather windy but seemed a good sky. . Used my Stellarvue 102 with my Maxbright 2's on driven GP mount. Saturn was looking good as was carrying a bit of height. 2/3 moons visible. Loved the ring aspect ATM. Took my time with about 30 mins of observing. Jupiter next. Big and bright. Seems like ages since I took in his view. However was rather disappointing. Really struggling with focus. Have to put down to the wind and low altitude. Persevered for about 20 mins. Bands flitting in and out. Moons nicely spread. Looked to try and stay out till Mars and the Moon showed up but I baled shortly after. Note to self. It might be June but a warm fleece and cold shorts not up to the job at 3 am with the darned wind whipping about. Happy enough that I made the attempt. Roll on this years oppositions. John

Hello. A nice Baader 2in diagonal courtesy of @Franklin Fancied having one for a while now. Thx. John

I had a visit to the seller back in October. I bought a very nice Vixen GP mount and tripod, with drives, from him. Your scope was in his kitchen. I believe my mount may have carried your OTA at some point. Not surprised the Tak has gone forward. I am now heading for the cupboard under the stairs after those last few words. Regards John

From the Wigan area per chance ?? Enjoy. John

It’s crossed my mind Jeremy but I only have one 2 in EP - TV 27 Pan. It’s big enough to stand up on its own. 🤣🤣

After much agonising as my woodwork skills ain’t exactly a science, I decided to take a drill bit to my BB tray. Deep breath and hit the trigger John ???!!!!!! Turned out pretty well. Just have a 2nd one to do now. It’s hiding in the garage and I don’t blame it. Think my Dad who was good with anything wood, would be happy too. John

Hello. Similar view that I had about 4.30 this afternoon. Seeing poor but the group seems very promising for this coming week. John

Mr Sun rather busy ATM 👍👍👍

John. I didn’t really take a long look tbh. I’m not in the market for one as I have a SW extension in my arsenal. I was a bit transfixed by the goto as I’m looking to add to my AZ over the next few months. John

Hello. Saw the goto fitted and running at PAS earlier today. Looks smart and an easy upgrade. runs silent from what I saw / heard or didn’t hear. Credit card is bracing itself. Had a good chat to the team. All sounded good. Should be available soon. John