paulastro

Well done Stu, I'm delighted you managed to see it .

Thanks John. In fact this is the one and only positive comment I actually remember reading about the scope. In part it stuck in my mind as the writer is well within traveling distance to me and I did think of getting in touch and asking if I could visit and try it out. I never did as I thought it would be a bit cheeky . It was nice to read it again, and having read the review that johninderby posted the link to (as well as your own comments of course) I must admit if I had the readies I might be tempted If it was 'only' as good as a 6 inch version of my 120ED then it would be worthwhile. It would never replace the 120ED as this scope is so light and portable as you know, but they would make a smashing duo 🤪

Thanks for posting that review John, that should boost the sales of the 150 I am happy with my 120ED I am happy with my 120ED I am happy with my 120ED I am happy with my 120ED............ no, honestly, I am happy with it............🥴

Thanks Pete. I have to say though that to me SGL members are generally helpful and generous in their comments toward other peoples opinions, reviews and observations. I can't remember reading many 'sneering' comments about other members more humble equipment amd observations. In fact many members do very well using less expensive equipment. Good observers/imagers are found using all manner of equipment.

Am I the only person wondering why it's all gone so quiet regarding this telescope? Since the original problems with this scope with packaging and other difficulties (I'm assuming anyone reading this has read comments John made when he had one to review from FLO) it seems as if there is a conspiracy of silence. For a telescope widely agreed to be ' this year's most anticipated new telescope! ' this is rather surprising. Of course, I'm not really suggesting there is a conspiracy, but I am curious. OK, there has been a S@N magazine review of sorts, but I can't remember any observation made with this telescope mentioned on SGL or any images taken through it posted on SGL - if there are they must be very few and far between. Assuming some have actually been bought, I would have expected someone by now would have posted on SGL how pleased they were with their new purchase, or at least seen pictures of it when it arrived in the post! Likewise no new purchaser has yet added a review or passed any comment on the relevant page on FLO's web page. I have a few theories: 1 No member of SGL has bought one. 2 Some have been sold to SGL members, but everyone found they performed so badly that they feel too embarrassed to mention they have even bought one. 3 Some have been sold to SGL members, and they perfromed so well that the lucky owners want to keep it secret and don't want anyone else to know. (you big meanies !!) 4 Hundreds have been sold to non-SGL members and none sold to SGL members. 5 I'm just not been looking in the right places on SGL so have never come across the numerous comments and observations made with this scope on SGL 6 The performance of the scope is, well, what you'd expect. That is, it is a slightly better performer than the 120ED Pro version than many of us on SGL own and use and are very happy with. I guess, the answer is either a mixture of the above, or something very different! At any rate, I'm still curious how it seems to have gone from hero to zero in the 'talked about' stakes. I would add I am aware there are posts on SGL's distant cousin site over the pond, but I'm interested in why it seems so anonymous this side of the pond.

Mmm, just looked at Accuweather for Oakworth tonight : Looking Ahead Showers and thunderstorms around late on Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening: storms could cause flash flooding. 😱 Yes, it's 100% cloudy so they could be right . I hope it's clear for someone out there. If it is and someone manages to get a pic, it would be nice to see it posted up here.

The first time I went to visit Fullerscopes Dud's premises were located in Golders Green. I think I was 11-14 years old which would mean it was around 1966 to 1969. I'd owned a 6 inch 'utility' (basically unpainted) f8 reflector on a Mk 1 mount (not recommended but it was all I could afford) for some months, and only had one 1 inch Ramsden eyepiece and no finder! By the time I left Dud's workshop I had a rather 'utility' finder as well 😊.

As above, only ten minutes after sunset, but need to allow time to locate it in a fairly bright sky. Below is a link for August Jupiter phenomena from Ade Ashford, there is an excellent illustration of Saturday evenings event - well worth the effort. https://astronomynow.com/2019/07/31/more-jupiter-events-to-enjoy-in-august-2019/ Good luck!!

Popped into Works today, and took the following pics: I had bought the Saturn V and the Rod Pyle books before I started this thread - both bargains also at £6 and £5 resprectively. Also, I would like to state that I am not employed by Works, nor do I own any shares in the company!! 😄

Nice bit of kit. Makes me want to buy a dob. 😁 - johninderby John - I don't think I'd go that far!! 😱

Out at 3.20 this morning after having seen a lovely bright waning crescent Moon through an upstairs window. By the time I was downstairs it was pouring with rain, but I waited a few minutes and managed to get a few pics, though and in and out of cloud. I wouldn't have bothered but Copernicus was right on the terminator , the rim lit up but the interior completely black, very spectacular. Likewise in the south Wilhelm and Longomantus (separated by Montanari which was partly illuminated) were also only lit by their outer walls. Alas I only had a total of 33 mts with the Moon in and out of thick rain clouds before I gave up, never havind had the chance to use my binoviewer. While I was set up with the 120ED on the AZ4 with the Olympus E-M5 Mk11 at prime focus, it actually rained a bit and two rather close flashes of lightening illuminated the whole scene. The whole Moon shot was cropped to show Copernicus, and the photo of the southern highlands is a crop from another photo. The seeing was rather poor and variable so no single picture was sharp across the whole Moon. Whole Moon pic taken at 3.24am, 1/200 of a second at 800 asa.

Many thanks Chris. Thinking of putting the alarm on and trying again Friday morning, At 4am the Moon will be 27 degrees altitude up here - but there could still be thundery showers about,. I'm setting the alarm for 3am, but not sure if I'll get up 🌘.

Put alarm on at 2am, out observing 2.20am to 3.35am. Excellent views at first, surprising good for such a warm night, excellent in binoviewer at x150 with 24mm Orthos. Started to get thick hazy clouds interrupting later which really affected the image. There was also a lot of moisture in the end, the outside of the scope was awash with moisture by the time I got in. Still some excellent views early as I said, and very enjoyable. Also managed to take some snaps, using the SW 120ED. The pic below is a single frame, Olympus E-M5 Mk 11 giving an effective focal length of 1800mm, 1/400 sec, 400 asa. I've cropped the image to highlight some of the best features. Not as good as the views visually of course, but ok to show what was on offer. Mount used, push-pull AZ4.

There's a chance to observe the last quarter Moon in the early hours tomorrow morning - Thursday. It's forecast to be clear over most of the country, and the temperatures here up north a nice cool 16 degrees C. May as well get up and observe if you're indoors laying away in the sticky heat! At 2.05 am the Lunar altitude is 13.5 degrees, at 03.00 it's 22, at 04.00 it's 30 degrees. Dawn is at 04.23 when the Moon's altitude is 32.5 degrees. Of course if you in the south you will gain another 3 degrees or so depending where you live.

John, many years ago I owned one of the Meade 7 inch Maks, and a friend of mine also had one for some time. As I said, it was a long time ago, but I remember thinking the optics were good also, though it was too long ago for me to make a comparison to more modern incarnations. I also remember it was very heavy, and not unusually took a long time to cool time. I seem to remember that it had a weight at one end of it to aid with the scopes balance some how. Generally in modern incarnations I think the various 127mm models are rather good, great for the roving planetary and lunar observer.

John, inspired by the fact you ordered yours on line, I persevered (I hate ordering things on line!) and ordered a copy of Apollo 11 for collection from my local store, many thanks.

Blimey John that is a great double. I'm very jealous though as I haven't got a copy of the Apollo 11 one - I've been looking out for it in works for a couple of years. I may have to buy it full price if I can't get it by the 75th anniversary! 🥴

That's great heliumstar. On its' own your response has made the effort in posting the thread worthwhile, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 👍

Agree with all the positive points folks make about Maksutovs, particularly for lunar and planetary observing. For me, it is evident after using many telescopes over a long period of time that the 'big three' in respect of planetary performance, with the best being first are as follows. (that is comparing same aperture scopes) 1 Apochromatic refractor. 2 Maksutov-Newtonian. 3 Maksutov. For visual observing, this is a gimee as far as I'm concerned. As pointed out by others, on any given night in first class seeing (very rare) a larger aperture of other configurations of first class optical quality may be a better choice. However, it is far, far more often that a smaller aperture scope from 'the big three' will outperform larger scopes of other optical systems. The main work horses up at The Astronomy Centre (Todmorden) are two 16 inch SCs, and for the multi uses the scopes are used for this is not surprising. It is still often the case though that a 4 inch apo (or more) will give the better view of the Moon and planets. I'm sure Peter remembers years ago when we took a 16inch SC to Kelling when Mars was favourably place and it gave superb views of Mars, in fact I will readily admit that in the excellent conditions we had that morning - it was the best view of Mars I have ever had. Likewise, many many years ago I had the best view of Saturn I have ever had using an 8.5 inch f6.3 (I think) Newtonian with top grade optics by David Hinds. Having said this, to me these are exception that proves the rule. It's not for nothing that people using other optical systems sometimes state that on a particular night when their telescope performed particularly well that the images were 'apo or refractor like'. Now I just have to hope Peter will allow me to visit TAC still ! 😱

Staff - not sure if I should have put this in another category, please feel free to re-locate it.

This book is available now in some branches of Works, at any rate it's in the Keighley store. I have many of the Haynes Space/Astronomy series of Haynes Manuals I have bought at a bargain price at Works and this is a good one, if you have any interest in the Moon and Apollo go and get it before they sell out. This one is a good one and one I have been hoping for some time they would stock, didn't want to pay £22! Link to Amazon below so you can read more about it. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moon-Manual-Owners-Workshop-Haynes/dp/0857338269/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=moon+haynes+manual&qid=1563873261&s=books&sr=1-3

I set up the 120ED around 10pm ready to make the most of the historical anniversary. Like others I had problem with cloud early on, out at 1.45am and was only having glimpses of the Moon, mostly through cloud. Like others I took some 'panic snaps' as the omens were ominous. It was reasonably clear by about 3.00 to about 3.30 am but with even more ominous cloud approaching from the W, By 3.50 cloud was intruding on the Moon. I managed five pics while it was 3.56, so at least I had something at the actual time Aldring steppd on the Moon. I also had some good views at x150 with my binoviewer early on and had some nice views, though not good enough to be certain I had seen any of the three craters named after the astronauts. Easy enough to pinpoint the site of the landing though and reflect on all that unfolded there fifty year ago. Also took the odd moment to look the Apollo 17 landing site which was also very favourable. The first pic below was the best of the 5 that I took at 3.56am, through bits of cloud which affected the image, still pleased to have it though. The second one was taken 3.47am when the sky was somewhat clearer. Both taken at prime focus with the SW !20ED and my Olympus E-M5 Mk11. Overall, very pleased, some nice views and photos to commemorate the anniversary. I will probably re-visit some of the other landing sites when they are favourably placed.

Thanks Mark. I think the latest is a new edition of the one I have on my laptop. It doesn't look as if there is an app version. It's brightened here so I'm starting to think it really will be clear!

You're welcome Mark. Yes the weather looks fairly optimistic for most of England later on. I'm glad I know the forecast, as looking out of the window you'd never think it was going to clear. I suppose because you hadn't been married long, that time must bring all sorts of memories back. Is the Moon Virual Atlas an app? I have a version of it on my laptop and I had also done the same thing you did (except image reversed as I will probably use a diagonal on the 120ED, though I do have reasonable good quality 2 inch erecting prism). Your version is quite different to mine, whilst yours is photographic, mine is based on a map, I prefer your version. If it's an app I might take a look at it. I've also took a pic of the landing site on my phone from Rukl's Atlas which is more detailed. Clear skies for tomorrow morning Mark, we should both get a view with a little luck. Paul

Thanks Dave. Actually the Apollo 17 landing site is well placed for observations as well, folks may want to take a look also - it's an interesting area to explore. Though not at exactly 3.56 am (BST ) which should be reserved for Apollo 11 tomorrow morning of course.