paulastro

Good news Steve. I'm not the only one who wondered why this thread seemed to have hit a brick wall of silence .

I like your enthusiasm Paul, it's nice to hear someone with a positive outlook. Over the years I've found that as in most things, what you get out of astronomy is proportional to what you put into it. You're enthusiasm and tenacity will be justly rewarded in the long term .

Thanks Stu, I was very lucky .

Despite a very unfavourable weather forecast, I managed to observe part of the transits of Io and Ganymede and their shadows across Jupiter this morning through gaps and thinner clouds in rather threatening cloud cover and the odd spot of rain in the wind. At about 1.10 am there looked to be a few small mostly clear patches low in the SE. Went out with the SW 72ED and had views from 1.25 am to 2.10 am when the cloud cover finally beat me. I used a Baader Mk111 zoom and Baader x2.25 barow giving x39 to x118. I adjusted the mag as the seeing varied. x118 was really at the top limit for the conditions. Seeing not good but there were some better moments when both shadows were visible at the same time. Ganymede was always easier to see as it was in or near to the NPR while Io was moving along the prominent NEB. The latter bing much darker than the NPR of course. I never saw any of the satellites themselves with any certainty, due in part to the seeing but also as I was only using the 72ED. If I’d known I was going to have had such a long window of opportunity I would have taken the 120ED out – when I went out with the scope I was only expecting to get a few glimpses at the most if I was lucky. Not complaining though, I had some very nice and unexpected views Early on Io was just off the disc and the shadow just on, with Ganymede’s shadow prominent moving toward the CM. I also managed a brief, but nice, view of Saturn at one time further to the E of Jupiter. I was very pleased to have the views I did.

There's a nice animation of this event by Ade Ashford on the Astronomy Now websitet. At least at the present time it looks like I may have a chance to see it weather-wise. I'll be ready and waiting, with everything crossed https://astronomynow.com/2019/05/30/get-ready-for-prime-time-jupiter-and-its-multi-moon-events-in-2019/

Possibly John, though I never look at his section as I'm not very practical and would never see it there. Perhaps another post under Equipment Reviews, perhaps called something like 'Aluminium Cases for Small Telescopes' or something along these lines?

John. These cases seem great value, and would be useful for many small refractors and other scopes. Perhaps it would be useful if you started another thread on one of the forums to alert other people to their availability?

Well Mike, it's not for me to disagree with you 🤣

The proof of the pudding etc. What a lot of suspicious folks you are. Call me old fashioned, but I'd like to think that Daystar are bringing something out that might just be a useful addition to their range. Despite the negativity, there are many who use Quarks to very good effect, and after all, we can all choose not to buy one

Chaz, the 393 dovetail attached to the dovetail with the rings on the scope as mentioned in my last post, just slides along the mount and locks into place with the lever on the mount. In effect the two dovetails bolted together act as a single dovetail with the scope and rings on top. Of course, by sliding the scope through the rings you get even more adjustment options. I hope all this makes some sense !?

Ade, I probably find it much easier to balance than you do because both of the above scopes come with rings. Both scopes dovetails have suitable holes that you can fasten to the 393's dovetail with the supplied bolts than come with the mount - all very compatable.

Below is a pic of my 393 with my SW 72ED, and it handles it very well. In fact I've not bothered to use another mount for it since I first put the 72ED in it to try it out. It also balances well when using my Baader Maxbright binoviewer with a couple of eyepieces. As Ade says the axis can be tightened very securely, but you don't need too much tension when the scope is balanced. This is extremely easy as the Manfrottos own 'dovetail' is several inches long and can smoothly be slid along and locked in position securely using a small lever on the mount - this takes only seconds and is very easy. The fact that the axis tighten well if necessarily means it can be locked in position while you put on a binovoviewer for instance before you rebalance it. The mount will nearly reach the zenith with my 72ED, the forks are about five to six inches deep which is what limits it. Having said that, I can easily adjust one leg of my photo tripod the head is on if I need to reach the zenith, though I haven't needed to very often. I love this mount and for a smallish scope it is truly excellent, having said that I have also used it with my Astro-Tech 102ED on it which is quite a substantial scope. Excellent at low to medium power with this scope, and ok for higher powers too if it's not too windy. I've also added a pic with the Astro Tech 102ED on the 393.

I had an 80 mm Equinox as my G&G for some time, excellent in every way. I now have another G&G which I consider to be in the same ilk, though in a slightly smaller package. My main scope is now a SW 120ED, which in itself is a very portable telescope - I can very easily carry it about on my AZ4 when it's not in the observatory on the Ercole mount. Though, I can't take it everywhere I might want to observe and can't carry it about ready for action easily in one hand. These two factors are two essentials for what I consider to be a truly G&G. They are not the same as everyone's definition of a G&G - but it's quite right we all have our own requirements in this respect. Anyway, back to the plot. My G&G is the SW 72ED on a Manfrotto gimbal-type lens mount (ie a fork!) on a sturdy photographic tripod. I really could take this anywhere, even in a rucksack on a bus if I needed to, and easily as carry on luggage on a plane. It stands all set up ready to go in my 'office' with a 1.25 diagonal and usually with an eyepiece up the spout. I can easily use it with my binoviewer and pairs of orthos. It's easily balanced when used with a heavy load as the Manfrotto head comes with its own version of a dovetail as can be seen in the pic showing the lens. Optically excellent, it's a fabulous telescope, and it will easily pass x150 on the Moon and planets in better conditions. It's nice to know with the vagaries of the Yorkshire weather I can be out whenever there is an unexpected break and make the best of any observing opportunity.

There's nothing new under the sun, if my memory is correct there is an illustration in one of the three Telescope Making Handbooks which is very similar, and they go back a long way! .

Mmm, this setup has an uncanny resemblance to the five inch triplet taken to Kelling last September by Peter Drew - picture below. It's on the mount Peter made for it ages ago, of a similar design. Peter is to the right of the tent.

Well done Steve, it's wonderful to see the ISS shape through a scope isn't it. It was so good, I'm tempted to try this more often. The only slight snag is, I don't know about repeating the feat once in 20 attempts, I'd be surprised if I could do it once in 50 attempts . Mind you, with practice it should be possible to improve the success rate.

Ditto Mark, and I'm sure Mike would be up for it if he's available. Do get in touch if you're ever heading this way, and I'll do likewise if I'm in your neck of the woods. Thanks for your info re the TeleVue. I know they are good, but pricey for me, even used, but I just have the silly idea of matching it up with a AT diagonal to be in-keeping with the scope's appearance. I've actually googled Astro-Tech diagonals and the information I found re the dielectric versions was that they performed well and about their weight so to speak.

Yes, it is a great refractor Mark, as you and Mike both know it's myself that is the current custodian of it - and I expect it will be the last scope I will ever own prior to having to retire from active observing, if that should happen before I fall off my perch . It's the telescope's 11th birthday on April 21st - and the date is on my calendar so I can buy myself it a birthday present . In fact I've been thinking of advertising for an Astro-Tech dielectric diagonal for it. It's funny you should mention the Mercury transit you observed with it, that's exactly what I'm planning to do with it this November 11th! I quite like Mike's idea of you plying me with drink to try and get me to hand it back. If we should meet, please ply me with as much drink as you like, though I can't guarantee you will be successful ? PS Forgot to mention, last night I was using the scope and observing in Gemeni and I saw the ISS coming toward my field of view. Amazingly, I managed to lock onto it (using a 17.5 Morpheus) and managed to keep it place for 10 - 15 seconds, I could see the shape of the ISS including the solar arrays either side of it. Amazing, never done this before - though I've never really previously made an attempt, I had thought about trying it.

I think you should buy the rest of the Morpheus eyepieces to go with the 17.5 you already have Mike. You could then lend them to me for a few years to try them all out .

Your refractor looks very classy on that mount - looking good .

Ah well, I suspect for HA equipment, we must all have to put up with the fact that if it looks too cheap to be true, then it probably is - at least for now?

Gav, how wonderful, I would keep it set up in the lounge so you can admire it - better than TV any time. I wonder if the 160 would fit on my AZ4?

That's what I was trying to say Peter, perhaps not well enough! (.....what they want to see, and how detailed a view they want....) As I said, it depends on the indiviual's requirements. Perhaps I should have put eyesight quality on my list of potential considerations . I seem to remember that one of the great comets of the 19th century was 'discovered' by a whole shift of miners one dawn as they left the diamond mine where they were working. Only naked eye needed for this discovery. Also, the great George Alcock discovered one of his comets using a pair of 10x50 binoculars from the landing on his stairs. Or was this one of his novae?

I've enjoyed reading this topic, lot's of interesting points put forward, not one of them without some merit. Clearly the answer for any individual will be based on all sorts of things, their experience, what they want to see, how detailed a view they want, where they want to observe from, does it need to be portable or transportable etc etc. I think for any individual, the answer will be a combination of the answers to two questions: 'which telescope will I use the most often' and 'which telescope would I keep if I was only allowed one telescope'. There is no minimum aperture which would suit all of us, as we all have an assortment of different requirements. The answer for me is my smallest scope, my SW 72ED. ? If I never had access to any bigger scopes, it would always bring me great observing experiences and I'll remain a happy bunny.

David, I've had both of these and still have the AZ4. Whatever the spec says, the AZ4 is FAR more steady and will take a heavier load. The azimuth slow motion on the AZ5 comes out at such a strange angle from the mount that you will never be able to reach it if you have anything but a short scope - or you have very long arms! True, the AZ4 doesn't have slow motions, but it is smoother to push around, or at least mine is. The AZ5 is prettier, but then looks aren't everything .