paulastro

I've enjoyed following this thread, thanks for initiating it Jules. Ah, all this talk about the ED120 is making me feel nostalgic. In the 120ED's two incarnations (three if you include the original 'champagne' coloured variety. it's a scope I've had several of and enjoyed all of them - for the reasons well documented by colleagues already in this thread. Like Peter, I've used most types and sizes over many years - though not quite so many years as Peter . Over the eons I have been drawn to a few scopes that quite irrationally I have developed a deep affection for - and owned more than one of all of them, in one case at least five!! If I had to explain this to anyone, it would take quite some doing . For the record the scope in question, not in particular order are: The SW ED120 of course! Any fluorite doublet four inch refractor. The classic 6 inch f8 Newtonian, including the Dob variety. The Celestron C5+ SC on it's wonderful table top, DC powered, equatorial mount. The Megrez 90 refractor. (FPL 53 double lens) The SW Equinox 80mm - never owned any other versions of this, the Equinox is far more refined . I currently use an Equinox 80 and a Takahashi FC 100 DL and love them both dearly. Would I ever part with either of them, I doubt it, and if I do I hope a close friend takes me to see the men in white coats! Would I ever buy any of the telescopes yet off my list again, ha ha, I'd certainly not rule it out . I'm slightly troubled as Jules' thread has made me have visions of a nice Equinox ED120 with a matching shiny black Moonlite focuser, so thanks for that Jules I would say, I have an advantage in that I can have use of the telescopes up at The Astronomy Centre (Pete's Place) so I don't have to pine over big scopes. Scopes do tend to come and go, but is there anything permanent is this wonderful hobby? For me, there certainly is. All the many wonderful fellow observers I have observed with over the years and indeed still do of course. Yes, some of them are no longer with us, but the memories of all of them, past and present, will be be with me forever.

This is the Takahashi FC 100 DL on my GP mount, the ex-demo version, with 'DEMO' on the label where the serial number usually is. (I think Mike previously posted a pic of this)Interestingly, it also has the wrong writing on the ring around the lens - it's the ring with the focal length and focal ratio of the f7.4 version rather than the f9 version. Perhaps when this one was turned out they hadn't yet produced the ring for the f9 version - or someone put on the wrong one! . The diagonal is the WO 2inch right-way-round 90 degree version which I like to sweep with at low power.

Fabulous photo, who took it?

Doesn't it look nice, and blue skies too in Lancashire!

I quite agree Jules. I've just retrieved mine from a very good friend down south, where I fostered it out for two years. It's nice to have it home.

Thanks for the clarification re the Baader focuser and the Moonlite flange issue Andrew - I was a bit slow on the uptake there for a moment

That looks cool, you should go into production

Andrew, would I be correct in thinking that the Baader Newtonian flange would be more easily available and perhaps cheaper?

Many thanks Andrew, that's very useful. Mind you, orange?! A nice dark metalic red would be nice! I may pluck up the courage and ring FLO and ask the price - likely to be the biggest stumbling block. Mind you, I can always save up! . Thanks again Andrew. Regards, Paul

Andrew, is the Moonlite focuser easily available, and more importantly - is it easy to swap it over with the original focuser? Regards, Paul

Many thanks for your response. Perhaps 50mm as a DS is not considered bright enough by many people, though I've never heard anything along these lines. I would have thought someone might be interested to use it as a stand alone etalon an a small refractor. I don't know if you including a BF with the etalon, but if not this may be putting people off.

Thanks for posting Trazor. I totally agree re your comments on using a binoviewer rather than one eyepiece - it works for me. I haven't seen your ad for the etalon. I just wandered if it was a 50mm or 60mm? I have a 60mm Lunt and DS it with a second 60mm etalon, and use it with my binoviewer with SW 40mm eyepieces. I nearly always use it in this configuration and the 40mm EPs give a nice view, plenty bright enough for me. I occasionally use it with 32mm EPs in good conditions, though it does go a little too dull with the 32xs for my liking - still usable though. Going to 25mm EPs is too dull for me. I would also add that I always use a dark cloth over my head for solar observing as it makes a huge difference in what you can see as you probably already know. Which ioptron cuibe mount is it you are using by the way? Regards, Paul

A good collection there Roberto, it's good to see you're getting some use out of your Questar.

Nice setup Tom, that's my sort of astronomy.

A lovely collection of Solar goodies there Michael. I'm extremely jealous of your lovely garden!

Thanks John, I thought that might be what it was. I had one some years ago and sold it to a friend - shame! As you say, a great scope and you don't see many of them about at all.

That's a nice setup John, which Vixen refractor is it?

I'm hoping this topic hasn't already been posted elsewhere or I'll feel pretty foolish!! I enjoy looking at (and through of course!) what other setups people are using for their solar observing so perhaps people would like to share images of their solar equipment here? It would be particularly of interest to see PST Mods and other bespoke setups. Mine is pictured below - a Lunt 60mm scope with a 1200 BF and standard tuning - not pressure tuned. It is double-stacked with a Lunt 60mm etalon. The camera attached is an Olympus E-M5 (macro 4/3 CSC) which I use for taking full disk pictures. The mount in use is a Vixen Porta of course, and I sometimes use a SW AZ4.