jetstream

I feel your pain, literally. I had 2 hip replacements a year and a half ago- complete success! zero pain. A couple of disks decided to try to fuse the prongs to the other one- yeah I have that too. The back is holding its own thankfully, but I know what you mean about refractor gymnastics... Nice choice in scopes Paul.

Great idea! No I havnt actually, going to fix it soon 👍 Yeah it is handy and not so expensive that I have to worry about it lol Its sitting outside ready for the moon, of course the clouds are in. It is a very sharp scope.

I'm currently doing a scope reorg and I thought Id put the 90mm Raptor under the sun to see if the views through it were still as I recalled. And yes they were excellent! Using the 25mm TV plossl fine granulation popped out and there are a lot of spots currently. Just loved the big one with the "Question mark" shaped formation of spots above it. Faculae and plage near the rim were very evident. The 18mm Tak ortho gave finer detail on the spots but the Tak 12.5mm ortho was just a bit too much today, with transient moments giving great views. I had to wait for the sun to move, out of the way of the pines, so it was a bit low and late in the day for optimum viewing. Regardless the 90mm performed flawlessly in -17c with the sun flowing through it. Kinda makes me wonder why Im going to sell it. Maybe. Gerry

While getting superb views out of my little 90mm SV on the sun just now, I came in to warm up and am reflecting on a conversation with A-P this morning. Can I change my grail scope? I'm leaning toward an A-P currently-subject to change of course

👍👍👍

Yeah, I dont think its happening anytime soon lol I would love solarscope etalons to hang off my TSA120, but man are they expensive. They are the very best IMHO. Maybe I'll settle for a TSA120 binoscope Then there is the optical perfection ie spot sizes of the TOA130... geez I wish I hadnt seen these or heard the reports from the big Tak users...

A Tak binoscope. Either a pair of TSA120's or TOA130's. In addition, I always wondered if a pair of Solarscope DS etalons on each would work for Ha. If they did the views would be mind blowing.

Thats an awesome set up!!

On a visit I didnt want to be part of a group, but maybe find some rural locals that could help me out off the beaten path. Maybe check out the coastline and go up north. I'm fascinated by the history of Scotland and would include a couple of days in the city to see the buildings- and then off I go- to see what I really want to see and meet some of the old timers . Verbal history also fascinates me.

Ummm, no. That deal there in the picture is not my cup of tea. We do have thousand of tourists here in the summer but most all stay at govt approved tourist camps, which are great places. At times I'm a fly in fishing guide for guests at a relatives camp. We usually have a great time with only our crew on a remote lake- the camps ensure no overlapping that could diminish the experience.

I could come over there, camp and enjoy the outdoors- and when gone you wouldnt even know I was there.

Excellent report Magnus! That 10mm Delos is THE eyepiece to use in that application IMHO. Nice galaxy haul!

This is good as I have friends with both last names lol All that is forgotten here as far as I know. Excellent! We all watch things around here, just residents and sportsmen/women and offer kindly reminders about the etiquette to some if need be. I was hoping to visit there someday, but not if tourists are frowned on. The old buildings amaze me but my real interest is in seeing rural Scotland.

Im glad to say that the Scottish people here, that I know also love and respect the land and water. Life was harsh here for any rural family years ago but the Scots that came are now well off and are thriving members of the country. They are and continue to be, a very welcome addition. Great link Iain

I use the 24"a lot, however The 24" is a great scope but massive, it is fussier regarding collimation and also bouncing it out of the seacan can cause a bit of astig from the sling moving ( a tiny bit). I can get the small amount of astig out playing with the cell. I need to put the wheel barrow handle extensions on to move and take them off to observe. It is obviously much more sensitive to seeing. I also use an 8' step ladder. For these reasons it is not on my "list" BUT The 24" eclipses all my scopes on DSO and when everything is right the views of Jupiter etc show massive detail, more than others. Gearing up for a DSO session and just finishing collimation and with the astig dealt with I pointed it at Jupiter for the heck of it- the view stopped me in my tracks! This scope opens up great detail in PN's, unbelievable really. It has shown all members of HCG55 and the view of Stephans Quintet through it one night is etched into my mind. You should see the Eskimo nebula in it... So, while it is a great scope, it is not on my favourite list for the reasons mentioned. Being honest here. Gerry

Sitting here many thousands of miles away has me feeling bad for the land over there. It has disrespectful , damaging tourists and also damaging practises such as peat burning and de naturalization ( eradicating certain native species) for the sake of hunting. Along with the burning goes the insects and small mammals. Ironically, the people that are hurt the most are the ones that truly respect the land, like @scarp15 and who enjoy it immensely. I cannot understand how anyone could support the camping ban without also supporting a ban on the damaging estate practises. Perhaps reforms should include stopping any damaging practises, repatriating the land to the people under the supervision of someone /something that has its interests at heart, first and foremost. Once established people could then be vetted and then allowed back to wild camp, or something along these lines. I cant hunt in Quetico or drive a motor boat but I can take a canoe and fishing rod on an excursion. Snowmobiles are out as well. Here anyone breaking these laws are subject to massive fines right out of the gate. No one, that Ive ever heard of has breached these conditions, and why would anyone want to. Two more timberwolves ran down the bay in front of the house today and we spotted a moose recently in our travels. Otters are on the ice and grouse are sliding down the snowy hills. Yes, people and nature can co exist nicely.

👍 Hi Mark! Great reply, A perfect scope is not needed but as we know cooling, collimation and target education is key to observing. Our diminutive H130 is an excellent scope, a favourite actually and has the grand daughters honing their skills , when theyre here. A friend of theirs parent bought their child a scope... wont say what- and they have extremely limited chance of getting good views through it. The kids (and others) reaction to the moon through the H130 is typically "is it ever sharp"!!

Hi John! I for one dont underestimate your observational abilities, your fine descriptions of Jupiter and lunar features ie Hadleys Rille speak volumes for your ability. As youve sorted through many optics, you have found "keepers" IMHO and yes with your current high spec optics-including your excellent sample of the SW120ED I can see that you are not optic limited, but possibly seeing limited.

Either, eventhough Ive seen the reports of image degradation using prisms. Even if the TSA 120 is technically degraded a small bit with the prism, the neutral tone high spec optics dont reflect this in the eyepiece (to my eyes). It is a very forgiving telescope, at f7.5.

And once you do then what?

Yes, your skills might be the limiting factor using the TOA130

As experience grows and skill developed I think many astronomers realize when the glass theyre using becomes a limiting factor. @mikeDnight I realize you are a good observer and you also have top glass, the issue I have with the quote is the insinuation that anyone cant become a good observer ie the term "man of small capacity". That phrase doesnt seem to encourage the fact that skill can be developed ( and no reference to women astronomers)- to me it sounds like skill is a "fixed" quantity in the quote eventhough the following addresses skill: I dont believe that anyone using the same top glass, under great conditions and with equal "seat time" under the stars will see vastly different features on the moon and planets. Visual acuity is a factor though -IMHO- and increasing aperture can reveal differences in it. I have 2 telescopes that are at the top of my heap- the 15"/Ostahowki/Astrosystems and the TSA120. These 2 scopes sure provide views that the others do not. Not that the others are bad its just these 2 sit on the top shelf, and no doubt any experienced observer with good visual acuity would see it. Just illustrating the difference in glass and not the observer. Gerry

In the case of the TSA120 I find the diagonal doesnt affect things as compared to straight through, it sure does with respect to my SW120ED however.

I wonder if this quote illustrates our own capacity for narcissism? The glass we look through matters IMHO as does the aperture it has and I'm sure if those old time astronomers looked through some modern good glass their jaws would be permanently on the floor 😀

I agree. Also,our local culture here is one of respect for the land and water and I was raised this way. It is a big sin here to leave garbage and be destructive etc and the locals will tell anybody to smarten up in no uncertain terms, this has happened. I hope the landowners in question over there arent using the camper issue as an excuse to get exclusive rights to the land. Anyone abusing the land should be dealt progressively and culminating in a ban of the mentioned areas. In my opinion respect for nature is a cultural thing and if its lost it must be regained somehow hopefully before the land is wrecked. Good luck to you there, Gerry