jetstream

On 18/03/2023 at 16:59, Pixies said:

Anyone here have experience with the 12mm Delos and 13mm Nagler (T6)?

I havnt had either but own a few Delos. They are very high transmission eyepieces with great contrast. Greater than my 16T5 Nagler and sharper. The 13mm Nagler is considered a very desirable eyepiece including by me and I will own one soon, for my refractors. Even if it doesnt "beat" a Delos it will still be in my refractor EP case, whereas the Delos are in my dob cases.

We are lucky to be able to make these decisions IMHO, Gerry

12 hours ago, nicholasastro said:

I find with apertures 16" and upwards that you don't actually need a great deal of magnification to resolve the brightest and largest GCs.

👍

I've played with the mags quite a bit on M13 etc and in long FL scopes such as the 15" f4.8 like the 20mm APM 100 a lot. Depending on the object the 17 Nikon HW also gets the nod.

Have you seen the "propeller" feature in M13 Nicholas? I just love it and always go for it.

I find GCs dazzling to view and can be mind boggling in my 24". Oddly I enjoy the brighter objects in that scope as it really brings them alive. Faint fuzzies will always be faint fuzzies in any scope and there are no end to them. One 'prize" , well almost I guess was seeing the lensing galaxy and one flick of light held for a couple of seconds in Einsteins Cross. I figured Id dance right into that object and see them all at once, easily... yeah right lol!

To @Pixies sorry to go off topic, Gerry

We are lucky to live in a time where all these good optics and products are available; in conversation with old timers in their late 70's and 80's I was told many had to make their own scopes, basically reflectors years ago. A lot of these products such as Losmandy (I think) were a product of innovation from these experiences.

12 minutes ago, 900SL said:

and the FOV is well suited to DSO targets

And does very well on lunar! Great scope.

Heres mine, great on everything. High mag, low mag, cools easily, holds collimation extremely well and is wicked on the moon and planets.

I really find it odd that some who complain that SGL is turning into the other forum regularly post and contribute in that forum?! Hmmm...

On 03/04/2023 at 16:46, Captain Scarlet said:

I only started observing when Jupiter was down at the start of its “low years”. Now it’s going to be higher and higher over the next 2-3 years I cannot wait, especially as I now have that much more experience and equipment. I am one of those who has still not had anything near a startling view of the planet. I have properly just about discerned the GRS and its colour only once.

Hey!! You got a bigger scope banner than me!!😬

@Stu Great report!

What struck me was the impression of the ST80. For someone starting out or not wanting to spend much the lower power lunar views could give some nice detail. And no doubt way ahead of my ultra cheap first scope the Tasco I had as a kid. Widefield, filtered large nebula views in the ST 80 would be good as well I believe, such as the North American nebula.

I think the comparison is a valid one : it shows the ST80 is very capable in its intended role and it also highlights the difference in optics that more money can buy.

I wish I had access to this kind of info when I was young, I would have went and bought an ST80 immediately to try out and known what to expect.

Thanks, Gerry

13 minutes ago, IB20 said:

it was only at the maximum I could get the 714mm Starwave, 286x with a 2.5mm TOE, where the little Tak started to get the upper hand. More atmospheric turbulence started showing and the image was a little softer in the Starwave, the 76Q on the other hand, happily ploughed on to 381x with the same eyepiece despite the appearance of some floaters at a now 0.2mm exit pupil.

Excellent report! Both scopes showed very well and the fact that a 76mm scope could compete with a 102mm scope is amazing. I find that small aperture jumps in small scopes can matter. For the Takahashi 76mm to pull away from a 102mm at very high mag is a testament to its excellent optics IMHO.

Rumour around the campfire has told me the Takahashi 76mm is a superb grab and go and your report highlights this.

Eagerly waiting more reports!

Gerry

2 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

You have more stamina than I have Gerry! I love observing, but I'm not sure I'd be that enthusiastic after a 400 mile round trip for supper, then want to observe in -21°C temperatures. I think I'd be much more inclined to snuggle up under a blanket with a bonnie lass, in front of my log burner, sipping cocoa. So long as my wife doesn't catch me I'll be fine!

Thanks Mike, I have a passion for astronomy and try not to miss any chance to obs, espc under great seeing. Right now we are getting big snowstorms around us and we have a winter storm warning, possibly severe. We love living out in the sticks, but also love the occasional trip to a city for dinner lol A favourite show is "Diners, Dives and Drive ins" a USA show that highlights small, off the beaten path restaurants with unusually good food.

Another hobby is cooking here, which we both love.

3 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

I'm certainly interested in these comparisons Gerry. They are really important, so please keep em coming! 

Thanks Mike, the results are very interesting and all this is leading down the path to further understanding optics and what scope to choose when. I might we'll see.

3 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

 Just buy yourself a Maxbright II binoviewer Gerry. A 120mm TSA for each eye will be stunning on lunar and planetary, and at a fraction of the price of a bigger scope. I can honestly say I haven't noticed any dimming of the image compared to the mono view, and there's certainly no reduction in resolution of fine detail. In fact fine detail becomes much easier to discern in the binoviewer.  Food for thought!

Geez Mike, I've almost convinced the wife about a new refractor! She may have just read this as she's scowling about something !😟

Shes actually on board and were heading across to USA to do the banking on the DM6 today. I do have excellent Binotron 27's and now that mono has been so good in the you know what shhhh!!! a guy named paul might be reading... that I will try binoviewing in it. Thank you for the heads up on the potential, but not, fun cash saving!

Gerry

2 hours ago, nicholasastro said:

Same here. The 20mm APM XWA is actually my favourite 100 degree eyepiece and I would never sell it.

Its very good isnt it!  I have had amazing views of the Veil nebula and so much more with it. I like you, obs M13 with it and it shows the propeller nicely. Another favourite in the 15" with it is Carolines Rose and so much more. Mine actually stays in the focuser of the 15" up in the seacan.

1 hour ago, Captain Scarlet said:

I only started observing when Jupiter was down at the start of its “low years”. Now it’s going to be higher and higher over the next 2-3 years I cannot wait, especially as I now have that much more experience and equipment. I am one of those who has still not had anything near a startling view of the planet. I have properly just about discerned the GRS and its colour only once.

Wait until you get the SV 140 on Jupiter...and also your excellent dobs.  I cant wait for you to get at the planets when high up Magnus!

1 minute ago, JeremyS said:

I was shocked by the colour in Jupiter’s bands when I first turned my M210 to him

A perfect scope for it, great optics and enough focal ratio to provide a low exit pupil should you need it and also a great image scale all round. Is the M210 a tak? Shhh, we need a code word.

1 minute ago, JeremyS said:

I’m annoyed. That’s the second time you've mentioned your H130 in this Starfield vs Tak thread. Anyone would suspect you’re about to advertise the H130.

Who can I complain to? 
 

🤣

Oh man, I'm laughing my head off when I should be working lol! Come in for a break and this. Many , many apologies that I talk so much about the H130!! It is however one of my 3 most used telescopes and for good reason.

Optical fragility syndrome, I'm actually starting to believe it exists.

One time I gave a person the 'wrong" emoji and got questioned on it lol!

2 hours ago, Deadlake said:

For planetary observations some of the best planetary views I had are by attaching a Barlow on the scope ahead of the diagonal (now running at F20) and using a 10 mm UFF EP

I think the lower .55mm exit pupil that your barlow gives is the reason behind your better views and not the f20 part. This is a great way to get detail under challenging conditions!  Excellent!

44 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

In the UK really need the planets high up, last few years low down and large depth of atmosphere to peer thru..

Here too we're at the same latitude -me- I observe other stuff until the planets are higher. Even the TSA120 had false colour obs Jupiter when very low, just AD.

26 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

when several members complained about the same behaviour disrupting threads

People complained? seriously?

I think some must be taking things much too seriously to have wasted time complaining about any telescope or posts about it. I wonder how many complain about all the posts on the H130?

I found your comparison between the Starfield and Tak interesting and more comparisons are welcomed at least from me.

38 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

The one data point that the HR really showed it pulling away from the TOE was the level go shadow contrast visible within craters.
At one point I had to pinch myself at the detail. 

Excellent and I believe this is a reflection of the MTF contrast idea that we're discussing, it seems to show up the best in certain places.

Just now, Deadlake said:

I has to experiment with different EP’s and diagonals. However on nights of good seeing all is possible. 

Sometime best to have multiple scopes out to experiment with Barlow or BV’s side by side…

Yes I get puzzled when some have to experiment to get colour unless the seeing is a major factor. Out H130 gives a deep ruddy colour and I use a NZ 3-6 zoom mostly in it. I really dont have a clue why seeing colour in Jupter is an issue. When its high up and very bright- highly contrasted here because of the very dark sky and overpowering, I do a couple of things. One is to use a slower scope to use the smaller exit pupil to advantage. The second is to use binoviewers where the beamsplitter halves the volume of light to each eye making detail much easier to see. The best view of Jupiter I have had was just over 300x in the 15" with the Binotron 27's. It was like looking at a good image , a very good image.

The third thing is obs at sunset and just after using the lighter sky to tame down Jupiters brightness. This is just me however but it does work for me.

It just might be that Tak owners are very frequent observers and really "into" astronomy. I believe that many if not most have followed a progression of telescope purchases leading to the Tak because of the optics. A Tak is an off the rack telescope, with an old design focuser etc but with vg optics.

How many would buy them if the optics were mediocre? Not me thats for sure.

41 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

For planetary observations some of the best planetary views I had are by attaching a Barlow on the scope ahead of the diagonal (now running at F20) and using a 10 mm UFF EP or some BV's.

This helps with bring up contrast from observation and also brings out the reds on Jupiter.

I am always very interested in reports of seeing colour in Jupiters bands or lack of. I see ruddy red in the bands with every scope I have and my reflectors do a great job and with the 15" really opening them up with very fine riffles in them. I really like observing Jupiter just at dusk and afterwards a bit. I tend to get the best views then but I only really obs it when well placed.

I'm always puzzled when some cant seem to get much colour out of Jupiter. Theres so much in there, white ovals, barges and the hooked purple spikes aka festoons.

@Highburymark forgot to say that Gassendi is a treasure trove of detail and is a favourite of mine. That craterlet in the "V" shaped rilles was very sharp and a great sight the other night.

10 hours ago, Highburymark said:

Think it’s worth repeating here that you have to pick features with small details - intricate structures within craters for example, or the definition of minute craterlets, and study them - swapping between eyepieces, to see the differences I saw last night. It’s the final 5% that the specialist eyepieces provide - clear, but at the margins. 

Just saw this-great report! The TOE sure sounds excellent. I 100% agree with the above ^^  and was doing this very same thing recently.

21 hours ago, Highburymark said:

no complex widefield EP can compete with these specialist planetaries under good conditions)

100% agree again with the exception of the Zeiss zoom/barlow viewing in the center of the field, very close- but the 2.5XO squeaked ahead and is ahead in transmission as seen by my eyes.

So glad you are getting a chance to use the XO Mark! and I still want to buy it and I have zero chance now that youve got a good look through it.

Great observing and I hope you get more chance to do it!

Gerry