DRT

You might find the 3.7mm desireable with the ED120 as well Derek. I often find myself using my Pentax XW 3.5mm (257x) with mine and also the 3mm Radian (300x) on tight double stars and the Moon. These ED doublets are well figured objectives and seem to handle high power very well

I suspect it is only a matter of time before the 3.7mm Ethos magically appears in my case, John

I can then turn my attention to the woeful gaps I have between 21mm, 31mm and 41mm

Derek, your ED120 setup is looking very classy with all that bling. It wears it well, and must be a joy to use

It is, Chris. The MoonLite makes a huge difference and also helps balance that big heavy lump of glass at the other end.

All I need now is my 4.7mm Ethos to arrive and I'll have a very classy planet killer

I fully understand, i did feel the D&G was going to be a little undermounted, i have been tempted with larger fracs in the past but not had the mount to do one justice, so i make do with the humble TAL, though i keep seeing an add for a 100ED on ABS and thinking....

Jules, the 100ED is not a big and heavy scope. What would you be mounting it on?

Derek, thats a very nice set up

Thanks, Jules, I'm chuffed with it

My 120ED with its smart new carrying handle and Baader Sky Surfer V

the Meade 339 (Topic 80mm F15, Towa lens) which I now have in my care.

Grrrr. Is that the one I dwelt on for too long?

Nothing to be embarrassed about with that scope, Parkini, there is good reason why it is one of the most popular beginner scopes on the market

You should get some great views through that when he clouds clear!

Sort of explains why the weather is so bad over there, I have the same focuser but the black one, dark forces Derek.

Nice scope!

Dark Forces indeed, Alan!

I am hoping this is a good omen for what is to come in 2016...

Yes, I have a Type 1 Paracorr that I use with this scope and it really makes a huge difference.

The reason for the small barbeque is that Mrs T is vegetarian so it only needs to cook one 4lb steak at a time

I think an 150 ED is a fabulous idea, Kevin

I have been weaving my way through lots of second-hand scopes in the past three years and must say that more often than not I have got all (or nearly all) of my money back when re-selling. The 100ED I sold this week was the exception as I took a big (80%) hit on what I paid but it is the only scope I have managed to damage during my ownership so I deserved all I got

This week I have had a first in that I have bought a second version of a scope I have previously owned - a Startravel 150. I sold one a few months ago to pay for a new purchase but regretted it from the moment I handed it over to its new owner. My replacement will hopefully be here within the next few days

That's exactly why my Telrad is below the focuser - I just couldn't reach the standard finder without risking falling off the ladder

There has not been a cloud in the sky over my house today so they should be rolling in at around 15:45

I bought this 16" Flextube a few weeks ago and have now added a MoonLite CR-2 focuser and some nice sturdy carrying handles which really help when setting up and moving it around...

Now all need is a clear night

Very nice Derek, has the f11 sold?

Yes, Jules, she went just before Christmas and I'm regretting it already

After more than a month of trying to sell it at what I think was a bargain price I've decided to hang on to the Bresser 127L for now to give me a good high-mag option with a decent aperture but am now hankering after a 5" f/11 to f15. The Starwave would have been a better stop-gap but hey-ho, I let it go!

Yes, it's the dual-speed MoonLite, John. I removed the foot (in fact, two feet) as I use a Rigel rather than the standard finder.

Looking forward to giving it a better road-test on a nice, dark, still night - if such a thing exists!

The Sun finally put in an appearance this morning so I was able to test out my new 120 ED with the Baader wedge

...and here she is with her nighttime gear...

Very pleased with the new toy - all I need now is for the weather to start improving and I might actually get to put it to some use

I had no idea that 400x plus would show me some of the moons of Uranus and Neptune ...... until I tried it.

What scope/EP combination did you use for that, John?

I've owned dozens of TV eyepieces over the years but never got a signature in the instructions

Perhaps Al reserves that for scope owners !

I've got a signed booklet that came with my TV Pronto so perhaps you are right John.

I'm not sure I can compete with all this Gucci green and black

But those little beauties in their Chanel LBDs are a not too shabby alternative 

All the eyepieces you need? I thought that was a contradiction in terms.

This is similar to a discussion I have with my wife whenever we reminisce about our holidays to the USA when our kids were young. Mrs T remembers many restaurants as being described as "Eat All You Want" or "Eat All You Need" whereas I remember them as the more challenging "Eat As Much As You Can".

My approach to EP buying appears to follow a similar philosophy

the only thing I'm struggling with is the black and white back ground from the laptop sending my eyes funny but thats just me. 

Darren.

Hi Darren,

I have the same problem as you as my vision doesn't cope well with a black background and white text.

In the very bottom left of the page you will find a link named "Change Theme". Click on that and select "IP.Board" and the whole site will transform into a white background with black text

Derek

Nice one, Garry. I saw that a few minutes after the advert was posted and had to close down my machine to stop myself buying it!

That should give you some great wide field views

Looks like I'll be the only one on the forum who still uses hyper wide eyepieces at this rate

Don't worry John, I'm still committed to the cause [emoji3]

Me too!

Which is why I've offloaded those little narrow things to Shane

Have you tried pointing that at the sky, Philip? The Moon perhaps?

Nice Derek I've always wondered if using a semi apo filter would make imaging possible with one of these scopes?

I have a Baader Semi-Apo, Chris, and now also have an EQ5 with tracking motors so will be giving it a go. I don't have the patience for all this stacking malarky but will be trying to get some good single long-exposure shots

My Helios 6" f/9.4 went to a new home this morning and this little beauty came home as part of the deal...

Skywatcher Startravel 120 f/5

Now fitted with a Skywatcher Dual-Speed focuser.

Looking forward to some nice wide field views and perhaps some DSLR action through this one