rwilkey

Hi Chris, some great shots there, welcome to the Lounge from across the pond!

Hi Paul, I have had quite a bit of experience using the 32mm Skywatcher SWA in my 200P and I loved it, it was also my first upgrade so some sentimental value there. On axis it is brilliant, well defined stars etc, it is stunning. However, the stars to the edges do 'seagull', but with its on-axis performance I was very happy. As others have said, there is better out there, it depends on how much you want to pay.

Hi Paul, as John has said earlier, the Hyperions are not well-corrected for f/5 or f/6 scopes. However, on your question of the Fine Tuning Rings (FTRs) a great idea but try changing them in the dark and your cold fingertips are about to drop off...

Hi Baz, I tested it in my C100ED a 100/900 at f/9, my Moon and planet killer, it gave me 281x, which is probably why it didn't work well on other more diffuse targets! The 4mm Nirvana or clone would be good I believe.

Hi Barry, I had the 3.2mm BST StarGuider sent to me for testing, I have to say I am not keen on it and the 5mm would be better for you I feel. I found the 3.2mm only performed well on the Moon.

Generally speaking, the more you crank up the magnification, the more the object becomes fainter and less sharp. Yes, the object is larger, but you loose detail. The Moon and Saturn can take a lot of magnification though (250x). Jupiter not so much, about 150x.

Hi Gary, that would be the perfect choice, I have the 10mm XW and it is excellent, with the 24mm Panoptic they will last you a lifetime. The XW is a large piece mind you compared to the Pan, but the views in both are stunning and crystal sharp.

Knowing what I know now, the 24mm Panoptic would be my first choice for low power. As for 'high' power, about 150x suits me best, this is perfect for Jupiter and the Moon, the most common objects I observe. Saturn can take much higher (250x), so a 6mm, my favourite in this range is the William Optics SPL 6mm, a smart eyepiece that punches well above its price range.

Hi Alison, welcome to the forum, learning all the jargon is one of the difficult bits, I think. Clear skies!

Hi Gary, buying eyepieces was a journey for me, I was always looking for something better; so I bought a better scope (the C100ED), then decided I needed better eyepieces for it and so it went on. In some ways it would have been better and cheaper to jump in at the deep end to start with, but then my eyes would not have appreciated them as a lot of astronomy is learning how to 'see'. So now I appreciate quality glass more. Budget-wise, I went for the whole range of Explore Scientific 82º Series (eye-relief can be a bit short) to start with, but then a great offer of a 'job lot' came up on Ebay, 10 pcs, so I have added bits (second-hand) and now believe I have all I need. Haven't got the heart to sell any of my older ep's as they were part of the journey. If you want to save yourself some money, go for the best you can afford at this time. Good luck with your choices!

Hi Mark, a warm welcome from me to, and welcome to the 'dark arts', (as astrphotography (AP) is sometimes called!), you will find plenty of like-minded people here. Clear skies!

Hi Gary, congratulations on your new 300P, a great choice. Talking about eyepieces, if I was only allowed two eyepieces on a desert island they would be: TV Panoptic 24mm TV Nagler (T6) 13mm I, inherently, don't like zooms and prefer fixed focal lengths.

Hi Rusty, a very warm welcome from me way down south, it sounds like you're into a great journey of discovery, just as I was when I got into the hobby. I too started with the 200P, but the EQ mounted version, now I use my C100ED more as I became partially disabled after a stroke in 2010. Funnily enough, my story is similar to yours, I bought my wife a telescope for Christmas and then got hooked myself. So the thing is, have fun and you will learn all the time. Clear skies!

Hi Chris and a warm welcome from me, the universe is a big place and anything you can learn will be useful. Clear skies!

Hi Bryan and a warm welcome from me too. As another has said, a Moon filter is not essential or even necessary, but I do find it helps with surface detail and contrast, that's a personal observation. The ND (Neutral Density) filters are the best, the most suitable one I find is the one that gives 13% light transmission. Try the Moon without to start with and see how you get on. Clear skies!

A Beth, a warm welcome from me too. Clear skies!

Hi Bonny, and welcome to SGL. I see from your photos that it seems you have a red-framed filter/eyepiece marked 'SUN', whatever you do, DO NOT use this unless you want to lose your eyesight, it is not fit for purpose.

It is such a vast area. Tunguska and Chelyabinsk are the most well known.

Hi Peter, a good place to start is to buy a book called 'Making Every Photon Count' by Steve Richards, it may save you from making some expensive mistakes, found here: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html

Hi Claire, welcome to this great hobby. Clear skies!

Hi Martin, the best planet to look at for surface detail through an amateur telescope is Jupiter, where the equatorial belts and the Great Red Spot (GRS) can be easily studied. For 'wow' factor though Saturn and its rings is the best target. As others have mentioned, find an astronomy club and start from there, here is another 'find a club' link: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/locator.html

Hi Steve, sounds like a good start, you will probably find that the Explore Scientific 52dec 30mm LER eyepiece works very well, so time to get some serious viewing in. Clear skies!

Looks more like an Agoudal to me?

Hi Mike, I too would recommend the BST StarGuiders, some of the best out there and at a reasonable cost, found here: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces.html BTW, don't run before you can walk, the Telrad would be too big and clumsy for your small scope and the motor drive would not give you the satisfaction you are after, esp. for astrophotography. If you want to improve your experience of astronomy upgrade to a better scope (bigger aperture) later, rather than hacking away at 'improving' your current scope's performance, which is limited. Above all, enjoy it!

Hi Rob,I realise its been some time since you posted but I have only just found your article. Here's a picture of a Sikhote Alin find, and the one I own, weighs 116g (around 1/4 pound)