Piero

Oh dear! It's a very nice case, Derek! A bit "dense" but a complete collection of Ethoi does not get unobserved! The thing that I do not understand is how all that equipment (telescopes included) can get light. The only reason I can see is a deep interest in collecting top notch optics, like some people may have a passion for collecting ancient coins or post stamps. As time dedicated to astronomy is more or less constant, having more gear means that each component is used less. The same is true for telescopes of course. I also like to change eyepieces when observing, but the idea of changing some many eyepieces in one night would drive me crazy! Maybe it's just me being too minimalist, and, thinking about, it could likely be considering that in my last 6 years in the UK all I have is 2 bags (and my astro gear could fit in one of these)... mm..

Thank you Derek! I am honoured by your kind words! It's a very high quality telescope, but apart from the wide fields views it can deliver and its portability - the TV60 key points -, many larger telescope of good quality would offer much more due to aperture.

If I have to be very light, here we go: - TV60 (as usual..) - Pan 24, Vixen 5mm SLV, and if I fancy my powermate 2.5x. The latter inside the tv60 bag or in a pocket. - UHC/OIII filters, everbrite diagonal inside the bag. - that light tripod Total weight is about 3kg. This could be taken to Everest!

There are some really nice telescopes in this thread. Big or small, it's nice to read that everyone is happy with their instruments and excited to get more and more in touch with the universe! Every telescope discarding its aperture, offers us a fantastic window to heaven and thankfully we live in a time where these are affordable to common people. I believe the next step is work out a way so that countries reduce light pollution, which would also be a sensible thing for the economy and for the planet where we live! Anyway, here is my newtons: 8" F6, a very powerful telescope to me! 4.5" F8 (now stolen by my sister ), my first telescope bought 16 years ago. A telescope that despite of its size, showed me a hint of nebulosity forming the Pacman nebula (with an OIII filter).

Great 3.5mm!

Me too! And even a Tele Vue cap...!

My TV-60 is 10 inches long when the dew shield is retracted and weighs 1.5kg.. I suspect your combinations of "Granade" + Powermate 2x (=missile) beat it on both! This even excluding the par-corr..! Despite this I bet they give you awesome views!

I thought the same! Here is an 83!

The good thing of this hobby is that the gems in the Sky are still there tomorrow, next month, next year and so on.. Enjoy your super Ethoi!

This is a great thread and it will be certainly of help for many people. I enjoyed reading it a lot and appreciated your stimulating and encouraging writing. There is a lot of fun in this hobby and, to me, part of it is also about documenting, be this during the session (e.g. sketching or taking live notes) or afterwards. I started documenting my sessions not much time ago and found it really important. First of all I enjoy it a lot, secondly it helps keep track of how objects are seen and therefore improve observation skills, and thirdly it helps keep track of which objects have been observed, which otherwise can be forgotten. I admire a lot people sketching their targets and to me that is the best way. Keeping notes is a good approximation though. Eventually everyone finds his/her own way. Your advises are very useful and can change a person's approach to this hobby in a positive way. At least people should give a try. Thanks for sharing, Piero

Binoculars refreshed my interest in astronomy after a long pause. They are great for learning and appreciating the sky! @moringlboy: nice bins! I have been thinking about buying an 8x42 like yours myself.

Yes, I don't have a garden (or a car...). So, I pick up the bike and go to a field. Fortunately, it's only 1.5km from home each way. After cycling 20km to go to work, I don't fancy other heavy cycling! I am planning to take the tv60 and my light tripod to work by bike this winter and to stop somewhere on the way home. I believe in the middle of this countryside the milky way is visible.

OR.. no new order and look for new targets to observe in a star atlas!

I love mine, and to me it works very well with the N13.

Here is my tv60 almost ready for Jupiter ..and my bike behind! ;-) .

Wow! that is a super collection! Very nice! Lovely and elegant scope! Your Vixen is a real beauty!

From eyepieces case to dobs.. Nice (and scary) thread this one! I'm in for a 'Show us your Refr...' if someone starts it (not me!)

Thank you for your suggestion, Helen! It is an interesting idea!

Thanks for your replies, gentlemen! I forgot to say that when it is used with the 'reversed' mount head and at altitude of about 60-70 degrees like in the first photo, the telescope is balanced. I lock it anyway, because the idea that the telescope could shift on one side makes me paranoid, but the good thing is that it is relatively easy to move at that height.

Okay, I tried this light tripod on a field. The whole observation was done by extending three leg sections (this tripod has 4 leg sections) and the central pole. Pros: - Light and compact (1.4kg, 44cm when legs fully collapsed) - For its weight, it holds the telescope sufficiently - Suitable with short small tubes for travelling and air plane - Once extended, legs are blocked properly. Cons: - Not stable above 100x if it is moderately windy (not that I expect this to be stable under windy condition!) - One handle regulates both azimuth and altitude. This can be a bit frustrating when a target is followed. There is a point in the regulation of this handle in which altitude is locked but not azimuth. However this setting needs some experience to find it and if you don't lock the mount head properly, the tube can fall due to its weight. Verdict: This tripod can be a light compact solution for short light tubes (such as TV60, Tak60) for travelling as long as some care is taken of course. I would not use it on a regular basis, because I prefer something more solid. I do not regret buying it as I wanted to buy a tripod for travelling anyway. I simply thought that it was a bit easier to use the mount head. Maybe it is possible to replace the current mount head with a mini giro mount head + 1kg counterweight. However, I am not investing more money on this. Fortunately, I found out that the sky in the field 2 miles away from my house is sufficiently dark. No milky way visible, but it is okay for routine observation. I can cover this distance by cycling with my solid tripod without too much effort, and use this light tripod when travelling by train or plane.

Just got a Nagler T6 13mm on ABS. Looking forward to trying it with the Pan 24mm on the field.

That's a top class collection to me. Although I would not buy 'giant-eyepieces' for myself, I bet the views they deliver are superb. Are there specific targets you prefer using your set of plossl rather than the others?

Unfortunately in the current place where I live, I don't have a garden or fields reachable by walk. The Manfrotto tripod that I have bought and used so far is really good and holds the TV60 very well, but is too long and heavy for being carried by bike. In the past I was thinking to add a more portable tripod mainly for air plane so that I could take the TV60 to the Alps in Italy, but also to other places. Being forced to go to fields by bike, I decided to invest in this additional tripod now. I found the Manfrotto compact advanced aluminium tripod a good solution for my needs. Specs are: Load Capacity: 6.6 lb, Max Height: 65", Min Height: 17.5", Folded Length: 17.3". It comes with padded bag and plate. Although I have not tried in the field yet, it seems quite sturdy even when the legs are fully extended. It is light but quite solid. The mount is made of hard plastic with metal supports. It has a 3-way pan/tilt head. Although only one is required in astronomy, these lock the TV60 on the mount very effectively, even when this points near the zenith. The plate attaches to the mount head without living 'gaps' which sometimes you can have in some bad tripods. I am looking forward to using it! There are a few places in the countryside nearby which I believe have low light pollution. This summer I am taking it to the old town of my grandparents in the Alps and I believe it will couple the TV60 well! 1) Manfrotto compact advanced aluminum video tripod + TV60: 2) Manfrotto MVH500AH video head + 755XBK tripod + TV60: p.s. no complains about the MVH500AH+755XBK. It is excellent and I am keeping it anyway for the next year when hopefully I find a house with garden!

I can see the 'Toggle Edit Options' and that was exactly what I asked for. Thanks very much, again Grant!

Thanks a lot! I will follow your suggestions.