Roy Challen

The FLO site says the FS60-CB is £749 for the ota only, finder and clamshell are extra, glad I got mine second hand

I have an FS60-CB, and you have just added temptation 😉. With a 76mm objective and the Q extender, there are four scope options.

Having owned a Starwave 70 in the past, and an FS60-CB currently, I know which I prefer. The Tak is surprisingly capable for planetary observing despite its small aperture, but it won't show any more than a 70mm. I have two other scopes that are arguably better for that purpose, but maybe the Q extender would change that.

Excellent point

Binoscope?😉

A good comet is also high in wow factor. And the lunar occultation of Mars last year was great, but at a slightly unsociable time.

Exactly what I would show 'em...unless it was the daytime, in which case I'd show them the sun in Ha

You could fill the tripod legs with concrete. I had a Skywatcher EQ3 Pro a few years back, doing this noticeably increased stability, at the expense of increasing the weight. I think I posted the results on SGL, DIY section maybe.

Hmm, I'm in Watford too. It was definitely clear 2am onwards, I had a very nice planetary session with my Mak and Tak😀

Another fantastic set of images, the arching prom my favourite. 👍

I have owned a Baader CB and the Semi Apo filters but not at the same time. I preferred the SA in my long achro. I also tried it with my FS60-CB - it made no noticeable difference. The contrast booster did help with a short achro I owned at time albeit with a yellow cast. I also tried a Baader Solar continuum filter in the baby Tak while viewing Venus. It sharpened up the image a fair bit, but with a very strong green cast. As @Louis D says, a less aggressive green filter would be better.

Contrary to most, I'm not too disappointed with the weather with regards to astronomy this year. I've had 35 sessions so far (minimum of 30mins observing time). Last year I had 120+ sessions and I didn't even take advantage of every clear day or night. Too much of a good thing? 😜

Totally agree with this, if I were allowed to keep just one telescope it would be my Daystar

Well, I only have 6 eyepieces and one of them, a Meade plossl, is rarely used so that would have to go. Job done 😄

Sorry, no pic because I don't have an FS128, but I believe all Tak clamshells have a 35mm bolt hole pattern. Certainly, the clam for my FS60-CB does, enabling me to bolt it directly to my vintage Tak mount. However, so that I can use the mount with other scopes via an ADM saddle, I simply drilled two holes in a dovetail and bolted the clam to that. Not sure if that is recommended for a 128 though.

I'm saving it as proof that I don't have enough 😄

6, but if if I'd kept every eyepiece I've ever owned, it would be well over 100😄

Looks amazing, shame I'm at work 😔

For me, good sleep is way more important than astronomy. I would rather have 7 hours of good sleep, than even a couple of hours of astro (heresy, I know!). Luckily, I'm very much a morning person, so getting up at 2 or 3am isn't a big deal as I'm usually up at half three anyway. It's always quieter, there's usually less in the way of street lights being on, and the seeing tends to be better. Of course, it does depend on my desired targets, whether I'll get up earlier or not. Solar astronomy doesn't require any of this, of course! That's why I love it so much 😄

'Other stuff' being planets, moon, double stars? In that case, it will be difficult to better the ETX, imo. My FS60-CB certainly isn't better than my Skymax 90 for those targets, but it is a great wide field scope and very portable, but then again so is the ST80. They complement each other very well. An ED80 would be a decent upgrade over the ST80, and may even beat the little mak if the seeing is good.

Yes, I suppose. I guess I should have asked 'what will these offer other than a premium name and price?'

The title of this thread is pure clickbait, the reality is somewhat underwhelming. Is there really a market for what seems like a plossl variant when there are plenty of good equivalents already available at much lower cost?

I visited whilst on a uni residential week in 2017. Not sure it's 'pilgrimage' destination, but worth a visit if you're in Bath.

Whilst on holiday in Kazakhstan, I took a very basic phone cam shot. No editing at all.

Agree with previous comments, changing the tuning subtly affects the contrast rather than making big differences to the view. An 18mm Baader BCO just about gives a full disc view but I use the 32mm plossl 90% of the time. I leave my Solarscout in the 3 o'clock position.