F15Rules

March 1

On 25/02/2024 at 18:43, JeremyS said:

Apart from general haziness, the Scots seem to be celebrating their 6 nations victory this evening

(the “star” is Jupiter)

Glad you got a handle on what it was Jeremy! 🙃😊

Dave

March 1

+1 for Morpheus option. Great eyepieces, hard to fault. The 14mm has minor field curvature, but much less than the Pentax XW14 which I sold having tried the Morpheus.

My main set now is Vixen LVWs, but that's another story..no longer made, and rare as hen's teeth secondhand.

Go for the Morpheus set!👍😁

Dave

February 29

I ordered this Move Shoot Move smartphone adapter last week, having seen Stu's excellent Lunar shots using this device to get proper alignment rather than than handholding, which is truly an exercise in frustration!

It arrived today, a few days after Steve (@Saganite) received his..

As Steve remarked, this looks a very well made item, all anodised aluminium and with very smooth, precise feeling adjustment screws.

I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but so far I am impressed. I also ordered the remote Bluetooth shutter, to allow smooth, remote shutter release on my phone.

A few pictures to show you the key features..🙂

The informative printed outer carton..

The informative printed outer carton.. A solidly built device oozing quality, even has its' own cloth pouch.

A useful user manual with specs sheet showing key dimensions re for example the maximum eyepiece and smartphone dimensions which the device can accommodate.

Dave

February 28

I'm chuffed to bits with my Vixen SD115S and Takahashi equatorial mount combination.

The only components that I felt looked in any way a little flimsy and small were the plastic tube rings securing knobs..see below..

..then it struck me that the spare original focuser knob, (made redundant by the Moreblue microfocuser upgrade), which is much larger and more solid (metal or aluminium) than the plastic tube ring knob, might just have the same thread locking grub screw..and it did!

I then fitted the spare focuser knob to one of the tube rings..a lovely fit. And then, in online chat with Tim, (@Franklin) who sold me this scope, he said that because he had also upgraded his SD81S scope to a Moreblue microfocuser, he had a spare focuser knob from that too!

Tim promptly offered me his spare for a pittance (all the SD apos have the same sized focuser knobs), and it arrived yesterday.

These larger knobs could have been made for the scope rings, and I do think they look great, as well as feeling much more solid👍☺️..

Dave

February 28

I couldn't resist this lovely old c1980s Celestron Japan 30mm Plossl, complete with original box..

It looks virtually identical to the later Ultima 30mm, with very solid build and a lovely large eyelens...and a smooth barrel!!👍😁

Shown here next to a modern Vixen NPL 30mm 50 degree plossl for scale..

The Celestron was supposed to have a 52 degree fov rather than the more usual 50 degrees of most plossls. Comparing the daytime view through both eyepieces, the Celestron definitely has a wider field - perhaps even slightly more than 52 degrees. Both eps have a very sharp field stop.

Can't wait to try it out!

Dave

February 27

On 26/02/2024 at 11:40, Saganite said:

Impressed with Dave's ( f15 Rules) Moon image recently, and Stu's recommendation, this arrived this morning and I have to say it so well made, all anodised aluminium, it feels high quality. I look forward to taking a few smart phone images.

Looks good Steve👍..

Mine hasn't arrived yet but is with the delivery agent apparently..I have watched an online "unboxing" video and it does seem to be well thought out and designed..🤞🤞😉

Dave

February 24

2 hours ago, Tiny Clanger said:

If the focuser of your 127 annoys you as much as mine did, a relatively cheap way to get fine focus at the same time as buying a new diagonal is to get one of these :

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/diagonals/baader-t-2-90-prism-star-diagonal-with-focusing-eyepiece-holder-125-nosepiece.html

I find it works well .

+10 for that option..a great piece of kit!

Dave

February 24

45 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

The undersize issue is due to the fact that light passing through the corrector diverges on its way to the primary mirror, so to achieve the full entrance aperture the primary mirror needs to be oversize.

I think that was the point being made on the CN site Peter..several primary mirrors being physically measured as 118mm diameter, not the 127mm advertised.

We have seen similar misleading specs in chinese Binoculars.. Steve Tonkin of Binocular Sky fame has reported on a number of allegedly 50mm or 60mm aperture binoculars being significantly stopped down, leading to inferior performance.

February 24

It might also be worth noting the following, as posted on the USA site..

"I found that the few Chinese Mak-Cass I tested were roughly 1/2" smaller in true aperture than advertised. They are probably the same optical system with different branding/packaging. The culprits are the undersized 2nd surface on the corrector and the undersized primary mirror."

It does seem that these entry level Maks from China have a 127mm corrector plate, but that the primary mirror is only c 118mm in diameter, so a noticeable difference. Add to that the poor quality (and possibly also stopped down) erecting prism, your Mak might only be operating more like a 4 -4.5" scope..

I've used several high quality Russian Maksutovs of 150mm aperture (not stopped down) and their planetary performance rivalled a 5" apo refractor..but they do cost a lot more to buy.

Dave

February 23

+1 for the Vixen SD115S F7.7, barebones tube weight 4.4kg. A good deal lighter, shorter, slimmer than my wonderful ex Tak FS128.

Cheaper than some 4" Taks with almost 1/3 additional aperture..very noticeable.

Dave

February 23

36 minutes ago, John said:

Antidote to a "ship's funnel" 🙂

U.K. Astronomy Buy & Sell (astrobuysell.com)

Thats beautiful John..and with a Carton OG too! I wonder if Richard might accept a cheeky offer for the objective only, to try out versus my Vixen 80mm F15??😂

February 23

20 minutes ago, Saganite said:

Never thought I would hear you say that ...ever, about 'ship's funnels' Dave....🙂

Well, Steve I'm nothing if not open minded!!🤭😋

February 23

On 20/02/2024 at 18:44, John said:

I have enough refractors so I'd go for the F/8 6 inch newtonian I think.

I always liked the classic looks of the TAL 2M 🙂

Thats the only Newt I've ever found attractive to look at. But I'd still have to stand up to view most objects and tilt my head at an awkward angle to view through it🤪!! A literal pain in the neck!😂

On 20/02/2024 at 18:27, vlaiv said:

Out of interest, what is the purpose of this inquiry?

I suspect David's original thread starter post was somewhat, er, mischievous..😉🙄.

Dave

February 22

I have Vixen pairs at 7x50 (porros) and 8x32 (roofs). Both high quality and made in Japan.

Both are very different animals..the 7x50s are very heavy, and benefit greatly from a tripod (I have mine on a pistol trigger grip and aluminium tripod, on which they are superb). They have a 7.3 degree field, great contrast and pinpoint stars across most of the field.

The 8x32s Apex Pro roofs are a handheld delight..compact, solid but quite light and very comfortable to hold for long periods - and also with a nice 7.5 degree fov..but it feels quite a bit wider than the 7x50s.

I think an 8x42 pair of roofs would fit very well with your current pairs..they would be very comfortable, not tiring for extended sessions, and stunning in darker skies on clusters, milky way etc.

And also excellent for bird and wildlife watching.

Good luck with your choice!

Dave

February 20

22 hours ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

I actually maentioned this topic in one of my posts as i am usually a right eye viewer . But when i tried my left eye it actually made the image brighter . But getting used to observing with the left eye is very difficult . Maybe bino viewers is a good idea ?

I have found the exact same Stu..

About 6 years ago I was driving to work and my right (dominant eye) vision quite quickly went very blurry and "milky".. it was a scary experience!

I got an urgent appointment with an optician, who advised it was age related (I was 62 then) and he likened it to bits of material detaching from the sides of my eye and floating around - rather like a snow scene ornament you shake and then watch the "snow" settle..

He said it should settle by itself but that there is no treatment for it. Thankfully it did settle a fair bit. But I can't now view with right eye only.

I trained myself to view with my left eye, which thankfully is still reasonably good.

I have also found that binoviewers definitely help with viewing Moon and planets..there is some light loss when using binoviewers vs "cyclops", perhaps c half a magnitude, but more comfortable.

And I definitely find when binoviewing that my "good" left eye "lifts" my bad right eye, not the other way around.

For stellar images (point sources), doubles and fainter clusters I find left eye only viewing best.

So now, I have Maxbright II binoviewers and 3 pairs of eyepieces plus barlows, and c 8 single eyepieces plus an eyepatch to cover my weaker right eye for cyclops.

HTH,

Dave

February 20

They seem highly regarded over the pond...and that tripod looks very robust!

Dave

February 19

Oh dear..I seem to have inadvertently pressed a couple of buttons!..🤦‍♂️🤭

😁😁

February 19

36 minutes ago, Mr_Cat said:

A pretty decent night last night, some cumulous clouds passing through early on but cleared nicely, just fancied some moon time, swapped the 150 onto the mount to get the whole moon in, then back to the 200 for some general meandering round on the surface. A bit of higher level cloud passing over but didn't impact the viewing too badly.

Had a play with the camera on both the 150 and the 200 - interesting light with the high level cloud. Didn't correct it as it gave it a nice sepia / vintage feel

A very pleasant evening

What's to correct? A lovely image!👌😄

Dave

February 19

Thanks Steve..I do find it very difficult to get a decent mobile phone shot..they never truly reflect what I see through the eyepiece!.

I know Stu often manages good mobile phone shots but I believe he does have a proper phone mount? They do look rather like Instruments of Torture though!😄

February 19

Having been "promised" a few hours of clearness by the Met Office app, it looked early on as though the clouds (both high up thin cloud and lower fast moving ones) were going to scupper any chance of a session..

..but I looked out again at c 8.40pm, and there was the Moon very high up and bright, so I got out my Vixen SD115S and did a quick polar alignment of the EM2s equatorial so I could track the objects I planned to observe: M42 of course, the Moon, Rigel, and Sirius.

I was pleased to note that although transparency wasn't great, and of course the very bright waxing Moon was drowning out many fainter stars, the seeing looked pretty good.

I started on M42 with MBII binoviewers and a pair of Vixen 30mm NPLs..I can't get native magnifications with the 115s as yet (I need to look into this, to see if I can find a truly "ultrashort" adapter).

So, I tried 3 different barlows, at 1.6x, 2x and 2.25x. M42 was first, and was a little disappointing compared to my first view 10 days ago (better transparency and no bright moon then).

I moved straight to the Moon, and was rewarded with some lovely views, most notably of Plato..I managed a shot of it with my handheld mobile phone (I must get a proper holder!) through the right hand eyepiece of my binoviewer ..

Below, for comparison, is a screenshot image taken from the Sky at Night website with credit to the original photographer who used a 9.25" Celestron SCT..

The session turned out to be quite short but very sweet..but I'll write up a proper report later today..but suffice to say for now..I am delighted with this lovely scope!😉

Dave

February 18

On 17/02/2024 at 08:08, Stu said:

I popped the Tak out for a quick look at the Moon

Hi Stu,

By the above, did you mean "The Tak", as in Phyllis, the FS128, or 'the tak', as in anything else "Tak-ish"?🤔🤭😁

Dave

February 18

9 hours ago, Saganite said:

My Vixen ED103 lives most of the time now on the SP mount and tripod.

Utterly classic looking setup Steve..but with absolutely top tier optics!😊🤩

Dave

February 17

David, your title could just as well have read for my new to me Vixen SD115S..

I've had it for 2 weeks tomorrow and have had just over an hour of proper observing in that time..and before that I'd had under 2 hours with my dearly departed FS128 in the previous 5 weeks, all due to the wettest and cloudiest autumn and winter in Lincolnshire on record..ever!!🌧☔️🌧☔️🌧☔️🌧☹️😡

Dave

February 17

9 hours ago, Nicola Fletcher said:

At last, the Mewlon has landed!

I ordered it from Robtics.nl which had one in stock, and somehow the tracking with the delivery company went awry and the box was sitting in the rain outside my front door while the tracking insisted it was still in the warehouse in the Netherlands.

Anyway, both the box and scope are absolutely fine - and it’s just as well packed as you would expect from Takahashi. It’s a beautiful looking scope and a perfect size. I’m really looking forward to first light with this. Thanks for the inspiration @JeremyS. As my other half said, ‘It only took 7 months for you to get bored with the last new scope!’