F15Rules

That's a very flexible set up Jeremy..a finder that can act as a handle, and flexible rods that have, er, handles😉😊.. Dave

Hi, Having a right old rummage in some old bits boxes and came across this old eyepiece. It may have belonged to someone who liked really old scopes, as it has a thread on it, (perhaps an old RAS thread?) , and also has a rather nice machined brass adapter to allow use in 0.965" scopes. See photos. The eyepiece seems uncoated, of a short focal length, and tight eye relief. I've not tried it in a scope. If anyone can shed any light on what it is/might be,I'd be grateful😊 . Dave

I finally got out last night, which was my first proper session for several months on a number of counts: - my first scope session since c. early September due to various factors, weather, family, holidays etc, even a bit of waning mojo to be honest. - my first proper session with my Maxbright II binoviewers since I got them in the early part of this year.. The colder, clearer weather was forecast, so I prepared Trinity my FS128, installed the BVs, having checked everything was properly connected (using a BV can be an exercise in frustration if you're not very organised!)..so, by 8.20pm I was ready to go, lined up on Jupiter🙂..with my R.A.drive keeping the planet in view with only minor corrections for over an hour. The sky was very clear to begin with, but of course the high up waning moon was still very bright and washing out most stars of mag 2 or fainter. I did manage to position the scope behind a tree in the garden to block out much of the direct light. Jupiter was a picture, with the 4 main moons beautifully arranged, with one of them (Io, I think) close to Jupiter on the east side, and two more further out, also on the east, appearing almost vertically on top of each other. The higher magnification second shot was taken at 21.49pm, 48 minutes later than the first one at 21.01pm, and you can clearly see the change in the positions of the satellites in that time, especially Io, which was heading for a transit with Jupiter (please excuse the less than great mobile phone pics, I must get a phone holder!).. By now there was a high milky haze which did start to dim key features and cause a bit of light scattering. I could see 4 key bands, and hints of "roughness" along the band edges, but the conditions wouldn't support much over 100x without the sharpness diminishing..I did get long enough to try the Baader 1.7x OCS in the BBHS Zeiss prism diagonal..this gave 147x when coupled with a pair of Tak 12mm Abbe orthos, and I could tell that this will be a wonderful pairing in better skies. Sadly, the skies began to cloud over by just after 10pm, just as my beloved Orion was gaining some altitude..all I had time to do was get a quick shot of the main stars with my phone..but it's fair to say that c 90 minutes of viewing Jupiter, and very briefly, at the last minute, a hazy rather light scattered waning Moon, has really been a tonic. I cant wait to get outside again! PS: although it was bitterly cold, I felt very comfortable using a combination of double socks, Havers thermal long Johns under soft fabric tracksuit bottoms, fingerless Thinsulate gloves, two warm fleece lined jackets and a woollen Beanie!👍😊 Dave

I've just today received my e copy of the great Binocular Sky monthly guide as compiled by Steve Tonkin. In the accompanying email text, Steve advises that the December 2023 edition will be the last one.....😔 If so, Steve's invaluable guides will be greatly missed. Many of us on SGL have used Steve's monthly guides over a number of years, and also his superb books on choosing and using Binoculars. I'd just like to say a big "Thank You, Steve" for all the advice, great Binocular reviews, and sheer enthusiasm for these wonderful instruments. Steve, if you are taking a well deserved retirement, may it be a long, healthy and happy one! Best wishes, Dave

Welcome back C6rrules (Nick) from F15Rules (Dave)👍👍😊!! Like many on SGL, I've missed your detailed, informative and inspiring observation reports, and your return is very welcome and timely, right at the start of the Winter season! Just don't get too attached to that Ships Funnel...somehow, "ShipsFunnelsRule" doesn't have the same ring to it!!🤪😝😂🤣 Dave

I do think that one area where cheap eyepieces can excel is in Binoviewers. I've got 3 pairs of eyepieces for my Maxbright II's :- - a 12 mm premium pair (Tak orthos, ) for high power use with Barlow/GPC at c 180Xor more. Used for planets, moon and doubles observing. - a nice vintage Carton Japan 10.5mm pair with c 65 deg fov for medium power wide field views (the Orion Nebula M42 is superb in these) - a cheap pair of Meade 4000 made in China 32mm Plossls with c 50 deg fov. These are incredibly sharp together, used natively for low power clusters etc. All of the above are very comfortable in use, and work very well in the Maxbrights. The last pair are probably worth about 15% of the Tak orthos, and yet they can deliver views that the Taks simply cannot.. and frankly, I cannot imagine that a pair of Tele Vue 32mm plossls could deliver a significantly better view than the humble Meades: - and the Meades don't have undercuts!!😂 So, very much "horses for courses" and "whatever works for you", I think.. 🤔 Dave P.S. I recall that some really skilled planetary observers such as MikeDnight have for years used cheap eyepiece pairs in Binoviewers, with amazing results!

Maybe it's just me, but I really don't like all these flash, blingy colours that kit makers seem to feel the need to adorn their equipment with.. 🥴. Sorry!🫣 Dave

I think you'd feel far more at home on the USA Forum! 😂

Not Mrs F15Rules, Jeremy.. It was actually hordes of wretched Thunderflies..they can get everywhere, including into scope optics! I've had them get into and behind a laptop screen, and there's no way to remove them. The thought of the critters getting in behind that Fluorite front element gave me the shudders😱😂!! So the scope went into her holdall in the house and, thanks to life and weather issues, there she has stayed still today ☺️👍 Dave

I think you have it all mixed up.. This is a "Show us your Tak" thread. If you don't like it, why don't you start a "Show us your TEC/StellaRvue/Borg/Televue" thread instead? 😊 Dave

Yes John, I had the original Tak 50mm finder when I bought my FS128: it was optically superb, but being straight through was literally a pain in the neck! The original Tak bracket, though, is excellent, far more stable and better at holding alignment than an SW one, so I found a brand new, unused Skywatcher 50mm RACI taken from an Esprit refractor. Although not as good as the Tak Optics, it is sharp on axis, goes quite deep and is very comfortable to use. Dave

No stranger to this thread but not recently, having been in storage literally since August..🤦‍♂️😏. But... ..My Precious is back! All fettled and ready for the winter season, complete with MBII's and Tak Equatorial😊. Dave PS I hadn't realised before..the focuser alone has 5 internal, blackened baffles! (try saying that without your teeth in!)😂

I am not (and never will be) into imaging, but hats off to your superb image of M31! Really detailed, clear and pure looking👍 Dave

A couple of outdoor day shots of my c1982 80mm F15 Vixen/SBS achromat, originally sold in France.. It's got some cosmetic marks on the tube courtesy of the previous owner, but the lens is A1 and showed some lovely detail on Jupiter last week, up to c160x (Tak Abbe 12mm with WO 1.6x barlow nosepiece). N.B. This scope has a replacement Crayford style focuser. I'd prefer to put an original Vixen R&P unit back on it, so if anyone has a spare in their spare parts drawer, do please get in touch? Thanks! Dave

Quote from John.. "Hello. Have one scope at the moment and it should be more then enough - A Tak FS128. Owned for a year. Very fortunate to have it along with certain SGL members who assisted in getting my mucky paws on it. However. I do rather fancy a 8in SCT to go along with it." Tell me, John..did you fit ear muffs on your FS128 as you were composing this blasphemy??🥴 🤦‍♂️😱🧐😂 Dave

They do quite a few different greens... just Tak your pick! 😊 Dave

Guy, John is correct..the Intes MK67 F12 Mak is a superb double star scope. I have owned 3 150mm Maks in the past, including an MK67, and all were excellent: compact, solid, easy to mount, and with great Optics. I now have a Tak FS128 but the MK67, once cooled ( and with a Sitall glass mirror it cools quickly), would give the Tak a real run for it's money. And the one for sale on SGL, is right on your budget at £500! ( I have no connection with that sale..😊). Below are 2 pics of previously owned Ylena 150mm F14 Mak, made by Lomo. This scope was very similar in size to the MK67 being sold on SGL. And very happily mounted on an EQ5 class mount (a Vixen GP would be perfect!). Hope that helps! Dave

Yes, you've definitely won the Pools!👍🤣 Dave

Won the pools, Jeremy??😉 Dave

+1 for David, Mike and John's remarks..all good, sensible opinions from highly experienced UK based people who have first hand experience of the vagaries of UK seeing conditions. I have come to believe that as we get older, factors other than just optical ones become more important to the practice of our hobby.. In no particular order, I'd suggest the following have become, and are becoming ever more important to me and my observing (I'm now 67).. - weather, in terms of temperature, (how cold, how warm) seeing (sky steadiness), transparency (sky clarity), light pollution, atmospheric pollution (local fires, log burners, bonfires, Saharan Dust, etc).. - weight of equipment, ease and speed of setting up, (here, refractors have a big advantage versus reflectors, needing little or no collimation or other adjustments).. - local micro climates- wind direction, local horizon, temperature inversions, neighbour's lighting and late night interior lighting - age related factors..the call of the TV on a cold night, fatigue, inertia against spending a long time in the cold setting up, family ties, unexpected phone calls, physical deterioration eg tolerance of cold, bronchial/rheumatic and other health/age related problems, compliant (or not) partner, unexpected phone calls and visitors etc etc. For younger observers other factors can be more influential: - work early start, young children responsibilities, fatigue from daily grind, lack of funds, and need to sell equipment and/or take a break from hobbies. My take from the factors that affect me personally where I am in my life now are slowly starting to convince me that a 100mm to 115mm high quality refractor on a relatively lightweight EQ or Altaz mount and wooden tripod are the way to go. As someone said above (Stu, I think), a smaller instrument that you use more, can actually show you more than a larger scope that you don't use so much due to any combination of the above "what counts" factors. So, taking everything into account, it's hard to argue against a really good 4" or so refractor. I wish you well with your new 100mm Tak, and I also wish you many healthy years in your later life to enjoy it! 😉 Dave

Humble Thanks, Jem San..and felicitous congwatulation.. From Han Del San😋😆

I have a similar pump which I use to empty my (c 1500 gallon capacity) pond once a year. This pond takes over 3 hours for the garden hose to fill on full flow from the mains, but only c 30.minutes to empty with the pump..but you do need somewhere for the pump to drain the water to of course. The French drain is not difficult to make (I put one in adjacent to an outbuilding wall which was very wet) and they work well..but again they need to be dug long enough, with a natural slight incline in the ground away from the area you want to drain. Hope you find a solution that works for you Michael.. (oh, and of course a dry warm spell is the time to dig a French drain of course).. Dave

No, Jeremy, you got it the wrong way up..it's a heavenly walking stick for departed astronomers..😉 Dave

Well, it IS closer to the real truth..which is, of course, "Will Most Definitely, 100% Certainly, Without a Shadow of Doubt, contain Cloud, Rain, Hail and Thick Clouds"🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ Dave

What's that strange coloured pigment in the background Magnus? I think, here in England, it might have been called "blue sky" many years ago??🫣 Dave