mikeDnight

I'd have given my right arm for a StarTravel 120 when I began in this hobby back in 1980. Back then though, the skies were more transparent and had less light pollution, and my interests were brighter deep sky and comets. I think of the StarTravel series as being somewhat specialist instruments, as they can deliver truly awesome views of the milkyway, star clusters and nebulae, as well as comets, like few other telescopes can. But as you've come to learn, they are perhaps not the best choice when it comes to observing the Moon & Planets. However, in 2004, a friend brought his new StarTravel 102 round to me to get my opinion. I aimed the little scope at Mars and fit a 3X TV barlow and a 7mm Nagler to the scope. Mars was getting low in the west but immediately we could both see identifiable surface detail. We were both impressed that this F5 refractor could perform so well, of course with a 3X barlow the little scope was effectively working at F15. I suppose the lesson is that with the right accessories a little StarTravel can do what it wasn't designed to do, although with some limitations. If you had gone for the Mak 127 you could never get the same wide fields of view that the StarTravel will give you, but you would have a good lunar and planetary scope. As for no single scope doing everything, well that's a Pandora's box that someone else can open. All I'll say is "be prepared for some serious surgery on your wallet!"😂

That's an interesting map David. I first became aware of just how destructive aircraft are to the seeing when the planes were grounded after the eruption of the Icelandic volcano way back when. My 120ED was instantly transformed into the 24" Clarke. A similar improvement occurred during Covid. Since the restrictions were lifted I could swear they've doubled the number of aircraft ruining my skies. I blame FLO for selling all those airline friendly scopes.

I think you should think along the lines of one scope that will do everything. You'll need to double your £500 budget, but the triplet Apo Askar 103mm with its 3" focuser should at least warrant some serious thinking about. It will be a great visual scope, but being a triplet it should be a pretty good imaging scope too. It also comes with an awesome carry case!

I love the experience of a Tak Tme Warp. A great report, thanks for sharing your fun times with us.

Resolution is limited by atmosphere and a refractor is a far more versatile visual instrument than a reflector, so other than light grasp, a 12.5" Obsession would have nothing to offer over a 7" apo under UK skies. Star images and planetary definition as well as aesthetics would all be better through the refractor than anything else. Of course this is only my unashamed and totally biased opinion.

Its a pity he waffled on about imaging as its all gobbledygook to me. However I'm pretty sure it would make a killer visual scope, which is all that matters.

That's very similar to the view I had David within minutes of yours. I didn't make a cleaned up version of my sketch because the seeing really wasn't that great and the detail difficult to position accurately. But I thought you might like to see the similarity. I was using the FS128 with Maxbright BV, BBHS prism at around 166X.

Fabulous sketches John! A real pleasure to see, and plenty of great detail too! ☺️

I think both sketches are excellent! 🏆

That sounds like a promising first night exploring with your FC100DC Matthew. I really have an on going love affair with these scopes that probably borders on unhealthy, but as a consequence I've been privilaged to see so many amazing things. I also know that many others feel similarly, and am pretty sure you'll soon be among them too. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more about your adventures.

I had chance to observe with what I think was a 7" intes MC around 2006/7 which belonged to paulastro. It really was superb! We had it alongside my FS128 on my drive way and spent much of our time observing the Moon. The Intes had obvious better resolution than the FS128 and was an absolute joy to observe with, but the 128 was sharper, though not by much.

Sorry to hear about your bad back Alan. It was either Ken Dodd or Jasper Carrot who said "You can always tell a married man, because he's the one with his spine removed!" Not true!! Most married men I know have back problems, myself included. In my case I think it's because of carrying everyone over the last 40+ years. I should never have left my mother, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. I suffer from spondalosis of the lower spine, and when it really plays up I've even blacked out because of the pain. a few years ago I had a really bad problem with and couldn't walk or even move without crippling pain. A friend loaned me a electronic massage chair, which is really a overlying cushion that you place over an armchair. I was extremely doubtful about its usefulness, but after only 10 mins I could walk without pain. Might be worth thinking about if you have an on going problem!?

Some nice reading there Alan. My old Norton's is littered with pencil lines depicting the paths of numerous comets I followed over the years, including Halley. Although there are better atlases available, Norton's has a special place in my heart. Soppy or what! And the Messier Album, which I bought at the same time as buying my Norton's back around 1981, was the book that got me started with observational sketching. I loved simply looking at John Mallas messing with his 4" F15 Unitron in that single photograph of him, and always wanted a scope like that. I was never swayed by the aperture argument, as to me at least, there's no scope as beautiful as a refractor, especially a Unitron. The only thing that puzzled me was Mallas's sketch of M27 (The Dumbbell nebula). He drew it as a misty rectangle and to this day his portrayal of it remains a mystery. M27 has always appeared to me as an Apple core enshrouded in a nebulous bubble, and that's in every instrument I've ever used, even binoculars.

And so it begins.....

It may well be worth the wait. The Askar 103mm also comes with an amazing padded carry case, which I think paulastro posted pic's of after he bought his. Looks awesome!

LOL!

These are excellent! Who knows, you may even sell your TV's!! 😃 Genuinely though, they really are incredible for the price. The 30mm is breathtaking, and they are available under several brand names.

Hi Matt. I see that you're thinking about an apo with less than 4" aperture because you want it to complement your 127 Maksutov. I can see the sense in that, but if you were to push the boat out and buy a 4" apo, I would be confident you would use the 4" in preference to your 127 every time. The 4" would give wider fields at low power and sharper, better defined views of the Moon and planets virtually every time despite the smaller aperture, and I'd suspect brighter views of deep sky objects. 4" apo's seem to come up for sale quite regularly on the second hand market, and all you'd really need is a doublet, but there's a new kid on the block that really seems to be a bargain - the 103mm Askar. It's a triplet and so may be better colour corrected than some ED doublets, yet is small enough to be carried by a relatively lightweight mount such as an AZ4 or EQ5. It's a beautiful looking scope as well as a nice performer! Available from FLO.

After phoning my buddy paulastro this evening and discussing this up coming event, Paul suggested that the wonderful group of SGLers in the image above, might be moved out of a slightly guilty conscience, to start a mikeDnight sympathy fund in anticipation of the goodies I may wish to buy on the day. I felt that by mentioning it now, it would give more time to think about it. Others are welcome to join them too if the mood takes you. 😆

A tele-scope! 😁

Well if it stays clear you'll have a great view of the Moon. The terminator this evening is awesome, but to see it well you'll need to grab it before it gets too low. I had a lovely view of it a few minutes ago using my 100mm refractor and Maxbright binoviewer at low power. There's something magical about seeing the whole Moon hanging in 3D with sky around it!

Well if its not included in the up coming list of events, I hope the organisers clarify matters in plenty of time. I can spend my money without leaving the house!

Not long now! Better start saving as buying goodies is compulsory!!

I truly love Starlight Nights. I first read it back around 1981 and have pretty much read it once a year ever since. The Comet Seeker is my favourite chapter - "a rhapsody in dark mahogany and gleaming brass..." It still makes my heart race when reading that! Leslie to me at least, is the greatest amateur of all time. All I ever wanted was a 6" F8 comet seeker and an observatory in a field in 1920's Ohio. Not much to ask! I also love how there's no complicated refractor/reflector debate. He was loaned a scope and used it for what it did best, and with awesome results. If only everyone did that, instead of worrying about what their scopes can't do! This was my Peltier style Comet Seeker, and it did follow many comets, just not mine!

This may help in visualising a meridian flip. This shows a refractor on a German equatorial, but the same principle would apply to any other design of scope on a German mount. Telescopes using an English fork design can travel straight past the meridian without the need to flip the scope. 20240110_103023.mp4