mikeDnight

Very nice images Paul. You're obviously very keen to venture out at that time in the morning, and in such low temperatures. I'm looking forward to the milder spring nights when the Moon is high in the evening sky. I've already sharpened my pencils in anticipation! ☺

I've often found that SCT's take an age to cool, which can mean that if you're taking it out into a cold winter night from a relatively warm house, it could easily take 3 hours or more to even begin working at its optimum. Even then I find them disappointing on planets, as they never seem to snap into sharp focus, but remain soft. Stellar targets don't fare much better either, as just when it looks like a star is going to snap into sharp focus, the image defocuses again. So to get the best from your 8SE it would pay to keep it at outside temperatures, and while during the warmer months, out of direct sunlight.

Hi Sheila, I'm not sure of your scopes actual worth but Polarex are the same as the legendary Unitron, so although it is only a small aperture, it could be of interest to a collector. The problem is that there are many great scopes available today that it may limit your asking price. Its a shame youre in Canberra or I might have made an offer. I'm sure you'll find a buyer who would love to restore it to its former glory though. You could ask for offers and someone local may snap it up.

In line with my philosophy, and of course my nature, SIMPLE works well for me!

May be there'll be a return of the amateur telescope maker. Their skill of many and their ingenuity was an endless source of amazement to me.

The 17.5mm is a gorgeous eyepiece that you will definitely love and appreciate. It is definitely worth adding to the 12.5mm. The danger is that you'll want the rest!

I think a small refractor on a simple altazimuth mount and lightweight tripod would be the most intuitive of all. There are numerous 70 & 80mm achromat that could be easily handled, and that would give very pleasing views. If you could afford it though, a SW 72mm ED would be a perfect easy to use scope.

Sorry to hear you've been unwell Alan. I hope you're soon back on your feet and able to enjoy your hobby again. But it just goes to show that you can do everything right and still fall foul of this insidious disease. Best wishes, Mike

John started this thread in March 2019 and I'm wondering if he's finished that book he wasn't intending to write, as I'd like to buy it?! ☺ I still believe minimum useful aperture is an outdated concept. It only serves to stop us observing before we begin. Sadly, many observers still harbour this concept in their heart, and so assume as fact that a certain aperture is unable to show an object well, without ever actually having first hand experience.

I don't think the gap is too large. The 17.5 will offer up beautiful star fields, while the 9mm will give you a dark sky background which will help enhance the appearance of nebulae etc. It's only when you get to the shorter focal lengths that you need focal lengths close together. The 4.5mm should be good too! The ed80 can give some terrific views of the Moon & Planets so push the power when the seeing is good.☺

Having owned and loved an Equinox 80ED, I know just how good it can be. The 17.5mm is a spectacular eyepiece but it barlow well to give you a near 9mm. If I were to buy three I'd buy the 17.5mm, 9mm and 6mm. The 9mm would give you a 4.5mm when barlowed, and the 6mm will give you a 3mm. They are very lightweight so won't unbalance your scope, but their large eye lens and great eye relief makes them a joy to use.

A lovely clear night early on, so I made the most of it. After checking out a few clusters which gave my scope a few minutes to cool, I then spent a little time with Mars. With the first sketch I used a 5mm Ultascopic giving 160X in my 100mm F8. The second sketch was made using a 3.4mm Vixen HR which gave me 235X and a well defined image. Due to the use of a diagonal the view is inverted.

I think you'd love the Baader Morpheus. You could afford two and stay within your budget, but they barlow beautifully, so if you choose carefully you'll have 4 magnifications. The 17.5mm is a top class must have eyepiece!

Top class drawings Pixies! I can hear the drums!!

I've never used a Binotron, but I've no problem getting great lunar and planetary views with my binoviewer and 2X barlow. With the FC100D a pair of 25mm and 18 or 16mm eyepieces give spectacular views with a barlowed binoviewer. Because of the extended light path between the barlow and the eyepiece due to the binoviewer, the amplification is approx 4X, so in a DF an 18mm would give around 165X and 16mm 185X.

I find that a power of around 180X is my most used magnification on the Moon & planets, as on most nights there's little to be gained by going higher. Of course much depends on your target object. Stellar targets can take very high power during moments of steady seeing. So if you're looking at double stars, its not unreasonable to use 300X to 500X, and if you use a tracking mount you can even push 1000X if you can cope with the tiny exit pupil. Barlows are a great alternative to a shorter focal length eyepiece if you'd rather not spend a lot.

For lunar observing nothing beats a binoviewer and a pair of ortho's or plossl's, if you can get along with them. Not much more pricey than a single high end eyepiece either!

I've just bought this case / bag off Amazon for my frac. The dimensions are 29.5"/9.8"/11.4" and it is allegedly shock proof and waterproof, though I'd take those claims with a pinch of salt. My scope fully retracted with no attachments is 23.5" long. 25.5" with its 2" back attached. 27.75" with 2" back and diagonal attached. 28.5" with extension tube attached, and 30.75" with full back end and diagonal attached. The bag can accommodate the scope with its full back end and Baader prism attached, but its tight length wise. The prism or extension tube can be removed and stored in the side pocket. (My DZ finder remains attached). I decided to use some Styrofoam padding I had lying around to keep the scope firmly in place.

In all your sketches you have a very nice and realistic drawing technique David, making a lovely record of observations to look back on.☺

What a fantastic set of observations John. Iras was my first comet. I remember sweeping the sky using 12X60 binoculars until I got cramp in my neck, then as I lowered the bin's, I just glanced upward and there it was, easily visible as a large nebulous fan. My early drawings of Jupiter and Saturn weren't nearly as expertly drawn as yours. I used crayola crayons and on occasion felt tips for that road kill effect. When I get chance I'll dig them out and share them. You'll wish I hadn't!

Sounds like a fantastic scope Paul! It looks gorgeous too!! ☺

I'm not certain but whatever data you collect and send to the BAA or AAVSO is valuable, in that it is added to a greater collection of data, so that a fuller picture of a stars variability is seen. So variable star observers effectively work together through the above organizations. Of course you will be able to choose to study variables with different periods, so if you miss one you may catch another at different stages of variability.

Thanks for that Paul. It's very true about the amount of observing done from that spot. And the pleasure and excitement I've had has been greatly added to by yourself, and one or two other enthusiastic observers during that time. Money couldn't buy that!

Here's the only blurry pic of me alongside my first telescope, a 60mm Astral bought from Dixon's. It cost me £110 in the January sale of 1980.

Another nice observation David! I've dropped my guard lately as far as Mars is concerned, but after your encouraging e-mail, I took the DZ out last night and made a sketch. It shows the Solis Lacus region near to centre with Margeritifer towards proceeding limb. The diagonal was at an angle for comfort, so the polar cap is at 2 O'clock. Interestingly SL is usually very dark at its centre, hence it's pet name the Eye Of Mars, but last night it was very washed out. Is this the dust storm? Regards, Mike