mikeDnight

I'm not sure I could! The DZ systems chart shows a different 1.6 extender Q. To be honest, I eventually just used the DC at its native F7.4, as the images were exquisite.

Yes! I bought a 1.6 extender-Q for my DC which took it from F7.4 upto F11.8. It was absolutely stunning, giving pure high power views with superb definition and zero false colour.

I know I must have said a hundred times that I'd never part with my DC. And watching it go was quite literally heart wrenching as I loved it so much. Over the last five years I've had at least two opportunities to buy a DL, but I couldn't part with the DC. However, in February, after reading a partial review on the DZ claiming its images are ice cold, I found myself in a moment of insanity placing an order with TruTek Astro. I'm lucky I placed the order when I did because I got the scope before the price increase. And Nick was the cheapest at the time anyway. The DZ arrives on Monday so prepare for yet another unboxing. To be honest, I don't know what I will gain by this insane and costly change, as the DC was as near to being as perfect as perfect gets visually. Having said that, the DL gave a cooler view which I found appealing, so the DZ which is reportedly even cooler than the DL, should be nice. If the DZ allows me to use my 1.6mm HR to form a perfect star image at the zenith at 500X, I'll be in heaven.

Very subtle Paul, and very true. And there is a thin green UPS tracking line snailing its way across the country to my house as I type.

I believe that if you're going to own just one telescope, then why not make it the best you can afford? Ive owned some very nice large refractors, but the larger they get, the less I want to use them. When I bought a Tak FC100DC in early 2015 the darn thing nearly burned me out. Every opportunity I had I was out with my scope. Since then I've made literally hundreds of observational sketches and seen things I wouldn't have believed a 4" scope could show. It is sharp and has great contrast and definition. On nights when the seeing is steady I can use powers in excess of 400X on some targets. Essentially identical star images either side of focus as John says, and perfect Airy disc's. Jupiter is vibrant and Mars reveals a wealth of subtle detail. The Moon is laser etched. On one occasion while drifting over the Appenine mountains at 474X my stomach rolled as I felt like I was falling over the stark, almost 3D cliff face. Binary stars are simply awesome showing wonderful contrasting colours. And Deep sky on a transparent night and with good dark adaption appears surprisingly bright. The faintest object I've seen so far in the 100mm has been IC434 which extends from Alnitak and contains the Horse Head, though the HH appeared as only a vague dark notch with averted vision. Takahashi currently offer three 100mm fluorite doublets, that are light weight and have exquisite optics. These are the FC100DC, FC100DF and the FC100DZ. Their reputation for offering some of the best optics currently available are well deserved, and they are readily available, so no inordinately long wait. They don't need a hefty mount and so make a great g&g option. An AZ4 or Vixen GP will carry them well. A F9 FC100DL alongside a F7.4 FC100DC, both on SW AZ4 mounts. And the new F8 FC100DZ with retractable dew shield

That's great! Thanks Craig. ☺

Last night I had an urge to rekindle my love for the 60mm Astral 500, an F15 achromat. I bought one of these back in 1980 and it was enough to fuel my enthusiasm for our hobby way past general curiosity. I eventually sold my original 60mm Astral, but about ten years ago i saved this one from the skip. It's a nice little scope, and surprisingly, some of the original 0.96 eyepieces gave a very pleasant view of Venus. Using a 10mm Ultrascopic turned the scope into a good little performer. 😊

It doesn't work for me either!

Thanks David, I have a small selection of filters but I rarely use them. All six of the above sketches were made without the use of any filter. I should have noted that on the sketches but forgot. ☺

Here are a few observations of Venus from over the last few evenings. All were made with a bright background sky.

That's quite a report John. You almost make me feel like I've let the side down, as I didn't venture out last night. My excuse is that it was blowing a gale and bitterly cold. I did have a little fuzzy hunting session the night before though while using the 10" F6. I'm going to have to devise some way of making it taller though, as I'm stooping over to view through the eyepiece even at the zenith, which plays havoc with my back! Rotating rings might be nice too, along with a much better focuser.

But, if you had a perfectly nice 4" apo, how often would you use your C6? I'm not suggesting you buy a good 4" apo as they aren't cheap, but their piercingly sharp star images, bright wide star fields, high definition, high power views are attributes worthy of consideration. And today, many of them are relatively short and lightweight. No other scope design can match a refractors versatility, which is perhaps why they are so highly regarded by so many.

Michael, Does this system do away with manual override all together? I notice you have no manual control knobs.

If we go down that route well be frightened to say anything. I can think of much worse than the term "idiot". Anyone who shoot's a car at Mars deserves to be the target of verbal abuse, and he missed at that!

Yet another book arrived this morning from Book Deposatory, via carrier pigeon. They informed me it was "winging its way to me" on April 3rd. I haven't read any of it yet, just looked at the pictures, but I must say it looks a promising read. Lots of nice refractors - which Neil E has the Hot's for deep in his heart. One day he might write a best seller entitled "Takahashi"!

Samantha, Is there a reason why you're not thinking of a garden shed with a run-off roof? It would save you having to erect a tent before each observing session, and it would last for decades if looked after. Much comfier too!

What kind of wood's that Ade? ☺ For anyone looking for a nice wooden eyepiece box, check out Farrar & Tanner. These boxes look pretty nice and start at around £15. The pic attached is pretty big and has good depth too.

Take a look at Venus. You can't miss it as it looks like a brilliant star in the western sky around Sun set. You wont see any surface detail but you will see the phase. And if you observe it often, youll notice the phase change until it becomes a very thin crescent. The Moon will be around again in a weeks time and that is truly spectacular to observe night after night as you watch the detail change day by day. One of the best things you can do in the meantime would be to buy a star atlas and learn your way around the major constellations. Once you find three or four, the rest will fall into place, and although its unlikely you'll remember every one, you'll still be able to find your way around very effectively. Before long, you'll know the positions of a great many stars and deep sky objects without the need of computers or any electronic device.

You do realise this is now a legal document, don't you!?

Ok, here here's the cheeky chap enjoying himself on a day trip to Burnley, - despite the Aliens!

There's also The Astronomy Centre, which although being in Yorkshire, is only millimetres over the border between Bacup & Todmorden. There you can use dozens of different telescopes of all major designs, and chat at length with other observers. Just Google Astronomy Centre or chat to Peter Drew on SGL if you're interested. I'm not certain if East Lanc's Astronomical Society is still in operation? They used to meet at Stoneyhurst College Observatory, which used to house a fabulous 7 1/3" Clark refractor used by Dawes. Foolishly they sold it in favour of a 15" refractor which in my view just isnt as good optically. May be someone could shed light on whether ELAS is still running?

There are a few Lancashire based observers on SGL, so you're definitely not alone. And there's one or two who sneak over the border from the mystic east, just to observe under our skies, - well, one at least! And if he denies it I'll post a pic as evidence.

Eyepieces can be very personal things and what suits one person may not suit another. I've owned many top end wide fields, but over the last five years I've dropped them all in favour of narrower field, but superbly transparent five element pseudo Masuyama's. I don't miss the wide field eyepieces at all, and although i really like orthoscopic's, when you get to the shorter focal lengths the eye relief can make the view uncomfortable. So, to reach high magnifications I use the Vixen High Resolution eyepieces, and so far I've not found anyother eyepiece as sharp while retaining a high level of comfort.