Trentend

Some absolute crackers here in Edinburgh. Managed 20 minutes viewing with the family in the backyard seeing around 10 in that time. One in particular I genuinely thought was a firework someone had let off with an ultra bright head and very long tail. Incredible. Just about made up for the appalling weather we’ve had here since end September.

Finally had a chance to try out a pair of Denkmeier D14s in a Mak127 and Binotron binoviewer. Very happy with my current 32mm plossls and 24mm panoptics but always hankered after something with more magnification. Targets were the moon and Mars. All I can say is wow the D14s were fantastic. Lunar views were noticeably brighter on all three power settings compared to the other eyepieces (was not expecting that). I was also anticipating high power to be a little washed out, as can be the case in the panoptics but they were actually the highlight of the evening. Apollo-like views. Eye position was not quite as forgiving as the panoptics but not a problem if seated. The rubber wing guards on the D14s also made the viewing feel far more immersive. I really do need to get something similar for my other kit. Mars was noticeably smaller than a few weeks ago but still very good, although less definition / no obvious polar markings. Think that ship has sailed. Can’t wait to try these on Saturn and Jupiter...

I feared you might say that about the Feathertouch. Which model FTF did you go for?

Anyone had any success using these together (obviously not all three at the same time!)? Having experienced the joys of true grab and go with a Mak127 the other night I’m looking for something equally portable for night vision (a 4” refractor) but also something offering wide field views with a binoviewer. If I’m reading the various posts on SGL correctly, the DC needs an adapter for the focuser to accept 2” kit, e.g. 55mm plossl for afocal viewing with an OVNI-B or the 2” Binotron. Appreciate upgrading the focuser is an option - but prefer that to come down the line. I’ve always used and trusted the Baader clicklock adapters (the Binotron and 2” diagonal I have weigh a tonne) - is that possible here? Other FC100 models look heavier (and more dough) so would prefer to stick to the DC. Also, portability is key - with dew shield and focuser removed what’s the overall length of the scope (trying to work out if it could ever go as carry-on)?

Interesting, I had to fit a Mak to Sct adapter to use my existing 2”diagonal which attaches to the Binotron. Challenge I have is the Binotron only takes 1.25” eyepieces. No fear though as the 32mm plossl’s used last night were great. Just need to work out if I get the Televue extender eyeguards or something similar with wings (I have some flexible rubber wings on my NV goggles and they completely block out all surrounding light like suction pads or a divers mask and they totally transform the viewing experience in my mind as you don’t notice the small FOV as everything is black!).

Fingers crossed for you, am sure you won’t be disappointed. While you’re waiting I can recommend getting a finder scope as the red dot one supplied as standard isn’t great and with the scope having a small FOV it can be a bit tricky to centre items. I just need to decide now whether to get a 9x50 or 6x30. The latter appeals to help keep the weight down with a wider FOV but not sure if that then means it’s more difficult to spot your target? Also, regarding the 32mm plossl, does anyone know if these would fit? https://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=158 I bought a pair a few weeks ago for the pans but had to return as they didn’t fit. The Televue site mentions 32mm plossl but doesn’t specifically say they fit. I don’t want to buy and return again!

3rd night out with the new grab and go kit (Mak127 left outside to cool 1 hour, Binotron and 24mm panoptics). Four targets this time, something not previously possible in the backyard as surrounded by other buildings. Saturn - wow, best views ever. Crisp and clear on both low and medium power settings. Have previously viewed through a large dob and looked like a very small white ball with ears! But this was on a different level. No atmospheric wobble, ultra bright, with nice magnification. Jupiter - quite disappointing. Could just about make out some of the bands, no subtle red spot, moons there, but overall image, even on lower power was a little blurred. Not sure what was happening as enjoyed with 8” dob a few years ago (but much higher in the sky then). Mars - even better than the night before. Viewed this time seated with diagonal twisted horizontally so much more comfortable. Also put in a 32mm Televue plossl and views were stunning. Incredibly bright (much more so than the 24mm pan) with lots of colour, surface texture and could just about make out the poles. Moon - Enjoyed the pans at low and medium setting, popped in the 32mm for the first time on the moon. Have struggled with these before but seemed to hit the sweet spot. Not quite as comfortable to view as the pans but still pretty good being seated this time. All 3 power settings were amazing. Ultra bright and sharp. Probably spent most time overall on medium power just letting the view fly by. Wonder if there’s another 32mm on the market with a a bit less eye relief and wider FOV? Unfortunately didn’t have the Baader neodymium filter with me. Overall VERY pleased. I’ve forked out a few pennies on this hobby over the years but the Skywatcher Mak127 is one of the best things I’ve purchased and so much more fun being able to grab and go.

Some great responses here (but a lot to take in!). Looks like different scopes depending on viewing objectives. a) Have big dob in back garden for DSO with/without NV goggles (and great with binoviewer for lunar and planets when in view) b) Have Mak127 for grab and go for lunar and planets (but not NV). Great views but small FOV so may have to add some fine tuning knobs or tracking (not fun nudging around). c) Perhaps a lightweight refractor for grab and go NV. I’ve seen a lightweight apo (4kg) in the 102mm F7 range. Is that the wrong speed for NV even if I’m using the 67mm Televue adapter? Guess this would be ok for lunar/planets but I’d need more magnification from the eyepiece (24mm in Binotron even at high power would be less than I’m used to in the dob and Mak). Any thoughts on c?

Thanks Peter, slightly off topic but I did consider a frac for a grab and go purely for lunar and planets (not thinking about the NV) but was put off assuming I wouldn’t get enough magnification due to the short focal lengths. I tried an ED72 for a while a few years ago which had a very wide field of view but I could never get close up to the moon/Jupiter having been used to doing that in an 8” F5 reflector. Even with 8mm “planetary” eyepieces in the binoviewer and high power on the powerswitch the views were small. I know I could go mono with barlows etc but I’m wedded to using both eyes. Not sure if I could also put a Barlow in front of the Binotron (which has an OCS45) in a frac or would the views be mush with all of that glass and light loss. I’m still drawn more to lightweight reflector like the VX6L F8 but I don’t want cooling to be a problem (more a grab, wait and go on high powers) which brings me back to a portable frac!!

Living North of the border I often get text alerts about pending potential views of the Northern lights in the central belt but realistically will never see anything due to light pollution. Not sure if this would be possible through NV with an appropriate filter?

Recently picked up a used Skywatcher Mak127 as a grab and go scope for lunar and planets (so far so good although the small FOV is a little frustrating and, being a reflector man am not used to the new viewing position even when seated - will try rotating the diagonal next time so I can view with a straight back/neck to make it more dob-like..). Anyway, will this be any good for afocal viewing with my OVNI-B NV goggles? Thought I’d read somewhere that NV works better with fast scopes (the Mak is very slow) but I may have just made that up. Loving the NV views through the big dob but portable it ain’t.

Round 2 last night. Decided to give my new grab and go set up (a skywatcher mak127) a shot at the moon and Mars inbetween breaks in the cloud. Binotron and panoptics in place. Initial views good although nothing special. Let the scope cool after an hour and wow, Mars was crystal clear. Not sure if this was viewing conditions or the scope but so much more detail on show and a clear disk with sharp edges. Keen to try more magnification but didn’t have chance to test. Then turned to the moon. Nice views on all 3 powerswitch levels, although difficult to make out detail as nearly 3/4 full. However, popped in a Baader neodymium filter and holy smoke, completely different view. So much more detail visible and considerably brighter. Unfortunately clouds rolled in before I could repoint at Mars. Not sure if improvements were condition related or kit but very impressed with the little Mak and new filter. Bad noises coming from large Dob packed away in the garage...

Do I need an adapter to use a 2” diagonal (needed for denk binoviewers) in a skywatcher mak127? I’ve read a few threads about a mak to sct adapter but not sure how this would work once attached to the 1.25” focuser. Photo below shows the telescope side of my set up (OCS45 needs to enter the focuser but not sure how). Think I may need these two items: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-2-visual-back-eyepiece-holder-for-sct-telescopes.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/lynxastro_makcas-sct_adptr.html

Clearish skies this evening so decided to try a number of different eyepieces in my Binotron binoviewer with powerswitch and 18” dob. 2/5 - First up a pair of new Baader mk4 zooms. Couldn’t get comfortable with these. I must have a big nose as they just didn’t “fit”. FOV seemed smallest out of the group, found adjusting the various magnifications fiddly (would struggle on a really cold night with gloves on) plus long eye relief so felt like I was looking through a ships porthole. Unfortunately will be returning these. 3/5 - 32mm Televue plossl. Bought these a while ago for lunar views (very good for this) so perhaps not best suited to planets. Ok but nothing special. Medium magnification with the powerswitch was good but other two settings average. 4/5 - Denk 21mm, probably the sharpest view all evening (not sure if that was a lucky clear spell or the eyepieces themselves) but a little dimmer than the panoptics below. Could clearly see both poles (a small white dot on top and larger region on the bottom, both set at an angle) plus faint dark patches on the surface. Real wow moment. 5/5 - Panoptic 24mm. Super comfortable like wearing your favourite pair of slippers, bright views, wide FOV and enjoyed views with all three magnifications. Have tried many different eyepiece combos over the years but keep coming back to these. Even better now I’ve filled in the undercuts with 5mm tape so really secure in the Binotron. However, the winners on the night were my OVNI-B Night Vision goggles! Had a quick look up just before I packed the gear away scanning across the sky with a 642 filter and x1 magnification and stumbled across the Andromeda galaxy! Unbelievable. No averted gaze, just there waiting to be looked at - a shame the clouds rolled in before I could take a closer look in the dob. I’ll be back...

Not sure if the Tecnosky elle v2 is more for binoculars? Presume would need a few more parts for the mak137 to fit? Looks very nice though.

Missed that one (scope tech). Not sure though if it could take encoders for the Nexus (have asked Serge).

Spent a week or two trawling through various posts trying to help me decide on a new grab and go mount - all very confusing so have tried to capture key buying info (for me) in the table below. The Cost column is base cost only and doesn't take into account shipping, import fees etc (which I appreciate will be high for some of the options - fortunately that's not a key criteria). I have a Mak127 and will use with a Binotron, WO diagonal and 24mm Panoptics - reckon the payload here is around 7kg. I will be paring the mount with a Gitzo tripod (TBC) and the set up must be genuinely lightweight overall AND allow me to fit encoders for a Nexus DSC. Judging by the list below the Ayo VAMO, DSV-1 and M2c appear to be the front runners - any thoughts? Not sure if the slow motion controls are deal breakers? Mount Cost Weight (kg) Load capacity (kg) Slow motion controls Nexus DSC? AZ brake? General comments Vixen Porta ii (inc. tripod) £250 2.2kg 5kg Yes Yes No Does not meet load requirements AZ5 £135 2.3kg 5kg Yes No Yes Does not meet load requirements AZ4 £135 1.2kg 6.5kg No No Yes Only sold with tripod (not sure about weight) - no Nexus Ayo VAMO traveller £390 1.3kg 7kg No Yes No Contender Ayo II £390 3.0kg 8kg No Yes No Contender Vixen Advanced Polaris APZ £530 2.2kg 8kg Yes No No Discount as no Nexus Giro Ercole £350 3.85kg 10kg No No Yes Discount as too heavy / no Nexus DSV-1 £150 2.2kg >10kg No Yes No Add import fees & shipping. Contender DSV-2b £390 4kg >10kg No Yes Yes Add import fees & shipping. Includes heavy QBS - discount M2C £270 1.8kg 12kg No Yes No Is the weight correct?? Add import fees & shipping. Contender

Just about to post the same question! I have a big dob and night vision goggles for DSO in the light polluted back garden. I'm surrounded by buildings though so looking for something ultra portable purely for lunar and planets, e.g. last night Mars appeared for about 20mins inbetween a gap so really need something I can just grab and go. Used to have an 8" Reflector on an EQ5 mount but found that a pain to move around - so one of my key criteria now is AZ mount only ideally being able to lift and move the whole setup in one piece. Have narrowed down (I think) to Mak127 or VX6L. Also considered an ED120 refractor, but suspect that's too big. Will be using binotron and panoptic eyepieces so I like the idea of OO being able to fit a more heavy duty focuser to prevent slop. Also don't want to be mucking about with collimation (presume less of an issue on an F8 compared to a F3.9 Dob). Fortunately circumstances mean cost is not an issue.

Second outing. Skies pretty good for a couple of hours. Full kit up and running including my Nexus DSC so managed to hop around the skies in extra fast time. Some great views through the OVNI-B on various globular clusters (too many to list here), ring and dumbbell nebula. Could barely see any of these with same setup and Binotron. Also tried three recent filter purchases: Antlia 3.5nm; Least used, way too much scintillation - perhaps I need to try different targets / darker skies - or an OVNI-M?... Astronomik 12nm; Good for Dumbell helping to darken background and showed some contrast/detail in the nebula - but still not what I would call crisp compared to some of the "handheld through the viewer on an iphone" shots I've seen. Scintillation ok but still there. Astronomik Proplanet 642; Most used on the night - best view of ring nebula - helped darken background Any eyepiece recommendations to get more magnification (currently use the 55mm televue with 67mm conversion)?

Quick heads up - the Edmund optics guards arrived today - unfortunately they don't fit the panoptics (just in case anyone else was looking at these) so have ordered the official ones from Televue instead...

Really enjoying the view through my PVS7 NV goggles which have a long rubber eyeguard that completely blocks out all surrounding light, useful in my light polluted back yard. Is there something similar I can buy to go on the end of a panoptic 24mm eyepiece (x2) to be used in my Binotron? I know Televue sell an extender but not sure it will block as much, plus £33 a pop. Maybe something like this style B https://www.edmundoptics.co.uk/f/rubber-eyeguards/12476/

Beautiful clear and warm night here in Auld Reekie so decided to get the whole kit out for first use in a while. A few issues along the way; couldn’t find the cable for the encoders on my Nexus DSC so had to go manual and just sweep around the sky. Had the kit attached to my televue 55mm with the 67mm conversion lens. I found to get this in focus the eyepiece had to be pulled around 3/4” out of the base of the feathertouch focuser which didn’t feel particularly secure. Not sure if this is right and I need a riser? Also, I really struggled getting the TNV14- eyepiece adapter tight without starting to unscrew parts of the eyepiece. Must be doing something wrong there. On to the positives, the views handheld were fantastic from a light polluted back garden. Lots of stars, satellites and the odd shooting star. Keen to get a x3 lens for this (any recommendations?). When I got the kit set up in the dob (no filters) I was sweeping the sky and stumbled across the M13. Took my breath away and the family, who came to see. Incredibly clear seeing individual stars with no averted gaze. Quickly swapped to my Binotron and 32mm plossl to compare and all you could see was a very faint fuzz ball. By the way, the 32mm with the Binotron were not good at all and I’ll be sticking to the 24mm panoptic. Switched very briefly to the Antlia 3.5 filter again with the 55mm plossl in the dob. Quite a bit of scintillation. Swept around the North American nebula area. Picked something up but not particularly clear. Looking forward to trying the Astronomik 642 filter next time. So a bit hit and miss but I won’t forget seeing M13 in all it’s glory for the first time and most issues down to me learning how to use the new kit rather than the kit itself.

Next choice is a long pass filter. Looking at either a Baader IR pass filter (685nm) or Astronomik pro planet 642? Some clear skies would also help.

I ended up going with the Antlia 3.5. Will let you know how I get on with it (perhaps upgrade at a later point if needed). Not sure if the IR button is just on the PVS7? When used everything around 2-3m indoors in front of you is crystal clear, compared to lots of scintillation without (although still cool). I think the guy with the pit in Silence of the Lambs had it on his...

Kit arrived today and a clear night here in Edinburgh. Filter to follow soon but had a quick peek upwards in the back yard 5 minutes ago handheld with the x1 lens. Wow, stars everywhere and even a shooting star as a welcoming gift in the first 5 seconds! Young one also had a go indoors with the lights off and really enjoyed it, especially the IR mode, which was pin sharp. Only concern is you have to twist the IR switch quite forcefully and I can see that breaking if used often (not the intention, but a pretty “cool” feature). Also initially concerned as a lot of scintillation when used indoors but this pretty much vanished when outside in its natural habitat. Great start.