Highburymark

Superb Stu. Perfect eyepiece for the DC and many other scopes too, and probably as good as you can get. I’ve just ordered the 2.5mm TOE as I love the 3.3mm so much. Don’t look quite as cool as the HRs though. Sorry RVO didn’t have the 2mm as the website indicated.

I was surprised to find my 8x25 Terra binoculars out of collimation yesterday - I use them all the time, and they hadn’t been dropped or anything, so not sure of the cause. Presume collimation is not something I can do? Never had this problem before and can’t find any guidance on the web. Appreciate any advice.

Here’s the final set up with More Blue Losmandy. Have kept the weight down to around 9.3kg I reckon.

During solar minimum, when things were really dead on the surface, I often wondered why we could see small prominences most of the time, while no filaments had been seen for months. I do think the relationship between proms and filaments is a little more complex than it’s normally explained (ie that they are the same thing). It seems we can see detail in Ha on the limb that would not be visible as a filament on the rest of the visible surface. Maybe your very interesting calcium imaging can help cast light on the matter?

Real shame this John. Loved the Moonlite I’ve used, almost as good as Feather Touch focusers for most purposes. But Chinese focusers getting better and better, then there’s also the Baaders.

Definitely they’d be fine for the DC Stu.

Must say I didn’t know about Moonlite rings. There are also Parallax rings which seem to be better for heavier Taks. Surprised to read recently that Moonlite are stopping production of manual focusers so wonder if the rings will continue to be manufactured. Agree with you about the lack of stylish alternative rings on the market. More Blue seemed to fill that gap, but maybe more for the lighter ranges and visual rather than imaging with the TOA - superb set up by the way

They cope very well. The Gitzo is a 4 series supposedly able to carry 25kg. The Skytee 2 is fairly hefty and capable of handling 10kg on the end clamp.

Also means I’ve got another one ready for those special 4-ring evenings…..

That thread did spring to mind when I was posting this Stu!

Interesting. The More Blue gear is certainly very light Simon - the Losmandy bar is about half the weight of the TS vixen one I’ve been using. There’s such a difference in the Tak range from the flyweight FCs and welterweight TSAs to the TOAs (cruiserweight?). Almost need different ranges of gear to support such contrasting telescopes

Apologies Trentend but we’re now going to be away this week . Maybe other NV disciples on the forum might be able to meet up?

…… but then again, spraying your scope with water has never been a particularly advisable solution to poor mounting….. so, for any young stargazers out there, please stay away from those garden hoses. Normal service has been resumed.

At first this might look like overkill….. I’ve replaced the vixen dovetail with a Losmandy one, and at the same time I’ve added an extra ring. All More Blue from FLO. I wasn’t happy with the dampening, and there was a small but noticeable sag when I placed the scope in the ADM vixen clamp. The new set up feels far stronger. The ADM dual clamp is much heavier and more robust, and adding a third ring and Losmandy dovetail has improved the dampening significantly - it all feels rock solid. So thanks chaps for the advice. Treated the new scope to a couple of eyepieces too. No Vixen HR 2.4s to be found anywhere, but I think the Tak TOEs are on a par, so I’ve plumped for the 2.5mm TOE to join my superb 3.3mm for tough doubles. (Btw, for anyone searching for new HRs, they’re not completely sold out - the 1.6mm is still on sale at APM in Germany, and RVO’s website suggests they still have the 2mm in stock). Then I also needed a 5mm as a basic planetary EP for the TSA. Instead of just adding another Delite, I thought the beefier mount gave me the opportunity to try something else, so I’ve ordered a 5mm XW. Never had one before, so looking forward to trying it out.

Nice sketch - I was also glued to Jupiter that night - a particularly memorable one as the seeing was so excellent.

Just tested the two Baader finders and I have to up to brightness level 5 on the SS V to reach the brightness of the III on its lowest setting. Both have fairly new batteries.

Hmm, interesting - the lowest setting is ok on mine, in fact I turn it up to setting ‘2’ - but I haven’t as yet used it on any targets where dark adaption is critical. I have an SS III so I’ll see how it compares.

Excellent. Shouldn’t be a problem mounting it on rings - just need a simple base that accepts a standard finder stalk. Much easier on the eye than a Telrad, I agree!

I prefer RDFs too. Just weighed the SS V at 380g with the base, though you can remove the two ends of the finder and save a little weight - it’s certainly a lot lighter than a 9x50 RACI. I’ve never used a Telrad or Rigel, so can’t compare.

Nice review. As you note, the Skysurfer III is only slightly better build quality than other cheap red dot finders. But it works ok. The SS V is a huge improvement - by far the best RDF on the market - but it’s the best part of £100 and heavier.

Wonderful report! Look forward to further news

Very nice! With a decent Ha filter you’re all set. Maybe consider a pair of binoviewers to bring out extra detail in the chromosphere and photosphere? During times of average seeing, you might find the Tak outperforms the Skywatcher - that’s something I’m a bit concerned about having just moved from a 100mm to 120mm refractor.

7mm Delite is a lovely eyepiece Jeremy, and it’s even lovelier in a TSA-120. Optically, contrast, sharpness and brightness all up there with the best - including orthoscopics, to my eyes at least. However, not everyone gets on with the adjustable eye guard, or the narrower fov (I’ve grown to prefer it - love being able to see a sharp field stop without having to push down and peer around). They’re also a little too physically wide for perfectly comfortable binoviewing - although it’s possible to remove the eyepiece top and reveal a sort of modern day smoothie plossl underneath to free up space.

Congratulations Stu - a favourite scope with many solar enthusiasts I’ve noted for both Ha and white light - clearly have well figured optics. Can see yours has already been introduced to the Baader wedge.

The 102EDs have to be contenders for best value planetary scopes on the market today. Still under £500 for a 4” ED is remarkable, easy to mount, and they seem to perform well too. For £200 more, there’s the F/11 version. Then another £200 takes you into 4” FPL53 territory with the Skywatcher.