Commanderfish

That's the Hercules rings from the FC100 DC. New dovetail and the offending single knob clamps on the mount have been replaced

Oh look 😁

I observed Jupiter and Saturn again this morning at 2.30 am (so 48 hours after the initial report), and indeed the two suspects are now slightly further to the east than Jupiter and the Jovian satellites! So it was of course two background stars. During a patch of clear/cloudless seeing last night using the CC8, I briefly spotted 5 Jovian satellites - but then light cloud started interfering and I could only reliably see and identify 3, including Titan. I didn't screenshot my Sky Safari screen at the time but I think from memory the other two were Rhea and Dione.

Ah thanks Mark, that makes perfect sense! Coincidental, lasting synchronous movement of background stars with a planet. I did think that it was wrong that a moon could be that high above the plain of orbit of the other Jovian satellites! I'll be taking another look. Although it does seem odd that those one or two stars are apparently moving with Jupiter across the star field across multiple nights?

Surprisingly clear and transparent sky last night/this morning between 2am and 3am. Lovely wide fields in the FC-76 DCU, particualrly around the summer treasures region. Located the Wild Duck cluster easily and (since my phone was out of battery) located the Swan/Omega nebula from memory - and it's been three years since I've seen it, due to viewing angles at my previous house and a break from astronomy. The Omega nebula was a little faint in the 76mm (unsurprisingly) but the views in the CC8, particularly with a DGM NPB nebula filter were bright and clear. Really lovely. Very pleased with what a nice clear view that is from SW19 in London, and is proof of concept for what I bought the CC8 for - not primarily for planetary, but for DSOs like M42 and the summer treasures. I didn't find the Lagoon, Eagle or Trifid for certain although there were a number of clusters that looked very much like they might have been suspects, I couldn't remember their locations relative to the Swan. This will be easier when my replacement Tak FC-100 arrives as it should be better at sweeping for faint objects. Saturn looked lovely in both scopes. The CC8 hadn't had a chance to cool at all (and it was a very hot day (28C)), but both scopes showed the Cassini Division and polar caps. The Tak was a little sharper but I'm sure that's because it doesn't need much cooling time, which the CC8 didn't get. Jupiter was good, although not taking more than x140 before going soft. Again more cooling time would have made all the difference but I hadn't planned a session at all. Nonetheless, North and South equatorial bands and further banding both north and south, with polar regions showing. Finished the night with wide field sweeps of Cygnus near zenith, with the FC-76 easily and clearly showing the principal 6 stars of the water tower. Ring Neb in Lyra and Coat hanger Asterism south west of Cygnus nice and clear. Finished with Albireo's bright colourful double. Now to address the phantom(s) in the room. Is it my imagination or are there five, possibly six moons showing readily around Jupiter at the moment? This is the second recent night that I've seen a minimum of 5 in the CC8. They do not appear to be stars because they move with Jupiter. Last night there were the four Galilean moons to the left in the usual neat row, a fifth to the upper right (which is probably on the far side of Jupiter from our perspective), and another to the upper left (similarly may be on the far side of Jupiter). Has anyone else seen these?

I'm out every clear night having a look at the Cygnus region. The Cooling Tower (M29) is a good one.

@mikeDnight Did you get a 26mm 85 degree Masuyama in the end?

RESURRECTION! Does anyone actually have the Masuyama 26mm 85? How is the performance in F7.4 scopes and over? I mostly run F7.4 Fracs and F10 CCs.

Well the cost of repairing the damaged one exceeds the cost of replacement of the entire scope. Also lets face it, the money was in the destroyed Flourite objective lens!

Just to update: AXA paid out in full (minus excess) for replacement of the FC100-DC and other damaged bits. FYI if you don't have sales receipts they do accept original packaging or user manuals as proof of purchase, so do keep those boxes if you are not already in the habit of doing so! A week or so ago I ordered an FC100-DF from FLO as my replacement. My logic is that I would like the longer focuser reach and also the stock Tak blue focuser over the black Feathertouch focusers. I decided to go for the DF over the DZ for the slightly lower DF weight and shorter in-use length, plus of course the price and availability. I will see how the DF focuser (Sky 90 focuser) works out, but given that it gets better reviews than the DC focuser I might leave it completely stock. The DC focuser is pretty good so the DF ought to be fine for visual. If I do want to upgrade in future for fine focusing at high powers, it will be to the FT micro-pinion. I'm going to stick with my alu Hercules rings and a new alu dovetail as I still prefer those over the Tak clamshell. Clamp on the offending mount has been upgraded to twin knob-non-marring. UK Stock: as of about 10 days ago, Widescreen Centre had one DC in stock (a little over priced IMO) with no other FC100s due til November this year. FLO have one DC and two DFs due in July, though I've already bought one of those two DFs. FLO are looking at November for the DZ model. RVO have some DC/DF due around July probably. If you want one I'd email FLO/RVO soon because I can see the July shipments being sold before they arrive. I'll likely be stripping the DC for parts; it's the objective that was a total loss. PM me if you want anything; it's the latest model with Tak blue parts. I still have the original triple box!

Has anyone used the Tak Vari-extender with any of these scopes? There appears to be a big difference in the pricing between the Vari extender and the newer Q extender. Does anyone know what the difference is? I think the Q operates as a field flattener but I don't know if there's anything between the two.

Anyway, the question is: is there a reason to get a 2" prism rather than a 2" diagonal, other than getting a shorter light path?

I would certainly like the option of using binoviewers at low to medium power on larger objects like open clusters, Orion's sword region including M41, maybe even the Pleiades/Beehive etc. Pan 24s at native would give 2.2 degrees at x31 in the FC100DC/DF.

Hi everyone, Has anyone managed to bring binoviewers to focus with the DC or DF using a Baader 2" BBHS PRISM? Just trying to work out what to replace my diagonal with. I have a 1.25" Tak prism, I need a lightweight 2" diagonal for my EPs. I was simply going to go with a lightweight 99% dielectric like the Explore Scientific one I had before. Is there any reason to buy a 2" prism over a 2" diagonal when I know I can bring my 2" EPs to focus with a 2" mirror and bring the binoviewers to focus with a 1.25" diagonal? Cheers, Fish

What do you think of the stock focuser in the DZ, Mike? Have you kept it?

Actually I meant to ask, are you able to bring binoviewers to focus without a GPC or Barlow in the DZ?

That's a great idea; I have a spare twin knob clamp, I will swap it onto that mount...

I would like to stick with FLO due to all the support on this issue, but RVO are saying July before they get any DCs anyway. Haven't tried wide-screen centre.

I agree. One problem, the wait time for DFs is measured in months. I actually wonder if they're making any more now the DZ is out.

Very very helpful Mike, exactly the input I needed. When you say the DZ is shorter, I guess you mean shorter when stowed? That's not an issue for me as I have the 76DCU for air lines. Presumably when in use the DZ is longer than a DC - is this noticeable? I am getting bored of kneeling down to observe the zenith (using a 127/952 Apo) and the FC-76 is wonderful as it doesn't have this issue. This is leaning me back toward a new DC.

Vixen, but I believe it was user error rather than the dovetail. It slid when elevated as the clamp was too loose. I may have loosened the clamp when I meant to loosen something else. Too many things needed adjustment at the same time...

Yes, a grass lawn would have been far more forgiving a suspect.

Yes, my willingness to throw money at Flourite has increased 😈 😄 I didn't really even consider the DZ before due to price. Also having had a DC, it's nice to buy a different model. But the DC/DF are lighter with shorter tubes, very practical.

Will they ship to you in Canada? Might be worth it for some items....I've got things from Ontario Telescope before.

I've actually decided that whichever scope I buy, I won't replace the entire focuser with a Feathertouch. I might put an FT pinion on, but not a whole focuser. This is for cosmetic reasons. So then I need to decide whether the DC has enough travel. It does have enough for all my 2" EPs, but once I put on binoviewers with a Tak prism I might need more back focus? This can usually be solved with extensions though... Just wondering is switching from 2" to 1.25" prism and binoviewers will.be a nuisance.