AdeKing

Received a like new pair of William Optics Binoviewers with stock 20mm eyepieces and 2x OCA. Also received a pair of the standard Skywatcher 25mm EPs as well. Very pleased with them, just need some moon action now.

You beat me to it whilst I was typing

I think that the convention was that USB3 sockets were generally Blue and were sometimes labelled SS so thats where I would start. Ade

Thanks Dave, when I'm in the position to buy I think I'll be holding out for a good used one as you say. Though part of me is still thinking about getting a used PST and then modding it. I've got some saving to do so have time to make an informed decision.

I am thinking about it @Pig but there are so many contradictory things written about the reliability and variable QC of the Quarks that I'm more than a bit wary. I don't think I've read so many contradicting opinions about any other piece of equipment that I've been interested in.

I have the 32mm Panaview and it is a really nice eyepiece with sharp stars virtually to the edge in my f/6 8" Dob. There used to be a good review of the 38mm on the Astro-Baby website, but I can't find it any more, but there is a review here: Ade

I have the blue, though slightly faded, version of that pretty little scope, it travels with me everywhere and is a definite keeper. I don't have a quark but use it with a Herschel Wedge for WL solar. I can fit everything I need for WL Solar, Terrestrial and lunar observations into its small aluminium case, though it is a slightly tight fit. I'm still deciding whether to go PST or Quark. Ade

Wow!!

Postman delivered my first Televue Eyepiece this morning, a 32mm Plossl courtesy of the Green Witch clearance sale. Apologies for the clouds that were delivered with it.

I have both an RA finder and RACI finder on different scopes and use these in conjunction with a Telrad/Red Dot Finder (RDF). I use the Telrad/RDF to point at the right area of sky and then zero in with the RACI/RA finder. If there is only one finder on the scope I personally find a straight through finder easier to use as you can keep one eye open and get a target star into the field of view which you can't do with a RACI/RA as you're looking directly at the tube. However, getting yourself into a suitable position to use a straight through finder can be tricky. I agree with @John that for a low cost a Red Dot Finder is probably a better investment than a cheap/low quality straight through finder.

I have not used this finder myself, but Seben seem to get mixed reviews with some products getting good reviews whilst others getting dire reviews. I have the Seben 8-24mm zoom eyepiece myself which is actually really quite good considering the low price tag. Regarding the finders, a RA finder will show an image that is the correct way up but that is still mirror reversed (L & R are the wrong way around). As you said above, RACI finders will show a fully corrected view (right way up and correct L & R). You used to be able to pick up the Skywatcher 6x30 finders really cheap (£16 incl postage) from Astroboot, but now that their postage costs have increased they come in at about £20. Hopefully someone will be along shortly that has experience of this finder. Ade

Here is my new compact lightweight WL solar travel setup. A WO ZenithStar 66SD (thanks @CraigT82) with Herschel wedge and Baader Mk IV Zoom. The problem I've encountered with this setup is that the 2" wedge is so heavy (750g) and the tube so short (388mm f/l) that its impossible to balance on an AZ mount and I've managed to misplace my dovetail counterweights (I really should learn to pack things away in their designated spot after use). So rather than get new weights I decided to opt for a 1.25" Lunt Wedge (thanks @garryblueboy) which is nice and compact and will fit in the WO aluminium case with the OTA and should also make the setup somewhat better balanced and avoid the need to tighten the clutches on the Alt axis quite so much. Edit: The 1.25" wedge should also give me more in-focus rather than the approximately 3mm that I have at the moment. Ade

@Highburymark and @Floater happy to be of assistance. I got my WO Barlow from them a couple of months ago, so they obviously have a few and haven't had a massive rush on them. Regards, Ade

Astroboot currently have the WO 2x Barlow attachment for binoviewers listed for £20 if this helps. http://www.astroboot.co.uk/AstroBoot/telescope-and-astronomy-stuff.html?highlight=AB10407#AB10407 Ade

@DRT I don't find the CA to be too obtrusive to be honest. There is always a faint, yellow ring around the limb of the moon, but using a variable polariser to dim the view slightly tends to remove that. I don't notice anything in solar as 95% of the time I'm using a solar continuum filter. I met up with @Grumpy Martian last Friday and he was quite impressed with how little CA there was. I'll pay a bit more attention for you next time I use it. There is definitely a little CA there, but not so much that it annoys me.

Thanks Haydn, I've just got to get myself a new tent and then I'm sorted. Hope to see you there. Ade

I've just got around to booking Friday to Sunday. Its my first Star Party and am looking forward to it. Ade

Here is my humble White Light setup comprising a Skywatcher ST102 and 2" Lacerta Herschel Wedge mounted on an EQ5. More often than not its on a Skytee II along with a Coronado PST that I've borrowed from the local Astro Society, but not when I want to sketch, which is where the EQ5 really comes into its own, even if it does take me ages to set it up (I'm a new EQ convert). Here its set up at a viewpoint over Chesil Beach in Portland, Dorset. Sadly, I can't afford to have a view like this from my garden .

I'm expecting mine to be delivered tomorrow and am looking forward to first light. @Solar B I hope that the viewing angle doesn't prove to be an issue, but I do have a Skytee II and pier extension to get some extra height if needed. Ade

@Live_Steam_Mad thanks for the info about the angle of the diagonal, I had thought that this might be the case. I'm glad that you're pleased with yours and I'm looking forward to receiving mine. I use one of the Mey Observing Chairs (https://www.firstlightoptics.com/misc/mey-observing-chair.html) which I've modified so that the lowest position is only about 150mm off the floor, so hopefully it won't prove too uncomfortable. Thanks for the warning though.

John, Thanks for confirming so quickly, I was hoping this was the case. I'm also glad to hear that I don't need an additional ND filter. I'm pretty hopeful that I should have no probs reaching focus as the OTA is a ST102, albeit with an ED80 dual speed focuser, but that is pretty much identical in length to the original so hopefully no issues, and as I use a Skywatcher 2" diagonal anyway it shouldn't add too much length to the light path. Off to place an order now ?

John, I've been trying to decide between the 1.25" and 2" versions but was wondering whether or not you could confirm whether the ND filter is fitted internally or whether it needs to be attached to the end of the eyepiece. From the manufacturers blurb it sounds like it's internal, but on the 1.25” version the filter has to be attached to the filter thread of the eyepiece. I'm keen to minimise the potential for forgetting anything to a minimum and so if the filter is internal it can just stay there permanently. As I'm intending to use a polariser and a #58 green filter I don't want any chance of missing the ND. I also have another question regarding whether an extra ND is needed to make viewing more comfortable in addition to the mandatory ND and a polariser. Hope you don't mind me asking, but my finger is poised over the buy button and I want to be sure. Ade

I was disappointed by the azimuth flexi-drive location as well, especially as the azimuth control on the AZ Pronto looks to be better placed in my opinion.

I'm really liking the sound of this new mount, I'll be very keen to hear the first light reports. Ade

This is looking really good, I'm enjoying the thread and I'm taking loads of notes that I can refer to when I do my own Truss Tube build in the not too distant future.