AdeKing

I'd recommend sending an email to Bresser Europe together with a photo of the cloudy filter and your Lunt serial number for a replacement. I'm not sure whether it's still the case but mine was sent free of charge 2 years ago. Actually this post has made me check mine and it I've noticed that it needs swapping out again. You can actually clear the milkiness by soaking the filter in Viakal or another Calcium Lime Remover (CLR), it worked on mine but I'd recommend that you get a replacement first as at that point you've got nothing to lose if anything does go wrong. I have a B1200 filter and only use it visually but consider the views excellent though the only other H-alpha scope that I've used is a PST so don't really have anything much else to compare the view to. When I get the LS60 out again I'll take a note of how many turns of the DS tuning dial it takes for the view to change.

Yes it was ordered from Auntie FLO so fingers crossed I'll see it later this week. In case you haven't guessed, I can't wait for it to arrive. Ade

I'm hoping so @Stu first impressions at PAS when it was first launched were excellent. Can't wait to gety hands on it Steve. Yes, the user reviews have been brilliant, I'm just hoping that the stock levels were correct when I ordered as it was showing 1 of the mount bundle in stock I think with all other parts having more than 1 in stock. Fingers crossed I'll see it later this week.

As Dave says, check the blue filter which is on the scope side of the diagonal containing the blocking filter rather than the objective. These have a tendency to go milky and can affect the view. With regards to the tilt tuning knob, I have a pressure tuned scope but the dial on the external double stack filter seems to dial quite a long way on mine before I see much change in the view. Same for my pressure tuner, it comes on-band near the end of travel. Hopefully someone with a tilt tuned Lunt will be along shortly and can give a bit more of an insight.

Finally, after much effort saving funds, an order for an AZ100 with encoders and Nexus DSC, single Vixen/Losmandy Saddle, counterweight bar and flange and counterweight was placed first thing this morning. Everything was showing as being in stock, so fingers crossed it arrives soon. Weather forecast is good until Thurs, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Very much looking forward to receiving it Ade

Thanks Dave, now I've looked at it on the laptop it looks better than I initially thought. Thanks Steve, now I've seen it on the laptop screen it looks a better image than I initially gave it credit for. Hi Paul, unfortunately not, the forecast was so bad that I didn't bother to set anything up and only just had time to power up the GPD2 attach the TAL and slew to the Sun. It will try the TAL on the AZPro on the next clear night though, I promise. Ade

Managed a very quick glimpse through the TAL100RS and Baader Ceramic Wedge just before 11:00. Poor mobile image below. Glad I got to see something though.

I agree that it's definitely macro granulation that I'm seeing as the individual cells aren't visible, just an overall orange peel type texture. I think I've seen what you're describing once very briefly through the ED100 with binoviewers, but I've not seen it since. I tend to use the Coolwedge when I'm using one of the 4" Fracs or the ED120 and I agree that it does offer a subtle but noticeable improvement over the Lunt. It sounds like I need to put a bit more effort in and set a bit more time aside rather than grabbing short sessions. I actually really enjoy White Light, the fine detail visible in the penumbra and umbra is amazing. Thanks for the info on the f/11 it's a lovely scope and now it's in a soft carry case rather than a heavy bulky flight case it's seeing more action so I'll make sure that I get it out in the sunlight a bit more often. The solar views through the TAL have been pretty good so far so I'm hoping that it's a good one.

I tend to be a low power observer Stu as even with my best scopes I find that whilst I can pick up granulation easily at low power that as soon as I get over about 100x I struggle to pick it up. Maybe that is a sign of SA so now I know how to look for it I'll test all the scopes out to see if they suffer from it, though that might be an expensive mistake 😳.

I remember that thread now you've linked to it. I actually purchased this as an EQ5 tripod with beefier legs as the seller could only confirm that it would fit a CG5 or EQ5 mount. As I will need an 8" extension and already have a selection of EQ5 and EQ6 extension tubes I was intending to make up a combined extension by putting the EQ5 base on the bottom of the the 8" extension and an EQ6 top plate on it to connect the AZ100 to. I got the Geoptik adaptor as I initially planned to get a new EQ6 tripod to replace my white EQ5 one then this one popped up. I'm not too worried about fitting the AZ100 to it directly but was surprised that it looked like I could with a suitably sized centre bolt. That is a lovely adaptor that you've had made up though, I wish I had those fabricating skills. I've got a short M10 to M12 adaptor on the way and if it doesn't work then I'll just proceed as above. Glad you got yours sorted out in the end. Ade

I started out with a ST102 as my first refractor and actually think it punches above its weight. I've used it as a WL solar scope with a 1.25" Lunt Herschel Wedge and have enjoyed some excellent views. @Stu is correct about short refractors and SA, though o have to confess that I've never really noticed it with my ST102 to though maybe I'm not observant enough as CA has never bothered me whilst using it either. I've just looked up how to identify SA and will now have to test the ST102 to see how badly it suffers. If you're looking for a cheap refractor to dip your toe in the WL solar waters and accept it's limitations then it's a fairly cheap way in, though as Stu says there are other better options out there. Most of my solar viewing tends to be in short sessions and I mostly use an old William Optics ZS70 as it's really compact and it travels everywhere with me complete with a WL and nighttime setup in its little flight case. However, if I'm viewing from home for longer sessions then I tend to set up my Altair 102 f/11 Achromat or my recently acquired TAL 100RS (f/10), both of which do give better views but without the portability and convenience of the ST102 or ZS70. Hope this helps. Ade

Not directly for Astro, and I haven't completely removed them but I did take about 2.5-3.0m off the top of some rather overgrown pittisporum trees that the previous owner of our house had let get way too big. The bonus was that it let loads more daylight into the garden and improved my Astro view to the NE dramatically but like @ScouseSpaceCadet it now let's in stray light from a streetlight ☹️.

Thanks @Stu totally unexpected so hats off to Celestron. Shame that Skywatcher don't do the same really.

Delivered today a new to me 2" Celestron CG5 tripod via ABS. This is mahoosive compared to my 1.75" EQ5 tripod so hopefully it will be more stable. My understanding was that the Celestron CG5 is equivalent to the EQ5 so imagine my surprise when I found that the well in the top plate looked like it was dual fit EQ5/EQ6. This was confirmed when my recently acquired Geoptik EQ6 to EQ5 adaptor fitted on top nicely. Thankfully I picked that up used from @John The adaptor certainly doesn't fit the well on the top of my EQ5 extension pillar with the north peg removed, so I'm well chuffed as this should fit the soon to be acquired AZ100 without the need of any mods. Edit: Well apart from either getting an M10 to M12 thread adaptor for the central bolt or slightly enlarging the central hole anyway. All in all very pleased indeed and feeling like the cat that got the cream 😁

Nice to see you back Brian.

Thanks for posting this, I'm glad that I'm not alone in this respect @Highburymark. Whilst I'm not intending to get rid of my Lunt LS60DS anytime soon I have to confess that when there are complex sunspots visible in WL I much prefer viewing in WL rather than H-a. As you say, the intricate detail visible in the penumbra and umbra is exquisite and truly is a sight to behold. I think that my 1.25" Lunt Herschel Wedge is probably my best value and most used astronomy related purchase to date.

Probably something that will last as long as the handles gags @Stu 😂🤣🤣😂

Damn @JeremyS you're quick.

Thanks Dave, It was nice to finally meet face to face and have a natter. My tolerant long suffering wife wasn't quite so tolerant when you were out of earshot though 😳, It's still clear here so I'm just waiting for the sky to darken a bit before venturing outside. The TAL sits nicely on the Vixen mount and I'm interested to see how nicely it plays with the iOptron AZPro. And before you ask @JeremyS the scope didn't have a handle, there was no talk of handles, no Nadira observing chairs were harmed during the scope exchange and there was certainly no mention of Christine Keeler. 😂

A new to me TAL 100RS in lovely condition with a spotless objective collected from @F15Rules. For once the sky is clear after receiving a new toy and so it's outside on the Vixen GPD2 cooling down for first light.

I got a quick look in H-a first thing this morning @Mark at Beaufort and it looked really active. I wish I'd got a look in WL though. Maybe tomorrow. Lovely detail in your images @Nigella Bryant

Oh dear, now you've scared me, I don't want my imagination to anything else Possum. I think @JeremyS has done enough already.

An overactive imagination @Stu. Absolutely @johninderby looks good to me. You've lost me there @Stu So have you @JeremyS

Since your original revelation about using the chair back to front, I've now converted to doing that whenever I use it. Because our lawn is not a that level, I always found the Nadira chair to be a bit narrow at the base and have ended up on the floor more than once due to knocking it over. Sitting astride it is a much better solution for me, all I need now is some padding on it as my backside isn't nearly as well padded as it was a year ago.

Looking at the extra holes that have been drilled, I'm glad to see that its not just me that has issues with the holes in these things not lining up properly. Nice paint job by the way, I love the alternating black and white from Tripod to mount.