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I got out for the first time in a while for a short look at the moon, through cloud, obviously. This was with the Stella Mira 125mm, 15mm SLVs, Binoviewers, a 2.6x gpc and T2 prism diagonal.
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I can't comment on variations in scope quality but owning a C8 I can say it relies on good conditions, being cooled down, and being collimated. Occasionally I've had some great views but more often it's disappointing. (I'm visual only).
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Telescope you'd like in your collection within budget.
Paz replied to Grump Martian's topic in The Astro Lounge
I'm content with my lot really, the only additional scope I might consider is a dedicated solar Ha scope but that may never happen as I'm doing ok with a quark. Another potential development for me is night vision instead of more aperture, but that is unlikely unless the costs come down. Sometimes I fantasise about trading up to the very best scopes but I don't think my eyesight is good enough to warrant it. -
I'd probably keep my 5" refractor out of my current scopes and then step down to a 4" if/when circumstances require it. ... but if I could only have one scope it probably would not be any of what I have currently... I'd be very tempted to go for a 10" dobsonian.
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I've got a few... ST120 Refractor - with lighter tube rings and a dual speed focuser. I had innumerable good times with this in my early years of observing and on all kinds of targets. Simple, built like a tank, and great value for money. MC127 Maksutov - the other scope I started out with and used a lot in my early years. Great scope but 4" and 5" refractors have seen more use since I have had those. ST80 - very light for the aperture but I don't use it much now as my one doesn't have good facilities to put finders on it. VX14 - my favourite scope. C8 - This often disappoints due to conditions and my laziness in not putting it out to cool properly or not bothering to perfect the collimation, but now and again it delivers an amazing view and I then feel guilty about how badly I treat it. Altair 102ED f7 refractor - became my most used scope by far once I had this. TS 72ED f6 refractor - use only for travel really as I am not a fan of small apertures. Stella Mira 125ED f7.8 - my most used scope since it arrived. Really I could get by with the 72mm and 125mm refractors plus the VX14, but I don't think I would now want to part with the ST120 for sentimental reasons.
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I would not find it easy to say a best scope but I can say the following... Best view of Venus... a draw between C8 and 102mm f7 refractor(!l). This was during a spring / evening season experimenting with observing in broad daylight with very strong dimming. Best view of Mars.... not sure, I've never had any view of Mars I would call epic partly as I've never had many good opportunities to get used to observing it when it is close. Best view of Jupiyer.... VX14, one evening still in dayligjt/twilight I guess the wobbly stack all lined up for.once, the seeing, scope cooling, planet altitude, collimation etc. Shockingly good views I have to say, the best view of any planet I've ever had and I still think about it years later. I was (selfishly) annoyed at the time by neighbours choosing that session to come over and have a look and chat which meant less time for me at the eyepiece, I said how amazing the view was but no-one really appreciated it. I guess you have to experience the bad times in order to appreciate the good ones.
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I do sketches now and again, not to have a nice sketch but more because the process of sketching makes me see more. I have an A5 pad and a single HB pencil/rubber and that's my lot. The other aspect of my sketching set up is that I have to be using a tracking mount and I have to have my observing chair otherwise I find it too difficult.
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I don't observe late in the night, and I observe all year round. The sun, moon, and planets are all good daytime targets. Then there are many double stars, showcase DSOs, asteroids, etc doable without needing dark skies or late nights.
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Assuming £2k for the LZOs id a good price, its only a good thing if you actually want one. I agree with John's comment re what is the aim of having a SM125 and would the LZOs do better. The SM125 does well in terms of price, weight, aperture, cool down, and quality. I'm sure the LZOs is better quality but aperture counts for a lot also. I admit, if I was going to go for a top of the range 4" for visual I'd go for a doublet e.g. a Tak[censored]i and just wait for one to come along second hand. You would have epic quality and even less weight and faster cool down etc. I have a SM125 and a C8 and I think they cover different bases so having one doesnt make the other redundant, but a 4" is even further from a C8 so there's less risk of those scopes competing for attention.
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I have the pairs at 20/15/10 for use with high magnifications barlows and glass path correctors which for example at 2.6x makes them equivalent to 7.7/5.8/3.8mm.
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I remember reading about this at the time I was researching eyepieces but I can't remember if I did a test myself when I first got them. I do know I've got them set up in sky safari as 45 degrees, that might be me that added them in as that or that might be the stock eyepiece defaults in sky safari.
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I have a set of SLVs as my light let up, currently 25, 20, 15, 10, 6, 4, 2.5, including binoviewing pairs at 20, 15, and 10. I've also got a 5 but that's on long term loan out. I think they are great and I got on to these due to needing more eye relief. I sometimes thing about swapping out the 10s and getting 12s and 9s for better intervals, but I continue to procrastinate about it.
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That beats anything I've seen in a second hand store! It costs a lot but I bet for anyone who knows their books these kind of things have got the potential to earn money as an investment.
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Cleaning a Takahashi FC100D Objective!
Paz replied to mikeDnight's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
I read the astro physics guide to cleaning in my formative years and they advocate the following... 1. Blowing with air to get rid of anything not stuck to the lense. 2. Brushing lightly to get rid of anything lightly stuck. 3. Baader Optical Wonder Fluid to get most things off. 4. Acetone or your breath to clean off baader fluid streaks. 5. Saliva to get rid of super tough atmospheric contaminants... but the saliva then needs to be cleaned off fairly quickly. However, lense licking fetishists will be disappointed to hear that the recommended method is saliva on a fingertip, not licking lenses directly. https://astro-physics.info/tech_support/accessories/cleaningproducts/optcs-instructions.pdf Could this where the lense-licking folk lore originates from? I think cleaning is a very personal thing, my take on the above options is... Blowing 😇 Brushing 😬 Baader Fluid 😇 Breathing 🤔 yes but very lightly to avoid giblets on my surfaces Acetone 😬 Saliva 🫣 -
10 & 12 " dobsonians, goto and tracking
Paz replied to Flame Nebula's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
I've not had a Dob with built in goto or tracking but I do use an equatorial platform with my dobsonian for tracking sometimes. I'll use it when viewing things at higher magnifications in the faster parts of the sky and it makes observing much easier amd more enjoyable and I'll see more because I can concentrate more. However it is another contraption to manage so I don't use it unless the targets mean it is worthwhile. If I was getting a dobsonian now I'd be content with just having a tracking facility.