fireballxl5

well back in early 2015 there were fewer options for a small 'APO' class refractor and so I fell to temptation and bought the FS60CB for an upcoming trip to Mount Teide. My main use was for imaging and so I purchased the flattener with the scope, closely followed by the x0.72 reducer for a second trip up the mountain later that year. Over time I also acquired the extender for a solar eclipse trip to the US. I've used it visually and it gives excellent views, at least comparable with other top quality scopes in this class. The key factor is that it is extremely portable for airline travel. HTH and CS, Andy Antares region, Tak FS60CB @ f4.2. Mount Teide Aug 2015 Solar Eclipse, Tak FS60CB @ f10, Grand Tetons Aug 2017

My Tracer LiFePo4's push out 13.4V when fully charged, with no apparent issues using my ASIair units over 3-4 years.

Interesting. Do you have link please?

Wow, what a ride! You've got to give SpaceX much credit for pushing the envelope in space flight recently. Love it!

Superb picture, beautiful colours.

Thanks Ian. First time I've taken and applied flats during solar imaging. Not sure if this or the seeing were the main contributor to the detail.

My first solar Ha observing of 2024 and managed to find time to capture some video. Processed using AstroSurface v2 and PI Solar ToolBox. Lunt LS60DS50 - ASI585MC - 2ms - best 15% of 4301 frames (cloud stopped play); Flats applied. CS, Andy

Do you have the details please? Hopefully I'll have this option soon🙂

No, though I usually resample down during processing.

The ASI071 needs a flattener from my experience using a RC6. I now use a 533 with no such issues, other than the usual collimation hurdles🤪

This. It'll be reet! 🙂 Andy

@Davey-TNo serious problems with the AZ adjustment here in my 135E though mine's carrying only a 9-10kg load usually. Maybe this helps? Good point about the lack of dew protection. This would have been useful. Again, no problems here in wet Lancashire🤞 Andy

I have the 135E and love it. The only issue I've found is the lack of a power-off brake, which has caught me out a couple of times in the 2.5 years that I've owned it. I thinking that I'll replace my heavy duty GEM with an harmonic mount at some point. Needs to have 40kg load capacity though!

First "DSO imaging light" for my scope was of M51 on Sat 20th April before the clouds rolled in around midnight... Just an experiment really with the Moon around to see if I may need a flattener with this 'simple' doublet refractor using a 1" chip. Little data so pushed too much maybe and no flats so background isn't right... Conclusion being that I don't need to spend any more money on astro gear (atm...😜) M51 / Stella MIRA 125ED f7.8 / ASI533MCP / IDAS D2 / 8x300s (40m)

Just 9.25 hours, approx 3 months worth here atm, so not that much 🙃