JeremyS

Wow: full house! Well done David. I like the short FL Fujiyamas (4 to 6 mm) for planetary viewing. They give stunning images and are excellent value for money.

Had a chance to try the new Takahashi FC76 DCU on Jupiter last night for a couple of hours. I followed the GRS transit for quite a while. Seeing was very good tho not excellent, for the large part. I’m used to using the Tak FS102 on Jupiter this apparition, but I was pleasantly surprised with the 76’s performance. There was plenty of detail to see in the cloud belts and the GRS was distinct and nicely coloured (but not quite as deep a red as I’ve seen it in the FS 102 – aperture wins!) lately. I found best results with the Televue NZ eyepiece at 6 mm (95 x) – zooming higher didn’t bring out more detail. Looking forward to testing under even steadier conditions. The Fujiyama HD Ortho 6 gave a similar view, but with less eye relief. The Fujiyama HD Ortho 4 and 5 didn’t bring any additional benefit nor the Pentax XL5.2. Needless to say, the low power views in Cygnus were stunning. This is my travel scope, so I’m Looking forward to taking this beauty to more southerly climes. As I’ll need to minimise ancillary equipment, it sounds like I might get away with the NZ and a widefield eyepiece in the 20 to 26 mm range. So far I’m really happy!

I thought you had a few of those already, 25885? ? Judging by the outline of the boxes, it's something with a funnel. A steam locomotive or a ship, perhaps?

Two nice padded bags. Neewer 28" Padded Carrying Bag for the Tak FC76 DCU; amazing value at £12.99! Neewer NW140S Waterproof Camera and Lens for the Tak FC76 DCU when split into two.

Good point Stu - especially for weight. But I seem to be one of the few that is happy with Tak focusuers. I am looking forward to the arrival of the Vixen HR 3.4 mm, though!

That's what I'm hoping Stu. Need to try and see some planets higher in the sky! Really pleased with how it all fits in a laptop backpack for airline carry-one.

Latest edition is a Takahashi FC76 DCU - mainly for travel as the tube splits into 2 pieces. Line-up shows Tak FS102, FC76 DCU, FS60CB

Takahashi FC76 DCU. Splits into two parts (longest is ca 13 inches) which fit into a padded photo bad, which itseld fits into a small backpack (designed for laptop)

I've just visited the Takahashi USA dealership In Texas, so I thought I share some pics. The scope with the skull and crossbones is an FS128 on an EM200 They had some used equipment on sale, including a Extender Q x1.6, which I could have picked up for @25585 (although he would have been nervous seeing all those Tak clamshell rings on display)

Very nice ornament. But surely Jag's have bonnets rather than hoods? ?

This is an excellent book by all accounts - look forward to hearing how you like it. Bill Leatherbarrow, BAA Lunar Section Director, is certainly the right person to author such a book!

ADM dovetail plate for William Optics EZTouch mount.

That may be a while, Alan: it's summer holiday reading ?

Thanks. Do you know that these are OK to use with fibreglass? I couldn't see it mentioned

I've been using my newish Fujiyama HD-OR 6 mm in my Tak FS102 on Jupiter and the Moon the last few nights. I'm really impressed with it. I was worried about the eye relief (I am used to longer ER models), but did not find it a problem.

Any suggestions iPeace?

I polished my Pulsar dome last summer, using a power polisher, first boatyard fibreglass T-cut, then boat yard fibreglass polish. Came up a treat - it was like looking in a mirror! But by he end of the summer the lustre was going and now I am back to square one: it looks shabby again. Any ideas what to do next? Back to T-cut and polishing? Or just polishing? And when I've restored it again, can I put something on top to stop the lustre going again?

I hope not so heavy that it scuppers your travelscope plans, 25885?

I love mine too, Dave (especially in Tak green). Shall we start a "Show us your Tak Manhole Cover" thread? ? Meanwhile this is specially for you, Dave:

Actually I prefer the Tak green colour scheme. I assume you mean Kevlar covers reinforced with CNC rings? ?

I am not completely dismissing the Telegizmos hood - it has the advantage of being waterproof and longer. It's just that it's aesthetically challenged. Also the draw string doesn't really hold it tight, so there is a chance it could come off. I bought it from FLO. I bought the LensCoat Hoodie from Wex. You mentioned extra protection when carrying. I think the LensCoat would afford more protection from a bump and the material is thicker and there is a nice semi-rigid insert made from some high density foam plastic (which is removable) at the base, which would give bump protection to the end of the Tak's dew cap. However, knowing your keenness not to take chances when protecting your telescopes, you could always use both

I'm going to try it with my Tak FS102. The Tak cover is like a manhole cover: superbly engineered, but a bit heavy. It's fits for storage, but when I want to cover during an observing session break i need something lighter that won't unbalance the system on the mount. I use a TeleGizmo lens cover for this purpose, but I have to say it's a bit crudely made, looks awful, and the draw string doesn't hold it on very well. Thanks again for the suggestion, John. The LensCoat Hoodie arrived this morning. Brilliant - just what I needed! Easy to forget that camera suppliers sell kit that is useful for telescopes.

Just delivered a LensCoat Hoodie Lens Cap (XX Large) - Black. This is to use on my Tak FS102 when I need to cover it during an observing run. The standard Tak "manhole" cover is wonderful, but it's a bit heavy, so upsets the balance. The LensCoat weighs almost nothing. And is so much nicer looking than the Telegizmos cover I have been using, which is a really tacky, if not downright ugly, piece of kit.