RT65CB-SWL

Life events do get in the way of our hobbies... anyway... welcome back ... and stay safe!😷

Hi @roger jerome and welcome to SGL. Did you used to be an SGL'er. Your profile image looks familier? Anyway back to your question... I would think it would be possible with an 'artificial star'. I have the Hubble Optics one... https://www.hubbleoptics.com/artificial-stars.html

Not sure myself, but I am sure if you ask a local engineering workshop to fabricate one to your specifications they would assist/oblige.

Not quite in the same league as the original post, but following a damaged rear end to my Meade ETX105, I found a local engineering workshop near me and asked them if they could make a replacement backplate for it. I just gave them them the original ETX backend and a hand-drawn plan to work with. The following images is the result... The SCT adaptor and 1.25" visual back are by Baader Planterium... . Since 2021 https://wegatoptical.com/shop/ make replacement backplates for the ETX105. They also make the backplates for the ETX90 & ETX125.

Late summer to early spring… preferably cloud free!

Then at the other end of the spectrum, there is this little beauty... the TeleVue Nagler 3-6mm zoom!

Hi @16sport / Stevie and welcome to SGL.

The "...thin one..." will be 0.965" and you till need a 1.25" adaptor to use it. [image below]. If you want to sell it, then I will offer you the price of a couple litres of unleaded petrol for it and a first class stamp to cover P&P! <--- my 0.965" Ortho and 1.25" adaptor. Forget about the using the 2x image erector 'thingy'. Looking at your image, it looks like 0.965" as well. What it does is it inverts the image for terrestrial viewing and are/were common with some brands of refractor 'scopes. Also... if that is an eyepiece solar filter in the plastic bag... bin it, bury it, lose it... DO NOT USE IT for viewing the Sun!

You should see what some airline passengers bring to the airport and think their four wheel designer trolley bag, (which is about the same size as a suitcase), is carry-on/cabin baggage and will fit/squeeze inside the overhead locker/bin or under the seat.

Following on from @Carl Au post, these are good value for a 'Dobsonian'... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/ursa-major-6-f8-planetary-dobsonian.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html ...and not have to worry about cool down time, etc!

This is a good read... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html if you have not already done so. For planetary viewing, may I suggest a Maksutov. A few downsides are that: it will need a minimum of thirty minutes to acclimatize and a dew-shield, {they are notorious dew magnets). a narrow field of view. There are a few more, but I cannot think of them at the time of posting this! above: image of my 're-modded' ETX105. (BTW - this is my grab 'n' go setup). below: it is usually mounted on either my AOK-AYO [left] or Tele-Optic Giro [right].

+1 @Clarkey My suggestion would be an SCT diagonal, (assuming the rear port thread size is the same. I prefer it to the the 2" push-fit). I use one with my 're-modded' ETX105 [images below] and my C6/SCT-xlt. If you you want/wish to use your C8/SCT with a DSLR or other dedicated imaging camera/device, then a field flattener/focal reducer [FF/FR] will reduce the exposure times. A few useful and 'maybe' accessories... a UHC and/or OIII filter. These will enhance the finer wispy details on 'faint fuzzies'. [maybe] a variable polarising filter. I have a 1.25" and 2" - They are a 'Marmite' thing... you either like or dislike them. an SCT to 2" visual back... useful if you have access to 2" eyepieces and accessories, (i.e. 2" push-fit star diagonal as mentioned above). anything that includes a 'twist-lock'... saves hunting for those lost thumbscrews when they fall out. an eyepiece projection unit/adaptor [EPU] for afocal* astro-imaging. [it's another 'maybe']. <--- my EPU shown in centre of image. I managed to get this afocal* image of the Montes Appeninus area of the Moon using a digital compact camera and a 20mm Plossl e/p and EPU attached to my ETX105. * afocal photography, (also called afocal imaging or afocal projection), is a method of photography where the camera with its lens attached is mounted over the eyepiece of another image forming system such as an optical telescope or optical microscope, with the camera lens taking the place of the human eye.

If you can stretch your budget to £250 or £300 GBP... I personally would choose either one of these... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/ursa-major-telescopes/ursa-major-6-f8-planetary-dobsonian.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html

Hi @tbones147 and welcome to SGL. This is a good read... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html if you have not already done so.

You're going to enjoy using that TeleVue Nagler 13mm/Type 6... I know, I do!

During one of the lockdowns and when I was furloughed during this pandemic, I purchased a Wi-Fi eyepiece for use with my android OS phone/tablet. For reasons I do not know, the damn things would not communicate with each other and one of a few excuses/reasons that I am still a visual observer and use these 'bad boys'... plus a few others!

Not related to the OP question, but few weeks ago my Windows 10 laptop (and occasionally on my iphone & iPad), threw me a wobbly whilst on this site and another GB/UK astro-site I frequent, and that it would log me out if was viewing to replying to a topic... then re-login. So damn frustrating. In the end, I had to temporary disable my firewall. I do dabble with Linux [and MacOS too], but not sure what the best option is to offer the OP. P.S. I now call MS-Windows, 'Windoze' or 'Winwoes'. So frustrating when you get everything in Windows working the way you want it... then kaput!

I prefer to use a 2" [SCT] star diagonal on my 're-modded' ETX105 [image below] or C6/SCT, as it feels solid and not having to worry about a 1.25" or 2" eyepiece falling out when either scope is pointing towards the zenith.

I too have an AYO mount… [plus a Giro]. I get on quite happily without the need for a handle on both, but with larger apertures than my present ‘scopes, it may be a much needed add-on.

G'day @moonsafari and welcome to SGL. I cannot help with you spending your AU$, Euro's, etc., on a Takahashi as I own a 'scope and a few e/p's by the other well known brand that also begins with a capital 'T'... TeleVue.

Happy 45th birthday Voyager 2 and Voyager 1 in a few weeks... 🛰️🥳

A member or two of my local astronomy society/club swear by PIPP... [not at it] on their M$-Windoze PC's... [except when said OS does an update].

Does this link help?... http://www.ursaminor.hu/bluetooth_interface_en.html Looking at mount, from your images and the attached link, it maybe the SkyWatcher 'Merlin' alt/az.

Same here too! Where in BG did you view it from? Myself and small group from Reading Astronomical Society went to Krapets 🇬🇧 / Крапец 🇧🇬 <--- a 'mini-sheet' celebrating the 1999 solar eclipse issued by the BG post office/service. translation of top line (on the stamp)... [BG] 🇧🇬 ПОЩА БЪЛГАРИЯ [EN] 🇬🇧 MAIL BULGARIA translation of left side... [BG] 🇧🇬 11 АВГУСТ 1999 ГОДИНА* [EN] 🇬🇧 11 AUGUST 1999 [YEAR] translation of bottom line... [BG] 🇧🇬 ПЪЛНО СЛЪНЧЕВО ЗАТЪМНЕНИЕ [EN] 🇬🇧 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE * it is common practice in many Slavic countries that use the Cyrillic alphabet to add the word 'ГОДИНА' or 'Г' after the year.

Hi @aero/Daniel and welcome to SGL.