RT65CB-SWL

Well done! Nice start to astro-imaging.

Hi @thestargaze and welcome to SGL. Tough decision for a beginner I know. We have all been here. Below is an image of my 're-modded' ETX105 on a DwarfStar mount and Manfrotto 055PROB tripod. Catadioptrics [i.e. Maksutov's and SCT's] do have a narrrow field of view. If you have never used an astronomical telescope before, then I would suggest the SkyWatcher Heritage 130 or 150 or a refractor. This is a good/interesting/useful guide by FLO, the sponsor of SGL... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html

Hi @jm3 / Jacob and welcome to SGL.

Same here too! My Ortho’s are Circle-T 6 & 12.5mm... plus a 0.965" / 6mm (used with the 0.965” to 1.25" adaptor, as shown in the second image). Apologies for the quality of the images, as they were taken with my Go-Pro clone.

Assuming you purchased your TeleVue Radian new, did it include a pupil guide in the box? [image and instructions below]. TV Radian Eyepiece Instructions.pdf I too would get a blackout when using my 6mm Radian with my ETX105 before I added/re-modded the rear end/visual back. Using the supplied pupil guide should eliminate it.

Not in the order that I use them, but I find the Baader neodymium, ES OIII and ES UHC are good performers.

Hi @anderolas and welcome to SGL. At $80.00 USD it is not a lot of money to loose. If and when you upgrade at a later date you can sell it on or make use of it for some other astro-related accessory, i.e. finder, guidescope, solar projection, etc. My TeleVue Ranger [image below] is over twenty years old and I paid just a little bit over £400.00 GBP and it was used/secondhand when I purchased it during the summer of 1998. Many 'cheap' telescopes include 0.965" eyepieces and/or accessories, as opposed to the 'standard' 1.25" ones. Not sure what is included with yours though... sorry! You can still obtain/purchase 0.965" e/p's [new or used/secondhand] but uncertain as to the performance, quality, etc. Above images showing the comparison between 0.965" and 1.25"

Hi @peter court and welcome to SGL.

I picked this up [and paid for] earlier today, whilst browsing for the latest astro- magazines, from a well known high street newsagent/stationery outlet in T4/LHR.

Hi @Heids and welcome to SGL from the Royal County of Berkshire 👑

Hi @Les M and welcome to SGL. Is your MacBook Intel or Apple silicon chipset? 💻 I have no experience of the AZ-Gti and PHD2, but it may help those that have to answer your question. I am purely visual and manual alt-az at time of writing.

Hi @MR T and welcome to SGL.

Also a #23A filter may tease a little more surface detail. I have used the Baader neodymium too.

Or more ‘scopes than money!

What filter(s) are you using? I usually use a variable polarising filter or the Baader neodymium, sometimes a #47* or #80A. I read somewhere that the #47 is the 'recommended' filter for Venus.

Hi @beetm and welcome to SGL. Cygnus is my favourite summer constellation. So much to see, as the Milky Way runs through it.

Hi @Agerskov / Klaus and welcome to SGL.

I think I can somewhat sympathise with @Ratlet. Using a catadioptric ‘scope on a manual alt-az mount is not an easy task when using high power, due to the narrow field of view. Not having any provision for flexi-slow motion cables on any of my alt-az mounts whatsoever is challenging, especially during the winter months, when focusing and guiding at the same time. That said, I will not part with them.

Though I do not own the Baader Hyperion 8-24mm zoom, I have tried it and was very impressed with it.

Hope they give you a discount on your next purchase for the inconvenience of it!

Hi @Shelley withers and welcome to SGL. That looks nice. Not related to the topic, but I have a sighting telescope [c.1916] and an 'unknown' brass RAS threaded eyepiece, [images below]. <--- the 1.25" adapter for the brass eyepiece [centre] and the eyepiece projection unit [shown on right] was made for me by Beacon Hill Telescopes.

Hi @malgpz900 and welcome to SGL. If it is new, then I would contact the reseller ASAP. If secondhand, then the seller should have informed you of it, unless they have used the 'sold as seen' disclaimer, which voids them of any claims that arise. That does not look good. - I would be crying if it was mine.

Good choice you have purchased. Besides the ones I have shown above, I also have a 6mm & 8mm Radian. These were the Delite’s predecessor… plus a few other TeleVue eyepieces and other brands.

Seeing is believing… left: 13mm Plossl. centre: 13mm Nagler/type 1. right: 13mm Nagler/type 6. BTW - welcome to SGL @Elrond1998

Hi @LKYLKY123 and welcome to SGL. I think Ed Ting has done a YouTube video and rated a good 'scope [or clone] for beginners starting out into astro-iastro-imaging.