RT65CB-SWL

Hi @Nik271 I too have viewed a ‘moonless’ Jupiter. It is kind of surreal. It was fun and mesmerising watching the four of them re-emerge as well.

Hi @fluxfluid and welcome to SGL. I have the XLT version. Very good for lunar and planetary. There are times when I wish I had gone for the 8” as it has nearly an extra 500mm of focal length, plus the extra 2” of aperture. Don’t forget to purchase a dewshield. Why they are not included is anyone’s guess! If you have not seen or read it, this may help... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html Also http://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/ is a great app/tool for planning your next purchases, as it gives you a virtual representation of what to expect things to look like.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I will give the external power pack option some thought. Any recommendations?

Hi @janemc40 and welcome to SGL. Celestron C8/SCT’s are a good choice for lunar and planetary viewing/observing.

Hi everyone. A few months ago I bought a ZWO-ASI camera via the astro-classifieds section and I would like to know if astro-imaging with manual alt-az mounts, ie AOK-AYO and/or Tele-Optic Giro, is possible? - my main interests are solar, lunar and planetary... maybe spectroscopy now or later. I have seen YouTube tutorials with driven alt-az mounts, but none for manual alt-az mounts. As I live in apartment, (first floor), power is a no go and therefore I would use the camera and laptop, ie Panasonic ToughBook CF-19, therefore I am limited to the battery of the laptop for power. tnx in adv.

How about The Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas by Commander Henry Hatfield. Available in haardback or paperback.

I use the Baader Planetarium Optical Wonder Fluid and cloth… https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-optics-cleaning-protection/baader-optical-wonder-set-cleaning-fluid-and-cloth.html when I clean my refractors after blowing with a rocket blower and light/gentle brushing with a fine haired brush and wipe with cotton wool buds/balls. Do not use the aerosol cans of compressed air as the propellant may damage the coatings.

I always ask what are they or kids wanting to look at… and then what is their budget.

I use either the Baader Planetarium Neodymium or an Explore Scientific UHC. If they attenuate to much, then I swap for the Baader Planetarium Contrast Booster or an Explore Scientific CLS. That said, I sometimes find a variable polarising filter is a reasonable compromise.

Hi @dciobota and welcome to SGL. I find that “other” US site very clique. I was going to sign up sometime ago, but in many ways glad I didn’t. Everyone here at SGL is so friendly and helpful.

Wow! That is amazing and beautiful craftsmanship.

My ‘scope of choice would be my TeleVue Ranger or ‘re-modded’ ETX-105. The Ranger, a few e/p’s and accessories fit in a aluminium camera/photography case, or if I take the ETX, a few e/p’s and accessories in a backpack. The tripod and mount are packed in the suitcase and protected with my clothes packed/wrapped around them.

I’m a ‘sucker’ for my planetary zoom e/p’s and let them suck up those photons of light... like a vacuum cleaner sucks up dust, etc!

My condolences to David Lukehurst’s wife, family and friends.

Hi @RJC and welcome to SGL. Don’t go and have a mad spending spree on eyepieces, filters and other accessories until you have used the ‘scope a few times. Best advice I would say at this time is to set it up during the day light hours and have a play with it, either indoors or outside. That way you will how it works and behaves, know what goes with what and where, etc., as it can be frustrating to do in the dark. 😉 Talking of filters, my top three recommendations are: variable polarising Baader Neodymium UHC ...and what @Louis D suggested in his reply.

Hi @Tangent and welcome to SGL. Apologies in advance but I am unable to answer you question/last paragraph. May I ask why you are set on a 90mm Mak, rather than one with a bigger aperture? The SkyWatcher SkyMax 127 has good reviews by owners here on SGL. Also, if you are set on a catadioptric* ‘scope have you considered an SCT? I own a Meade ETX-105 [with a re-modded backplate that replaced the ABS backend after an incident] and a Celestron C6 [image below]. Both give about the same magnification, though the focal lengths and f/ratios are different... ETX-105 = 1470mm f/l @ f/14 C6 = 1500mm f/l @ f/10 Since the above image, I now use alt-az mounts as per my signature, as the weight/payload was to much for the Vixen GP. Anyway... whichever you choose, do remember to order or purchase a dew shield. They are not included and are a must have accessory. * the word catadioptric refers to Maksutov and SCT telescopes.

Whenever I use my old brass eyepiece [image below], I think of how much joy and excitement it must have given the amateur astronomer of that epoch and what were they were viewing at the time. Mine too is uncoated, with tight eye relief and a short focal length. Beacon Hill Telescopes made the aluminium RAS thread to 1.25” adapter for it and the eyepiece projection unit behind it, which accepts my TeleVue and Meade Plossl’s.

Since downloading and using the app a few times on iPhone and iPad, I have noticed a few downsides. These are: I have noticed a few downsides. These are: only works in portrait mode unless you launch the app from landscape mode, it seems to work. it does not remember the location, therefore you have re-enter it you use the app. time lag when pointing at a particular area of the sky.

SNow that you have said they are 1.25” what ‘scope do you have? If you are happy with it, than I suggest you start looking at upgrading the eyepieces. My suggestion based on reading what others have said in previous topics from my time on SGL would be these... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces.html or these... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/vixen-eyepieces/vixen-npl-eyepieces.html Both brands are budget friendly. Other budget friendly ones are the Svbony UWA series. They come in two flavours: the ‘Goldline’ series [AFOV 66o] and ‘Redline’ series [AFOV 68o]. I have one of each in 6mm. They are also sold under other brand names, so price may well vary. Avoid buying eyepiece sets. Best advice here is to buy separate ones and choose wisely. Everyone’s expectations and needs at what they see are different. With regard to a polarising filter, I have and use this one... My reason for choosing this type was you can leave one filter on the eyepiece holder and screw the other filter to the eyepiece and rotate either while in situ without having to remove everything to change the amount of light level. If using a refractor or SCT/Mak ‘scope, screw one into the star diagonal and one in the eyepiece holder. [note: I do not use the eyepiece holder with my heavy eyepieces and I have a few of them]. Another filter you may find useful is the Baader Neodymium. It is one of my most used filters. I often refer to it or call it my ‘Swiss-army knife’ filter. Colour filters or filter sets are a ‘marmite’ thing... you either love it or hate it! Another ‘marmite’ thing is a zoom eyepiece. The most popular type is 8-24mm. I have a 7-21mm and it is OK for my expectations and needs.

Hi @Manoah and welcome to SGL. What barrel diameter are the eyepieces nosepiece? - the sizes you mention [ie 20, 12.5 & 4mm] were supplied with many beginner telescopes from years gone by and are poor quality. If they are 0.965” then finding accessories of that size today are limited and challenging. Below is an image of my 0.965” e/p and a 1.25” adapter for comparison. A variable polarising filter will help get some detail [ie Jupiter’s equatorial belts] but finding them for sale new or secondhand in 0.965” is going be challenging as well.

Hi @Erimakishigi and welcome to SGL. I have just had a look at my AS1120MM-S under a magnifying lens and iPhone camera zoomed to the max, I cannot see any screw head. The threaded holes maybe for securing something else.

The only thing I would change from your list would be the star diagonal for one with an SCT thread. My reason is that it feels safe and secure, especially when you have a heavy and/or expensive eyepiece sticking out of it.

This one... Quester 3.5! As much as I like the Questar 3.5, I would have to sell all my current gear/kit and donate parts of my body to get one. I am being serious now... my main reason for choosing my ‘scopes [as per my signature] was size constraints. Living in a small apartment without a balcony, climbing stairs, limited storage, etc., so they ticked all the boxes. If there is a local society or club nearby, find out if they have any star parties or public outreach events and go along. If they have the facility for observing too, then better still. You can see the ‘scopes and give you an idea of physical size, weight, etc. and even get to look through them.

A Maksutov is perfect for lunar and planetary observation. Just need to remember that a dew shield is a ‘must have’ accessory… and they do not come supplied. Being compact they do not take up a lot of storage space and can be fitted in a padded backpack plus a star diagonal, a few e/p’s and even allowed as a ‘carry on’ aboard aircraft. Image above of my ‘re-modded’ Meade ETX-105 plus dew shield, mounted on a DwarfStar mount and Manfrotto PROB tripod. This is my grab & go setup.

Hi @Jimmy81 and welcome to SGL. Filters are a ‘marmite’ thing... either you love them or hate them, thing! Below is the filters I use most often: variable polarising filter. Baader Neodymium. Explore Scientific UHC. Other filters that I use are: Baader Continuum. Explore Scientific CLS. Explore Scientific Olll. Explore Scientific S2. ‘unknown’ set of colour filters - #82A is the most used from the set. ’unknown’ #47. UHC and Olll filter brands do vary in quality and price. I chose the Explore Scientific brand because they are/were in the better than average quality bracket and price when I purchased them.