RT65CB-SWL

Cheap refractors i.e. online auction sites, online warehouses, department store, etc., will. If you have a dedicated 'bricks and mortar' astronomy reseller then he/she is your best friend... including FLO sponsor of SGL. Not sure if FLO ship to Norway, but maybe worth enquiring with them when you have decided. BTW - the Orion Starseeker IV is a 'Newtonian' reflector.

I know this has been said before... Do remember to check your full aperture solar filter before each and every use for any pinholes, scratches, tears, etc. Do not leave the 'scope unattended if young children are present/nearby.

Hi @Daniel Valencia and welcome to SGL.

Hi @Christio02 and welcome to SGL. Depending on what you want to image, the bigger the aperture the more light photons it will contain. As both your intended 'scopes are catadioptrics, (i.e. SCT or Maksutov), they are slow, i.e. f10 or slower and do require long and tracked exposures. Also they are notorious dew magnets and will require a long time to acclimatise to the outside temperature before use and a dew shield is a must have accessory. I have a Celestron C6/SCT-xlt [f10] and a Meade ETX105 [f14] and give them about 30-60 minutes to acclimatise before popping in an eyepiece. Even with a focal reducer/field flattener your are going to be having to get use to long exposures, etc. Catadioptrics are excellent for lunar and planetary views/imaging, but not so good on DSO's as the field of view is narrow. You maybe better off purchasing a refractor of 80mm minimum. If you wish to pursue astro-imaging, then I would recommend you read the book 'Make Every Photon Count' and/or look at the numerous online tutorials and videos on YouTube, etc., before deciding which 'scope is the right choice for you.

Hi @VaderAG and a late welcome to SGL. Another item that may make life a little easier maybe a 90deg. star diagonal rather than the 45deg. diagonal that is supplied with it. Bear in mind that this is purely a travel 'scope or spotting 'scope and we all started this wonderful hobby at some point with a small telescope or one with inferior optics at some point. Wishing you and your daughter many years of clear skies too.

I used to know a member from my local astro. society/club, (he passed away two years ago), and used the Nagler 2-4mm zoom in the TeleVue 60. He said it was the perfect combination when he was working away from home.

Hi @Thingo and a late welcome to SGL. For high powers, I think the TeleVue Nagler 3-6mm zoom is a wonderful piece of optical engineering considering its size. I don't think there is anything else, (zoom e/p wise), you can compare it with. It maybe worth playing with the Field of View Calculator in the Astronomy Tools tab, then decide before purchase.

Gettiing back to the tripod and the OP's query, etc., I used to have a Meade heavy duty tripod from an LX200 and attached my Tele Optic Giro, (with a 3/8" or 10mm bolt), for my TeleVue Ranger and ETX105, (image below).

Bit late for the party, but if visual than an alt-az will do, even for a basic image of the Moon. Above are images of my alt-az mounts. They are an AOK-AYO (top left) & Tele-Optic Giro (top right) and a DwarfStar (bottom) shown with my 're-modded' ETX105. Below is an image of 'Montes Apenninus' region of the Moon taken with my ETX105, 20mm Plossl e/p, mounted on the Tele-Optic Giro and a Manfrotto PROB tripod, (same tripod as shown in the second image), and an Olympus C2040 [2.0 mega-pixel] digital compact camera. <--- the Olympus C2040.

If you are set on an alt-az mount, have you considered one of these?... (other brands of ‘T’ mount are also available). left: AYO-AOK - right: Tele-optic Giro The dovetail saddle plates can be removed, (note: only one can be removed on the AYO or both on the Giro), so you can attach a counter weight and bar and/or extension arm.

Hi @AMORxREBEL and welcome to SGL. +1 for what has been said in the above comments. My option would be to buy/purchase this... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html or its bigger sibling... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html

This is the pistol grip @darth vader refers to... I use one with my 7x50's or 20x80's on either a tripod or monopod. BTW - base fitting is 3/8" This attachment ---> TG-manual.pdf is the 'Dummies Guide' or 'Idiots Guide' to the mount and how to use it, maintain it, etc., by SGL'er @BinocularSky

I made an error in this reply, so below is the corrected version. The 'Skyhawk 114 Newtonian' does not mention a built-in Barlow lens... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/sky-watcher-skyhawk-1145ps-az-pronto.html - those that do are the classic 'Bird-Jones' design and are the ones that best avoided. Apologies in advance for the confusion. My only concern is the quote from @FLO: "NOTE: The 1145PS telescope has a non-collimateable primary mirror which is collimated during manufacturing. Some adjustment can be made to collimation with the secondary mirror but we have found, as long as the scope arrives to you in collimation then it holds collimation very well over time."

I was just going to say the same. The 'corrector lens' is a built-in Barlow lens - best avoided IMHO.

Just a few more images of my 're-modded' ETX105... ...and parts used to attach the visual back. I used the second adapter ring (as above) to attach the 1.25" visual back. I can insert a filter to the inner thread and the outer thread enables me to use SCT accessories. More info here... https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/200993-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-1/?tab=comments#comment-2122548 https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/210185-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-2/?tab=comments#comment-2242638 https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/210469-addendum-to-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-1-2/?tab=comments#comment-2246300 https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/235033-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-3/?tab=comments#comment-2544359 https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/294717-my-modded-meade-etx105-ota-part-4-the-re-mod/?tab=comments#comment-3226358

Hi @Iangourlay and welcome to SGL. The holes at the bottom of the ABS plastic flip mirror housing have 1/4" BSW brass inserts so you can mount the OTA on an camera/video tripod or attach a dovetail bar and mount to the saddle clamp of your mount. Be careful when tightening up the screws, as they are moulded into the plastic. For the dovetail bar, I would recommend this type ---> https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetails-saddles-clamps/astro-essentials-dovetail-bars.html I myself use an ETX105, (albeit re-modded after it had a mishap and the ABS plastic flip mirror housing damaged two of the three mounting points), and as I was not able to source any tube rings for it, I used Jubilee/hose rings and self-adhesive felt. (image below). note: that the SkyWatcher dovetail bar, (which is what I have used), does not have the slotted holes... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/skywatcher-dovetail-mounting-plates.html I am not sure what size the external tube diameter of the ETX125 is, but for the ETX105 it is 124mm, so you may have better luck in sourcing ready made tube rings. BTW - the ETX125 is made by Meade Instrument Corp., not Celestron.

Hi @EdvardasR & family and welcome to SGL. As others have previously mentioned, get a 'scope with an alt-az mount to begin with. If you want an EQ mount, then I would recommend going for an EQ3/2 or above. I have used cheaper EQ mounts and found them very frustrating to use when I started. To me the best EQ mount I owned was the Vixen GP. I now use alt-az. Simply place on a firm/level surface, point and view. As for the type of 'scope you choose depends on what you and your family would like to view. Refractors generally tend to be what youngsters think of as a 'real' telescope, so the Evostar 90 ticks my box as well. It should hardly require any collimation and can be almost used straight away when set up. Reflectors come in various configurations. The classic 'Newtionian' design, (including the 'Dobsonian') or the compound/catadioptrics, (i.e. Maksutov or Schmitt Cassegrain). The 'Newtonian' will need collimation every now and then. Catadioptics tend to be more forgiving and hardly require collimation. They are dew magnets and a dew shield is a must have accessory. The other downside is they have a narrow field of view, but the views can be spectacular for lunar and planetary viewing, and can even be used for other outdoor pursuits as well during the day time hours. Below are some images of my 'scopes and mounts. They are a TeleVue Ranger, Celestron C6/SCT-xlt and a 're-modded' Meade ETX105. Below is my C6/SCT and ETX105 mounted on the Vixen GP.

Same here!

Hi @Goldenmole and welcome to SGL. Every few years when Mars is at opposition, (i.e. Sun, Earth, planet in a line), it will appear a little bigger and you should appear as an orange/red/rust coloured disc. Also, depending on how close Mars is to Earth, you should be able to see the polar ice caps and maybe some surface detail. Last year [2020] was one of them. Bear in mind that Mars is about two-thirds the size of Earth. Planets will always appear as discs, except for Mercury & Venus as they are nearest the Sun. Stars will always appear as points of light. I have a 70mm refractor and I have managed to see a Martian ice cap during August 2003 when it was 34.6 million miles away. That was the closest it was in my lifetime. The table below is via https://cseligman.com/text/planets/marsoppositions.htm Oppositions of Mars, 1995 - 2037 Date of Opposition Date of Closest Encounter Closest Distance (AUs / Millions of Miles) Feb 12 1995 Mar 17 1997 Apr 24 1999 Jun 13 2001 Aug 28 2003 Nov 07 2005 Dec 24 2007 Jan 29 2010 Mar 03 2012 Apr 08 2014 May 22 2016 Jul 27 2018 Oct 13 2020 Dec 08 2022 Jan 16 2025 Feb 19 2027 Mar 25 2029 May 04 2031 Jun 27 2033 Sep 15 2035 Nov 19 2037 Feb 11 1995 Mar 20 1997 May 01 1999 Jun 21 2001 Aug 27 2003 Oct 30 2005 Dec 18 2007 Jan 27 2010 Mar 05 2012 Apr 14 2014 May 30 2016 Jul 31 2018 Oct 06 2020 Dec 01 2022 Jan 12 2025 Feb 20 2027 Mar 29 2029 May 12 2031 Jul 05 2033 Sep 11 2035 Nov 11 2037 0.67569 / 62.8 0.65938 / 61.3 0.57846 / 53.8 0.45017 / 41.8 0.37272 / 34.6 0.46406 / 43.1 0.58935 / 54.8 0.66398 / 61.7 0.67368 / 62.6 0.61756 / 57.4 0.50321 / 46.8 0.38496 / 35.8 0.41492 / 38.6 0.54447 / 50.6 0.64228 / 59.7 0.67792 / 63.0 0.64722 / 60.2 0.55336 / 51.4 0.42302 / 39.3 0.38041 / 35.4 0.49358 / 45.9

Hi @Redfi and welcome to SGL. Can you let us know what 'scope and RDF you have or post images?

Very nice!

Hi @DPF For my TeleVue Ranger, the smallest fixed length e/p I use with it is 6mm... and even 3mm with the TeleVue Nagler 3-6mm zoom. If you are on a tight budget, then these are highly recommended by some... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces.html or you could try these... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/vixen-eyepieces/vixen-npl-eyepieces.html For DSO stuff you could try a Baader Neodymium or a UHC. I use both, though I find the Neodymium is the most used and universal of my filters. I often refer to it as my 'Swiss-army knife' filter.

Hi @Thorriz and welcome back to SGL.

Hi @Surfer Chris and welcome to SGL. As per @mikeDnight - if you have the finances to purchase the Takahashi FC100DC over the FC76DCU then go for it. For serious planetary observing, 4" aperture for a refractor is the minimum. Twenty plus years ago [i.e. 1998... eclipse fever, etc.] I was in a dilemma of buying a Meade ETX90 or TeleVue Ranger as my previous 'scopes were purchased from the high street. I wanted something better than the 50 or 60mm refractors that I had used previously. In the end I the end I chose the TeleVue Ranger. Why? because I 'fell in love with it' when I saw the images in the S&T adverts. Fortunately for me the astro-dealer where I had purchased it from had both for sale so I was able to try them before making my mind up. I also wanted something that was lightweight, takes up very little storage space, was airline friendly, as I was going to Bulgaria to view the 1999 solar eclipse. I still have and use it. Several years later I purchased a Meade ETX105 [OTA only] which has since been 're-modded' following a mishap, but still is operational... if anything slightly better IMHO, and then I purchased a C6/SCT as I thought my ETX105 was beyond repair. Below are images of my 're-modded' ETX105 and TeleVue Ranger mounted on a DwarfStar alt-az mount and camera tripod, (third image shown using a photo ball-head), for grab & go... and my alt-az mounts when I dual-mount.

Hi @GSmith and welcome to SGL from another SGL'er in the 'Royal County'.