RT65CB-SWL

This is what it translates to... "اعذرني يا سيدي، هل هذا (ناغلر) في جيبك أم أنك سعيد لرؤيتي؟" - [arabic / Saudia Arabia] 🇸🇦 "azerni ya sedey hill hudha (Nagler) fe chebak om ank said larouetee" - [transliteration]

As a follow-on from @Ags topic 'Sentimental eypieces' - what is my brass eyepiece that is shown at front of the image? Is it a 'Ramsden'? - The aluminium 1.25" adapter was made for me by Beacon Hill Telescopes (along with the eyepiece projection unit behind it). It has [I think] an RAS thread. I have since 'stuck it' to the adapter with some blue thread-lock and may come apart with some brute force. I am reluctant to separate it; in case I damage it. Tnx in adv.

You have 'Frankenscope'... @rorymultistorey (a.k.a. 'AstroBiscuit') has 'Riktenstein' and 'Pink Bunny' ... I have what I call my 're-modded' ETX105 'the poor mans Questar' ...and it too still works. Together, we make a good team!

My heart-stopping moment was many years ago, when I snapped one side the dovetail bar under my ETX105, (it was a white metal casting one). Fortunately it was on grass. The only damage was to the plastic flip-mirror/weight housing mounting points and a large crack. Other than that everything else was intact with no sign of damage or dents to the OTA.

An alternative option is if you have a stable photo/camera tripod and a ball-head, (makes 'cheap & cheerful' alt-az mount), can also be used and raise it to a more comfortable height. You will need to take the OTA off the supplied base. Another SGL'er has done it with his/her SkyWatcher Heritage, (the 'scope as shown in the image).

I think zoom e/p's do soften images a little as your image shows; but it does look good. I no longer have the EQ mount as I now use these two mounts... ...an AOK-AYO (red) and Tele-Optic Giro (silver/grey).

Hi @astroman001. Please forgive me for my ignorance; but may I ask which Nikon body and zoom lens you use? I have a Nikon D40x & D80 (plus the supplied Nikkor DX (18-55mm) lens) and a Tamron AF17N (70-300mm) zoom. I do not appear to be getting 'good' images at present with either at present. Any advice would be appreciated. Tnx in adv.

Hi @Jem789 and welcome to SGL. Good advice from fellow SGL'ers above. Apologies in advance for being negative; but forget the 'National Geographic' one, (and any 'Seben' telescope), you have/maybe looking at. Both brands, (and a few others), have extremely poor reviews.

Looking forward to seeing the Lunar images. Below is an image of the Montes Appenius area of the Moon using my Meade ETX105, (before the 're-mod'), a 20mm Plossl, eyepiece projection unit and a 2.1 mega-pixel compact digital camera. Later that same evening, the 'cheap' dovetail bar under my ETX105 snapped on the mount and damaged the rear plastic flip-mirror/balance weight enclosure. Fortunately it was on grass and I did not have the camera, etc., attached to it at the time. The image below shows my 're-modded' ETX105, (after I designed the 'backplate' and found a local engineering workshop to make it), from seeing them from a site/business that makes them. Unfortunately they only make them for the ETX90 & ETX125.

Hi @ALZASCOPE and welcome to SGL.

Hi @Mr Frizzle and welcome to SGL. I am a 'lefty' (i.e doing most things with my left hand, left eye dominant, etc). My advice if you are left eye dominant would be to wear an eye-patch. Some may people may laugh, but actually it is intuitive because it will help to relax the facial muscles of the non-viewing eye, as you are keeping both eyes open and therefore relaxing the non-viewing eye. As @Waddensky says, quote: "...buy an RACI finder..." - Personally, I would invest in larger aperture 'scope before buying in an RACI finder if you are satisfied with the 'Newtonian' design. I myself own one refractor and two 'catadioptric' style, (i.e. Mak and SCT), telescopes.

nice image!

nice images!

Does your Ramsden e/p have RAS thread? The eyepiece in the front of the image has [I think] an RAS thread. Beacon Hill Telescopes made me the 1.25" aluminium adapter, (and the epu behind it). Not sure whether he would make another one as it was a 'one-off' and send/post it to you. I sent the e/p to him so he knew what thread to cut.

Depending how good your DIY skills are; you could make up a 'cheap & cheerful barrow' to move it around; (i.e. straight timber, wheels and mounting hardware; i.e. nuts, bolts, washers, etc.); ...or buy one ready made, though they can be expensive.

Sorry to read about this. That is a big dent, 'ouch!' ...assuming you can find one that is open. I am waiting to have a nearside/left wing repaired on my car; as the 'local' car bodyshops have furloughed its staff until further notice.

Hi @Blackware and welcome to SGL. Another +1 recommendation for the 'Dobsoinian'; (though I have one refractor and two catadioptric reflectors are that mounted on alt-az mounts for simplicity), (image of mounts below), as I find EQ mounts time consuming to setup; especially smaller EQ mounts if not permanently setup and aligned. Many years ago; one of my work colleagues was in a similar situation as you. I advised him the 'pros & cons' and he did his research, he eventually settled with a 200mm 'Dobsonian' and not looked back.

Is the Kendrick filer the film type? - I used to get the same too! ...then I 'upgraded' to a Thousand Oaks glass one; (though that is no longer used now, as it has a few 'pin-pricks' which are not visible, unless I hold it up to a bright light source, including the Sun, before being put on my refractor). Maybe a variable polarising filter would help. I now use a solar wedge; (with a built-in ND3.0 filter); which is IMHO, a lot safer. Without the Solar Continuum or additional Polarising filter; (fitted to the eyepiece); the Sun's disc is still extremely bright.

Hi @MikeUrquhart and welcome to SGL.

One 'scope is never enough! - I have three. It's when you start looking at exotic eyepieces... then start to worry!

Hi @Timg147 and welcom to SGL. Below is an image of my 're-modded' ETX105 alongside my Celestron C6/XLT-SCT... I no longer have the Vixen GP tripod and mount. It was at maximum capacity, and a pain in the backside to balance. I now use an AOK-AYO and Tele-Optic Giro mkll alt-az mounts...

Any chance of adding some images? ...i.e. with & without. Sorry! ...my brain is trying to think outside the box and does not get it. Another strong caffine I think!

Which brand of variable polarising filter is it? I use this type---> ...and purchased from a well known auction site. I have no issues with it.

Congratulations @fozzybear

As others have said; upgrade the 'scope. If you can afford to go for a 6"/150mm, i.e. this one... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html would be better in my opinion.