RT65CB-SWL

I think you have made a wise choice in going for the Baader zoom. It is not as heavy as it looks. I tried one a few weeks ago. Once you have found the sweet spot, then you can purchase an eyepiece of a fixed focal length to what you need. Also a plus for having a zoom for public out reach, (when we can get out and about again after curfews/lockdowns have been lifted), and if you have a lot of other astro accessories and want to travel light.

Agree with @John about the Baader zoom. I don't actually own the Baader; but I have tried it, (i.e. the mklll), and surprised me how lightweight it was even with the 1.25"-2" nosepiece adaptor attached. I currently have two zooms. One is the TeleVue Nagler 3-6mm and the other one is an unbranded 7-21mm via astroboot.

Hi @Dayer and welcome to SGL. What camera is it? - Can you do multiple images with your camera and then stack them with stacking software? Below is an image of Mars from April 2014 using a C6/SCT, 6mm Radian e/p + Neodymium filter and a 2.1 mega-pixel digital-compact camera, (handheld over the eyepiece), from a hotel garden near LHR. At the time Mars was having a dust storm, but if you look carefully, (preferably in a darkened enviroment), you should see some detail of the Martian surface. It is one shot, no stacking, enhancement, etc. You could try a 5x Barlow --->https://www.astroboot.co.uk/AstroBoot/telescope-and-astronomy-stuff.html?highlight=AB9534#AB9534 and see if that improves things.

Before anyone says anything... I don't have a hobby of looking at brickwork with binoculars. (first image).

Hi @Space_Cadet and welcome to SGL. Definitely Venus, (with 'lens flare'). Yesterday, (24th March), Venus was at greatest elongation, as viewed from Earth. Mars, Jupiter & Saturn are currently in the morning skies. Today, (25th March), is New Moon. Enjoy.

Great video. I always use my binoculars, (7x50's or 20x80's), and camera tripod + joystick head when travelling light or whilst my 'scopes cooling down. left: 7x50 - right: 20x80

I am assuming that you have a 1:10 Crayford focusser on your tube? With a Crayford focusser there are two allen bolts/machine screws on the underside. One locks it in position and the other one makes the drawtube/eyepiece holder slide in/out. I cannot remember which one, does what... doh! - I have attached 'Adjusting the Skywatcher Focusser' by SGL'er @Lowjiber The two knobs on oneside are... coarse focus, (large one/same diameter as the one on the otherside), and fine focus, (small one). Adjusting the Skywatcher Focuser.pdf

A message for TeleVue fans... http://televue.com/Jump/_SpecialNoteLong.asp

Hi @CLOUD90 and welcome to SGL. +1 for the TeleVue Radian, (now discontinued and superceded by the DeLite's), I have the 6mm. Radian's have 60deg AFOV, (DeLite’s have 62deg AFOV). Nagler's are nice too at 82deg AFOV. They are a bit more expensive than Radian's or DeLite's. If you want to go for a zoom e/p, then these. First off is the Nagler 3-6mm zoom, though it only gives 50deg; and then there is the Baader 8-24mm Mk llI or MkIV Zoom gives 68deg AFOV and can be used in 1.25" or 2" drawtubes. The earlier Mkl & Mkll zooms were fairly heavy. Pssst! - want a budget zoom e/p? ...the Seben 8-24mm, (not to be confused with its 7-21mm sibling)... apparently it is very good... unlike other Seben 'scopes & e/p's, (which is pretty much crap/$#!t).

I have a Thousand Oaks glass type 2 and it gives a nice orange disc. It is showing its age now by showing very small pinpricks. They can be, according to Thousand Oaks be ‘patched up’ with a BLACK permenant marker pen. I spoke to a member of my local astro society and was advised to bin it, as it is not worth the risk damaging your eyes or those of someone else. Going with the Baader Solar Safty Film will be the cheaper option and just as safe. REMEMBER to check for pinpricks, tears, other defects before each and every use. BTW - I only view the Sun with a Herschel/Solar Wedge with the Baader Solar Continuum & single Polarising filters and a 70mm refractor.

Thank you for the kind comments @Sunshine. I sold the Vixen GP a few months ago, due to the fact it was getting very little use then my Tele-Optic Giro & AyoAOK alt-az mounts. Also, it was at its maximum payload with those two ...and yes I do miss it. I used to soak the legs with a liquid beeswax polish two or three times a year and the polish/buff off the excess and polish once a month with a solid beeswax polish.

My C6/SCT (left) and ‘re-modded’ ETX105 (right). . .

Ensure one of the gardens is facing south, (this is where the objects are highest at midnight). My personal preference would be the back garden, for your own safety and security.

I use a shoulder strap that I salvaged from an old laptop/messenger bag, (plus two split-rings), with my 20x80’s - I have used wide camera straps for other binoculars that I have owned in the past.

For the winter months my number one choice is and will be Orion. As for the remaining 9 or 11 (or more) important constellations, then I will have to pass, as I mainly view solar (white light), lunar & planets.

Good to see you are enjoying your new 'scope. Just wait 'til you see Jupiter and Saturn with it... 😜

...and that is If you can find a public toilet that is open.

Depending on the living space available, I will say go for a Mak or SCT... or if funds permit a TV-76 or TV-85 and an alt-az mount. ...also nice and compact if you have to rely on public transport.

Hi @daslolo and a late welcome to SGL. Have you seen/watched this? ---> It is presented by 'uncle' Rod Mollise... 'The Godfather' of SCT projects & mods.

Attenuate the bightness and show some cloud detail in larger instruments; i.e. 6 inches or greater.

Add a UHC or O-lll filter for M42 and a #47 (violet) or variable polarising filter for Venus and enjoy.

Hi @Skyline_UK and welcome to SGL. A site worth checking out is: https://www.heavens-above.com/

Am I to remove the end caps? - It does not mention this in the manual...!

Hi @Loopnova and welcome to SGL. I have seen a few things do the 'fly by' thing. Things it maybe: birds, aircraft, ISS (Zaraya), other man-made satellites, space debris, etc. A site worth checking out is: https://heavens-above.com/main.aspx

Colour filters will not work for visual of DSO's. The human eye has not evolved for low-light vision. The Andromeda Galaxy [M31] & Ring Nebula [M57], (and other 'fuzzy' DSO's), appear as fifty shades of grey visually For imaging you will/may need dedicated astro-imaging/astro-photography LRGB or RGB filters to bring out the colours. Other filters you may need are: Infra Red, H-alpha, O-lll, S-ll, UHC, to enhance detail/structure. Please feel free to amend/correct/comment if I am incorrect.