RT65CB-SWL

I purchased mine from ebay - link here --->https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-25-Variable-Polarizers-Polarizing-Filter-Set-for-TELESCOPE-New-Boxed-SALE/201481669867?hash=item2ee93e4ceb:g:VJoAAOxy9eVRSxgM

Hi @itsbrittanyhere and welcome to SGL. As per @John & @Stu says... return it asap, as it is still under guarentee/warranty - FLO (sponser of SGL offer two years), though not sure about other & online resellers.

Hi @Domcia and welcome to SGL. How about a zoom eyepiece, preferebly 8-24mm. Seben do a cheap but good one. Other brands do exist such as the Baader Planetarium mkIII or mkIV and is also one of the better ones. If you decide on getting a moon/lunar filter, then I recommend a variable polarising filter. I use this type --->

Hi Martin and welcome to SGL. Best advice from me would be to buy a pair of binoculars and start getting to know the sky. Even a modest pair of binoculars, e.g. 7 x50's or 10 x 50's, you should be able to see the equatorial belts & Jovian moons of Jupiter, plus the rings of Saturn at a pinch. Download Stellarium* on your desktop/laptop PC or Mac. Other planetarium software, (free or paid), are also available. Visit your local astronomy club/society and find out when the next star party/open evening is and start from there. Have a look through the different telescopes that are in use and ask the owners what made him/her choose that particular model/brand. Things to bare in mind when buying a telescope are:- Set yourself a realistic budget. Is it easy to setup on my own. Is it easy to maintain. How portable is it. Do I want something that is airplane or public transport friendly. Do I want to take images now or later. Alt-Az, Go-To or EQ [manual or powered] mount. Where do I store it when not in use. Avoid buying from places like: alibaba, amazon, ebay, etc. - not saying that all sellers are bad - but if you receive something that is a 'dud-un' then it is your word against theirs. For binoculars: avoid zoom or small/compact/pocket types and ones with extremely colourful coatings, (blue/green/orange/red), on the objective lenses, (often seen for sale at market stalls or car-boot sales) - a reputable brand should have subtle coating of blue/green like a soap bubble me thinks! * Stellarium is free for PC/Mac; but for mobile devices, (i.e. phone/tablet), you do have to pay for it. At the time of writing it is £2.99GBP / $2.99USD.

Here you go @oymd... https://www.365astronomy.com/Eyepiece-Cap-for-1.25-Eyepieces-36mm-inner-diameter.html https://www.365astronomy.com/Eyepiece-Cap-for-1.25-Eyepieces-31.8mm-inner-diameter.html

Love it! Any excuse to avoid cleaning/washing windows and do some stargazing.

I use one of these with my 7 x 50 binoculars or digital compact camera... It is a Manfrotto 235 Flexihead for monopod - female 1/4" BSW on underside to attach to monopod/pole. Not sure whether they are still available, but if you can/do obtain one of these, the instructions advise: "...do not use it if showing signs of cracking/splitting..." or similar wording - I have had mine for ten years plus and still appears to be in good shape.

Very nice @astroavani. Mars is going to be well placed for northern hemisphere planet observers this year [2020] during the summer months.

I think you would have to place it at the focal plane of the eyepice, (assuming you can dismantle it and/or have experience of optics). The crosshairs are made from a very fine wire or spider-web, (though not sure of what species). I did once try make or repair one myself with some fine wire, cheap e/p, cyanoacrylate adhesive [superglue]... it did not work! I believe TAL used to do a threaded crosshair adaptor that screwed into their eyepices. Personally, I would invest in a ready made finderscope and/or RDF, (even a rilfescope can be used) - either option will be a lot less hassle.

What type of streetlight is it ? - sodium streetlights could be filtered reasonably well with a Baader Neodymium, though not so sure about the other brands you have listed, (I have Bortle 6 skies), but not so good with LED streetlights.

I too have the Explore Scientific, (1.25") ...I don't know if I even have noticed it.

I have an Orion 12.5mm Plossl - says 'AG10' and it takes three of them. I think this list is the compatible codes: LR54, CR1130, AG10, 1130, GP189, V10GA, 10L/122, 189, 389A, A05, A120, G10, G10A, GP89A, L1131, LR1130, RW49, WL10 note: '+' is face up / nearest the eyepiece on mine.

1mm... Seriously, about the same eye relief. Pentax has 70deg / TeleVue has 72deg AFOV - Weight: Pentax 390g / TeleVue 454g. The Delos is apparently is in the same parfocal group as the Nagler/Type 6 - the Delos has the 'Instajust' feature which I like.

Returning home with my lady friend, after visiting her son yesterday evening at LGW, Venus was looking brilliant. I was tempted to get some images when I got home, as I had been at work at LHR since 0400 and my brain was in 'sleep' mode.

Q1. What is your budget ? - If you can afford it go for the 6” or bigger and an EQ3/2 or better mount wise. Q2. Portable or permenant setup ? Q3. Do you plan on astrophotography now or later ? - If “yes” then the mount is the foundation. Be prepared for a steep learning curve. So get something that will last you a few years if you decide to upgrade the OTA in the future. The EQ3/2 is ok for basic stuff i.e. lunar/solar/planetary, but not so good for deep-sky stuff.

Hi Wes. As others have said, try before it gets to dark and watch out for the Sun. Also, I find a variable polarising filter or a #47 (violet) filter work.

Mr. Postman delvered me an Explore Scientific 1.25" CLS [city light supression] filter, whilst I was at work today, via @FLO I have the Baader Planetarium 1.25" Contrast Booster & 1.25" Neodymium filters too, I purchased years ago before I joined SGL, so it will make an interesting comparison as to how they compare... if/when I get a clear sky.

I went to take my lady-friend's son to LGW lastnight, (12th Jan 2020), as he has six weeks of cabin-crew training with an airline that has its base/hub there. When I dropped my lady-friend back to her home in Hounslow, there was a clear patch of sky around Orion and I did notice that Betelgeuse was brightness was dimmer of about one magnitude to what it usually is. When I arrived at my home, I had planned to take some photo images as part of the OU/FutureLearn [Orion] course / week 1 assignment, it was cloudy.

Clear skies, full Moon, etc., what are they? Seriously, I have had so much cloud during the past few months; I have forgotten what the night sky looks like! ☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️ ☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️ 🔭 ☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️

I have just noticed that the removable padded insert has a zip for removing the cover for when it gets a bit dirty & grimey and you want to toss it in with your 'smalls' when you do your laundry/wash. No washing instructions/guidelines though!

They are great images @Aramcheck / Ivor. What I used to use was an Olymus C2040, CLA-1 adaptor tube/ring or a Nikon CoolPix900, 28mm to T-ring adaptor tube/ring and an eyepiece projection unit (made by Beacon Hill Telescopes). They occasionally come out of hibernation. The best images I have was of the transit of Venus during 2004 and they are on a 'mislaid' CD-ROM. Now I have two Nikon DSLR's, a T-ring, the eyepiece projection unit, ...and lots of cloud.

I think the former USSR & Eastern Bloc countries were very prolific in producing astronomy and space related themes to their stamps. I have two mini-sheets, (images below)... <---1999 <---1986 ...and also included in the following link...

I use the Explore Scientific UHC and Olll filters and are very reasonably priced if you are still shopping. They tick/checkmark/check mark ✔️ the box for me when I was shopping for them.

Have you considered these by Explore Scientific?... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/explore-scientific-eyepieces/explore-scientific-82-degree-series-eyepieces.html They are about half the price of a TeleVue Nagler... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tele-vue-eyepieces/tele-vue-nagler-82-degree-eyepieces.html

Hi @Towbar and welcome to SGL. I was just going to say the same as what @Cornelius Varley / Peter has said.