RT65CB-SWL

He looks like one-third of ZZ Top. 😆 BTW - the one with the moustache in the band has the surname Beard!

Hi @MysticReverie and welcome to SGL. Another vote for either a Mak or SCT. Shown below are mine... ...left Celestron C6 (SCT) ...right 're-modded' Meade ETX105 (Mak). As they are notorious dew-magnets, a dew shield is a must have accessory. You can either make one from an exercise/yoga mat or buy one ready made.

I have the Explore Scientific UHC & OIII filters after researching that the OVL ones are not that good. I can now safely say, that I can split the Trapezium in M42.

Please don't take this as an insult, but no way can the lunar rover tracks can be seen with a Nextstar 4se, (or any other amatuer 'scope), from Earth. BTW - nice image.

Reminds of a few months ago whilst I was downloading a Linux distro. I postponed Windows 10 update 'til later. In the middle of the download, the said Microsoft update went ahead anyway.

Apologies @Criermike. What I do with my variable filter is keep one filter on the eyepiece holder and the other I screw in the eyepiece, or if the eyepiece is not at a silly angle, (and with a star diagonal), just place it on top and the rubber eyecup keeps it in place, then rotate the eyepiece until I comfortable, but not blinding view. BTW - the neodymium is my 'Swiss-Army knife' filter... it does almost anything!

Just to follow up from my earlier post earlier this week, here is a list of my branded & unbranded eyepieces... Branded... Meade 26mm & 20mm Plossl Meade 8.8mm UWA (series 4000). SkyWatcher Apex 28mm Circle-T 12.5mm & 6mm Ortho Fullerscopes 6mm Ortho (0.965" with 1.25" adaptor). ...and the cheap... Unbranded... 'unknown' / 'made in China' 6mm WA (2x via ebay). 18mm wide angle (via AstroBoot). 7-21mm zoom (via AstroBoot).

I find the neodymium filter works well on Mars, Jupiter & Saturn too ...if you don't mind the pale blue hue. If you only use 1.25", I use this type of polarising filter --->

Even to get Uranus with a 4" SCT, that is an amazing acheivement. Congratulations @J47.

Here's my take on this. If you are satisfied with your present eyepieces and are serving you well on planetary views, then maybe a Neodymium, UHC or O-III filter may well tease that little bit extra detail on DSO's. Individually they cost about the same as some mid-range price Plossl's for a reputable brand, i.e. Baader Planetarium, Explore Scientific, etc. I am a TeleVue fan, (though don't own every one or type they have made and that would be financial suicide). I do own eyepieces by other brands. The filters I mentioned above do make a difference on DSO's, even with my small TeleVue eyepiece collection, which incidently comprises of the following... 13mm, 11mm & 8mm Plossl 13mm Nagler / Type 1 & Type 6 3-6mm Nagler zoom 6mm Radian

As what @JamesF said.

Then I had to get an ETX to SCT adaptor ring and 1.25" visual back.

I think I paid about £120 for it.

Hi @wormix if you find... ...let me know. I am after one for an ETX105, as they do not do one for it. Though I did manage, (...and persuade), to get this, (image below), made by a local engineering company/workshop not far from my home. Even the rear port is the same screw thread as the ETX90/105/125 plastic rear cell. BTW - the Jubilee hose rings hold/attach an 8" dovetail bar to the OTA.

G'day @bluesilver. I will attempt to answer as best as possible in order, from my limited experience, as I own a C6/SCT, a 're-modded' ETX105 [Maksutov/Mak/MCT] and a 70mm semi-achro refractor. I am also purely visual. Assuming the your Maksutov is new, collimation should be 100% spot-on and stars and double stars appear as pin-points of light. Same for a refractor too. For nebular, galaxies, other DSO's maybe not as they tend to cover vast areas. Therefore a wide-field refractor will be better. For planetary viewing then the Maksutov or refractor, (100mm or better for a refractor), is going to awesome views at the e/p. For astro-photography the triplet should be OK. You will need a sturdy and polar aligned mount for DSO's. The more experienced astro-photography SGL'ers will advise and give more to this question. Images above & below showing my 're-modded' ETX105. Unfortunately, no 'scope does all in this hobby... and I have one to many TeleVue 13mm e/p's ... left: 13mm Plossl - centre: 13mm Nagler / Type 1 - right: 13mm Nagler / Type 6...

Hi @MiniMaster and welcome to SGL. Good advice given by @Ricochet. FWIW - I have an obsession, (not the 'scope), with TeleVue 13mm's... left: 13mm Plossl - centre: 13mm Nagler / Type 1 - right: 13mm Nagler / Type 6.

Hi @okm and welcome to SGL. I think your answer sums it up nicely. I admit it, I have a Meade ETX105 [re-mod] and a Celestron C6/SCT , (images below), and forget to mention about the central obstruction when advising on a 'What telescope...?' thread. I also have a TeleVue Ranger, (last image), shown with a Lunt solar wedge attached.

Hi @CJinNH and welcome to SGL. Dobsonian's are the 'best bang for your buck', but may not be suitable for astro-photography, unless doing solar... (with full aperture solar filter), lunar or planetary photography up to Saturn. If financial funds permit, get the SCT as well? Unfortunately, no 'scope does all in this hobby.

The Planets Suite or The Planets [Opus 32] was composed between 1914 and 1916. Pluto was discovered in 1930. Gustav Holst, however expressed no interest in writing a movement for Pluto. He had become disillusioned by the popularity of the suite. In 2000, composer Colin Matthews, wrote a piece and dedicated to Imogen Holst, [Gustav's daughter], and called it 'Pluto, the renewer'.

Copied from the SGL topic I posted earlier this week... [Prices with no box ?]... This means I have one to many TeleVue 13mm e/p's ... left: 13mm Plossl - centre: 13mm Nagler / Type 1 - right: 13mm Nagler / Type 6.

Hi @A McEwan I am happy with my Lunt too!... ...and I still have the Giro mount I brought from you several years ago.

Depending on what refractor OTA you have, it may not reach focus without a diagonal in place.

Hi @EMT500 and welcome to SGL. So you don't upset the balance of your OTA, and risk of it slipping when adjusting the e/p to a more user friendly position is to get another tube ring. And now for the 'cheapskate method'... get Jubilee ring/hose clamp and a length of garden hose. Then fully unscrew the Jubilee ring/hose clamp and thread it through the hose, (an alternative is to get an embroidery hoop), and then attach it to the OTA. Then it should rest on one of the original mounts tube rings, no slippage and remain balanced, (unless you decide to add a heavy e/p or camera in to the focusser tube).

I think in my area it is barbeques.

I did my bit on Friday when viewing Saturn with my 're-modded' ETX105, (c/w 2" SCT e/p adaptor, not shown), and a 2" SkyWatcher 28mm, as it was just above a tree about 200 metres from me, (the tree that is). Quite a pleasant change from viewing with a star diagonal and looking down.