Jump to content

Banner.jpg.b89429c566825f6ab32bcafbada449c9.jpg

jock1958

Members
  • Posts

    912
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by jock1958

  1. I use the original Tak 2” visual back or a Baader 2” ultra short clamp depending whether I’m using my mirror or prism diagonals and what magnification I want to achieve. Not sure what the visual back is on your FC 76 but if it’s similar to my Tak FS 60Q then my BV’s work on that with a screw on Tak 2” visual back that came as an extra. I would experiment and get some experience with what you already have before buying stuff that you probably won’t be able to use. Some pics below with my different configurations.
  2. Ahhh the curse of insufficient inwards focus! I bought a pair of WO BV’s 18 months ago for my Tak FC-100DL and initially used the supplied 20mm eyepieces, Baader mirror diagonal, Baader 2.25x barlow or TV 2.5x power mate to reach focus. Since then I’ve also been using a Baader ultra short clamp and prism diagonal (shorter light path) to reach focus natively with a variety of eyepieces. I’ve found its a bit of a challenge with lots of trial and error but the rewards are well worth the effort.
  3. Difficult one Mike but I can see top half of skull & eyes from your pic 🤔
  4. There’s a very good chance you’ve seen it. I’ve been trying for the last few years with my Tak FC-100DL + TV 3-6 zoom and failed due to the low altitude and unsteady atmospherics but will keep on persevering. I’m sure Dave @F15Rules will chip in as he’s seen it very recently through his Tak FS128.
  5. Had given up any hope of seeing the Flame nebula through my 4" Tak, however @mikeDnight's excellent post & sketch has renewed my enthusiasm to try harder!
  6. Looks like a very substantial and well engineered mount Mike. With the worm drives refitted is it possible to attach some slo mo's cables while you are sorting the drive motors or is it nudge along for just now?
  7. I persevered for ages with a nudge along Giro Ercole but struggled with high power viewing & balance so it’s Slo Mo all the way for me especially ones with nice long bendy cables 😜
  8. Hi Mark and a warm welcome to SGL, hope you enjoy it!
  9. Good idea Jeremy and I don’t think they are that expensive. Got a pair of Pentax 8.5XF’s that tilt over slightly when tightened in my WO BV’s thanks to those dratted undercuts. I’ve tried tape but it still catches in the eyepiece holder lock ring 😩
  10. Very nice setup Stu, I would love a Gitzo but I don't think I could justify the expense ☹️ As a matter interest where did you get your bendy slow mo cables?
  11. Thanks Dave, I’ve probably compounded my own problems by looking in the wrong place thanks for putting me right 👍 Will try my moon filter as well!
  12. Well done Dave, I tried for it again last night with my Tak FC-100DL & TV 3-6 zoom (150x - 300x). It was the best I've seen Sirius for some time with two to three diffraction rings showing sporadically, however there was still too much scintillation obscuring any chance to reveal the Pup. Maybe the extra bit of aperture in your FS128 gives you the edge 🤔 Never mind there's still a few weeks left before it gets too low and I know roughly where to look, (upper left looking through my Tak!)
  13. The local council changed the street light at the front of my house a few years ago without any hassle. I posted some pics on page 2 of this thread a few years ago.
  14. As others have said I think dew spots are the culprits!! My Tak FC-100DL lens had all sorts of crud on it, I went through all sorts of mental anguish before cleaning it....a real nerve jangler for sure 😩 I bought two new Baader cloths and their wonder fluid and the lens was a minter after I'd finished. One tip I got after lots of research is to divide the lens into quarters and clean one segment at a time, this seems to have worked for me, however others may disagree and have their own techniques 🤔 Check out my post below from a few years ago.
  15. Target for tonight was lunar using my Tak FC-100DL, BV’s, 15mm TV plossls & 2.5x power mate. Starting with Posidonius, then directly below was the Aldrovandi ridge I think? down further the highlight for me was the well illuminated Taurus Littrow mountains where Apollo 17 landed, first time I’ve had a good look here and it didn’t disappoint. Scanning further south through the Sea of Tranquility to Theophilus then down to Fracastorius at the bottom of Mare Nectaris. Only a quick session before clouds rolled in and the cold started to bite!
  16. In my youth I used to spend part of my summer holidays near Gairloch on the West Coast of Scotland, what a beautiful place with fantastic views, unfortunately there are clouds of those cursed midges especially in the evening just as the suns setting 😩
  17. Must admit I do like the look of your Vixen SP mount @F15Rules Dave and being able to switch so easily from Eq to Az gives you some nice options. Can it be adapted to incorporate a motor drive?
  18. Hi @huddo and a warm welcome to SGL. Like others have said I would keep things as simple as possible, for me portability, comfort and ease of use are my priorities. Just now I’ve settled on a nice 4” refractor, Alt Az mount with a steel leg AZ4 tripod which I can lift into my garden in one go. Ive accepted I won’t see everything with my setup but as you will find you might have to compromise! Below is an excellent thread which will give you an insight into what you are likely to see with a variety of instruments. Good hunting 👍
  19. There’s another place worth trying opticalrepairs.com down in Selsey, also I would email Steve Collingwood and see if you get a reply.
  20. Funnily enough I've been looking at getting rid of fungus on the back of my vintage binocular lenses, I'm still at the investigative stage but intend to do it my self as they were obtained free of charge, something that I wouldn't attempt on your scope though! My online research showed lenses far worse than yours that cleaned up really well, also as Dave @F15Rules says its getting it down to Es is the problem, there is another guy that could help Steve Collingwood (SCTelescopes) unfortunately he's in Tonbridge which is even further away but just a thought 🤔
  21. Thanks Mark will keep on preserving, will also try my bino’s and maybe my little Tak FS-60 🤔
  22. Congratulations on seeing M33, I tried again last night for the umpteenth time with my 4” Tak & 31mm Nagler but not even a hint of a smudge! Maybe because it’s a face on galaxy, my bortle 5 skies and relative small aperture are my problem 🤔 I have similar issues with M51, the best I’ve seen is what looks like a pair of very small cats eyes with hints of nebulosity. Looks like Ive reached the limitations of what I’ve got and I’ll have to invest in a light bucket 😩
  23. I found it very faint through my FC-100DL so popped in a UHC filter and that made all the difference!
  24. Tell your friend @Debo that’s a brilliant picture!!
  25. Would be interested to see how you get on with the Omegon AZ Baby mount? I was after a second hand one for my Tak FS-60 but they don’t seem to come up that often so I ended up with a more costly Scopetech Zero.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.