Sunshine

That's great! nice report, interesting how such a simple thing as switching eyes can lead to somewhat of a revelation.

2 hours ago, Beardy30 said:

The main thing I’m hearing hear is nothing beats a big Dob for visual but that fracs do a decent job for their size.

 

thanks all 

Not really a "decent job"  They do a different job, I like to think, I dunno. 😆

13 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

I think it would pay for you to look through a few different scopes before making a final decision. I'm sure that Preston has an astro association where you can chat to fellow astronomers and observe through their scopes.  You may find that a 4" ED will keep pace with an 8" reflector on the moon and planets, and an awful lot more pleasurable to use.  

Here's a pic of my 8" F6 Newtonian, 10" Dobsonian, and my two 4" refractors as a size comparison.  The planetary resolution on the 8" was barely discernible over the 4" Takahashi. The 10" was noticeably better at resolving finer detail, but the image was less pleasing, less sharp, and smeared with spider diffraction spikes. The 10" and the 8" we're cumbersome scopes to use, and for the majority of the time I found I prefered the refractor.

8"

10"

100mm Takahashi fluorite apochromat.

101mm Genesis SDF rich field refractor.

Here are a couple of sketches of Mars from the 2020 apparition, the first made using the 8" Newtonian and the second using the 100mm Takahashi. Apart from the images being mirrored, the 8" shows little gain over the 100mm refractor.

So in other words, a 4” refractor is THE! quintessential telescope, yes it is!.

12 minutes ago, RobertI said:

If you're like me, and find it hard to sell stuff, then buying a new scope is a big deal, even if you can afford it. By adding yet another scope to the collection there's always the risk it will make your observing less enjoyable by making it more complicated. A dedicated solar scope sounds like a fine plan though and a nice complement to your night time arsenal. 

Agreed, I don’t necessarily want a lot, but I would like versatility, I think a 4” refractor, an 8” dob, and a solar scope makes for a well rounded collection. This reminds me, some years ago I made a post detailing my ultimate collection I would like, it included…

TSA-120, 12” obsession dob, and an 80mm Lunt. It looks like it will be a TSA-102, 8” starsense dob, 60mm Lunt 😂

close enough.

This is incredible! did you use the 200P for this? how can it track so fast? I have questions as you can tell, amazing.

5 minutes ago, Nigella Bryant said:

Sunshine, why not the 100mm double stack lunt? 

Oh sure! I'll get the double smack from my wife which will have me seeing stars alright!

100mm double stack= 100 double smacks!

This is the age old argument about which scope is better for what, without these comparisons all forums would collapse. But I will say that aperture aside, there's something special about a good refractor and the way they show

stars, with a purity and cleanliness which mirrors just cant seem to match.  Maybe its my mirror that lacks a more precise finish but, I could collimate till I'm blue in the face, it just doesn't do stars like my frac can.

It opened lol

2 minutes ago, vlaiv said:

There you go. This ought to be enough

The image won't open but I suspect you're out to torture me further.

It's been weeks that I have been obsessing over a larger refractor, reflector, refractioner! something to buy just because I have the money in my pocket constantly tormenting me!. Making it seem like I should not be happy with what I have, robbing me of sleep time as I pondered. It is horrible, my wife would be calling my attention and I would have the thousand yard stare, lost in thought. I've had it with this disease which makes me want bigger and better so i decided gather myself and allow myself to realize that my refractor is perfectly good for my lifestyle and so too is my dob. In that moment of soul searching I realized how much I miss H-alpha and how I regret having stupidly  sold my Lunt60 for a large dob which I barely touched because it was so big. You may be able to guess where I am going with this, I put the deposit down for a Lunt60PT, It will complete my astro yearnings to have a refractor for doubles, a dob for fuzzies, and a Lunt for solar, the trifecta. If I ever contact any of you again, Inquiring about this or that reflector/refractor please slap me, give it your best and I'll turn the other cheek. It feels as though a huge weight has been lifted from my conscious, I can sleep tonight, Aww who am I kidding?! they tell me it will be three months for delivery, OH GOD! now I wait in agony!.

Funny you mention, I was looking at M45 the other night and found myself confused by what I thought may have been nebulosity around the sisters. It was cold and I kept checking my eyepiece 

for fog but it was pretty dark out 🤣 I'll just be happy I saw nebulosity, ignorance really is bliss!.

Look at the size of that departed prom!

It seems the beast is all patched up and ready to go!

1 hour ago, Vroobel said:

Hi, 

David and Goliath that means the TAIR-3-PhS on top of my Opus Magnum mount before the California Nebula hunt. It will be its first light and check of a field curvature, as it works with a full-frame camera. It's fastest scope I have: 300mm F/4.5.

 

If you put your ear to it, you may actually hear your mount laughing about the loads you put on it. 😂

Wow this is beautiful, I know nothing about processing but I can tell you certainly do! the colours seem to be so nicely exposed and saturated.

My first DSO? I'm not sure if you are all prepared for this, I took it from an international dark sky park in Michigan State, Headlands International Dark sky Preserve. It is my best DSO to date and my only one, please hold your praise,  I will be signing prints for sale. 

BEHOLD!! trust me, M31 is there...somewhere.

@tooth_dr YAY! thanks! It's only taken me five years, now you know why I don't image.

Off topic for a second If I may, I could never figure out how members include the bubbles in messages when referring to other users, just as you have above. 

This is a beautiful mosaic! 

What? this was done with a cell phone?! I would have done backflips if I had done this with a full on imaging rig! I'm a little knocked over by the result. This is all the convincing I need to get one of these phones used just for this purpose!. Is there one particular google phone that is better than others for this type of work? I will check them out. You say you were using a goto mount, were you tracking? also, is the exposure time set or is that adjustable.

That sounds ver un-Tak like, besides the so called "upgrades" are not really upgrades as they are a resourcing of focuser parts due to supply issues with their usual parts, sound like it could actually be a downgrade.

40 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

First light with new mount set up M42 looked amazing Jupiter also 

WOW! those a big set on "noculars" as my wife calls them 🤣 and an interesting mount, who make the mount? I have never seen it.

It was fun looking through this thread for what I missed in the last few months, many beautiful Tak's on display. It makes me feel like I am due for another image of the same scope....again...and again.....and again. Until I get another you will all have to look at Sarah, once more. 🤣

38 minutes ago, dantro said:

At age 70, I acquired this preowned F100DC as my first and only telescope.  Now I near 76, and I am beginning to suspect that it is aging at a considerably slower rate than I am.  It is lightweight, works well. and I enjoy it, even on cloudy days.

Just beautiful! you simply cannot get a more rewarding grab and go, and you are right to enjoy it on cloudy days, it looks wonderful on that mount.

On 16/12/2022 at 03:47, JeremyS said:

Don’t forget to pick up the box of chocolates for Mrs Stu on the way!

Does that work? a box of chocolates! I'll hand her that from behind a riot shield next time I make a pricey scope purchase, Italian wife's can be next level violent when angered.