Trikeflyer

Great. One of these is on my list of acquisitions so which type would most users recommend - chromosphere or prom? No I cant have both!! Steve

Might not be relevant but I have the Altair 80mm ED Starwave and its a fantastic powerful scope. I love it. I use it lots and the build quality is fabulous, the focuser is top quality and it gives great views. I would think the big brother would be just as good? Steve

Me too😂

Thanks Doug, I agree, I don't even try doubles with the dob because the frac is sharper. I have a Mak 127 which isn't bad for doubles once its cooled. My weapon of choice though is the frac 80ed is great as it is easy to grab and go and set up on the goto mount. I'll look into the Cambridge double star atlas. Steve

Doug, Thanks for posting. Can you tell me the SAO numbers of these doubles. I have my Altair ED 80 on a SW star discovery mount and much prefer to find by SAO number. Id like to check these ones out. Steve

I’m interested to know what you think Glen as I have 2 other of this John Moore series of books and may consider getting this one too. If anyone else has this and could privide an opinion, I’d appreciate it. steve

Thanks for sharing. Great read. Sounds like you had a really nice time. steve

I say this with a little tongue in cheek and with some lightheartedness but I think the rubbish uk weather has a lot to do with this very topic. I was only thinking the other day that when the weather is rubbish many of us get our Astro fix (me especially) by spending time looking for the next Astro bit or thinking about what we’d like to improve our experience. If the weather was better we’d most likely get our fix by spending more time observing or imaging and then we might not need to spend so much time pondering or searching for the ideal next bit of kit. Anyway, whilst the bad uk weather stops us getting our fix, it must be good for the Astro retail business and without a strong Astro supply and a strong used market (which is good for us all) we’d have nothing to look at when the weather’s bad. 🤔😂🤣. Steve

Agree with above comments. I have WO also. Love them. You will rarely go to monocular view for lunar after you have done binoviewing. You will need a barliwof some kind. I suggest the following option https://www.365astronomy.com/Lacerta-2.6x-Lightpath-Corrector-Barlow.html or https://www.365astronomy.com/TS-Optics-2.6x-Glass-Path-Corrector-and-Barlow-Lens-1.25-TS-TSGWK161.html Good luck and I hope you enjoy the views steve

Look ok to me. Not sure why they are so cheap but I’d be goin* for that if I were looking for this ep. steve

I agree with Ed, dark skies, atmosphere, seeing, object position all have a bearing. I have an equinox 120 and I’d say all globs show up as a fuzzy patch with some stars visible at the edge of some of the larger ones. Now, In my 12 inch dob, they are a different beast altogether, much more detail visible. I suspect what you are seeing is about right for your scope. steve

Thanks Mike for your supportive comments I decided to share this. It’s my first ever sketch of anything really, let alone anything lunar. I did this the other night. Probably took me half an hour, 15 mins at the eyepiece and 15 mins afterwards. Hopefully with practice there will be some positive development of my sketching skills! Steve

We must get this thread off big maks - it’s making me feel hungry 😛

The flooded impact crater crater that the feature forms part of the rim of (sinus iridum) is number 14 on the lunar 100 - so I guess yes it is on the list but not as the 'golden handle' feature in its own right if you see what I mean? Steve

My experience of the last couple of nights has been pretty good seeing generally. The moon has taken lots of mag. Away from the moon, things have been a bit more variable ive found. Not rubbish but certainly not amazing. Steve

Great sketch. I also did a sketch of this area the other night but compared to yours, mine looks like a 3 year old did it!🤣 Thanks for sharing, Steve

Just dragged myself away too. We’ll all be tired tomorrow. What a great lunar session we all seem to have had though and thanks all for sharing. Didn’t get the craterlets, might have had a glimpse of the alpine valley rille. Magnification upto 350x but I felt better viewing with the binoviewers. Must get some eyepieces less than 20mm for nights like this on the moon with the binoviewers. Davy crater chain was good, first time I’d really picked that out. The rimae stadius between Copernicus and Eratosthenes caught my eye. I thought it was another crater chain but apparently deceptively its a rille 🤔. Bagged a few more of the lunar 100. Now to bed. Steve

Amazing sketch. Looks so real. I aspire to sketch at your level....I’m just starting out on the sketching and I’m keen to where does one learn to draw the moon like this? Steve

I too was observing Luna with binoviewers last night. Using 80ed starwave. As you have said, it was particularly good last night. Thanks for posting the pics. steve

Decided to upgrade the 12inch Revelation focuser to a Baader Diamond Steeltrack. Fitted it whilst the mirrors are off at Orion Optics for recoating. Feels like amazing quality piece of kit. Can’t wait to try it out. 😁Thanks to Harrison Telescopes for supplying so promptly. Steve

Nice work on both of them. The beauty of sketching and astronomy is that you sketch an impression of what you see and that keeps it interesting. I think it’s worth doing the same thing twice and comparing them, keep up the good work. steve

That’s not the kind of big Mak I could afford! Besides there’s no fries with it ?

I’ve used solar film at the front of my Mak. It’s fine but compared to a wedge, no comparison. Steve

I think that would be a good choice.

Well the ABS one might save you a few quid as will the one that John mentions. The FLO one is a bit over your guide price but might be worth a look. Good luck in your search.