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

25 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:

I use SAO numbers most of the time got mine from Eagle Creek.

I use Sissy Haas I have written the numbers in there.

Having a book with them in will be a bonus thanks.

I have just sent for one from Amazon £20 used but in very good condition.

Cheers Paul

Me too😂

3 hours ago, cloudsweeper said:

 

Steve -

They are 100160, 100583, and 082293.  I strongly recommend The Cambridge Double Star Atlas - it gives these numbers.  I then put them into the handset and reach the targets.  As I said, if they are not in the HS, I aim for something close, then "hop".

The three I saw are all good to view - close (at different mags), with the fainter member at different orientations - very nice.

I was pleased indeed to see the last two, as my mag only goes to x160 (until I get a focal extender on my birthday!), and I am sure I would not have seen clear splits had I been using the Cat or Dob, since they are not as sharp as the frac. (I can squeeze a bit more mag out of it without the exit pupil getting too small.)

Have fun!

Doug.

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

On 17/05/2019 at 15:30, GlenM said:

New book arrived today.

 

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 

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

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 

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 

5 hours ago, L8-Nite said:

If you have some bush wheels for that Cub, there's room to land at Forest Fields; first checking with the management of course.

That sounds perfect! Don’t have any bush wheels though! 

Thanks 

Hi, I’m looking for some dark sky camp sites to stay at this year.  I don’t think I’m going to be able to get to any star parties due to timing. Can anyone recommend any good camping sites to stay at. I live in the West Midlands so Scotland is probably out due to distance but most other places will be do able.  If you know of anywhere and ar3 happy to share the details please can you post a link for me.

Thanks

Steve 

Looks great an£ will serve you well I think.  I have the big brother equinox 120 so no good for travel. If an equinox 80 had been available when I was looking for my travel set up I’d have snapped it up. For travel I have an Altair 80 starwave which I love and I managed to bag the last of the handset star discover mounts which is perfect for grab and go and travel etc.

Hope you enjoy using your set up as you did collecting it.

Steve 

2 hours ago, AdeKing said:

Thanks for the info Steve, I won't be getting one anytime soon but have probably settled on this option like yourself.

I thought I'd seen an adaptor from Primaluce or someone similar that allowed fitting to an EQ5 tripod head, I just need to remember who made the adaptor, or where I saw the link.

I'll be interested in how you get on if you get the mount.

If you find out let me know because I have a skytee 2 on a SW tripod with an extension tube already ?

1 minute ago, AdeKing said:

Thanks for the info @Pig, I figured that I'd probably need a pier extension for the Starwave f/11 with it being about 1,100mm focal length, and your photo has just confirmed that to be the case.  Its also confirmed that fouling may well occur with the ED100 and ED120, both with a 900mm focal length, but I think they'll be ok.

The accuracy is nice to hear about, there is someone at our local astro group who brought his along for me to have a look at and the lack of cables etc is a big draw, so I may have to speak nicely to him and try one of the OTAs on it at one of our observing sessions.

From reading the rest of the thread, I think I'll definitely be ok with the ED100 and the ED120 weight wise but am likely to run into issues with all scopes fouling the legs unless a pier extension is used, which is a tad on the expensive side.

The Starwave 102 f/11 may also present an issue due to the moment arm, so I might have to carry on learning to love the EQ5 Mount for that one.

This has been an interesting thread and thanks to all for the information and discussion.

 

Ade, I’ve been in touch with FLO regarding tripod pier extension, Grant says it is available from ioptron at about £180 and they are going to try and source one for me if I order the mount and tripod. I might not need it for the 900mm ED equinox but I think I’ll go for it anyway and that way be sure of no fouling problems. As you say it might be ok but  I’m happy to go for it as an insurance policy. Currently they are waiting stock delivery of the tripods. 

Steve 

42 minutes ago, fate187 said:

Steve,

I already investigated this very topic. What I found out from pictures on the web is, that the SW-extension on the tripod and the AZ-mount head will fit together. The SW extension on the iOptron tripod will probably not match. The SW tripod has a center recessed hole and into that hole (3cm diameter?!) the counterpart of the SW-extension fits. The iOptron tripod has a flat surface, which will make using the SW-extension on the tripod incompatible.

 

regards

Michael

Thanks Michael - If I read you correctly, am I to understand that the ioptron mount head might fit on top of the SW extension tube? If so, I currently have a skywatcher tripod with an extension tube fitted and that would solve the problem? I have asked the question to FLO as well, lets see what they say?

Steve

12 minutes ago, fate187 said:

Good morning everyone,

I own the AZ Mount Pro for about 2-3 weeks now. Bought it in a buying spree along a used SW Equinox 120ED (marveleous scope!...still looking for a TSA120 ?). I bought the mount head along with the tripod. The tripod includes a counterweight and 3 leveling adjusters. I already own quite some equipment and so I already have a SW EQ6 tripod, that I used to use for my AZEQ6. just like the AZEQ6 the AZ Mount Pro uses a 12mm center bolt to fix the mount head on the tripod. And luckily the head matched on the SW EQ6 tripod. I can post pictures later :). 

The leveling system of the iOptron is nice, but not necessary. I can level the mount with my Skywatcher tripod legs. Keep in mind that an AZEQ6 is also only level with the tripod legs :).

When it comes to convenience I can confirm what has been previously said: included battery and GPS make set up very easy. Wifi is a nice add on, that I have yet to use. I like the hand controller software and included catalogue, so no rush for additional external control devices. Tracking is accurate over a long time: I observed the sun last weekend with the Equinox equipped with a Daystar Chromosphere and a 110mm Baader-ERF on the front objective and it was tracking well for hours. I charged the mount during daytime observation to be good to go for the night (charging and parallel use is possible). Observing Jupiter during the early moring hours at around 250-290x was possible without shaking after settlement. Of course an AZEQ6 will be more stable with a SW120ED or a similar scope of lenght and weight, but the lower weight of the mount and price (compared to AZEQ6) and ease of set up is remarkable.

I will probably get an extension in order to avoid the scope hitting the tripod during high altitude slewing. Currently I can slew up to 62° up with the equinox. This will of course vary depending on your scope and diagonal/focuser attachments.

So Steve, if you are not sure order it online an try it out ;). There is always the way of sending it back if you don't like it.

Thanks for your reply.  I am still keen on this mount.

Does anyone have any idea if the mount head will fit a SW tripod and extension tube??  or if the SW extension tube will  fit the tripod supplied with the ioptron az pro??

Steve

Thanks Uli, I agree.  The options as I see it are skywatcher alt Az eq gt5  or 6 or the ioptron, not much else I can use I think?

Steve 

Thanks Uli, I was considering this for my equinox 120 but based on your experience I am now having second thoughts ?. I want an AZ got mount that can handle the equinox, anybody get any other ideas or does anyone else use this mount with a 120mm F9 frac successfully? 

Thanks

Steve 

On ‎22‎/‎04‎/‎2019 at 08:41, ollypenrice said:

When trying to split doubles the observer is not looking for an attractive view of the stars but simply for evidence of separation so a very high power may do that. When looking at the moon and planets the objectives are different since we are looking for fine details accurately rendered.

Unless I've missed it the thread has not mentioned a highly critical number which does not derive uniquely from aperture or magnification and that's exit pupil. Certain targets, and most famously the Horsehead, are dependent on exit pupil. (Exit Pupil in mm = scope's FL in mm divided by its F ratio.)

Olly

 

 

I thought that exit pupil eyepiece (not scope's) FL in mm divided by scope F ratio? Is that what you meant Olly? Or have I got it wrong?

Steve

I am also keen on this mount. Thanks for starting the thread, it’ll be interesting to hear the feedback - hopefully positive....

Steve 

On 26/02/2019 at 15:21, AdeKing said:

Great news as I'm saving for an AZ Pro but am still a long way off yet. 

Good to know that I can source from FLO when the Piggy Bank is full though. 

Ade

I’m saving for the AZ Pro as well Ade ?. Probably have enough by my birthday mid year. Can’t wait. Great news #FLO