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Ultra Violet image

Not just the sight, but knowing  the whole is a supernova remnant is what I find so fascinating, the ghost of an exploded imploded star. And somewhere is the white dwarf or neutron star, all that remains of its core. 

Thanks John. The Ercole only needs to hold my 100 and 120 Equinoxes at most so not too extreme. I hope it's metal is harder than a Skytee's puck. 

For a counterbalance weight shaft, if a dovetail bar could be used with a shaft central and perpendicular, then it would only need to be clamped in, the necessary weight fitted, and no need for removing or adapting  a clamp. Obviously a tough clamp such as ADM, and one with 2 or 3 locking plates. 

And bada-bing a MEF for Taks appears in classifieds...

Can the Ercole be fitted with a Losmany D clamp each side? 

The extender and Barlow only yesterday, in-between clouds and loads of aircraft (RAF 100 coming or going maybe). More time with gear than observing.  

The Skytee 2 is only good enough for 1x 100mm scope really, it gets top heavy. I put the Equinox one side as heavier and Tak counterweighted on top clamp. Both focusers worked well, the SW has a microfocuser as OE, which was useful. 

Comparing the two same FL 100mm refractors was interesting. Equinox is heavier, closer to its 120 mate than its DL rival. Deeper dew shield. No trouble with cooling for either.

Beyond 130x magnification hand guiding becomes tiring. Better with a dob as they seem more relaxing, but more focusing. 

Anyway Mars will be around for awhile I hope, that will test the red and contrast of SW and  Takahashi.  

2 hours ago, John said:

Very nice.

How does the Equinox 100 compare, in terms of optical performance, with the TAK FC-100DL ? (both the same spec I believe ?)

 

Both being 900mm F9. 

At lower magnification I could not see any constant difference but at higher say 100 to my max 150 or more, the difference is not so much CA as light transmission and possibly contrast I think, more noticeable across the FOV. 

For Jupiter, especially it's moons moving and surface shadow transit, the Tak has made it seem high definition, likewise separating moons from the planet's edge. I have given the Tax more use than its Equinox stable mate.

Using 10mm XW, 9mm Morpheus, 8mm LVW and 7mm XW for both scopes, I ended up using the parfocal Pentax pair most. Their TFOVs are close to the other 2.

Fitting my DL with Q 1.6x extender and the Equinox with an Altair 1.6x 2 inch Barlow, the Tak was literally clearer ahead. I have yet to try 2x Zeiss Barlow and ES 2x extender on both scopes. The diagonals I used were an Astro Physics  Maxbright on Equinox and TV Everbrite on Tak.

Lots more comparison fun ahead. ? 

66 Equinox. More portable and lighter than the 80 Equinox. I have all 4 Equinox models now (AFAIK)!

"New telescope arrived today"

Baby Equinox brought by Parcelstork this afternoon. (Whole family photos to appear soon.) 

Bit of worry about its focuser tube being stuck, but all OK now. 

Like all Equinoxes, baby has a sliding retractable lens hood, rotatable 11:1 scaled Crayford focuser, ED lenses and beautiful black CNC tube with chrome trim. Metal slip over lens lid. 

Only takes 1.25 inch eyepieces. Fairly heavy but noticably less than my 80 Equinox. The tube feels robust in a Tele Vue way, apart from the focuser, which I may replace with a Baader Steeltrack. 

On 07/07/2018 at 18:05, LukeSkywatcher said:

Nah, it's all about the colour 

 

7 hours ago, johninderby said:

Explore Scientific 2x Focal Extender and a Batinov mask.

Sold the 3x Fri aft and the 2x replacement arrived promptly from FLO.

 

Snap with the extender ?, almost. SN : 2×2001520. Mine is a 50.8mm with a 31.7mm adapter. Heavy!  

Interstellarum atlas - I like it's presentation. "Pac Man Nebula", "Muscle Man (open) cluster"

ES 2 inch 2x extender. Heavy! Weighs as much as a 35mm Panoptic, maybe a bit more. Certainly no Barlow & will require balancing compensation. 

Couple of Astro Zap tube end covers for my VX10L. 

Rather than a NP101, would a NP127 not be a fairer comparison between the two Takahashis and TEC 140. How should a Vixen NA140 SSF compare?

34 minutes ago, R26 oldtimer said:

It may surprise you, how many really robust things, a 6 month old child can easily snap off...??

Or a 6 day old puppy ?

Dear APM sent me the correct prism I bought in their sale already (I am off to post the other back shortly)

Here is the correct one, a 2 inch roof prism diagonal mounted on my TV Genesis. 47mm clear aperture, no vignetting with my TV 55mm Plossl. Correct image, rotating ep lock and view as bright and clear as a dielectric mirror from both ends. My near end scopes have a day job now

Compass would be more useful. Binoculars can have them. 

Actually an ep with compass built in view NSEW /alt azi/RA Dec would be good for star hopping and eyes-through manual guiding.

Suppose it is possible with digiscoping if an on-screen digital compass app is running and displayed. I have tried a small mobile with a compass app running adjacent to my Telrad, which was quite good with auto rotate turned off. It ceased to be useful with dark sites that had poor or no signal. A small sat nav using continuing GPS, or orienteering watch with same would be better.

15 hours ago, david_taurus83 said:

Postie brought me a nice box of tricks today:

 

I am intrigued by the dials on focuser and diagonal. Pretty little scope ?

8 hours ago, John said:

I'm quite happy with the stock focuser on my DL but others seem to feel that they need to be replaced so I'm in the minority I guess.

I feel my DIY finder mount solution looks at least as tidy as the Tak FQR1 too but I guess thats a matter of opinion.

But, hey, thats £350 of accessories that I don't need to get for the Tak 

I could get a nice 3-6 Nagler zoom for that !

Interesting that the Primaluce focuser is a re-branded GSO/Revelation.

 

 

You have a black OE  focuser on your DL, John. Goes with a lot more non-Tak stuff than the other colour. 

My vintage Towa equatorial mount, interestingly is black metallic, including its Tak-style clam ring, which has red velvet lining.

8 hours ago, Cleetus said:

Are you not happy with the Tak focusser?

No problem with the Tak, but I was impressed with the specs on Primaluce's web page. They also do a 2 inch version which is less chunky and more affordable. 

https://www.primalucelab.com/astronomy/2-hybrid-drive-focuser-for-refractors.html

Besides, white matches the Tak OTA and red the rings and bars. Tak eye candy ?

9 minutes ago, DRT said:

While I don’t want her to become complacent, I’ve decided to keep her for now as I’ve almost hit my target in clawing back the cost of the Tak and the APM 150. That said, if she doesn’t behave I’ll be real-fitting the SW rings and focuser and sending her down to ABS UK ?

...and don’t you think they look good together? ?

How do the 2 focusers compare, Featherlite v Tak + micro?  

Now using my DL with its Q1.6x extender, so effectively a F14.4  1440mm FL

Although the extender was bought to allow longer FL eps, I tried my Tak with the 1.6x and a 14mm Morpheus, then native F9 900mm with a 9mm Morpheus, so almost the same magnification. 

Then my 120 Equinox F7.5 with a Zeiss Abbe 2x Barlow so 1800mm F15 with a 17.5mm Morpheus. Close-as magn to the Takahashi.

Now I am not sure how close my Morpheus eps are in perfection to one another, but used all 3 to keep AFOV consistent. Equinox with the Barlow/17.5 was the winner, DL with extender/14mm was as good as without - but I think the 14mm is marginally better than 9mm.

I have to try the 100 Equinox v DL next, both are F9 900mm, with & without the 2x. That will be a fairer comparison maybe. 

Ongoing evaluations as the year progresses. 

5 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:

Just received a Meade LXD55 127 F9. 3 Achromatic hoping give it first light tonight. No finder just a Telrad base lucky I have one.

Very nice ?, what mount for it?

23 hours ago, Gina said:

I need Factor 50 sun block too.  I haven't spontaneously combusted yet!! ?

Refreshingly rainy today. The Vale is very humid so I drove up to the Blackdown Hills today, into East Devon where it's cooler. Watched flying at Dunkeswell. 

7 hours ago, DRT said:

My Takahashi FQR-1 finder bracket arrived this morning...

I bought an ADP one, but the Tak looks just right......must resist..?

21 hours ago, DRT said:

I found APM to be fantastic to deal with. Give them time, I’m sure they will sort it for you ?

Had a good reply today, so hopefully all will be good. APM and TE are both equal in my estimation with dear "Aunty FLO", so reason to be optimistic. 

1 hour ago, Cleetus said:

Considering for what?

My FC100DL