mark81

If there's a good deal on them and your happy with it, I can't see that you'd be disappointed with the Skymasters. ... If your not fully set on a pair of bins then... Maybe @Stu has the answer? Mark

The optics, build quality and light transmission are better on the Helios - I've used a pair of the 16x80s and had amazing views of clusters and wide star fields... And the Helios are full 80mm aperture - I have a feeling the Skymasters may have been stopped down a bit - but I may be wrong.. I can't compare them properly as I've only used the 70mm Skymasters which for the price you really can't go wrong ... If I had to chose and had the cash, I would go for the Helios everyday of the week... Mark

The photo is just a sketch ... Although I only included the brighter stars as the field of view was packed with them...

I have the Olympus 10x50 and for the money they work very well for astro use - you may have to wait a few months for darker skies to get the best out of them - unless you stay up till the early hours - I have actually had some of my best astro moments with these binoculars.. Orion neb in particular was always outstanding.... Mark

Both are nice scopes, I do like the ST120 mainly because it's a refractor and gives those sharper pinpoint stars, BUT I agree with what's said about the AZ3, it is nowhere near strong enough to hold the 120. If you keep the bolts nice and tight and stay under 60 degrees, you maybe OK for a while, but once you start aiming higher in the sky the mount will have other ideas....

Thanks Steve, great work Let's hope for clear sky's on the 19th.... Mark

Just thinking. Is there such a thing as Too Much Eye Relief for someone who doesn't wear glasses? Thanks Mark

That's a very successful binocular session. Some really nice Messier's also, I must have another go at m101 - it's always one I mean to have a look at but never do... Mark

Sounds great.. I was looking at some monopods a few days ago and either the height or the weight capacity fell short for what I'd want it for... I'll take a look at the one you mentioned... Mark

Great pictures Stu, that must be one good phone camera to pick up that little star - it must be quite satisfying to duplicate the image from SkySafari.... Mark

Thanks Mike, Thats an interesting effect...and so is being able to see the darker surface of the planet against the lighter sky.... Mark

Very nice sketch Mike... Would you say the illuminated portion stretches further round than say it would on a new moon? Mark

Just spotted it. The thinnest slice my eyes can make out set amoung a nice orange sky.. haven't got a good enough camera to pick it up...

Check out FLO (firstlightoptics) for the tripods, they have a decent selection... The fotomate range are really good...

@parallaxerr sounds like a decent first session - especially with the use of those filters... How did you get on with the AZ4? Mark