steveex2003

I love the scope Jon. There is nothing about it, that makes me remotely unhappy. I do however understand your decision. It is just ever so, ever so slightly large. It's not heavy or remotely cumbersome, and using some Morpheus eyepieces I am rewarded with views that just plain make me very happy. I do however love that little 80, whch is mostly left attached to a tiny Giro GR2 head and a CF Manfrotto 055, which I can literally run around the garden with, a cup of coffee in the other hand. This has led me to wonder the worth of a shortish FL 100mm. I am travelling (busmans holiday sadly) to a Bortle 2 site on the mainland toward the end of Aug, and my 10" Dob and the 120mm are coming with me, so that should be interesting 🙂 I read your woes re your previous purchase. Am glad you eventually made some headway with it all. It is quite something isn't it, to spend decent money in what is a gentlemans hobby at the end of the day, to be given the brush off like some market stall nonsense.

Well, I think Samsung follow a very similar vein, but thats a story for another day. My Equinox's may well be at the Ford Focus end of the market, but failing a destroyed objective i'd be supremely confident of most mechanical repairs and replacements. I have no doubt the Esprit is a wonderful tool. Hopefully it goes some way to putting this WO business to one side

That is a sad story indeed. None of this stuff is remotely cheap. I'm not sure I would be able to avoid a certain level of resentment in your shoes to be honest.

That little pillar (I have a couple) is a £20 wonder for any small AZ mounts with refractors.

I tend to use manual Alt AZ mounts, but occasionally my SW 127 Mak and Equinox 80 see my GTI

This evening, for the last hour seeing has been so much better. With a little 80 @ 111x I have viewed the GSR, and in moments of very still I was able to observe the uneven edges and graduations (forgive the lack of terminology) to the N and SEB's. This has been my best view of Jupiter in what is now my second season.

I have a suspicion that the answer is try harder

Bortle 4-5 skies dependant on location *Edit, misread. I was using the 120.

By which i mean fewer or more lens groups etc. The detail you convey earlier has me just wishing I could do the same, and I spend hours looking at Jupiter. Again, I know skill of observing, and luck of the conditions are key.

Where you using a preferred narrower angle EP in the Frac?

Thank you gents.

May I ask what mag(s) you found these views at, and with which type of EP? I understand the skill is observing, i'm just interested for reference. There were no views to be had down here last night sadly.

Wow. It's just so brazen. A few months ago I was awoken to the sound of the back door. A full length, double glazed, fairly strong affair being fiddled with. I opened the curtain to see a bloke, who ws absolutely non detered by my presence, or the fact I was stood there with a fairly serious kitchen knife (probably not a good idea but there we are) or that I took a photo of him. The door offering good service he started ranting about i'd better let him in, he'd take what he wanted and leave and no one would be hurt. The sirens had him jumping over the wall into the night screaming he'd be back. It was a pretty intense few minutes. I don't think this perhaps the norm, if i had to guess i'd say he may have been chemically confused or something. The attending Police indicated that this sort of thing does happen. it just shows the mentality of some seeking to relieve you of your hard earned chattles.

We have had nothing but cloud, cloud, with double side servings of cloud here in East Devon for weeks and weeks now. Last night and the next 3 or 4 nights are predicting the clearest spells for sometime. Last night had the illusion of being a sea of jewels. Much of my S-NW aspect looks across several large buildings. My enthusiasm for Jupiter and Saturn was soon tempered with what i can only assume is thermal currents from these buildings. There wasn't a break in the haze until I gave up after an hour or so. Am going to try again this evening, but set the alarm for 3am in the hope of steadier views.

Nice problem to have 🙂

It's just unbelievable isnt it? I'm looking for a reason not to buy one of these, turns out sod all to look at is currently as good as it gets.

Did you use any type of adhesive for the spacer bushes, or is it pure friction fit? Good looking job BTW

And I shall read this. Having very recently read of several stories of failed tripods and ensuing advanced yoga moves and scope juggling, a branch of astronomy I have little interest in, this all seems like a good idea.

Thank you for the update. I think that possibly speaks for itself. All reading seemed to indicate positive/very positive results under specific (and current for me) conditions. Yet long term reports of usage for visual seem very thin on the ground.

I realise this is an old thread, but my question is pertinent to me. 3 years later, do you still use the ADC for visual?

Yeah. Given it's absolute bargain appearance, there isn't a lot out there. It seems like you're getting (an albeit static) Quark for almost half-price. Removing the obvious ability to stick a Quark in anything you like, I would very much like to read some comparisons of a Daystar 60 and a Quark equipped Achro of similar aperture. Just to confirm all current Quarks are relatively equal so to speak.

Please do update with as much comparative detail as you care to throw at it. I know I would really like a solar scope, but just can't make up my mind as to which way to go with it.

A 4 section 055 alongside a Skywatcher 1.5" variant. I also have a 2" variant which is appriximately 125mm shorter. Hope this helps.

A flexible cord with a kettle plug on it will typically have conductors of 1.25mm cross sectional area to carry 13 amps. A larger replacement cable will present no electrical problems whatsoever. It maybe less flexible etc.