ScouseSpaceCadet

With tube rings it's 4.2kg. Adding the 1.25" diagonal and an eyepiece should keep it just below 5kg. The rather heavy metal finder is just for show. Whilst on the AZGTI I'll use a plastic rdf.

It certainly looks the part mounted. 👍 @SurreydockerYou've got me excited! 🙄😁 I'll do a first light thread when the opportunity allows. 🧐

The list price is £549 so getting it for £502 inc. next day delivery at least feels like a bargain. 😉 The scope didn't look adequately boxed at first due to the small size, but on opening it was double boxed, securely packaged and in perfect condition.

Brand new direct from Altair. A couple of days after requesting an 'in stock' notification, the golden ticket arrived. £35 added to the 'out of stock' price but still a nice telescope for £495.

Altair Astro Starwave Ascent 102ED... I just hope it performs as good as it looks. Even the missus was impressed... 😁

A nice report and brief review of your smashing new scope. You've whet my appetite for some double action at the weekend (weather permitting ofc 🙄 ). My FPL51 f7 frac arrives tomorrow. 😀

There's probably no right answer as these decisions can be very subjective based on a particular users experience and preference. However, if I was given £1000 right now and told to go buy myself a telescope, it would undoubtedly be a 10" Skywatcher Skyliner Flexitube GoTo. Relatively easy to move around and store. 10" aperture, with goto and tracking. An extra £500 would get a light shroud, power tank, colllimator, comfy seat and eyepieces.

A nice eyepiece in my not so expert opinion. I sold mine after picking up an OVL 16mm ES-UWA 82° but up to then the BST 15mm was used a lot.

I received an 'in stock' notification so couldn't resist. A brief but positive Youtube review, Sky at Night Magazine, the decent Altair reputation and the advice here swung it. I've ordered the FPL-51 Starwave ASCENT 102ED F7 Refractor Telescope . After joining the BAA on Monday and being accepted as a Liverpool Astronomical Society prospect, this tops off a good astro week. Clear weekend skies might be asking too much? 😆🙄

Not too bad here was out in a t-shirt about an hour ago watching a very bright ISS pass through the binoculars. The kit isn't out yet, the sky's a bit milky still. I'm hoping for a rare third night in a row double bashing. Good luck all.

Totally agree. Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel publish excellent monthly "What to see..." Youtube videos to compliment Sky at Night Magazine. It would interesting to see Pete have his own channel doing instructional videos, with guest appearances or collaborations with other expert amateurs.

Tonight under Bortle 7/8 skies and an 85% moon, using the dinky Skymax 102mm I managed a few 'easy' doubles. None required more than 200x. Doable with a 6" Dob. Give these a try: Eta Cas, 61 Cygnus, 30 Aries, Lamda Ari, Gamma Ari, Iota Cancer, Theta 2 Can, 38 Gem, Tegman, Mintaka and Castor.

Great stuff. Nice detail on Mars considering it's moving away. 👍 That little Skymax 127 is keeping you busy. 😀

I imagine so, its construction seems solid enough. If you haven't tried adjusting the mount arm yet, give that a go first. It's just two screws to remove. Takes a couple of minutes. FF to 15:40 for mount adjustment demo.

The AZ5 with the steel tripod does indeed have a max payload of 9kg. I extensively used a Startravel 120 which fully loaded was around 6kg and the mount worked perfectly. It's well suited for short refractors, cassegrains & newtonians. Using the pier extension and adjusting the mount arm (instructions in the manual) to its 90° position will reduce the likelihood of the scope hitting the tripod at higher elevations.

Being in Bortle 4 really helps. I'm slightly envious. There's four objects I've not observed on your list. Good report. 👍

Brilliant. Very talented. 👍

Nothing as interesting as your session, but it was good just to get out for a couple of hours and use the gear. Look for a thin pair of fingerless gloves. Unless you're up in the mountains or arctic conditions, a thin pair will keep the chill off, and not snag on a keyboard etc. I'm sure someone will come along and recommend a pair but mine are similar to these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pairs-Adults-Fingerless-Gripper-Gloves/dp/B005O8WMA4

A good session you had there Lee. I was out with the AZGTI and Skymax 102. Moon exploration up to tack sharp 200x. Then some easy double splits before the clouds rolled in and the kit was brought in to thaw.. Regarding the gloves, I use some cheap fingerless gloves with grippy palms. They were about a fiver from a market stall. Looking forward to seeing your lunar pics. 👍

Ah yes, probably. Even so, at list price still cheaper than the TSO scope and no messing with EU shops.

Thanks for the replies. I totally forgot about the Altair Astro Ascent Starwave 102 . It's currently £100 cheaper and very similarly spec'd. I remember reading the great review in Sky at Night Magazine. I'll probably go for this. I've requested to be notified when they're back in stock.

Yea true. I don't remember the small print. Afaik it's lifetime. I'll find out in the autumn when the third year is debited.

Believe or not I miss my Startravel 120. The contrast, pinpoint stars and wide views were great, but fully loaded it was way over the AZGTI weight limit and the scope was really a one trick pony - at its best at medium to low power observing. I've developed a hankering for another refractor, but compared to the Startravel would like the next one to have decent build quality, better glass, a more precise focuser, better at higher powers, while keeping things light and grab n' go. All of course keeping to a very tight budget. A lot to ask I know. The TS Optics AP 102/714 Apochromatic has caught my eye at £560. The specs look good to me, but has a anyone further advice or actually used one? Thanks.

Yes, the printed version. It's so shockingly cheap I doubt I'll ever unsub. 😉 24 months for the price of 12 is still a good offer though. I got mine from: https://www.buysubscriptions.com/

Keep an eye out for other offers. I may be very lucky here - my sub is £16.50 p.a. 👍