-philip-

I've just bought this mount from FLO to carry the bog standard 127 mak that came with the AZ-GTi I have, and on the hunt for a refractor to compliment it on the GTiX. 

I have just realised my powertank is completely dead, won't recharge. Can anyone recommend a replacement?

We spoke on Facebook! Great set up and inspired me to buy the GTiX 

2 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

Ok so what mount would you use for the Nexstar 8SE ? 
As for a scope for the Az-gti , maybe a 130 Newtonian or a smaller refractor , a 102 would be ok . 

The se mount it comes with. I’ve never used it before, have only ever used az-gti and a dobsonian.

5 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

Hmmm it’s not too long so balance would be ok but once you put a diagonal and EP on it adds to the weight as does the rings . I think it might work but you will be right on the edge of the weight limit of the mount . A decent tripod will keep things steady though . … you can but try , however you don’t want to overload those motors in the mount . 

Ah thank you.  I have a 127 which is fine, I am after something to improve observing as I don’t AP. Is there anything else you could recommend that will go on the Mount without the need for much fiddling or worry?

Also, as I am here.. I have a change to get a nexstar 8se pretty cheaply, and wondering if this will offer much better observing than what I have? Appreciate your time.

Wondering, will the startravel 120 be any bother on az-gti with upgraded tripod? 

Exmoor is about 15 miles away, yet to explore but I’ve heard there’s some cracking dark places. I’ve got a Altair Starwave 102Ed and 127 mak on a AZ-GTi mount. Great for camping. 

Excuse me for bumping this. I have a skymax 127 on my AZ-GTi and FLO have recommended the C6.  I am wondering what will the C6 do that the 127 cannot? 

I've been reading about the NASA Artemis program, the first woman and next man will step foot on the moon before 2023. Exciting stuff. 

Having been born after the moon landings, I had resigned myself to perhaps never seeing this kind of exploration in my lifetime.

NASA still need Billions of $$ to make it happen. Do you think we will see a manned mission to the moon in the next 3 years?

I’ve just heard about the Skytee 2 dual mount! 

Morning! 
 

I recently bought my first refractor, the Altair Ascent 102ED, a very good telescope. I bought it because it will fit onto my AZ-GTi mount and complement the 127 Mak I use on it, however I realise I would like to have them both set up at the same time, changing the OTA on the mount in the dark sounds like a recipe for disaster. 
 

so wondering whether to get another AZ-GTi Mount, or dip my toes into the world of EQ mounts. I’ve never used one before and to be honest,  being the clumsy oaf I am, it looks like something I would hurt myself on. 
 

would welcome advice. Purely for observing, I don’t AP, I come on here to see amazing pictures! 

On 22/08/2020 at 15:12, LukeSkywatcher said:

What's up with those two?. They look like you just told them that the dog park has closed down.

It is their very well practiced "We have very important dog bums to sniff in the park, so whenever you're ready" stare. 

1 hour ago, x6gas said:

Incorrect.  There are no UK images in the September issue gallery.

 

Each to their own, but the OP has every right to spend his money how he sees fit.

Of course he does, we all do. However throwing your toys out of your pram because 1 edition doesn't have photo's which are from the UK is ludicrous. 

1 hour ago, bonzodog said:

Sky @Night Magazine can forget any future subscriptions.. pointed out to me quite a while back the lack of .. this month "NO UK IMAGES" in the readers Gallery 

So? 

Subscribed to Astronomy Now, the first one came today! I had better take the dogs out before I start reading it 🤔

I had a very good experience with a neighbour, a GP surgery who had a light on until late, I called and asked them if they would switch it off after 6pm, they changed it to a PIR light and it very rarely activates, and when it does it's for 20 seconds or so. 

1 minute ago, Seelive said:

How about a tripod bag? (https://www.wexphotovideo.com/benro-90cm-padded-tripod-bag-1638219/?mkwid=sINE5ltUm_dm&pcrid=310558797742&kword=&match=&plid=&product=1638219&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29Pdh-qp6wIVia3tCh15JQj0EAQYBCABEgKjH_D_BwE as an example)

That looks like it would do the trick. 

Have spent a while searching for a carry bag for my brand spanky new refractor, which is about 80cm long. 

Can anyone recommend anything? 

My first refractor, a bit scared of it at the moment! Altair Ascent 102ED F7, using it on the AZ-GTi for observing (not AP). 

14 hours ago, Dantooine said:

Very nice. You will love it. I have the Ed-r version and love mine. Can set up in 10 minutes flat so you can jump outside at a moments notice. 

Looking forward to getting it out, clouds seem to be forecast for at least the next week of course! 

I also got this from the Birthday pixies, it and the OTA both from recommendations on here 👌

18 hours ago, Philip R said:

Jeff Wayne's musical version of 'The War of the Worlds - The New Generation' on vinyl LP to accompany the 'original'.

  

I’ve got the original LP my dad bought me in the 80s.  Managed to see it live in Cardiff about 18 months ago. Incredible!! 

My first refractor 😍

Thanks all. Appreciate your guidance, I am thinking of doing something very silly, and getting both an 80ED (have found a second hand one at a good price) and also the Bresser 102s. Both together will cost about the same as a brand new 80ED. 

13 hours ago, vlaiv said:

I used to have ST102 - and yes, that scope would complement Mak127 much better than ED80 for visual.

Only things that I object with that scope are:

1. Chromatic aberration (not really that important for DSO - but sometimes it can bother you on very bright star clusters like M45 or if there is bright hot star in FOV).

2. Focuser is not very good

3. Fixed dewshield

For that reason and given that you consider larger budget, I'm inclined to recommend this scope instead:

https://www.altairastro.com/starwave-ascent-102ed-f7-refractor-telescope-geared-focuser-468-p.asp

This scope still has a bit of chromatic aberration - but at a far smaller levels than ST102. It won't have that much field curvature and will be slightly easier on eyepieces at F/7 but will offer wide fields of view - enough to fit whole M31 into FOV for example.

Other two points will also be sorted with that particular scope - it has very nice micro focuser and retractable dew shield.

 

Thanks. a lot to think about. I like the look of that Altair one but like many at the moment it's out of stock. 

I wonder, is this an improvement on the 120ST? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-ar-102s-600-refractor-ota.html

According to reviews, the focuser is better 

1 hour ago, Steve Clay said:

Try here for used also look at astrobuyandsell. If I were in your position I'd ask around about lead time and place an order. I use my ed80 primarily for solar on a solar quest which is based on the azgti. Its just at the 5kg weight limit but it handles it no problem. Which tripod are you using as that can make a massive difference.

I've upgraded to the more robust Stainless steel tripod, bought on classified section on here in fact. 

5 minutes ago, Steve Clay said:

The difference in price is due to the type of glass used in the objectives.

The 102 is an achromatic which basically means it doesn't focus all the different colours of light precisely hence it gives false colours 

The Ed80 use low dispersion glass (Fpl 53 schott) and controls the false colour.

I have the Ed80 and 120 and for the price are fantastic.

IMHO The Ed 80 is the better investment by a country mile. There are the altair astro variants too which might be lighter for the GTI.

The main problem at the moment is availability.

Steve

Thanks Steve, Just what I needed to know thank you. I will hold out for an 80 ED,  yes they seem as rare as hens teeth at the moment! If anyone is selling a used one please point them in my direction.