grjsk

29. october, 2022: Langhus, Norway (60°N, 11°E) – Bortle 6 Seeing: Pickering 3-5 Equipment: 72mm doublet and a C6, AZ-GTI on a Leofoto LM-363c tripod, 32mm Celestron Plossl, Baader Mark IV zoom, Nagler 3-6mm zoom The quest this evening was to become friends with my C6. I have never quite gotten it to «work». I purchased it as a lunar and planetary scope, with the assumption that it would significantly outperform my 72mm refractor. IIt has not done so so far. I spent 90 min collimating it the evening before, and it is stored in a shed outside, so temperature and collimation shouldn’t be a problem this time around. The first warning sign came early. Orions Belt had just risen above the horizon, and they were twinkling like a disco. A quick star test revealed conditions between Pickering 3 and 4. Not good. I go straight for Jupiter with the 72mm. Rather poor. 2 bands, but not much else. I switch to the C6. Jupiter is brighter, but no more details. I go back and forth for an hour, but the C6 is unable to pull ahead. I was hoping for a slight improvement atleast, even under poor seeing, but no dice. I move on to Mars, and here the C6 is slightly better. I can spot Terra Sirenum, and a slight darkening all the way to the north. Once seen in the C6, I am able to faintly see it in the refractor as well. Dew has already becoming a problem, and moist in the air is the main culprit this evening. I pack up, still not convinced the C6 is worth it. Sure it was poor seeing this evening, but if the only time it will significantly beat a much smaller refractor is under good conditions, I am not sure I’ll keep it. I have a 90mm refractor on the way, we’ll see how the C6 handles that competition.

I have no real need for a ultra for a ultra light setup, but your project is very intriguing!

Well, I’ve read enough: scope ordered!

Haven't seen alot of pictures of the newest ADM replacement saddle, so I tought I'd post one of mine. It is smaller than the original dual saddle, and now it also includes a protective "cup" that prevents dust and dirt getting into the internal mechanisms. A very nice upgrade!

I had a Report 312 for a while. Used it with a Scopetech Mount Zero and a 102mm ED refractor. I did not find it stable enough. Ended up with a 1,75" steel tripod instead, and it was better, and alot cheaper! Only a little bit heavier. The Report might work better with 90mm Long Perng, but the steel option will still be better. I ended up getting rid of the Mount Zero aswell, and got the AZ5 instead. The AZ5 might be "cruder", but it was more stable. The AZ5 on steel legs is a very good combo, at a very good price. Have you considered a better carbon fiber tripod instead? Im using a Leofoto LM-363C and the az-gti with a C6 on top. Works great. Im using it sitting down though, so I am not sure how it performs standing up at max length. It's only 1.85 kg, so it is a better option than the Report if portability matters. When it comes to fairly small and light tripods, I don't really care for wood anymore. Steel is more stable, at a much lower price, and carbon fiber is a lot more portable.

Prism or mirror?

Oh, the focuser can be rotated! I missed that part. That takes care of that problem.

How did you manage the finderscope with the AZ-GTI? I noticed in your picture that you had the scope on the right hand side, putting the finder in a workable position. The AZ-GTI in alt-az mode puts the scope on the left side, causing the finder to be under the scope. Can either the foot or the findershoe be placed at different positions?

I assume the Long Perng travels as well? If so, the answer is (obvously) yes!

Nope, APM sells a white one; S500M. Crayford focuser. Unknown glass. So atleast 3 versions.

I think Agnes’s scope is an updated version of Ernest’s, because I can’t find his scope for sale anywhere. Yours is S500G-C. So 2 versions for sale at the moment as far as I can tell.

Ernest mentions the product number S500-D. Your is S500G-D. That extra «G» might indicate a change.

Found this review: https://www.levenhuk.com/reviews/ra_r90_ed_doublet_ota_review/ What is your thoughts on the parts about loss of contrast due to CA and SA and view at higher magnification (100x +)?

Sounds like a performer. What kind of eyepieces did you use? Prism or mirror diagonal? How was the outer edges of the views?

Looking forward to your thoughts om how the AZ-GTI handles it.

Very promising indeed! The moon, planets and double stars and perhaps a few open clusters will be my only targets, so suddenly this might be a better option than a 80mm f7 or 90mm f6 triplet!

It can be a 40 °C difference where I live, but I store my gear in an outside shed, so hopefully that would not be a big problem. Do you ever have any problems with dropping temperatures while you are out observing? How big must the swing be before it becomes a problem? A 90mm ED would be a lot cheaper though, so I am cheering for the Long Perng to perform well!

Lovely!

Looking forward to read your notes on the new scope. I have a 72mm doublet myself, and I am contemplating a slight upgrade. The obvious choice would be a 80mm f7 (fpl53), but a 90mm triplet has also crossed my mind. A 90mm ED would be a perfect option (if it performs): bigger than the 80 doublet, but lighter and cheaper than the triplet.

18. october, 2022: Langhus, Norway (60°N, 11°E) – Bortle 6 Seeing: Pickering 5, Transparency: Mag 4 Equipment: 72mm doublet, AZ-GTI on a Leofoto LM-363c tripod, 32mm Celestron Plossl, Baader Mark IV zoom, Nagler 3-6mm zoom I usually only view the planets for a couple of minutes before I move on. Since I knew the Great Red Spot would be visible, and that a shadow transit would happen this evening, I decided to spend some time on Jupiter. I started with my usual seeing and transparency check. I used the southern most part of Piscium to determine transparency: Gamma Piscium (mag 3.7) was clearly visible, and I could barely spot Omega Piscium (mag 4) as well with averted vision. Iota Piscium at mag 4.1 was not visible however. I used Capella for seeing. It was quite a bit of motion, so no better than Pickering 5 I think. Jupiter I went straight for Jupiter, and was instantly disappointment. It was rather soft, and nothing but the equatorial bands were visible. It was quite bright, so I tried a Baader Neutral Density filter, but I really didn’t like the look. Im guessing something like the Baader Contrast Booster might be a better fit. It’s on the list of possible future purchases. I tried to catch the transit of Io, but I was struggling. I get it in the end, but I was unable to hold on to it for long. Conditions weren’t too great. Since the Great Red Spot has not arrived yet, I went for some doubles instead. 77 Psc – Mag: 6.3, 7,3 - Sep: 33” Easy split with the 32mm (13,5x). Is it a hint of yellow there? I switch to the Baader zoom, and goes through it from 24mm (18x) to 8mm (54x). It’s rather colorless all the way to 8mm. I change to the Nagler zoom, and I do think the color improves ever so slightly at 6mm (72x). No real benefit of going to the 3mm (144x). Zeta Piscium – Mag: 5.2, 6.3 – Sep: 23” Another split with the 32mm (13,5x). Rather colorless to my eyes. It’s an asterism right below the double, looking like a bat or the batman-symbol. It’s spearheaded by 88 Piscium, a star looking somewhat pale yellow. Again the Baader zoom does not really reveal any more color, but there is the slightest touch of yellow when I pass 100x in the Nagler zoom. Jupiter I go back to Jupiter, but the conditions have not improved. I spend 15-20 min on it, without any seeing a lot more. The Great Red Spot is suppose to be barely visible at the edge, but I can’t see it. I’m struggling with the eyepiece fogging up. The eye relief on the Nagler zoom is pretty tight, so I need to get real close, and that doesn’t seem to help. I notice that the red dot finder is actually dripping with dew, and there is a lot of moisture in the air. I decide to check out one more double to give the Great Red Dot a bit more time to get in a better position. Pi Arietis – Mag: 5.3, 8 – Sep: 3.2” Conditions has become worse. At 3.2” it should be a possibility with my scope, but I am not even close. The eyepiece is continuing to fog up, so I give Jupiter a last chance. Jupiter. Nope. Horrible views. Time to pack up. While walking home I notice that the moisture in the air is having a rave party around the light poles. I guess there was nothing more to be done this evening. I regret that I didn’t do a final star test, but I’m guessing I was down to Pickering 2 or 3 at the end. I guess the night was a failure, but I got a bit of fresh air and a bit of time under the stars, so I am not complaining.

8. october, 2022: Langhus, Norway (60°N, 11°E) – Bortle 6 Equipment: 72mm doublet, Az-gti, Lacerta 40mm/68*, ES 8.8mm/82* and ES 4.7/82* I had a short list of doubles in Piscium I wanted to check out, so I walked over to my usual observing spot. What I had failed to realize was that an almost full moon would be right next to Piscium. Double stars are rather forgiving targets, but still, poor planning on my part. Since I recently discovered that I have a bit of astigmatism in my observering eye, I thought I'd try to switch. I observe with an eye patch, keeping both eyes open, so it went okay, but I took a bit more time find the correct eye position. This is also the first time I leave my zooms behind, and only go out with fixed 82 degree options. 35 Psc - Mag: 6.1, 7.5, Sep: 12”, PA: 148° Easy split at 49x. Perhaps a hint of yellow? I think the moon was washing away alot of the colors this night. 38 Psc - Mag: 7.1, 7.7, Sep: 4”, PA: 139° Peanut-shaped at 49x. Barely a split at 92x. No colors at all. 74 Psc - Mag: 5.32, 5.45, Sep: 30”, PA: 159° Easy split even at 11x. It was impossible to get a good view with my left eye, the astigmatism is very noticable now that I know that it is there. No problems with the right eye though. They both appear colorless. Pretty. 55 Psc - Mag: 5.42, 8.49, Sep: 6.6”, PA: 192° No split at 49x. I get it at 92x, but the B component seems a lot fainter than 8.49. I think perhaps a thin layer of clouds got in the way here, barely noticable. I actually look at the wrong star for a bit on this one. The jump from 40mm to 8.8mm is big enough that I lost control over where to look, even with tracking. That would'nt have happened with a zoom.. Since the moon is right around the corner, I turn my attention to it. The Grimaldi basin catches my eyes right away. Close to the terminator, it naturally pops out. I travel upwards and follow the Hevelius and Cavalerius craters. I discover later by checking out the excellent "21st Century Atlas of the Moon" by Wood and Collins that there are some structures within Hevelius, but I have not made any notes about them. I continue along the terminator, and spend some time at Cardanus and Kraft. I know there are a crater chain between them, but I cant see it. 72mm and 92x isnt enough here I suppose. My last stop for the evening is the Struve crater. Because of the angle it looks more like a mountain side than a crater to my eyes. I had contemplated getting rid of my zooms to fund more fixed wide field eyepieces, but this evening changed my mind. I really missed the ability to zoom back and forth both on the double stars and the moon. Wide angle eyepieces are great, especially on big open clusters, but I still like my zooms on these targets. A great evening overall.

Thanks alot. Seems like it whould work just fine then.

Has anybody calculated how much weight the Heritage-150P focuser can handle before it starts to flex? Will it survive a small shorty barlow and a hyperflex 7-21mm zoom (190 gram)?

The eye exam was provided by my job, so I will be able to get a pair of glasses as well if I want to. But I have never had any problemes with this when using my 32mm plossl, EP 5.33, so I think I'll get a 28/82 instead (EP: 4.67). And I'll try out the other eye. It was better on all parameteres, not only astigmatism. Perhaps the views will be even better simply by changing eyes! That would be great.

It was not my intention to highjack this thread, but I thought it would be relevant to atleast mention that I do in fact have a bit of astigmatism in my observing eye. None in the other though, so I am simply going to try to use the good eye. Thanks for the info @Louis D, I would never have checked it out if it wasn't for your comment!