Dantooine

Then it opens the can of worms.. Morpheus? How about all the difference in barrel lengths in same set eyepieces? My opinion, make your own mind up if the views are pleasing or not. You could spend a lifetime looking at theory’s and mathematical figures rather than just looking through the telescope.

Well I had a quick look at the barlow figures but to be honest without the maths degree it’s not what I come on here for. next time out I will try the 8E+ barlow against the 4.7E on its own. This way I will get a non scientific idea of any difference in size at what I’m looking at. This is after all my main aim, observing. All I know is I got to focus, it was nice to use and gave me good views. I have put 6 & 8 into a 1.25” click lock and it did make me nervous to the point of getting a 2” baader diagonal. I definitely would be unhappy about the 13E clinging on in this way so I’m with you on that. this looks safer

Yes it’s a very good price. Justified. Also, you are correct about mars, 2033 or something next it’s this close. The main thing to remember is, you would never get to see a crisp view of the Martian dust storms with the 8E and a sub standard Barlow 🤣 ps.. I’m back down to 6 eyepieces now 👍

Don, thank you for the information. So what you are saying is to get a true 1.6x from the barlow, the ethos would need to be used with the 1.25” Part of the dual barrel and that by using the 2” part I was actually getting a much lower magnification than I thought I was getting? would this also explain a minimal noticeable change in eye relief On the 6 & 8E? If this is the case I will need to spend an evening trying them in 1.25” mode. Forgive my ignorance on this as I never thought I would use a barlow and it’s the first time I’ve used one. Dale.

Just as bad as me. I bought a tv eyepiece every week for 11 weeks during lockdown just to see which ones I wanted to keep 🤪 here is something to make you realise you have done the right thing:-

Just a point John, did you fit the fine tuning rings to the ethos for your 2” filters between the two versions of the Antares ?

What’s the best way of doing it as I’ve never needed to before? Use the eyepiece without it and then put in and take the measurements needed to focus from that point?

Not actual measurements yet. I think I still had an inch I could have wound in on the eyepiece that was the furthest forward. Sorry not very accurate or scientific. All the time I could focus so wasn’t concerned. I will have to look at the scale on the focuser and note for all the focal lengths.

This is the new one for anyone interested. See how the locking ring is machined nicely for grip. It’s very smooth in operation.

Bottle 4, no street lights here but neighbours love their lights. I think they are afraid of the dark.

I managed to find one in stock at Rother valley optics. Email them first to check it’s in stock.

Where do you think the problem was with the design, the actual locking ring dimensions?

Seems like you had the right eyepiece in the right telescope at the right time. Congratulations.

Good that you put the 9mm through it’s paces so soon after delivery. It was an unusual night last night, loved swinging from moon to mars and back. I think 8/9 mm is a lot of people’s favourite in any scope.

Preference between 142x & 151x may well have been Due to the conditions on the night but to be honest, I wouldn’t miss the 151x if 142x is available. Worth thinking about if there’s a debate about spending £600 on a 4.7e. Is there really that much difference between 100 & 110 degrees ?? To some there may well be, but to me 100 is a good and I’m trying to think when the extra 10 degrees would be a massive bonus at those magnifications. After all it’s £500+ for those extra 10 degrees. seems to me you can have the 4.7 & 3.7 without actually having to buy them 😉

So clear 👍

Best not to take your ford cortina there if you eventually move there.

Simples... point n shoot.. can’t go wrong 👍

Lens pen?

BST’s are paying off then! It was a special night with things positioned as they were, well worth being tired for. Im the same as you with mars, still trying for ice. I found the bright moon helped. I was going from the moon to mars as I found the brightness helped contrast mars better.

John The twist lock on the Antares is flawless and smooth in operation. Nice sharp cut in the milling that’s a good grip. I wondered how this would be only having the sales photograph to look at before buying thinking maybe it would be hard to grip so close to the main body but they have really got the design right. In use, you don’t know it’s there. After a few minutes it just became part of the diagonal which was amazing. There’s hardly any weight to it if you are used to using bigger eyepieces (2”). This barlow is cheap for what you get and has made me as happy as buying a new expensive eyepiece. I originally didn’t want to use Barlows as I didn’t want to be putting them in and out of the diagonal all night, but now, wow! The way I intend to use it is as two separate eyepiece sets:- set one 26, 55, 89, 119, 130 & 151 set two (barlowed) 41, 88, 142, 190, 207 & 241 the 130 & 207 are Es 5.5/100 If I stick to this system or not time will tell but I gives me something good to work with I believe and am no longer even considering a powermate. My only debate with myself now is a single filter or not for planetary use.

190X was very good and I’m happy to top out at that magnificent to be honest. I also tried an es5.5 at 207x, this worked well too. The 4.7e gives 151x so I have a selection of close planetary options there for good nights. To be honest I preferred the 8e + barlow at 142x last night More so than the 4.7 on its own. Almost to the point that makes me think it may become a little redundant believe it or not. The nicest thing is the ease of picking up targets manually with 100 degrees at these higher magnifications. i tried the eye cups up and down on the 4.7 and coped well with both. I have eyepiece extenders on the 6 & 8 and this was good for me too. To be honest the eye relief difference in distance was hardly noticeable which surprised me a lot. It may account for 1mm but I was quite excited and didn’t really consider it at the time, next time I will concentrate on this but last night the views took over my thinking.

Yes I do like it. Gives me so much more.

Rob, just had an hour with the Antares. Very pleased with it. It’s like I have just got some new high power eyepieces. I put the barlow in and stayed with it for the whole session starting with the 13E, that was nice at 88x. It was great with the 8 & 6E too giving me 142 & 190x. This was the maximum I could reliably get tonight on planets however I managed good views at 241x on the moon with 4.7 ethos. I’m happy with 190x as my normal viewing maximum for sure and all in all very happy with the extra magnifications the Antares is giving me for very little expense. Money well spent.

I think you are correct about this. I just got up to 190x and could make out dark markings On the lower half. For me these are normally washed out, however, I still can’t see ice tonight ☹️