Mariner74

Wonderful couple of hours completed here in South Devon. Crystal clear at times and steady views in a Tak 100 DZ with an LE 5mm which held very well when barlowed. Elon Musk's trail of about 30 satellites added a magical touch, but I am visual only so they aren't a concern to me, selfishly speaking. Highlights tonight? Gassendi and Plato with some great views along the terminator. Fantastic after all the cloud and rain of recent weeks. Cheers

Nothing exclusively used, but when it comes to lunar viewing bino for me is unbeatable. That first-use feeling doesn't leave and is there every time I attach them to an inexpensive Dob'. If you are on tight budget as most people are these days, keep an eye out for a binoviewer on ABS, that's where I took a punt on a WO set that came with two decent lenses and was in excellent condition. Be warned though, the experience will make you covet the more expensive and fantastic looking specs of the high-brand versions. I am still saving for them to do justice to the Tak refractor.

Seeing was a little inconsistent here in south west Devon, but managed a couple of decent hours along with my brother and sister-in-law taking their first look through my WO binoviewer in a 330 flexi-tube. Their wow-reactions were a joy to behold and I let them sweep away as I tried to point out the obvious. Outstanding highlights for them included, Copernicus, Eratosthenes and Clavius. For me it was the myriad of small craters in and around Stadius that kept popping in and out of view, in the end I wasn't sure if some were a figment of my imagination or genuine. Having said that the sheer scale of the moon in the FOV is always breathtaking. Cheers, Mike

Must have been looking at the same time, but I managed a good two hours before the seeing turned to jelly. My comparison was a Tak 100DZ with an LE 5, but that was surpassed by SW300 with WO binoviewer loaded with Pentax XF 12mm. Absolutely breathtaking. As you mention, Doug, Posidonius in amazing detail and Theophilus/Cyrilus/Catharine along the terminator were stand-outs last night but I did spend some time with Hercules and Atlas. All round a great little session. Cheers, hope for similar clear skies tonight. Mike

Saw it approaching then engrossed myself with a close and detailed look at Cleomedes and managed to miss the magical moment! Great conditions though after so many cloudy skies. Cheers

That's the downside of this hobby, our weather, and we just have to accept it as we will never beat it!

Bit late but fully relate to that 'wow' moment. Decades ago with a small three inch cheap refractor on Saturn for the first time, to the moon through binoviwer on a twelve inch dob' a few months ago and last night with Neowise on a simple pair of 8 x 40s, followed by Jupiter and Saturn with my new scope. 'Wow' moments never end. Cheers!

Cheers, even better tonight! A naked-eye comet too and I am very pleased that my second hand WO bino viewer added more value to the new scope. All looking fantastic.

Fully agree with all those who posted above. First opportunity to look at Jupiter and Saturn with my new Tak FC100DZ after waiting for a clear night, and knowing how to bring scope to focus....This is my first real post so apologies if it's a little rubbish. Bset views of these two giants despite low angle and not the best seeing conditions. Amazing, my first good view of the GRS and the Galilean moons, with background accompanying star were like little jewels. Popped over to Saturn and again despite the less than ideal viewing conditions I was extremely impressed. Cheer everyone.

My first post on SGL and I just wanted to say that it is great to read the enthusiasm in some of the previous posts around binos. For those who have struggled with them it just reminds me that everyone is different, but good on you for trying so hard. I bought a second hand WO pair on ABS a couple of years ago and the lunar views through my 300mm dob were truly jaw-dropping. After decades of viewing through low-cost small scopes it was brilliant to view the moon with amazing clarity and detail. My son who has better eyesight even commented that it would be hard to see how any improvement could be possible. I must have been lucky to have set them up without issue and as the seller told me, lunar views with the binoviewer are incredible. He wasn't exaggerating. Cheers