The60mmKid

Really, any telescope can be used for occasional observing. Don't ask me how I know 😞

Ultimate ultimate is a spaceship. I keep whispering pleas to the superior beings to beam me up but they've gone unheard so far 😞

The telescope is beautiful, but why hasn't anyone commented on the garden?! You have a lovely garden!

I hate to say it, but the Tak video is cooler 🤣

It's too bad that there probably aren't many people who are both an astronomer and a hipster. That's the problem. I'd love it if a niche existed for diffuse DSO images on Portra 400 or LomoChrome Purple or something.

It's a rare and exquisite Ceravolo HD-145.

I already own my version of it 😊 And these 😊

Sounds DeLiteful 😁

I'm ever in awe of your Jupiter sketches!

I just noticed that your Mewlon profile pic is a thing of the past! Does Mewlon know that it has fallen out of favor?! You better make sure it doesn't come for TSA on one of those cloudy nights when no one is watching!

This is the sort of thing that shows up in my dreams... the dreams that I can't describe any further per SGL rules.

Now this is a cool shootout. Common' little Tak! You've got fluorite!

I only look through a telescope when the spot diagram is unavailable, and then I only look at out-of-focus stars. Otherwise there would be no way to really know whether I'm enjoying it.

I, for one, demand an investigation.

Really gorgeous image!

I find the jump from 4" to 5" unquestionably meaningful. I find the planetary views, especially, far more engaging in 5" and larger scopes than in smaller ones. Of course, the performance improves on all objects, as one would expect. The "Everyone needs a 4" refractor" camp has many partisans, but I belong to the "Give me a lightweight 5" refractor or good 6" newtonian any day" camp.

I think it works well with smaller OTAs. I like using a pier. The advantage of the dob mount is that it allows a much larger OTA to be conveniently mounted. (They're also usually less expensive, which is nice, too.) In my opinion, it might not be that people prefer dob mounts but, rather, that people like using larger OTAs (which is easier to do with a dob mount).

Congratulations on the new scope, and thank you for the report! It sounds like a real gem 🎉

Borrowed long-term from the local uni? 😉

Scope weighs 14lbs. Four 100° eyepieces weigh ~6lbs. Thoughts?

That scenario played out in my mind many times! "The maiden, and final, voyage of the otherwise really good looking setup..." Thankfully, the bar doesn't rotate on the APZ 🌚

The APZ/SW pillar is a great combo! SW makes a 16" extension, which I bought from FLO. But I think it makes the setup too tall for my purposes. It would work nicely with a 4" or 5" refractor, though.

Thank you! Yes: Ceravolo HD-145. I feel incredibly lucky to own it. I hear you about comfort. For a time, I'd observe with a binocular telescope from inside a room in my house. The windows looked out onto a decent portion of sky. Needless to say, the image was significantly degraded by the glass window. But I used low magnification, and it was so nice and warm, so I could just sit there sipping tea, listening to music, and gazing at M42 or the moon for an hour at a time. Not bad at all.

I enjoy adding little touches that make my setups a joy to use. For example: Clamping the eyepiece tray to the counterweight bar allows the eyepieces to act as the counterweight while keeping them within easy reach 😎 I'm curious whether others have tips and tricks to share.

Welcome 😎 May you enjoy many pleasant nights under the stars!