Franklin

Hyper wide-field modern eyepiece designs have contributed to this Alt-az revival. As noted above, star-hopping is much easier, intuitive and at higher powers the wider FOVs allow more drift time to observe. Plus there is much less faff setting up, just point and look. Time is of the essence under UK skies! 4" refractor for me.

Congratulations. A dream scope if ever there was one! Harrison Telescopes ?

Optimum position for finders/aux equipment is parallel with the Dec axis, if it's throwing the balance out try moving the whole tube down the rings a bit. Also, the HEQ5 weight shaft is retractable into the Dec housing so make sure it is fully retracted.

SW 200P ota weighs around 8.8kg so the two 5kg weights supplied should balance it fine. Check that your weights are indeed the 5.1kg ones and weigh all the accessories that you plan to use to see what the total weight is in use. The two weights should balance out around 10kg payload when at the approx. centre of the bar. Higher up around 7kg, lower end around 13kg.

I'd do the Saturn up and keep it all as the Vixen Gods intended. Set up with a tracking motor in RA, you have a superb instrument for visual astronomy. The scope may only weigh around 6kg but it's the sheer length of it which will render it unusable on a smaller mount, even if the smaller mount has a higher weight capacity. EQ6, G11 or do up the Saturn IMHO.

That's a Skywatcher HEQ5 type mount. That or an EQ6 would carry your lovely long refractor. Vixen 102mm f/15, don't see many of them around. What's wrong with the Saturn mount?

Wow. No wonder the ancients started believing in Gods when they saw stuff like that in the sky.

You may be reported to the RSPCGP for this.

Now that's what I call a Telescope. Nice!

M31 Andromeda Galaxy rising in the East, should amaze them at 2.5 million light years away! Catch it before the moon is up.

It can be used in any of these configurations. The reason I use the barlow in 2" mode without the 1.25" nosepiece is because it reduces the length and does not foul the diagonal. If you have the barlow attached to the 1.25" nosepiece and then use the 2" skirt, be sure to check the barlow doesn't come into contact with the mirror/prism in your diagonal. Fitting the barlow to either the 1.25" nosepiece or the zooms field length snout, results in a slightly different distance that the barlow element is from the zoom and thus gives a slightly different amplification. With the zoom @ 8mm the difference in either configuration amounts to 3.4mm or 3.5mm effective focal length. If you put the barlow on the zooms field lens snout and try using it in 1.25" it will not work, the barlow will unscrew when you turn the zoom.

Clear but like looking through a swimming pool that's at boiling point!

I like Ensoptical, it is unique. Steves product list is like an Aladdins Cave of rare and sort after astro-goodies. What's not to like? If you're after a discontinued item, chances are Ensoptical will have it, at a price! Business is business.

👍

I have a Mk IV version, earlier versions may differ, but the 2.25x barlow can be threaded directly on to the zooms field lens but only when using the 2" sleave. That way the barlow can rotate when zooming. The 1.25" adaptor that fits on the barlow has two threads, an external thread that screws into the 1.25" nosepiece (when using the zoom in 1.25" mode) and an internal thread that allows connection to the field lens of the zoom. I use my BHZ in 2" mode most of the time and have the 1.25" nosepiece removed and can still use the barlow in that configuration. https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/downloads/dl/file/id/165/product/1695/testreview_baader_2_25x_barlow_und_mark_iii_hyperion_zoom_a_first_look_at_new_astro_gear_hernando.pdf

Hyperion zoom barlow can be fitted to either the 1.25" nosepiece, do this if using it in 1.25" mode, or (with 1.25" nosepiece removed) fitted to the threads on the end of the zoom field lens, do this when using it in 2" mode. The difference in optical distance of these 2 mating points is insignificant, the displacement being a difference of 0.1mm in effective focal length. At the 8mm zoom setting barlow will give either 3.5mm or 3.4mm.

Yes I read about that, I think it's the type they use in bug zappers.

Expose it to ultra-violet light. I had an old Vixen refractor years ago that had fungal growth between the doublet. I gave the scope a suntan by placing it in front of my sisters face tanning light overnight. Stopped the fungus from further growth but dead fungus residue remained.

I lived down Devon for over 10 years and regularly went up Dartmoor. Definately the darkest skies I've ever seen. Laid on a camping mat in the middle of winter staring into the heavens makes you feel like your actually in space, amazing experience. Can't wait to get back there some day.

Two clear nights in the last two months here.😪

I had a Vixen LV zoom for a while Dave. Excellent eyepiece.

I have been watching the Sun for decades, firstly via projection, then with a full aperture filter and now I have a Lunt wedge(1.25"). The wedge has an internal ND3 filter as you know and I use a single polariser and a Baader solar continuum filter on the eyepiece. The views from this setup have been amazing and I am very pleased with kit I have. Recently I have been reading the forums and I have noticed that some people are reconmending the use of a UV/IR cut filter ahead of the solar wedge. Is this necessary for eye safety or is it mainly for use with imaging?

Stumbled across The Observers book of Astronomy by Patrick Moore in 1978, aged 10. Nicked my dads birdwatching binoculars and have been an Astro-nut ever since.

It's a dual purpose (losmandy/vixen) saddle and puck for EQ6. Maybe it's an older Geoptik looking at the colour. New versions by ADM retail around £140.

I've been using a pair of Baader MkIV zooms in my, new to me, WO binoviewers and I'm well impressed. Just got to remember to hold the lower barrel when zooming so as not to turn the diopter adjustments. The Baader Maxbright bino's won't have this issue though as the diopter is helical. I got the WO quite cheap just to try binoviewing and see if I liked it. Well, it's blown me away and now I am saving up for a pair of Maxbrights. I do have the Baader BCO's and was planning on pairing them up at some point but now I'm not so sure, as the zooms are working so well. I use the x1.6 nosepiece for very high power. Jupiter and Saturn in 3D the last few nights have been amazing. All in a Starwave 102ED f11 with split tube.