IB20

Excellent comparison. Feeling pretty chuffed that I’ve managed to bag the Altair version of the Starfield for a ridiculously cheap price. I have the Tak 76DCU which I think has the same focuser as the 100DC, I don’t actually mind the focuser but I hated the Tak collet and the plastic wheels were a bit cheap. I’ve upgraded it with the Baader clicklock and More Blue microfocuser and it’s very nice now. The Starwave focuser is really nice but yes sometimes the twist lock mechanism can occasionally stick and cause the focuser to rotate. I’ve found a bit of repetition in locking and unlocking is freeing the mechanism up though. Not had chance at first light yet but am very pleased to read your comparisons, particularly solar and Venus!

A combination of courier from @FLO and a lovely chap on ABS. Have wanted one of these for some time!

A new addition to my frac collection. 😁 Expect some Tak 76Q v 102ed-r shootout reports very soon!

There was a flare recorded at AR3257 at 13:50 today so yes I think that’s the event you were witnessing. 👍🏻

Thanks for this, I’ve been down a rabbit hole and think I may have found some bits to cobble together to try a makeshift version.

As far as I’m aware the Celestron Starsense seems to be the only thing that fits this bill. Strikes me as odd that versions of this aren’t everywhere? If it’s a patent issue, I’m surprised certain markets haven’t ignored these or why Celestron feel the need to flog this as a whole package rather than stand alone kit.

Great list of targets and report. Yep, the collet on my 76DCU has been swapped over to the clicklock. Used to drive me nuts swapping the Herschel wedge over. Info here if you’re interested.

Interesting catch from a Japanese observer of a “ghost” pup through a 120L Kenko achromat; D=120, L=1000. Very large blue flare in appearance but coincidentally in the correct position but not actually Sirius B.

There’s a Lunt 60 on ENS for a decent price. https://ensoptical.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=14591

Fantastic pics, nice to see the Starbase 80 on display. Really pleasing to see that the FC-100DC only costs £1385 inc. Japanese consumption tax! 😩

Cool. I get what you’re saying. Well I am drawing on an iPhone with my finger. It’s just a recalled representation of minute glimpses not an at eyepiece sketch. I’m going to try some lucky imaging next time, perhaps with the hexagonal mask trick.

I was observing in twilight so around 6:30-7pmish, if that helps?

It’s a digital sketch. Sirius is in favourable position for me for the next couple of weeks earlier on so I’ll be sure to keep trying for “a split”. I’m certain of detection, however.

Had another go at Sirius in lighter skies this evening. As before, there’s definitely something there, just off the shoulder of Sirius. Detected a separate dim dot multiple times very close to Sirius’ disc. Seemed to show “easier” in the lighter sky as wasn’t fighting so much glare. Maybe my brain is now tricking me in to seeing it because I know it should be there, it’s pretty convincing though.

Had a play around with this tonight, it’s pretty cool! This was the 3” Tak and pretty bad seeing with all the melting snow about. Won’t win any awards but managed to get the phase.

Memory refreshed!

Thanks for this, just dropped the scope outside for a quick view. Quite windy and seeing is sub-optimal but the sunspot formation is very nice. I could make out some granulation centrally and faculae were quite prominent towards the solar limbs. 👍🏻 Might keep the scope out for a crack at Venus and twilight Sirius.

Fantastic anecdote Mike, I have read all of Roger’s reviews as he has looked through some seriously nice scopes. It’s probably not what I wanted to hear though! The 100DL sounds like my dream scope, it’s the one that grabs my attention the most, especially with my love of planetary viewing. Sadly they must be rarer than rocking horse poo on the 2nd hand market. It’s always periods of inclement weather that get me dreaming of “bigger and better” kit. I mustn’t forget what a wonderful scope I currently have, there’s a chance it might clear tonight so hopefully I get a chance to remind myself. Don’t suppose it would hurt to start saving either though…

100DC v 76Q please! 🤣

I think the focuser on the 100DC and the 76DCU are the same. It has a very short amount of travel but it is really nice. I use big XWs and have tried BVs on and it handles fine. It would probably take a DSLR but it might also be best off getting the DF if that’s what you want to do. If you wanted to upgrade to a larger focuser from the DC you’re probably looking at £700 for a FT with adaptor and also probably months of lead time to source one too. If the DF is a goer for another £550 you could get the DZ if it was mainly for visual. 😈

It’s likely a compression issue from YouTube. I’ve also screen grabbed, enlarged and cropped but yeah, agree I see sharper images in the Tak 76 than those images. Interesting that you mention bright eye illumination. I have always found I prefer dimmer views, my eyes seem quite sensitive to brightness hence why I enjoy the 3” so much. In the 8” dob it is such that I really need to control it to be able to observe, especially when the seeing doesn’t allow the magnification to be pumped up to the max to take the edge off the brightness.

What a beautiful looking mount. What is the payload for that?

Just revisiting this thread whilst it’s snowing and I can’t get any scope out. I’ve been thinking, do I need a 4” APO? I have two 3” inch refractors, an achromat and a super apochromat and am now a refractor convert. Now I’ve converted my 3” 76DC to a f12.5 scope and I’m missing a wider field but also have no 2” set-up at all. What is the actual difference at the eyepiece between a 3” and 4” on say the moon, WL or planets? How does increased resolution and brightness actually translate? Is it subtle or incredibly obvious? I’ve found a great Japanese YouTube channel (BosqueRico Len’sKing TV) which compares resolution between Takahashi’s on Saturn. Are the images a fair representation of what one would expect in terms of improvement? What about lunar and solar? Has anyone any similar resources that could explain the at eyepiece differences? Being a white light junkie, having more resolution for granulation would be a great. The f7 FPL53 Starfields or doppelgängers look like superb scopes and a real bargain, stick one of those on an AZ4 and I think it would be a fairly nice combination; not unobtainable either. Plus I desperately need another tripod and mount so I can set up more than one refractor. Maybe I’ve answered my own question…

Not an app but NASA has a lunar SVS map, just enter the time and date you want, update then click on the moon image to get a high resolution map with terminator and main feature labels. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5048

h That’ll be the 4mm TOE then. My favourite and best eyepiece. Works effortlessly in both my 8” dob and 3” apo. Used it extensively for Jupiter, Mars, WL solar, lunar and doubles observations. Very recently used it to detect Sirius’ companion. Extremely high quality, lightweight and comfortable.