HollyHound

Had the first session in many weeks (due to work), so just grabbed an hour with the "grab and go" FC-76DCU(Q) on the moon, as it was getting dark... things settled down and it was reasonably stable after 15mins... nothing exciting, just good to be out observing again 😀

This is comforting and so I will keep trying with mine, thanks 👍 It is indeed… doubles are its speciality, but loves the moon too 😀

The first time I saw the Trapezium E & F was in my 10" dob, just over a year ago and they've been pretty reliably seen with this, assuming it's not crummy seeing. Since then I've (just) managed to see one of them in my FC-100DZ, but haven't yet been able to spot either using FC-76DCU (with and without extender), FS-60CB or indeed my FOA-60Q... I have a feeling that if any 60mm was going to manage it, then this last one should be the one. Maybe I'll get lucky with it one day, but I my impression is that aperture does indeed matter here (along with good visibility). I've yet to see the Pup, as whenever I've tried it's not been the best conditions... something for next Winter 🤞

I have some of the same for my eyepieces, binoviewers etc.... I bought mine from Amazon, so that other supplier is super useful, as they seem to have the whole range... many thanks for that 👍

Really interesting to read about your journey and great to know the Mewlon 180 (Baby Mu) is a good scope. I also love it for DSO, as I think that extra aperture really helps. I still may consider a TSA-120 one day, as I do love refractors (I have four Takahashi refractors already) and will continue to watch with interest your reports and photos. Thanks Gary

Thanks for these @Fedele , some really nice photos here 😀 I have the Mewlon 180C and an FC-100DZ, and have been considering the TSA-120, but looking at these last two, I’m not sure there would be any advantage to me “upgrading” 🤔 Of course the TSA-120 would probably cool-down faster and not require collimation I suppose. I notice you’re selling your Mewlon 180C, so I guess the TSA-120 is a better scope for you though 👍 Keep these lovely photos coming… thanks

Thanks for the confirmation, that's the Pentax XW40 I guess 🤔 Hence why I got the BBHS 2" diagonal, to try and use as much of that field stop as possible. Good to know the TeleVue is also maximised too 👍

Yeah, they're being sold as fast as they appear and mostly appearing marked up on eBay etc.... your wife did well to get you one, as it's a lovely piece... enjoy, and happy 50th 😁

I've only got one (very very minor) gripe.... very occasionally one of the slip on rubber grip "feet" can pop off when I fold it up... so if you take the chair anywhere, just quickly check that they're all still in place... but it's happened about three times in many many sessions 😁

Awesome.... you won't regret it.... it's a superb piece of kit, and being able to sit (still) whilst observing makes such a difference 😀 Good luck it it 👍

And as I mentioned… folds flat and stores easily in my office corner, along with the grab and go refractor (FC-76DCUQ) 👍

Hi, Yes, I’ve had one for 18 months now… best investment I made, as it’s enhanced my comfort whilst observing, as I can now sit comfortably for long periods and concentrate on viewing. The height adjustment works for long refractors at pretty much any altitude and also perfect with my 10” Dob 👍 Its very well made, and I’ve never had any issues with it. The height adjust is done with two small levers and can be done quickly and safely in the dark. I’ve also got the (optional) foot rest, which is not essential but very useful for those occasions when I have the chair seat up high and remain comfortable. It also folds and rests up against the wall in my office and doesn’t look out of place. We even used it as an extra chair at Christmas, when we had some kids for the day 🤣 EDIT: I forgot to add, I've never had an issue with it tipping, falling backwards or indeed ever felt that it was not safe, and given your related experience (ouch!) that's important 🤞 So, highly recommended from me 😃 Good luck Gary

Wow, someone actually managed to purchase one of these... I'm sure you're away of the frenzy that occurred a few weeks back when they launched... crazy 😬 These look really nice and look like a faithful rendition of the originals too... enjoy 😁

I got the same tripod with the GP I bought last year... nice tripod, but too small for me, so I've also popped it on the Uni 28.... photos to follow next time I set it up outside 😁

My, what a mighty fine looking scope that is 😁 Hope she's giving you some awesome views and that binoviewer should really make a difference on the moon 👍

Baader have all the technical specs on their website, but yes for other manufacturers, this information can be hard to track down 🤔

Hi... not sure if it's larger than all other 2" diagonals, but certainly larger than my other Baader 2" diagonals.... it has a massive 47.5mm clear aperture, so it should work well with my Pentax XW 40 (field stop 46.5mm) 👍 See my post at the end of this thread....

This thread has inspired me to get setup with a decent RFT scope combination... I had almost all the parts anyway, but with the recent addition of a Baader BBHS mirror diagonal (which has a massive 47.5mm clear aperture) it should work well with my Pentax XW 40 (field stop 46.5mm) 👍 Added to the FS-60CB, this should give a field of view of 7.8 degrees and an exit pupil of 6.7mm, which seems perfect... it's also a super light, grab and go setup 😁 Will hopefully get to try this once the skies clear 🤞

A very nice, functional and well organised set. I've had/have some of those very eyepieces... all good choices 👍

Arrived yesterday from @Second Time Around, thank you 😃 Baader 2” BBHS Mirror Diagonal. This should allow me to maximise my large field stop eyepieces (XW40/30) for widest possible field in my FS-60CB and Mewlon 180 👍

As mentioned in another thread… my CQ Extender came with a 145mm tube (rather than usual 127mm). So whilst I was able to borrow tube from my FS-60CB, to test on my FC-76DCU, it’s not a long term solution. So, arrived today from FLO… a replacement 127mm FS60CB tube (usually used to convert from the older and longer FS-60C 👍 Not cheap, but did come with a couple of Tak adaptors, so ultimately worth it. I now have a fully functional FC-76Q 😃

Oh yes indeed, you’re right… that’s interesting, as you know @Stumy extender came with the wrong tube length (145mm) and I can confirm that it doesn’t work when placed in the middle. I’m sure it has to be precisely placed (127mm) in order to make that doublet arrangement work 🤔 Doesn’t look like Roger is binoviewing and that Takahashi diagonal probably has a short optical path. Having the longer tube at the rear will indeed lose some backfocus though. Hence why I’ve just ordered (and received) another 127mm tube for mine. I am loving this FC-76Q 😃

As @Stusays in the post above, it really does both flatten the field and also tighten the stars up too. For me it’s also meant that my 1.25” eyepiece set (XWs) have a more useful magnfication range too, rather than topping out at 160x. I find that my Taks tend to be able to take more magnification than usual, so nice to have the option without breaking out other eyepieces 👍 One minor downside, the scope is a bit longer and so (very) slightly more unwieldy when carrying outside, but no issue at all for me… it’s one corridor and two doors. Excellent review of this combination here… http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/TakFC-76Q.htm

I know you have the same scope @JeremyS and if you haven't tried the CQ Extender on it yet, I would highly recommend it... apart from being a tiny bit longer (and so be more mindful of the length when I carry it outside), it really does turn the scope from great to awesome 😁 I am keeping the FS-60CB now as a truly widefield and "finder" scope, as I'm not sure I'll put it back into FS-60Q configuration much now that I have this setup for that purpose 🤔 BTW The Masuyama 26mm (which lives in the case with my other main 1.25" eyepieces... XWs and Masuyama 16) is fantastic in this scope configuration.... such a lovely wide, sparkling, bright field and pretty much flat too... Pleaides is sublime through this 👍

My new grab and go setup… the FC-76Q. Just a wonderful scope. The extender has flattened the field (even with the XW14 and Masuyama 26) 😃 Bit of teething troubles because I had the wrong tube length for the extender, so thanks to @Stu for help resolving that, but now it’s an awesome setup… much improved even from the original FC-76DCU 👍