HollyHound

The Uni 28 legs are 72mm wide by 35mm thick. I have double clamps on mine, which probably helps with rigidity, as it feels very solid, although I would say that my iOptron Tri Pier (which is rated for higher load), feels like it’s concreted into the floor and I suspect the Planet is the same 👍

I haven’t even thought about trying any of my Ethos in the FC-76, but apart from balance issues (I can use the AZ100), it could be interesting 🤔 I also have the Delos 14mm, so can try it some more too, although of course your FC-100DL has a focal length of 900mm compared to 570mm for the FC-76DCU.

Thanks, I’ll be trying eyepieces from 10mm to 7mm then 👍

Still getting acquainted with the Taks at the moment, so I don’t have a favourite for DSOs yet. It’s possible my XWs (10, 7 and 5) may fulfil that role...will do a full write up when I have more hours on them all 👍

I’ve setup a lightweight set... Panoptic 24 and 15, BGO 12.5, Burgess/TMB 8 and Nagler Zoom 3-6. This lot live in a small eyepiece box, easily carried out with either the FS60 or FC76 for grab and go. I do usually leave the zoom in the FC76 though, ready just for lunar. I’ve got a Fujiyama 9 on it’s way, which may slot in the box too 🤞

And most have around 8 colour plates on them 😀

Congratulations on the FC-76DCU, you’ll love it... I have the 6”CC too 👍 Interested to bear how well the Feather Touch works on that, mine has the SteelTrack which is also decent. Enjoy them both 😀

Just been looking through it, the red/blue colour plates of each object are amazing. The atlas is excellent too, I have quite a few now and this is up there with the best 👍

And finally, after seeing an earlier post (thanks 👍) got these two fantastic books from Amazon... Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas and Guide... I love the details in these 😃

Followed by... More Blue Precision Focuser kit for the FS-60CB... I already have the FeatherTouch Pinion on the FC-76DCU, so this should even things up a bit 😃 Plus a More Blue Finder Base for the Tak 6x30 finder, so I can swap between it and my RACI as required (I’ve fitted a universal finder shoe to the FC-76CU already).

Quite a few bits arrived today... thanks @FLO 👍 Takahashi Camera Angle adjuster and Wide T Mount (EOS) to go with the 1.04x flattener I got earlier, so I can try some basic imaging with the FS-60C 🤞

Forgot to post a box shot, but this arrived last week and I fitted it this morning... a FeatherTouch Micro Pinion focuser for the Tak FC-76DCU 😃 Tested it just now (daytime) and it does feel really good... Not that the standard focuser is bad, just like a fine focuser 👍

I’ve taken both my Taks out every night there has been some clear sky. What is also great, is that for the first time (apart from a few times with my C5), I’ve been able wander away from the house and setup quickly in a new spot... So light and one handed carry 👍 I will try the Ethos, but doubt very much I will use them much in these scopes. Balancing on the ScopeTech would be fiddly and I’m used to eyepieces all weighing about the same with no balance issues. In fact it’s likely I will stick with 1.25” eyepieces in the Tak 76. If I do then will drop back to the 1.25” prism. For wide field, I have the Tak 60, although that now has a 1.04x flattener in (semi) permanently and I may try 2” eyepieces with that for binocular like wide field 😃

My apologies, my most was a bit misleading... I’m actually using a Baader 2” T2 BBHS Mirror diagonal, although I think it has quite a short light path. I do also have a 1.25” T2 prism, which does have a short light path, but then I need 30/40mm of extension to being the focuser into range, so you may be alright with a longer light path diagonal, as long as not using the supplied Tak adaptors. The Nagler 3-6 Zoom is lovely and basically lives in the scope for “grab and go”, so yes I would advise getting one. I imagine the 2-4 zoom is great too, but never tried and I think they’re tricky to find now 🤔

Great news about the FC-76DCU... welcome to the club 😃 I have a Clicklock adaptor screwed directly onto the drawtube and a 2” T2 prism attached to that with a 15mm extension ring. The prism has a 2” Clicklock on top with a 1.25” adaptor. With this I can focus all my eyepieces, apart from my Ethos, which I haven’t yet tested. Eyepieces tested are all Pentax XW (3.5 to 30), Panoptic 24 and 15, Morpheus 17.5, Delos 14, Nagler Zoom 3-6 and Celestron Plossls. The XW 30 is 2”. Most are close to each other except the Delos which has to focus inwards 1cm, but still with travel to spare. I will try the Ethos, which all have 2” adaptor rings on them, but I really only intend to use those in my 10” dob normally. Look forward to your first light report 👍

That looks like a lovely book to read and although we’ve only been here for 5 years, I can say that it’s a great place to both live and also for astronomy, as we have large fields separating us from the nearest town (Thornbury) so light pollution is minimised. There are also no bright lights on the farm at night, so ideal 👍

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Love that view... seems we have two things in common... living on a farm with plenty of open fields to enjoy the view and a lightweight Tak FC-76DCU setup to move around on it 😀

I’d also add that whilst setting up the finders properly yesterday afternoon on both Taks, I realised they are both perfect for observing wildlife in the fields around us and woodland that starts about 100 yards away... particularly the FS-60... mounted binoculars effectively 👍

Agree with John here... I’ve observed M42 through every scope I’ve had and aperture here does make a huge difference. M42 with the F-76DCU, FS-60CB and StellaMira 80mm ED f/10 is enjoyable, but the nebulosity requires averted vision to see much... admittedly M42 isn’t visible for long right now and is quite low though. Through any of my 5”... ST120 (I’ve sold now), C5 or Mak127, it’s much more visible, with more structure. StellaLyra 6” (which I think you have too), tiny bit more detail, although this is a slow scope. Bresser 10” dob though is like looking at a different object... Tons of visible structure, extending much further out and also the only scope (yet) through which I can easily see both the E and F Trapezium stars, when seeing is good 👍 However... I spent a fantastic three hours last night, with both Taks out and just cruised around double stars, clusters and just generally looked around... really fun and enjoyable session. FC-76 for some higher mag and the FS-60 with a Pantoptic 24 for widefield cruising... awesome 😃

Exactly... I use SkySafari on the iPad with my iOptron AZ Mount Pro, but sometimes just drop back to using the handset, as it’s totally night vision safe, even has a little red led torch and heater built in 🤣

I see a little splash of red... an accent if you will 😃

Yes, I was thinking that with the DSC I can use it standalone and not have to bother bringing an iPad out 🤔 Its a Uni 28...perfectly up to the job for these scopes, and they’re quite well balanced too 👍

This was part of my reasoning for getting the FC-76DCU now, as I can see a 100mm in the near future, and I'm thinking about the DZ when they become available again. So for now the 76 (and 60) give me travel options as well as being superb for grab and go around the farm here 🙂 However, I wasn't aware that a small extension could be removed on the 100DC, as that makes it usable for binoviewing too 🤔

Now there’s a thought 🤔😬🤣 I think your old StellaLyra goes well with the StellaMira on the AZ100... a match made in heaven 😃 Oh and seriously, thanks so much for the handle, it really helps getting it on the mount 👍