-
Posts
215 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Events
Blogs
Posts posted by sputniksteve
-
-
Very nice. I look forward to first light review.
- 1
-
Do you use any kind of shroud around the scope?
-
Where did you get the Fi tube from on its own?
-
Hi Liv,
Your experience of looking through your friend's scope is unfortunate I think. For comparison, I have currently borrowed from school a really rather trashy Tasco reflector. It's just 76mm aperture, and only has a stock 12.5mm eyepiece. The tripod head and yoke are pretty knackered so the whole thing wobbles. Collimation is off a bit. The finder scope is off by quite a bit. Nonetheless, I got a half decent view of Jupiter and Saturn through it a couple of weeks ago. Jupiter showed its two main cloud belts - just about - and Saturn showed its wonderful rings.
Now, I have got a bit of a trained eye as I used to have a 12' Lightbridge. This thing was beautiful. But when the kids came along, I pretty much stopped using it. It was BIG. And although it was quick to set up and just start using it, I soon tired of having to manually nudge it as objects drifted out of the FOV. And I struggled to find new objects, so ended up just looking at the same DSO and always ended up on the planets and moon. But that experience means that I can probably pick out more detail in that crappy 76mm reflector than others might be able to.
I will be buying a Skymax 127 AZ-GTi later this year, but I'm under no illusion that I will need to get new eyepieces for it. I've read that the stock 25mm is ok, but the 10mm is rubbish. I will probably get a 6 or 7mm to go with it. And then at some point in the future will get a wedge so that I can use it in EQ mode. And then even later I shall get a 80mm refractor to compliment it.
I've also got a 6" mirror set that I intend to use in a dob at some point ...
My advice actually would be don't buy one yet. Join a local astronomy group or society and attend their events to have a look through the different scopes that the members use. I'd also recommend a decent pair of binoculars.
-
Cooling will also depend upon where you store the 'scope. If it is in an unheated garage it won't take so long as if you store it in the house.
- 1
-
Although you can get the AZ-GTi to work in EQ mode of course. You would need to get a wedge for this.
-
Does this thread offer any helpful suggestions?
-
How old is your Mak?
- 1
-
Utterly amaxing.
- 1
-
Love this thread.
On Monday night I fell asleep in the armchair. When I awoke and glanced out of the window, I could see Ursa Major grinning down at me, with the comet just below it. So I grabbed my binos and spent a short while looking at the comet through them - whilst in my lounge. I then decided to go to bed, which must involve checking the doors are all locked. As I checked the french doors at the back of the house, I gazed out and could see Jupiter and Saturn to my right; at that moment a Perseid streaked across the sky above me. All this without even leaving the house!
At the weekend I used the binos to have a look at the comet and the Andromeda Galaxy. Last week, I was out there with a crappy little 76mm Tasco reflector which nonetheless gave me views of the two belts of Jupiter.
And this is Bortle 5.
It's amaxing.
- 3
-
Hullo Mark 🙂
-
-
What is focuser backlash?
-
1 hour ago, Stu1smartcookie said:
Steve , I am delighted with the scope .. very well built .. but .. I am gutted about the weather here I haven’t had a clear evening to test it yet .. although later on today the skies are due to clear so I am hoping that I will give it its first light tonight ! Lol I’m beginning to despise summer ... short nights and lots of cloud ! Bring on the autumn and the rise of the winter constellations eh ?
I'm itching to get one. It's a question now of balancing when my spends happen! I need to get a bike for the summer - but no-where has what I want in stock! I'd rather get my telescope now though.
- 1
-
I was at school with Dawn Planets. She was a lovely girl.
- 1
-
Blimey. These are great.
- 2
-
20 hours ago, Ken Mitchell said:
First attempt and first clear morning after 2 weeks of bad astrophotography weather.
This is an astonishing image.
- 1
-
On 10/07/2020 at 21:51, Stu1smartcookie said:
Interesting thread as I have just ordered a skymax 127 ( coming Monday ) I too was wondering about fitting a 2”diagonal to the scope , so thanks for the info . And thanks to the OP for starting the thread .
Has it arrived now, @Stu1smartcookie? What do you think of it?
-
Wonderful view in my 15x70 bins last night 11.30-12.30pm.
- 1
-
Absolutely amaxing.
I have been having trouble with Sky Safari - it won't show c/2020 without updating data, and then it won't hold on to data. However, I managed to get it to show me the comet and was surprised to see it suggesting I could see it in the evening. So out I went about 11.30.
Wow.
Beautiful in my 15x70 bins. As the sky darkened it got better and better of course and I was able to see it naked eye.
I also had an old Tasco 76mm reflector out there last night (I've borrowed it from school) and got some pleasantly surprising views of Jupiter and Saturn too. I even managed to get C/2020 with the scope, but it was much better in the bins.
A very pleasant hour or so.
I got some pics of the comet on my phone but they really aren't worth sharing!!
- 4
-
Hello and welcome!
Your choice of jellyscope is up to you and no-one else!
- 1
-
On 05/07/2020 at 13:21, bomberbaz said:
I have used all the options you have listed above in one way or another and if given the option now I would get a tele-extender (TE) from either televue or explore scientific. The latter being a lower costing option.
You'd use a TE as a barlow for visual?
-
13mm then? 🙂
- 1
-
1 hour ago, Philip R said:
I hardly ever use a Barlow lens; (2.8x, BTW); with my Mak & SCT.
I may occasionally use a 1.6x extension piece that screws into the
filter thread of the e/p.What's your preferred EP for the Mak?
Filters For Light Pollution - Visual Observing...
in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Posted
Is nobody going to say anything about that car?!