globular

Nice one David. Similar to what I saw fleetingly before having to retreat indoors by poor weather.

I've gone back to the retailer (Harrision Telescopes) and they are contacting UPS.... it's now a waiting game. I have a gloomy feeling that it's going to be a very long wait to eventually end up with my money back rather than a lump of glass.

Well the tracking has changed to this.... ... but I don't have it! It's not been left anywhere or thrown over the gate or left with neighbours. I don't think I'm destined to get the ES92's.

Yeah I've looked at all of those too. With delivery and import duty and the current exchange rate they end up about £150 more than UK / EU sources, but admittedly they can at least get me one. I guess I'm not that desperate for one <shrug>. I do wonder what price they will be in the UK when they do become available... with covid and brexit et al this may be the price I have to find for one anyway. 🤔

My ES92/12 should arrive tomorrow.... ... very excited! Still can't find a 17mm anywhere though

I’d be interested to hear how they perform. I’m still new to astronomy and have lots of gaps in my EP line-up. I’m wondering if a 2” 1.6x or 1.5x would help fill some gaps while EP stocks are so low. I’ve tried a 22T4 with a powermate 2x and it works really well. Would the Antares 1.6x and / or the nosepiece of the GSO ED (giving 1.5x) work as seamlessly? Or with some aberrations? They are a lot cheaper than the TV after all.

p.s. It was a request not an instruction

Congratulations 🌟 Post them here when you can.

Here is the thread on magnification that M40 was referring to:

You can download all Celestron's software from Celeston's website. Your scope is listed here: https://www.celestron.co.uk/shop/celestron-nexstar-130-slt-computerised-telescope/ If you look there is will list all the included software. You can then use the 'Technologies' tab to select and download all the ones you want.

I've been holding my breath waiting for a 17mm ES-92 - it's been out ages but they don't seem to be making them as no one has one in stock. If anyone here is finding theirs too heavy then I can give it a new home 😍

The rod is very cool. I agree it's a shame to cover it up, but needs must. Can't wait to see mark 2.

If only someone, back in 1967 say, thought to write down some rules, an act of parliament perhaps, dealing with misrepresentation of information. And maybe these rules would be refined and updated over time and even incorporated in a wider European framework? And then they could be policed with the toothless authority of a regulator who serves the needs of business over the consumer? 🤔 .... It could be a lot worse, of course. And thankfully we have some very fine retailers that do what they can despite poor information from some manufacturers.

Thanks Michael. Shocking how so many companies think nothing of producing misleading information, often hiding behind very conveniently rounded figures.

Very impressive. It’s hard to tell from your picture but you might find it too bright when trying to stay dark adapted - even quite a dim red light can spoil things. Maybe a baffle of some sort over the top of the rod will keep down stray light? Or possibly add some sort of dimmer control? It’s surprising how dim a light can be while still being sufficient to sketch by once you’re fully dark adapted. I’m sure you’ll tweak things if necessary. And I could easily be wrong about the apparent brightness of your excellent gadget. Let us know how your first trial goes.

The old NVL line were 45 and 50 at different fl's. But the SLV series seems to be 50 degrees throughout the range If someone who has one can measure the field stop then we'd know for sure.

Excuse my ignorance but how does poor transmission manifest? Presumably a dimmer image when compared to another eyepiece at the same magnification? Is the main cause of transmission loss the surface of lenses? So the more lens elements an eyepiece has the more prone to transmission loss it is? And the fight back against this is good quality coatings on the lens surfaces? And these coatings push up the price? So a cheaper zoom is more likely to suffer more transmission loss than a more expensive one? Although this is not the only factor in the pricing of eyepieces so may not always be a reliable indicator of superior quality?

If you're doing requests can you get me an ES92 17mm and an ES92 12mm EP please? 🙂

It's surprising how keeping the majority of my hands and fingers warm makes the odd colder fingertip bearable. I sketch too so the constant fiddling with your favoured flip-up mitten covers, not just occasionally for eyepiece changes, makes them impractical for me. And now I'm used to it I prefer them even when I not sketching. It's a good job we're not all the same and a variety of solutions are available to meet our differing priorities

astrogloves

DSC = digital setting circles. "DSCs are little computers that show you where to point your telescope to locate your astronomical target."

From FLO listing "With so many useful features it is difficult to accurately describe its functions in just a few words, but basically it is a stand-alone computer that can control ZWO cameras and a filter wheel, provide Wi-Fi connectivity to a mount, and auto-guiding. "

I've just had a play too. Once it's on properly it stays on nicely. And comes off easily when required. All good. However during an observing session, rather than sat here in the light and concentrating on putting it back properly, it rarely seems to go on cleanly and ends up protecting the bottom of my bag rather than the lens of the eyepiece. I think I'm probably being too timid with my new and expensive purchase - it can take quite a firm press to make sure it's located properly and I'm probably not doing it hard enough in the heat of the moment / excitement to get back observing / fear of damaging something.

I'm following similar logic to you Stan and I got a Hyperflex Zoom 7.2-21.5. It came highly recommended before I got it and I have found it great on Mars recently. It will be a keeper for me, even if / when I have individual EPs covering that range, as it's really good at finding the optimal magnification supported by the seeing conditions.

I only have one XW and it was brand new a month ago. It’s cap falls off all the time. Don’t tell me it’s going to get worse over time? I’m going to get / build a case to store it upright rather than on it’s side to minimise the issue (aka the Louis workaround) while I await a new cap that actually fits (aka the Mark solution).