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Stu last won the day on February 19
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Stu started following Telescope you'd like in your collection within budget. , Orion Optics UK VX12 - Opinions? , How many telescopes do you NOT own... and 2 others
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Orion Optics UK VX12 - Opinions?
Stu replied to Flame Nebula's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
I do tend to think OO scopes are best bought used. Normally any issues have been sorted out by their owners then and depreciation on OO scopes is normally pretty steep so you save quite a lot. I bought a new OMC200 (8” Mak) from then and had problems collimating it. I took it back to them but was pretty much fobbed off with a tweak of the secondary. I only worked out what the problem was just before I sold it, and that was that a grub screw had dropped out so the primary was loose and tilted as a result. Once fixed it could then be collimated properly but I had to find that out myself. -
Excellent news Paul. Images look good! 👍
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I wonder if anyone has noticed that you never see Mike, Noddy or Benny from Crossroads in the same picture? I wonder why? 😉
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You may well be right!! 🤪
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Apart from the first three, these are in no particular order. Plenty of repeats in there, and a couple of scopes I have re-bought again after selling them and regretting it. It’s an illness, clearly 🤪 Celestron C150HD Orion Optics OMC200 Astrotech 106mm f6.5 William Optics ZS SD66 Televue 76 Televue 85 Televue Genesis Televue Genesis 120ED 120ED 120ED Orion Optics VX12L Orion Optics VX12L Orion Optics VX12 f6 Orion Optics VX10L (To be honest, it may have been two 10” and two 12”, I can’t remember!) Burgess Optics 90mm Stellarvue 80ED Vixen 80mm f11.3 Vixen 80mm f11.3 Tak FS-60C Tak FC-76DC Tak Sky 90 TAL 100r TAL 100RS Sumerian Canopus 16” Sumerian Alkaid 14” TS 72mm f5.9 PST 40 Vixen 150mm f9 ST80 Carton 60mm f16.7 Tak Mewlon 210 Orion Optics 6” f11 Celestron C8 Edge Celestron C925 Zeiss Telementor Vixen FL102S Heritage 130p Heritage 150p APM LZOS 130 f6 Orion Optics OMC140 Orion Optics OMC140 Intes 7” Mak ST150 Celestron C65
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Solar Observing: Aperture Question
Stu replied to GeezerGazer's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Yes, correct. Position the hole so it is inbetween the vanes and avoids the secondary, that will reduce any diffraction effects. As Geoff says, don’t put anything over the film such as a clear cover as this will reduce the optical quality. -
Solar Observing: Aperture Question
Stu replied to GeezerGazer's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Providing you are using decent and safe film such as Baader AstroSolar ND5.0, and the filter is firmly held onto the scope then there is no danger to optics from using the full 12”. The issues are mainly around seeing conditions in that larger apertures for solar are often affected badly by poor seeing. Somewhere around 100mm to 120mm is often the optimum giving good resolution and cutting through poor seeing. If you can fit a 100 or 120mm aperture between your secondary support vanes that would be ideal. -
I think the only time I do is when using narrowband filters in smaller scopes. It just helps make sure you don't end up with a dim view whilst wondering why. Other than that it’s normally about picking the right high mag for planets or doubles etc, or at the mid/low end choosing an eyepiece which frames the object. I find exit pupil useful to explain what effects you see, but I agree it’s not something I generally use in choosing the eyepiece to use.
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Give it a go Paul, nothing to lose.
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Without volunteering his services….. could you ask @Peter Drew to have a look at it for you Paul? If still interested I’ll check the 120 and we can talk then.
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Gosh that’s tiny, pocket sized in fact, ideal for travel 😉
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I’ll answer genuinely and without being accused of going on about my scope…. I would keep my FC100DC for many of the reasons given already; airline portability, grab and go at home, great Solar, Lunar, Planetary and doubles performance, quick cooling and good widefield deep sky results too. It’s the one scope which has kept me going through periods of poor weather and busy personal/work life when there have been only brief opportunities to observe.
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Please stop this Paul. A question was asked and genuine answers were given. Owners of Starfield, Vixen, AP, Skywatcher, StellaMira, Celestron, Askar, TAL, APM, LZOS etc etc refractor scopes and of course any other type of scope are welcome to post. I’ve asked repeatedly not to perpetuate this brand antagonism so please let it go.
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Telescope you'd like in your collection within budget.
Stu replied to Grump Martian's topic in The Astro Lounge
I’m quite happy with what I’ve got 🤪, but I too fancy an AP at some point, possibly a 130GTX which is travel friendly, or even a Traveller but they are unobtainium now. Outside that, either a 180 or 210 Mewlon and perhaps replace my current dob with an 18” Obsession with a decent mirror in it. -
Nice, sure you will love them. I re bought a used pair a while back as I missed the ones I sold. They do work well with filters; I use one OIII and one UHC and it shows the North America Nebula beautifully. I also bought some screw-in solar filters which are great for a quick peek.