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NGC 1502

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Posts posted by NGC 1502

  1. 7 minutes ago, John said:

    I had the 22mm T4 Nagler for a while (my first "big" Tele Vue) and really enjoyed it. The "instajust" feature incorporated into the upper section of the eyepiece took some getting used to though !

     

    Indeed….we all know that TeleVue make excellent eyepieces. But I cannot understand why they don’t do adjustable eyecups like everyone else…..a well made screw type adjustable eyecup…….simple and solid.  Even the BST Starguiders have that.

  2. 2 hours ago, osbourne one-nil said:

    The Vixen aesthetics appeal to me too. I know it shouldn't matter, but it does, to the extent that I could never buy a Founder Optics scope. 


    Agreed…..it’s often said it doesn’t matter what a scope looks like, you can’t see it in the dark…..

    However, during long cloudy spells you can set it up in daylight….drool….then admire how handsome it is😁

    • Like 1
  3. 13 hours ago, osbourne one-nil said:

    I didn't know Barry Norman was into astronomy!


    Looks like Dudley Fuller to me😊he started Fullerscopes…….then teamed up with Broadhurst & Clarkson….BC&F was born……back then you could buy mirrors, cells, focusers, spiders……all the stuff needed to make a fine telescope. Now most of us splash the cash and miss the pleasure of observing with an instrument you put together. Showing my age now…….😩……..some of us on here (not me) we’re the REAL DEAL and made their own mirrors….my respect if that’s you!

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
  4. Interesting thread resurrection😊

    I’m inclined to think it would take a true optical craftsman to refigure to the same high standard as the original.

    I also have a 6” Newtonian mirror made by Henry Wildey, a contemporary mirror maker of the same era as David Hinds.  A while back I was very tempted by an AstroSystems 10” on sale at ENS Birmingham, don’t know if it’s still available, scared to look because my temptation will be beyond resistance😊

    Yet more thread drift!

    • Like 2
  5. Here’s my dream scope-

    One year at Kelling star party I was privileged to observe through Liverpool Astronomical Society 30” Dob.

    The night was not especially transparent, but the spiral arms of Messier 33 were very obvious indeed.  This 30 second observation was very probably all I’ll ever get…..but what a fabulous half minute that was😁

    • Like 8
  6. It sounds like the first reply from Lee has good advice.

    One thing you could try is joining a local astronomy club, it’s likely they will know of good observing sites. You may find somewhere good by searching yourself, however it’s possible you will actually find a lover’s lane with people arriving and leaving with headlights blazing, and wondering what on earth you’re up to!

    A local astronomy club may have a more secure site behind locked gates.

    I’m not envious of Cornwall skies, I’m VERY ENVIOUS INDEED😊

    Ed.

    • Like 2
  7. 51 minutes ago, bosun21 said:

    He means that the focuser can sometimes be pointing in very awkward positions due to using an EQ mount with a reflector. This can marginally be aided by when in the home position pointing the eyepiece straight up. This means that when you slew to either side of the meridian the eyepiece will be at a more respectable angle.


    Indeed, this is a particular problem with a Newtonian on an equatorial mount. When slewed to different parts of the sky the focuser/eyepiece can be in very awkward positions, like pointing towards the ground. Rotating the tube can make the eyepiece accessible.

    The above is not a problem with refractors, SCTs & Maksutovs with a star diagonal on an equatorial mount. It’s easy to rotate the star diagonal/eyepiece to a convenient position.

    This is one of the reasons why some of us prefer alt-azimuth mounts like Dobsonians, the focuser/eyepiece is much more accessible in any part of the sky.

     

    • Like 2
  8. For my several small refractors I’ve tried all sorts of alt-az mounts over the years. Before I continue please understand that what suits me may not be good for you.

    What works for me is this-  I’ve long ditched the idea of slow motion controls. They always seemed to be in the wrong place, especially as they both have to be used at the same time, more frustrating at medium to high powers. I much prefer holding the star diagonal and hand guiding the scope. The diagonal is always right there, immediately under the eyepiece I’m using. However, for this to work well it needs a well balanced scope on a smooth moving mount with just the right tension on both the altitude and azimuth directions.

    The above works well with my 3 small refractors- TeleVue Pronto, Skywatcher ED80, Vixen 80mm f11.4 achromat.

    Ed.

    • Like 1
  9. As above-  sort out the secondary with the  Cheshire/sight tube first.   When you’re ok with the secondary use the collimation cap to sort the primary. Whilst you’re using the collimation cap check that all primary mirror clips are visible and equidistant within the view. Fine tune the primary with a slightly defocussed star at night using medium/high power.

    Are you absolutely certain  your laser is collimated and does it fit the focuser without any slop?   It’s always possible to accurately and precisely decollimate your scope with an iffy laser….

    Ed.


  10. Please don’t stress, both of those scopes will be great.

    As you’ve already bought the 120, if it were me I’d just enjoy using it. It will excel for low power wide field viewing for many objects. Whilst it’s not ideal at higher power especially bright objects, that’s not to say it will disappoint if you can accept what it does.  Perhaps research how to cope best, perhaps a filter for bright planets, or try stopping it down with a DIY aperture mask. Enjoy great views of Jupiter, not perfection but satisfying none the less. Learn to ignore the blue/purple halo, concentrate on what’s good rather than lack of pristine views.

    With the right perspective a great instrument for many years to come😊

    Ed.

    • Like 3
  11. If you didn’t like Radians then it’s likely you won’t like Delites.  I’ve used a friends Delites at my clubs dark site, only perceived difference with my Radians was the weight, Delites much lighter, that could be an attraction for you.

    The combination of Panoptics for low power and Delos for medium to high is a match made in heaven. Panoptic 27/35/41 have good eye relief and 68 degree apparent field so are effectively low power Delos.

     

    • Like 1
  12. Other things to try-  make sure that primary cell to tube bolts are secure, also spider to tube connections.  It’s well known that mirrors should not be clamped or pinched. However if there’s too much freedom for the primary mirror it can easily shift.  Primary mirrors can be carefully shimmed so no pinching occurs, but not excessive freedom either. My 10” f4.8 OO UK Dob rarely needs collimation adjustment, and I’m fussy to get the best views.

  13. I can vouch for Henry Wildey mirrors. About 5 years ago I purchased an unusual specification mirror from a retired staff member at Telescope House (BC&F).   The engraving on the back said it was made in 1954 by Henry Wildey.

    But the engraving included the unusual specification of this 6” mirror as 22.5” focal length. That’s a focal ratio of F3.75…….I’m guessing this must have been a special order.  Back then most people wanted a 6” F8.

    Before proceeding with a recoat and building an optical tube I had the mirror tested by a club colleague who has an optical workshop.  Superb optical figure was confirmed, Henry must have been very skilled at his job.

    The result is an exceptionally compact RFT….Rich Field Telescope😊

    • Like 3
  14. 29 minutes ago, HaplessWonder said:

    Im indebted to you for all your help, I am an idiot for jumping in on this telescope believing it a good deal. 

    Could you advise on a telescope for a budget of around £500-£600 that will allow me to observe the planets and galaxies, I'd at least like to see the swirling gases on Jupiter or as I said before the poles on Mars.



    Your budget would buy a brand new 8” Dobsonian with enough left over for a couple of better eyepieces.  Having said that, you will have to learn the sky, manually find and hand track objects. But Jupiter is very easy to spot.  Details on Mars much more tricky.

    • Like 3
  15. Very tough call to decide for someone else!  You are likely to get a wide range of differing advice….

    Here’s mine, for what it’s worth.  A friend bought a Celestron 100az against my advice. The build “quality” was absolutely appalling, cheap and shoddy. It’s now gathering dust rather than starlight.

    The 4se is much better made. However please note that with entry level hi-tech scopes much of the cost goes into the electronics and less into the optical parts.  But used with care it gets the job done.

    If it were me I’d sooner buy a 6” or 8” Dobsonian where much more of the cost goes into the optical parts and much less into the basic but effective Dobsonian mount.  BUT- to effectively use it you have to learn the sky, manually find and track objects.

    Like I said, tough call giving advice……

    • Like 1

  16. This may not what you want to hear-

    If you want your scope to fit in a back pack that’s a very tough call, don’t forget you need some sort of mount for the optical tube.   Perhaps one of the smallest table top mini dobs might be your best bet.  With a bit of DIY it’s possible to make the Dob base to be easily taken apart and put together again, certainly not ideal especially if it’s dark. But unless you want to lay on the ground to observe then you have to find something to rest the scope on.  Sounds easy but not so easy in practice.

    If it were me, with the restrictions of a back pack I’d choose binoculars, 10x50s recommended.

  17. Good luck with the search, usually new moon in March is recommended as the best time to try.  Many Messiers don’t need a large scope, especially if your skies are good.  M74 and M76 are often mentioned as being difficult.  However I find M76 Little Dumbbell quite easy with a UHC filter from my light polluted back yard. Not so with M74, not a sniff in spite of many tries from home with my 10”.

    But once whilst on holiday in the Peak District with a 6” F4 travel scope M74 was readily seen near Eta Pisces.  The most southerly Messier M7 was easy from my club’s dark site with a 70mm TV Pronto just a few degrees above the southern horizon.

    • Like 3
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