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SuburbanMak

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Everything posted by SuburbanMak

  1. Some quality time on the moon, assorted clusters & doubles and moonwashed views of M3, M13 & M94. Nice to be out after all this cloud!
  2. Let's see... 1) 250mm f5 GSO Dob. (The "FLT" or "Fairly Large Telescope" - doesn't get enough use, all the bits purchased for a future refurb). 2) Tak FC 100 DC + FT focuser - a forever 'scope - a winner on contrast, star presentation, colour fidelity & sweetspot between aperture & portability. 3) Tak FS 60-Q f10 (also used in CB mode at f5.9 alongside the 4" above as the "Winchester Small Telescope Array" or "WSTA"). 4) ST80 + TS Optics 2" monorail focuser (whopping field, slightly retired due to FS60 purchase). 5) Towa "Topic" 339 80mm f15 (cracking 'scope but a bit long for my mounts, for sale in classifieds if anyone's interested...) 6) Clarkson 3" f15 (c.1909) "The Gentleman's Telescope" - a steampunk joy to use and an object of beauty. 7) Hilkin 60mm f13.3 (Also for sale) 8 ) Prinz 60mm f11.8 - an optical gem this one. (+ Various finders & bin's which I suppose are also telescopes. The Tak 6x30 finder would receive mention in dispatches here, often find myself lingering on it's crisp widefield views whilst orienting the main 'scope).
  3. Well first of all let’s hope it never comes to this conundrum… & secondly, phew! At least the exam question is limited to ‘scopes so I can keep my Canon IS 10x42s (which I already have a plan to designate to marine/wildlife use if push ever comes to shove over the level of Astro-clutter question). Other than that I would, predictably, plump for the 4” Tak (FC100 DC) for all the many reasons stated above. (Although if I couldn’t hang on to the bin’s the FS60 Q would be a strong contender as it doubles up as a widefield instrument).
  4. I was heading to bed but noticed the sky hereabouts looked really quite good - having taken a moderate helping of wine, I plumped for the Canon 10x42 IS rather than a ‘scope & enjoyed a super hour on a sun-lounger, pyjama and NorthFace clad. Meandered around a distinctly spring-like sky. Highlights were M13, Lyra generally but spotting M57 in AV. Rich fields through Cygnus for the first time this year, taking in M39 & picking up M29. A rewarding steady split of Alberio. Delighted to accidentally land on the coathanger asterism Tonight’s stand out view though would be Melotte 111, the Coma Star Cluster - a perfect wide field binocular object & really quite stunning.
  5. Haven’t been out for a while so it felt great to sneak in an hour and half out there with the baby-Tak, FS60 in CB mode with the two zooms - Baader 8-24mm and SV Bony 3-8mm. Transparency really quite poor and magnifying the local LP but still managed some rewarding views of clusters and easy doubles. Meandered around Orion, messy split of Rigel, nice view of the Trapezium (4) amidst slightly washed-out nebulosity, but even under these conditions still one of the best views in the sky. Pleiades, Beehive and Double Cluster never fail to delight. Dim views of M67, M35 through M38 - not the best but nice to know they’re out there… Looked at Algieba, Castor, Cor Caroli, Iota Cancri, Tegmine (as a double only, of course with a 60mm at 118x) and, the view I will think about as I nod off later, Beta Monoceros, a tiny but cleanly split triple system.
  6. It's a good thought, given the light weight of what I have running on the L-bracket (FS60CB) however its all nice and stable, it does look a bit "Heath-Robinson" but works well and I suspect that your practical 'scope customisation skills are a little above mine
  7. Great read @Stu thank you, & my kind of session! Work & other things been thwarting a little lately so great to get some vicarious enjoyment, have to say, much as I love checking in on "What did you see tonight?" I do love a longer form observing report!
  8. He brought an ADM Tak clamshell vixen bar. This is a beautifully engineered thing allowing me to run matchy-matchy Tak clamshell mounts on the AZGTiX for the FS60Q & FC100DC
  9. A short session early evening last night as I had to pack and prepare for a business trip today. Had the FC100 & FSQ side by side and a nice look at Jupiter showing tight detail and the GRS. Pleaides, Hyades, M44, M42 (still a bit low down) Castor, Alnitak - then a band of cloud rolled in. A nice “top-up” of views to remember in my week away. I also learned that it’s possible to thread the objective on the FS60 on back to front - views not recommended!
  10. Spent a nice hour out with the little Tak FS60 from midnight & just two zooms, Baader 8-24mm & SVBony 3-8mm. Aligned goto and hopped between whatever was popping out between cloud bands. Some lovely views of the Beehive, M35, Cor Caroli, Algieba, Mizar, Coma Cluster and an amazingly rewarding view of the Double Cluster given how far into the light extinction from neighbouring properties it had slipped. M3 was great with a hint of sparkle at 4mm (89x) in the SV Bony, Also enjoyed some dimmer views of M67, M36 and M94 - always nice to bag a galaxy from the garden even if there’s little detail available. A nice session then with the FS60 in f5.9 CB mode on a Manfrotto 55, being truly “grab and go”.
  11. looking forward to hearing how this all works out, should be a great rig! (may even be a couple of clear hours tonight in the South...)
  12. Great information thank you & I have the same 30mm so very good to know! Also, that does look nice...
  13. Hi @Stu - the widest I am likely to use in the FC100 is the Stella Lyra 30mm UFF (APM clone). With the TS 2" mirror I am having to drop the diagonal back about 5mm to achieve focus with this EP currently, not ideal but secure & workable. I'd love to get a diagonal that doesn't require this so maybe a somewhat longer lightpath might actually help.
  14. Thanks @mikeDnight - this is a good & potentially money saving tip!
  15. A question for the hive mind... What's the best 2" diagonal option for an f7.4 Tak 100 DC? Having recently acquired a FeatherTouch focuser which came attached to the lovely new-to-me FS60Q (purchased in immaculate condition courtesy of @astro_al ) I've got this up and running on my Tak FC100-DC & after a bit of allen-key fiddling it's now working perfectly. In 1.25" mode, the FC100 DC was working beautifully with the Tak Prism, which makes me think that at f7.4 I am fine with a prism. My 2" diagonal today is a TS-Optics 99% Dielectirc mirror, originally purchased as part of an ST80 2" conversion. It's giving lovely views and although not a "budget, budget" option I am thinking that it may be the weakest link in my optical chain. So, the questions are: Do I need to upgrade at all, will I notice the difference? If I do upgrade am I best with a Prism or a Mirror and if so which is the best fit with this scope? Options seem to me to be from the Tak 2" mirror, Baader 2" BBHS Mirror or Prism, Televue Everbrite. Main considerations are 1) optical fidelity & 2) weight.
  16. Love my Baader Zoom, only reason I didn’t mention it here is that at £237 it’s a way outside the price range described in the thread. Also agree that having used the SV Bony which is genuinely parfocal, having to tweak focus every time you change fl is a bit of a drag, but still a great bit of kit.
  17. Baader Classic Orthos - now £54 each I believe and the 18mm & 10mm are as sharp and flat as I've seen, narrower field at 45 degree yes but stunning fidelity for the price. The 6mm is tight on eye relief but equally good if you are ok with getting up close and don't wear spec's to observe. The 18mm is my favourite eyepiece and always finds itself slipping into a pocket as I am heading out SVBony 3-8mm Zoom - a new addition to the stable but really can't fault this considering the alternative is the Nagler 3-6mm zoom at over £300 more, I paid £120 on Amazon for the convenience of availability and speed but understand these can be picked up more cheaply direct from China. Flat field, very sharp and contrasty (detail on Jupiter indistinguishable from my Pentax XW 5mm). Also a lightweight but sturdy form factor, brilliant value without compromising quality in my view. (& yes, my other top value find is the Stella Lyra 30mm UFF, stunning eypepiece & well worth saving up the extra £29 beyond the remit of this thread topic!)
  18. I am finally using the AZGTiX as intended with the L-bracket in place allowing for Alt-Az alignment between the scopes. I hadn’t configured this way previously using a, quite heavy, 2” converted ST80 due to vibration concerns with the L-bracket. Instead I opted to rotate the side puck & mount the ST80 directly to reduce vibration, giving up the capability to align in azimuth. However the Tak FS60 upgrade reduces the weight, and after one session this seems very solid indeed (helped by ditching the 70mm fibre pier supplied in favour of a heavier SW aluminium pier). It looks quite the contraption & I will order another ADM-Tak clamshell vixen bar come payday to enjoy the original Tak-ness of using the cast clamshell for the smaller scope too. The motors cope with this rig well and it’s fantastic to have finder, widefield and higher power instruments all precisely aligned.
  19. Observing for me provides the kind of complete absorption that gives a real break from everything else going on in life, personal timeout being essential to keeping life’s batteries charged. It combines a degree of practical skill development with scientific learning & a dash of physical adventure in the outdoors at night. The pleasure of selecting, acquiring, configuring & mastering precision-engineered technical equipment and then, most magically, the sense of wonder at the aesthetic beauty of some sights and the profound perspective gained from contemplating the vast spans of time and distance involved, even if the view is of a grey smudge! Lastly I’d add the pleasure of sharing all those experiences & constantly learning from like minded individuals, often here on SGL whilst warming up from an observing session with a well earned single malt!
  20. I was back from work a bit too late to catch the best of the sky but sneaked a nice half hour with the FS60Q a 32mm Plossl and two zooms, Baader 8-24mm & SV Bony 3-8mm. Some quick splits then of Rigel, Alnitak, the Trapezium & M42 (4 stars tonight in the 60mm), Castor and Algieba. A good look at Sirius, seeing really quite steady but unsurprisingly no sign of the Pup at 200x in the 60. A lacklustre look at M35 and M36 as the cloud really took hold. Yet again though I was still observing stars after none were visible naked eye, the little Tak showing it’s cloud busting properties! A nice breath of fresh air though and a cleared head after the working day, so job done.
  21. Out tonight for a first test of the FC100DC + Feathertouch alongside the FS60 in f5.9 mode for widefield. I spent the afternoon rigging up the AZGTIX with its L bracket & aligning both scopes to point at the same spot - very enjoyable configuration of scientific instruments, or as the lovely Kathy describes it “faffing about”… Happy to say it all works, I have two scopes & finder all pointing at the same spot. I can achieve focus with all my eyepieces and have been especially pleased with the performance of the Stella Lyra 30mm UFF and the Baader Hyperion Zoom in the 100mm and the 12.5mm Morpheus in the FS60. Didn’t really have an observing plan and early on was hopping between cloud bands, but along the way I enjoyed some super views of Orion sword are, the trap showing the E&F stars at 185x in the FC100 with the SVBony zoom. Split Alnitak, Rigel and Sigma Orionis along the way. Jupiter showing some good detail with one of the moons just popping out of its transit then sitting close by the planet, two globes of vastly contrasting size.
  22. The promised clear patch I’d hoped for based on the Met Office Cloud Cover map earlier today didn’t really materialise but come 11 o’clock there was at least the odd star peeking through so I popped out to get first light on the new to me Tak FS60Q. It came with a FT 2inch focuser which I’ve decided is probably better deployed on my FC100 DC, keeping the the FS60Q as a lightweight setup with its original blue Tak casting. I’ll run it in FS60 CB f5.9 mode without the 1.7x Q extender alongside its big brother but tonight took it out alone in its f10, 600mm form, an easy one handed carry on an AZGTi & Manfrotto 55. Few stars were penetrating the cloud but I was able to pick out Capella above the roofline and cycle through some eyepieces to check I could achieve focus - 32mm Plossl, 18mm &10mm BCO and SV Bony 3-8mm zoom all well within the focus range and from 10mm onward showing nice even rings either side of focus. I aligned the finder & as I was doing so, just for a few seconds the mists parted to reveal a gorgeous field of background stars, crisp and against an inky background, superb! By tracking this cloud gap across the sky I was able to pick up Castor & in the 18mm BCO (33x) this was a lovely sight, splitting perfectly. I looked at this with the 10mm and cycled through the focal lengths with the 3-8mm zoom, watching the gap between Castor’s components widen with every click. Sadly that was all the clear sky I was allowed, stepping back from the eyepiece I could no longer detect any stars naked eye - hung around for a bit but the cloud was unbroken. So, finder aligned, focus checked and a tantalising glimpse of great views to come! This little ‘scope is going to be a doubles monster and looks to be exactly the gem I hoped for.
  23. Good point, which I have twice experienced. The first time was looking at comet Neowise, which kick-started my midlife journey back to the hobby. While marvelling at the view in my 10x50s from the car-park behind my house, a group of "yoofs" rolled down the window of their Ford Fiesta to shout "Pervert!!" as they roared past - it was also a brilliant illustration of the doppler effect. I will never forget it. As for the "nerd" tag, I was mildly affronted to hear myself branded a nerd after bumping into a radio amateur occupying my usually deserted observing spot on the South Downs, we were mutually startled by each other's presence so I explained I was up there to do some astronomy. I could then hear him joking over his radio about this massive nerd looking through his "big telescope, phnaar, phnaar". Seriously, to be branded a nerd by a radio amateur - some people have no sense of irony...
  24. This is a good topic for a cloudy day... I like to identify (to use the current terminology...) based on the situation, but certainly for me there is a hierachy - I'd consider "amateur astronomer" a higher status than "stargazer" for sure. If I go out to a darker site with a list of double stars to split, a specific DSO object to hunt down or solar system event to observe I like to think of myself as an "amateur astronomer", particularly if I record and share the results. If I head out with no plan and just gawp at my favourite objects & targets of opportunity, I would consider this "stargazing". Both are great! It's a purely personal definition for me based largely on the amount of forethought and effort that goes into a session. Could easily be argued that everything I do falls into the "Stargazing" category as I've never got my act together to contribute to citizen science programmes like variable star measurement, contributing to scientific knowledge being very definitely in the "astronomy" rather than merely "stargazing" category (which is why @JeremyS is well justified in "identifying" as an astronomer!). One of my favourite post-observing activities (alongside a generous single malt) is to read up on the astrophysics of what I have observed that night, hopefully this puts me in the "astronomer" camp at least spiritually
  25. Looking at the Met Offie Cloud cover map as the rain patters against the windows and almost convincing myself that there's a chance of some views tonight round Hampshire way, also possibly Sunday evening. I do hope so, itching to get first light on my new Tak FS60Q which has been taunting me all week & basically currently functioning as an ornament...
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