Ags

In the longer term, and with a heavy-duty mount under it, that would be a very yummy scope. I have tried Jupiter at 111x in my Newt and found that to be quite detailed despite the low magnification. It was hard to judge as the mount wasn't up to the task! Subjectively the image "felt" as big as the 150x equivalent in a 102mm mak, probably because of the better resolution and brightness. I think I am just about sold on the ortho plan, but what about the Televue plossl option at 8mm and 11mm? Some claim they can complete with orthoscopics... They fit in my stated budget, but I'm aware that TV used to sell these for a lot less, so that annoys me a bit. Then I would have (with ? marking the oculars I actually currently own): ES 24/68 ? Nirvana 16/82 Ortho/Plossl 11-12.5 Speer WALER 9.4/82 ? Ortho/Plossl 8 ES 6.7/82 ? And this would be for a Skymax 127 and an ST80 (which might eventually get replaced with a 70mm-ish apo). The Speer WALER is currently my go-to eyepiece for planets, but it's not ideal as it suffers a bit from scatter and reflections. I used to have a Hyperion 17mm which operated at 9mm with fine tuning rings and that performed far better on planets.

That was my thinking (and was the reason I got the newt), but mounting the 150PDS was a problem. Besides, I didn't like the hairy stars Newts show. So I have gone back to smaller scopes. Guess I just like maks. But I do think of a C6 as the biggest exit pupil option for me...

Yes, I have my eye on the Kokusai ortho line. Gotta squeeze every drop of performance out of my little maks!

It's the binopaying I object to! I know 120x is not a lot, but I already have a 9.4mm eyepiece. If I could find an 8mm ortho for the top end, my life would be complete! I do find Jupiter at opposition is quite observable at 120x, and the brighter image helps to show the colors of the planet even if the image is on the small side. However for me the problem at smaller exit pupils is I only get a few seconds before floaters settle on my lens and completely block the view, so although the scope might be able to deliver more than 120x, my eyes can't!

I think eye relief for a 12.5mm ortho would be around 9mm? Which would be OK I think. The use would be on a 102mm/127mm mak on a mount with tracking (AZ GTi). The idea is to have a 1mm exit pupil to minimise floaters. I'd prefer a bigger exit pupil but that would need a larger telescope!

I am looking for the best planetary eyepiece with a focal length of 12mm and a price of around EUR 100 new or used. 11-12.5mm are possible too. I have thought of BST Starguiders at the cheaper end or these: https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p8858_Kokusai-Kohki-Fujiyama-HD-OR-12-5mm---a-classical-Abbe-ortho.html Or maybe this is all I need? https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p148_TS-Optics-Super-Ploessl-Eyepiece-12-mm-1-25-.html Or maybe one of these will come up second hand? https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p1615_Pentax-XF-12mm---high-quality-allround-eyepiece-with-60--FoV---suitable-for-bino-v.html

Came home from an all-day inburgeringsexamen (Dutch immigration exam) to find a delivery waiting for me. My ST80 is too good for a SkyWatcher extension tube, so today I got a 20cm Berlebach UNI extension tube. Actually, the only reason I didn't get the slightly cheaper SkyWatcher one is that its thread is slightly recessed and the Berlebach Report bolt will not fully engaged - @Helen had a narrow escape with her solar scope. Anyway the Berlebach UNI one looks much nicer! And now the tripod has a much better eyepiece height and more doorway-friendly leg spread. I can't tell you anything about the exam in connection with the geheimhoudingsplicht!

I can't help feeling I "need" all the ES 82° 1.25" eyepieces. Even though I clearly don't...

I do like a row of matching eyepieces!

Netflix. Has. Every. Star. Trek. Episode. Ever.

To be fair, ESA also does amazing missions. Mars Express, Venus Express, Giotto, Hipparchos, Gaia, Trace Gas Orbiter, Huygens...

I have the Pocket Sky Atlas, very good indeed!

Robtics in Holland included a free keyring red torch in my most recent order ?

Giant Moon Map. Gonna larn them craters.

I used to be a Musk fan, not anymore. I'm surprised a billionaire can't afford to be polite and respectful. ... But I'm still a SpaceX fan. Re: hiring Americans. Only hiring Americans is usual in the US space sector, national security and all that.

I applaud your energy!

It must feel good to get some vertical parts done!

Look! Cloud granules!

I need a bumper sticker for my ST80: "My other scope is a Tak!"

Mak on GoTo makes a lot of sense. They have such narrow FOV it is hard to find faint stuff manually, so GoTo helps. Maks aren't bad on DSOs, my 102 mm Mak is about as bright as my 80mm frac for star clusters and nebulae, and shows very pure star colors too.

I hadn't spotted this thread before. I'll edit for a pic tonight, but my travel kit comprises: Berlebach Report 112 TS AZ travel mount head ST80 or Mak 102 (depending on whether the trip is for DSOs or planets) ES 24/68, SW 9.4/82, ES 6.7/82 Shown here with my astronomy dog (not part of travel kit).

My family's names are on InSight

Would be interesting if Skywatcher published the API to this mount. Could easily create an equatorial mode, link up an autoguider (both axes)...

I really hope these can reach focus with a prism! If it is, I might finally be an apo owner! Anyway, what is S-FPL53 glass? I'm guessing it's not quite as good as plain FPL53 glass...