Ags

Next Falcon 9 launch contains two test satellites for Musk's global internet service: https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/13/spacex-launch-satellite-internet-starlink/

This is brilliant. Most exciting space moment since watching the first shuttle launch. Coordinated booster landings - this is the future! Getting the middle booster back was always going to be tough, it was heavily modified, had never flown before and was coming in very fast compared to a regular first stage recovery.

Today we took delivery of a suitcase sufficiently large to take a Berlebach Report 112 or Uni 4.

PayPal works just fine internationally

One thing about CA is "you only see it around bright objects" and of course if you have more aperture there are more bright objects in any given field of view!

Just to be clear, the article I linked actally makes the point that the great refractors of the 19th century all had extreme CA, but yielded amazing breakthroughs in planetary science. Most of the big fracs have a worse Sidgwick ratio than an ST120. of course SA must be well controlled for high magnification work.

Interesting read: http://www.astrotest.it/equipment-optics/laberrazione-cromatica-nei-rifrattori/ Google Translate recommended for the language challenged

One pound per gram!

It is an interesting experiment at any rate, and the results were quite surprising to me. You've inspired me to try to hang on to my 150PDS!

You signature is a real education in astronomical hit lists! I have my eye on a dual scope setup down the line but unfortunately the skytee 2 would not fit on a UNI 4. So it's either a Giro... or a Losmandy AZ8 (after I win the lottery). Actually I just realized the AZ8 is sooo much more expensive than the skytee 2, it makes more sense to get a skytee 2 + a second tripod, and treat myself to fancy eyepiece with the change! Looking at the pics of the Mak127 on the AZ5 it looks like the dovetail arm is quite short - certainly good for stability but perhaps restricting for a larger tube. Did you have a full range of travel with the VX8?

Well, Mark if you can get damping of 2 sec with a 7kg 900mm scope, it is worth trying with a 5.6kg 750mm scope particularly on a Berlebach tripod.

Thanks for the info. What does a bit mean? Unusable, or a damping time of x seconds?

Looking at putting an AZ5 on a Berlebach UNI 4. Has anyone had experience of pairing the AZ5 with a 150/750 Newt on a solid tripod? I was planning on selling the Newt, but with the AZ5 rated up 9kgs on a heavy duty tripod, maybe just maybe this combination will work?

And which tripod is that? It looks very elegant!

Or save a couple of kilos and consider a C6?

Looks very impressive - how many kgs load is that in total? (counting the EPs and Castor etc)?

It's not even a nice orange! But the ST80 moves nicely on the AZT6 mount now it can be mounted.

I finally can mount my ST80 properly. Shame about the orange color.

This one caught my eye as it is cheaper and doesn't have an insert I don't need: https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=264&sprache=english Also I overlooked the transport length of the Berlebach Report 242 tripod, which is too long. This is much better at 48cm but it has more leg sections.

My search continues... https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p1945_Berlebach-Fotostativ-242---einfach---Neiger---Saeule---53-cm-bis-171-cm.html

I'm looking at this one, but have some doubts: https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p8275_TS-Optics-Optics-A284FMO-Aluminium-Tripod---Height-145-mm-to-1670-mm.html I need it to carry a Mak 102, and TS say by email it is OK for a small frac or mak. The linked page says load capacity of 15kg, which contradicts the email and seems rather unlikely looking at the thing. Transport length is 48cm, which is an important factor for me. I don't intend to use it fully extended, so that would probably help.

I just need a tripod to stick it on. For now I will try it out on my AZ3. It feels solid enough and the joints are smooth. I think I will have to buy the counterweight.

TS sent me this goody today. They also kindly included a free bag of Haribo vibration suppression pads.

I am looking to get a prism diagonal, and this one is pretty cheap: https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p2484_Celestron-1-25--90--diagonal-prism-for-refractors-and-cassegrains.html Is it a case of you get what you pay for?

Aperture is the solution to floaters.