chiltonstar

On 14/02/2022 at 23:18, Davesellars said:

I've not tried a Mak however I really didn't like the mirror shift in my 8" SCT when I had it which i believe is also present in Maks as well.

You can deal with it by winding the focus knob from end to the other occasionally. I have additionally added an external focuser to my 180 Mak, which helps when imaging planets at very high mag, for which the scope is excellent.

Chris

Very nice detail!

Chris

Like @Saganite, I use the Hyperflex zoom as a starter, and then change to orthos if needed. At the long fl end of the zoom  I switch to a wide field 25mm ep usually as the Hyperflex is limited for wde field views.

Chris

 Before you hit the buy button, maybe look at some images with each type of scope on challenging subjects like Plato craterlet detail and Saturn. Images are inherently objective, visual descriptions tend to be subjective.

Chris

Good detail.

Chris

Even to non-solar observers like myself, and in white light, it's certainly impressive! A couple of mins ago:

Chris

Had the scope out just now although the haze is annoying. Nice to see some activity though.

Chris

Certainly impressive today (with a passing jet).

Chris

18 hours ago, neil phillips said:

Spending more time on getting the best out of my archive. Specifically running everything through PIPP first, stabilize and quality sort. Then quality sort again on AS/3 is tightening the captures 

Cheers

I know what you mean - obsessive fiddling to try and get a very slightly better result. Astronomer's OCD!

I fiddle with this one quite a bit, each time another craterlet appears....

Chris

Nice detail! Shows the advantages of a 10" scope!

Chris

19 hours ago, neil phillips said:

Its a good question Chris. And tbh. its not something ive tested side by side. I tend to do things naturally rather than scientifically. But i am fairly certain the 10 will pull more out. Over time even this early. I believe i have seen that. Its also physics a good bigun. will always be better than a good smallun to mess with the English language 

Agreed! Unfortunately  size is everything provided the scope is performing properly. I can certainly get more detail than this on the craterlets with my 180 Mak, and 8"SCTs I've played with have done as well.

Chris

10 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Prefer the images with the CC over the newt. 🙂

How does the craterlet detail compare?

Chris

Interesting Neil - gives me an idea of the performance of a CC compared with say a Mak. Keep them coming!

Chris

Yes, agreed. At their best in good seeing, Maks can be truly "refractor like" but if the seeing is poor or the scope not equilibrated, the view is less good. However, I have found that sometimes going to a higher mag just shows the Airy disks without the diffraction mess which is of course fainter.

The main point being I suppose that most of us could not afford or lift a 7" frac with a 2.7 m focal length.

Chris

I've managed a split a couple of times now with my 180 Mak at x375 and x450. The secondary appears as a slightly distorted blob on the first diff ring of the primary, and with dark space so it is actually split. Not an easy one though, needs excellent seeing.

Chris

Last night's seeing was excellent here despite the Moon, and the thick hoar frost covering everything underfoot, so an evening to try 7 Tauri with the 180 Mak.

The faint, wide mag 10 component was clear despite the sky brightness, and the main pair looked to be a double even at low mag. High mag (x375) showed the pair as a very white close pair like car headlamps seen at a distance, with clear dark space between them, and a stable single diffraction ring. I was surprised by how good the separation was - it almost looked more than the 0.8 arcsec listed in Stelle Doppie, but a tribute maybe to the wonderful seeing.

A lovely multiple, thanks again Nik for the heads up.

Chris

Superb post! There are some superb doubles in Orion and the 127 Mak a lovely scope (I have had one for 12 years).

Chris

18 minutes ago, Nik271 said:

Well done, John! Excellent seeing and a good refractor are a winning combination, plus an experienced observer of course!

What focuser do you have Chris? I have a 1.2inch helical focuser from SVbony but find it not very precise and slipping a bit with a diagonal and a heavy EP.

Revelation 2" SCT Crayford, dual speed. Fits on easily, said to vignette at low power with a wf eyepiece, but I've not noticed it.

Chris

7 Tauri is on my list - sounds like a nice multiple to test system and eyes.

If you struggle with focus at high mag Nik, a decent focuser is a great help - I added one a year or so ago and it really makes it easy, particularly for imaging. I can send a pic if you like.

Chris

100mm is a good aperture for doubles, but good to see that the laws of physics still apply  even in these times of inflation!

Chris

Nicely done! A difficult pair to image because of the mag difference.

Chris

There is the alternative way of looking at it that astronomy helps keep the little grey cells working in older age. An hour spent fiddling with software, hardware and a stack of books should certainly keep you younger.

So, something to take up in older age!

Chris

A nice result Neil. Not a lot of images obtained with these scopes yet, so keep posting them. Now the Craterlets would be interesting....

Chris

On 15/12/2021 at 10:21, Ags said:

I hear the hyperflex 7-2-21.5 is quite good on doubles, particularly with the Baader Q barlow.

Certainly works very well with my 180 Mak. Otherwise I tend to use x270 (10mm Baader Ortho) for a very clean view.

The Double-double? Lowest  about x70 for me. Best?....x270.

Chris

20 hours ago, niallk said:

Nice report John!  I haven't observed Uranus this year, but was thrilled to also catch 4 moons before during a run of good seeing and dark transparent nights before (15", ~330x).  Seeing Uranus as sharply defined disk was also fantastic- albeit featureless to my eyes.

Any hint of a lighter polar region??

I don't see any polar variation visually  but imaging Uranus seems to show some brightness.

Chris