MalcolmM

Lovely images. Great detail, especially from the Mewlon! Malcolm

Not sure I can offer any advice that has not already been given (balance and clutches) but I moved from slow motion to manual and had similar concerns about ease of tracking at high power. I must say I'm not sure I would ever go back to slow motions now! High power accuracy is no problem and low power star hopping is a joy! I use a Giro Ercole. The only thing I still get wrong occasionally, even after 6 months of use, is trying to twist the scope round (in azimuth) rather than the push pull it requires. Malcolm

Absolutely gorgeous setups. They are just as good to look at as through Malcolm

Very very good image and yes, even in my little 60mm scope Petavius and it's rille made for fascinating viewing. Malcolm

Lovely picture! Fast approaching 60 and never seen the Northern Lights, though I'm not sure I'd resort to camping on Binevenagh in order to do so Malcolm

I was observing with a 60CB on the same night. I took no pictures so it's great to see what I was seeing Great detail (great little scope!), especially the Rille in Petavius which I had never seen before. Malcolm

'Monster' is a very appropriate word! Looks fantastic!

Stunning! Would love to see a pic of the 300p! I'm sure it looks pretty stunning too! Malcolm

I think that is a fabulous image. The moon was fascinating last night though I only had half an hour. Brilliant to get an evening like that with Zachary. Those sort of times live with you forever! Malcolm

I had a quick half hour only as I'd promised I'd be in to catch The Ipcress File (brilliant) on ITV. Took the 60CB out with a 10LE and Nagler 3-6 to check the seeing; remarkably steady so brought the Nagler back inside and got the TOEs. I find them much easier to use and to my eyes a much better view. Even with the 2.5 in I felt the 60CB could have taken more but I do not have a Barlow. Anyway I was captivated by the rille in Petavius which I've never seen before and I spent maybe 20 minutes gazing at the southern cusp/horn(?) trying to see the sun rising. I convinced myself I did though maybe just my eyes adapting and I'm not sure if 20 minutes is enough time to see the sun advancing on the surface? Regardless, the little jewels of light were captivating. Lovely to see your photos as I didn't take any. Malcolm

Sounds to me the AZ100 is just crying out for a 210 How can you refuse Malcolm

Very enjoyable read, thanks for posting. I was looking at some of your targets the other night and it's very interesting to read your descriptions of them. You've a lot more light gathering power than me, I only managed a Leo Doublet Malcolm

Does the expense ever stop? I'll put one on my FLO wish list

Ordered a 180 about five weeks ago After a lot of research I couldn't resist. But that's definitely it now. My long suffering partner is beginning to feel jealous of the Takahashi's

I got a very happy 2 hours this morning mesmerized by the views in white light and Ha. It's the best session I've ever had despite the sun being so low in the sky. I've some idea of what I'm looking at in white light but can anyone point me to a good book or information on what all the white areas, white lines, black scratches, grey smudges are in Ha please? ,

@Captain Scarlet having been teased by your dark skies recently I'm very envious and certainly hope to visit SW Ireland again! @StuI've checked out M47,47 in Turn Left at Orion and they look well worth a look. My next targets I think! Walton? Is that Walton on Thames? I used to sail on the reservoir there 30 years ago! @mikeDnight thanks for your encouraging words and advice. I must learn to be more patient. I find the temptation to try and see many objects hard to resist as I'm wondering when the next clear sky might be! @Nik271 thanks for the explanation and I can feel the need for a 32mm plossl growing! But I'm afraid a big dob is out of the question until Takahashi make them I'm always struck though by how much Dob owners love their scopes and I do envy their light gathering power! Malcolm

@RobertI, great minds! Not only the Baader zoom but the Maxbright too! I've got the WO Binoviewers, love them when they work but every now and then I find I simply can't get the images to merge. I reckoned the self centering click locks on the Maxbrights might help here. That's a very good review you linked to. Thanks for sharing it. If FLO get back to you on the stock situation please let me know! Malcolm

@RobertI shame on you you tempter You're forcing me to exert huge self control! I'll be very interested in your findings. Malcolm

Thanks @Nik271, that's all very reassuring to know. I have a UHS filter (read somewhere that OIII really needed 6+ inches) so I'll give that a go with the Owl. Have you used an OIII successfully with the 102ED? Malcolm

@Stu even more impressed that those were with the 76! Some excellent pics on that link. The moon ones were stunning! When I stop giving all my money to FLO I would be very tempted to get a Google pixel. @PeterStudz totally get and share your thoughts. I'm also in IT and can't stand computers though they do have their uses! Malcolm

Yes, nowhere seems to have them in stock. I must admit though, from my perspective it's probably no bad thing; an enforced curb on astronomy spending. Well for a month or two maybe Malcolm

Fantastic images @Stu The detail of the sunspots is lovely. I tried to capture the moon last night too with a DSLR on the end of the 60CB. No amount of processing could make it look as good or as detailed as yours. I had been hoping to capture that big crater on the upper edge (Gauss?) but I think the combination of 60mm and bright sky defeated me I'm intrigued; you did all the capture and processing of the solar images on your phone? That's a lot easier than faffing around with DSLR, memory cards, laptops etc. Have you ever tried simple deep sky shots that way? Is it possible? Malcolm

Me too It seems to have a very useful range and seems to be very popular! The only downside I have read about is a quite narrow FOV at the 24mm setting. But apparently they are great in Binoviewers though that means shelling out for two of them! Malcolm

After a carryout and a bottle of wine and about to head for bed, my partner decided she wanted an hours peace and told me the stars were out! I put on the layers and went out and sure enough, it looked pretty dark as far as it can in suburbia. It's only after midnight I can occasionally get a glimpse/hint of the milky way. So I took out the 100DC on a Giro Ercole, 12.5mm Tak Abbe, 16mm Nagler and Tak 28mm Erfle. I left the caps on the finder and gotta say that the combination of Erfle and Giro was a pleasure and a delight to use sweeping the skies looking for targets. I started with M35,36,37,38. They never fail to satisfy! I love giving them time, gazing at them and gradually seeing more and more stars. Then the mixed emotions started to hit. I went for a bunch of fuzzies. I got most of them and there is a huge feeling of satisfaction when you see them. Also a huge satisfaction of star hopping to them with no electronic aids. Again a big feeling of awe when you really think about what it is you are actually looking at! But I do admit to a slight feeling of disappointment when all you see is a feint smudge and a desire to move house to a darker site First off was M81,82. Both obvious but less detail than with a 76DC from a dark site (Malin Head). Leo triplet next, only it turned out to be a doublet! M95,96 very very feint but no sign of M105. M65,66 in Leo were similar, I could just about see them as very feint smudges! Then onto the Plough and M97, the Owl Nebula. I had never looked for this one before. I think I saw it, or sensed it might be a better description! I could not detect the nearby M108 at all! I could pinpoint where it ought to have been but it was a no show! Then on to M78 in Orion. I thought I had read somewhere that it was a bright reflection Nebula. It may well be a reflection Nebula but I'm not convinced I would call it bright I think I saw it, I'm sure I was looking in the right place but to be fair, Orion was very low by this stage. The Erfle is fantastic as a finder. It has a huge, easily viewed FOV. And coupled with the Giro it makes star hopping a real pleasure. The 16mm Nagler also has a big FOV but I find it less satisfying to use. You have to physically look around! I know many love this aspect of the Naglers. That being said, it provides a very sharp view and was great for M35-38 as you get sharp stars, dark background and the feeling of the cluster sitting in space surrounded by ... well space I suppose! The Abbe 12.5 also gave nice views of the open clusters but the narrower FOV meant you saw the cluster but lost the context; you saw all the stars but lost that feeling of a cluster in space! So all in all a very enjoyable session, tempered with the desire to move house or at least plan the next holiday somewhere dark I don't know about the rest of you but I get such a feeling of peace and tranquility when I'm under the stars! Malcolm

If I'm not mistaken that's 50% more light gathering power! I don't understand why you haven't already pushed the button And as far as the extra weight and length goes ... what's life without a challenge? All I know is when I get the itch I can't sleep or concentrate on anything else. Don't torture yourself; just buy it Very envious if you do succumb, Malcolm