cajen2

BTW, Mark is right. The side plates are specific as to which way up they are. Worth checking.

There you go, Seoras. This is the one I use: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/stellalyra-8x50-right-angled-correct-image-raci-finder-scope-with-bracket.html

I also keep marines with corals. But people can be weird. I put some corals on a site as "free to a good home" and nobody was interested, yet the same people cheerfully shell out hundreds of pounds on shop-bought ones. Not sure if there's an astro equivalent...

It's a stunning little scope for the money, as long as you can put up with the helical focuser. Great for taking with you on your travels too.

To answer your original question about the Heritage 150p, yes, it's definitely worth getting. I have only two scopes: one of those and a StellaLyra 8" dob. The SL is my everyday scope (or should that be everynight? 😄) but the 150p does make an excellent grab&go job. It's light enough to carry in one hand yet gives superb views. If you had one, you might well find the Startravel or even the 80ED redundant.....

I was out a couple of nights ago cloud dodging. The Moon was close to Jupiter (which of course is bright enough not to be bothered by it) and these were the only two targets it was worth focusing on - anything dimmer was soon swallowed up by cloud. So when Jupiter was hidden, the Moon was often clear and vice versa. Thus, it was handy for once...

Ah, another proud owner - me too! The remarks were actually aimed at the OP or anyone else in the market for a good dob.

Yes, that's a cracking scope for the price. There are a few downsides: The Crayford focuser is only 1.25" (no option for 2" EPs) and single speed The altitude adjustment /locking is rather primitive though no doubt effective You can upgrade the finder to a RACI - I would highly recommend that over the straight-through finder It's much heavier and more awkward to move around than the Heritage 150p Upsides include the optics. GSO (who also make the StellaLyra range) do a very good job on the mirrors. The build quality is also marvellous. If you could stretch to the StellaLyra 8", all those problems (except portability) would disappear. HTH.

Typical. I used to live not far from Durlston and visited it many times - no astronomical events then. Now I'm away and this is on. 😡

He'll be pleased with that scope, I bet. As soon as finances allow, try to upgrade the 10mm eyepiece as it isn't very good. A BST Starguider 8mm is very good for the price, as is Skywatcher's own UWA range. Check out FLO's site.

I have the OVL Hyperflex, which isn't quite as good as the Baader but is a lot cheaper. Same as Mike - I don't use it much now as my fixed f/l eyepieces give much wider fields of view and usually, a sharper image.

Just had lightning and a torrential downpour here - near Bristol - so it needs to improve quickly!

Indeed. It might also help with seeing the ease (or difficulty) of various mounts: dob, alt/az and EQ, plus the various push-to and go-to options.

The Skywatcher 6x30 RACI is smaller and presumably lighter than the typical 8 or 9x mag ones.

As I said, much depends on the seeing conditions as well as the target. If the seeing is excellent, my 5mil is great for the planets. But so often the seeing is poor, so I shift down to 6.5 or even 9. Having lots of choice is also great for the Moon: sometimes you want to see the whole satellite, sometimes (e.g.) a range of mountains and sometimes a really close view of something. Again, the seeing often dictates which EP is used. DSOs differ so greatly in size (compare the Andromeda Galaxy with the Ring Nebula, for example) that you need a range of EPs to match the target.

The highest mag I can get in my 8" dob is 240x, using a Pentax XW 5mil. This isn't possible in all conditions, though, as poor seeing can make the view messy. I spend most of my time at 96 -184x (Morpheus 12.5, 9 and 6.5mm). As above, the higher mags are for planetary viewing and splitting doubles. The moon and DSOs need a variety of mags, depending on size.

A good compromise is a Heritage 150p: More aperture and light gathering than a 4", So grab and go that I can carry mine around in one hand. There's no law that says G&G has to be a frac on a mount/tripod.

I know Cranbourne Chase. I used to live in Ashley Heath, a few miles down the road. Should be pretty dark.

Nice. I prefer smaller magnets so one is always within easy reach. Small adjustments are easy too.

Not an issue. Pieces don't fall off! 😄

And if you want an easy way to check a laser's collimation:

Well, I've had the 8" version for about 9 months now and I find it excellent. I haven't modified it at all as everything works so well. The only additions I've made are a few magnets to act as counterweights and can be slid up and down the tube for different EPs, plus a TA Optics double finder mount so that I can use the RACI and a Baader RDF together. Perhaps I'm just lucky but collimation of both primary and secondary have been a breeze and I see no reason to modify anything. One point: take care when assembling the base that the bush is in the right place - it isn't easy to see on the exploded diagram. I've heard of people assembling it wrong and then complaining the shaft is wobbly or sticks. The rotation should be smooth with easy stiction adjustment.

The Mercury's a good little scope but be aware you'd get coloured fringes on bright objects. If that doesn't bother you, fine. The suggestion of one of the Heritage range is a good one: the 100p, the 130p and the 150p all have excellent optics for the price. They are designed to be placed on a sturdy chair, stool, table etc and are very easy to pick and set up.

Hi MTC and you're very welcome to SGL. 🙄😄

I just use mine for star parties, etc. 100% waterproof and fits my scope exactly.