cajen2

Mmm, I've often considered an 80mil refractor on a lightweight go-to mount for grab & go but it would set me back about £1k all up, so it's not happening. My SW Heritage Flextube 150p is very light and portable, so it'll do me.

I almost bankrupted myself buying two scopes and six good-quality EPs (plus a couple of average ones).. The difference is that they are used all the time.

I wish I could say the same. Underused top-quality EPs? I should be so lucky! 😄

I"m quite happy it's flying over the Atlantic well south of us. Wouldn't want that dropping on my head....🤣 Boeing....Boeing....Bong!

Really don't think you'd be sorry.... YMMV.

I've never heard a word said against it....😉 Yes, there are EPs with larger fields of view but I've found the Morph one to be ideal.

Not exactly fair when you factor in the price! Also note that this test was 15 years ago. I wonder what scopes people would choose for a similar test now....

Mike's 2" EPs are the Orion branded version of what's sold here as StellaLyra (Long Perng) 80° LER/UWA. I have the 20mm and it's superb. The best Morpheus is said to be the 17.5mil. I can't confirm this as I'm already sorted for that f/l, but I can say my 12.5, 9 and 6.5 are excellent.

How did you get on with the NPL comparison? I'd have thought the eye relief would be a bit tight on an 8mil, though the longer f/ls are excellent for the price. I have a 30mm which is so good, for a cheap EP.

Yes, Baader seem to like their half mm for some reason - 4.5, 6.5, 12.5 and 17.5. It makes no odds to me. I also have a couple of Pentax XWs but the Morpheus are my favourite...

I have the Svbony 6mm and it gives surprisingly good views. I've now replaced it with a Baader Morpheus 6.5mm, which is vastly better, of course, given the difference in price. The key for me is the FOV (76° in the Morph), which reduces frequent nudging of my dob at high mags.

You imagers are so fussy! 😄 It's just a beautiful pic.

...which costs more than many people's scopes! 😄😄😄 I'm sure it's fantastic but maybe not in my dob....

Prepare to be underwhelmed.....through most scopes, it's the Great Slightly Pinkish or Somewhat Brown Spot.😄 You have to use your imagination and remember how huge it is to be visible from so far away.

Sign of age, Neil. It's the sort of thing I'd do too.

Er...the Skywatcher Skyline dobs are all go-to: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-300p-flextube-goto.html From 200 to 400mm sizes. Edit: just seen the dates on the original posts! Still, handy to know for those after a larger go-to dob.

That's very nice, Tony.

I've only ever observed the Ring once, with my 8" dob in a light-polluted sky with a bright moon and of course I couldn't see any colour. @Mike Q reports seeing it as clearly blue in his 10" dob in much darker skies.

I've tried loading my 8" dob into and out of a motorhome a few times and it isn't as easy as you'd imagine. Most motorhomes have extremely narrow doors and rather unstable fold-out steps, and you're risking the scope (or your neck!) every time. A 10" is certainly not going to be any easier. One of the few situations where a panel van conversion is better. I'd second a Heritage 150p for portability - I can lift my OTA and base with one hand - or I'd look for a short frac on a light mount.

BSTs then?

How about a pair of Vixen SLVs? They're very clear, sharp EPs for the price and their relatively narrow FOV will be less of a problem in binos.

I've just spent an hour solely on Jupiter (sorry nothing more exotic - the street light just outside my garden means I can't even see stars in Pisces). I was trying out different EPs and filters on my 8" SL dob with interesting results, as the seeing was much better than usual. The relatively wide FOV with my Morpheus 12.5, 9 and 6.5mm was ideal for reducing the number of nudges needed to keep the planet in view. My two Pentax XWs were significantly worse in this respect. Both makes of EP showed excellent detail - three to four bands were obvious and the four major moons showing clear discs, all strung out to the right of the planet (dob view). I also experimented with my two filters: a Baader Neodymium, which is supposed to reduce LP and enhance planet views and as a shot in the dark (sorry!) my Astronomik UHC, just to see what it would do. Predictably, the Baader had a subtle but marked effect, reducing Jupiter's glare slightly and enhancing the bands. The UHC is of course a deep-sky filter and it gave a distinctly green glow to the planet. It did improve surface detail, though. An enjoyable and educational hour on a favourite target.

I have the Hyperflex 7.2 - 25.1mm and I find the eye relief quite tight, even though I don't wear glasses for observing (I've always disliked EPs with tight ER as I tend to 'hover' my eye rather than push into the eyecap). My other problem with it is its FOV. Just tonight, I was observing Jupiter with it (I often use it first to work out what f/l is best). The narrow FOV meant I was constantly nudging the scope, even when the OVL wasn't at minimum f/l. Optically, I think it's very good for the price but my issues with mean it sees little use.

If you're using a smartphone, try turning it to landscape, otherwise the whole map is not in view and you can't mark your chosen pitch. I had exactly this problem the first time I tried to book in spring.

SF stories about 'generation ships' abound, often with the original aim becoming just a legend or myth.