cajen2

There's a bit of a trade-off in the fields of view though, Z. The BST is 60° whereas the Vixen is only 50°. Therefore, the actual FOV of the Vixen 30mil is almost identical to the BST, with the latter of course giving a higher mag . With both makes at 25mil, the BST has a wider field.

Sure, Lawrence. There you go: https://astrocamp.awesomeastronomy.com/

Hi and a warm welcome to SGL. I think you've made a good choice with the 130p. I have its slightly bigger brother - 150p. This was my first scope and I still use it for grab & go, holidays, etc. It's an excellent all-round, portable scope, though in your shoes, I'd use some of the money you've saved buying second hand to upgrade the eyepieces which come with the scope, particularly the 10mm. Have a look on FLO at the BST Starguider range. Also check you have something ultra-stable to stand the scope on, as the last thing you need is wobbles and vibrations while observing. For future reference, have a look at the modification you can make to the (slightly quirky) focuser too.

Winter for me because I love Orion - quite apart from the fabulous nebulae, there's a plethora of interesting doubles in and around it, from easy to virtually impossible.

It always makes me laugh when people who imagine they're using correct grammar say things like " between you and I". "Between" is a preposition and like all such words, is followed by an object pronoun ("for me" / "to me", etc.). So "between you and me" is ALWAYS correct. Just saying....😉

It's been great - I've had no issues with it at all I have to say, though, that I don't use it as much as I did because I got the SL 2" 20mm 80° eyepiece. This is absolutely superb, with clear, wide-field view. The 68° is a bit redundant, consequently.

Z is quite right: the BST Starguiders are one of the best VFM eyepieces around. In your position, I'd get a 25mm for wide views and for finding objects, plus an 8mm for good magnifications on the moon and planets. When you feel rich enough, you can start 'filling the gaps'. A cheap alternative to the 25mm BST is a Vixen NPL. I have the 30mm and it's excellent for the price (but don't get the lower focal length ones as they can have a problem with eye relief).

Not a genius but very careful when it comes to spending money......😉 except of course on scopes, EPs, etc etc. Can't really bodge those.

It's better made and specced than a whole lot of other covers, too!

Ha, same as the one I use.....and yes, it was me who suggested it....😉

Well, when you say 'new'...... it's only 9 years old! 😄

I'm going to be at the Astrocamp next month. If you see a van that looks like it's escaped from a safari park, that'll be me. Come and say hello.

Welcome, John. I have the same scope and it's a cracker!

I use one of these for my dob: https://www.amazon.co.uk/FiNeWaY-Waterproof-Breathable-Protector-Protection/dp/B09CZKKG8K?pd_rd_w=WD6Ca&content-id=amzn1.sym.497d4c70-b5c1-4495-b6bd-715afe1a9b35&pf_rd_p=497d4c70-b5c1-4495-b6bd-715afe1a9b35&pf_rd_r=H9K9PKR2GPGCEP2RDSQ7&pd_rd_wg=1ePiY&pd_rd_r=2d1e3e43-8eed-4127-addc-f917dcad9fe9&pd_rd_i=B09CZKKG8K&psc=1&ref_=pd_bas_bia_rpt_ba_s_1_sc Right shape, right size and much much cheaper than anything with 'astro' in the name! 😉

No idea: I'm strictly visual and no imager.😄 You need one of those for that..... plenty here who can help!

They will to a certain extent but I don't know if they're accurate enough for long-term exposures for DSOs. They're certainly not marketed as such.

Just stirring the pot....😉 Seriously, though, I've been expecting a cosmological paradigm shift for a while now. I wonder when the tipping point will come: if the JWST discovers more things that are problematical for current theories....

.....if it actually exists, that is....😉

If the BB theory is proved wrong, it may well be unnecessary to invoke dark matter and dark energy, which I've always been deeply suspicious of. The only problem is accounting for red shift. Imagine that they decide there was no BB and the universe is in steady state. There's be cosmologists leaping out of windows all over the world! 🤣

Also check out the OVL Hyperflex as a mid-price option. Mine gives excellent views, with the only caveat that the action is rather stiff.

Well done, Mandy: a sensible, balanced analysis.

Oops..... where's my popcorn? 😄

TS Optics do one: https://www.apm-telescopes.net/en/ts-optics-eq-dobsonian-telescope-drive-platform-for-50-ns

Yes, indeed : already done👍

That's exactly why I ordered mine when I did. I was worried they'd sell out and never be restocked because of the war.