cajen2

SUM is quite right on all counts, but I'd try the Baader Contrast Booster to cut down on chromatic aberration. I remember reading an article on all the Baader filters and this came out on top. It also subtly enhances the detail on Jupiter for me.

As with everything, the answer depends on your budget. At the cheaper end, TMB do quite a good job: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tmb/tmb-planetary-ii-125-32mm-58-eyepiece.html and also BST Starguiders: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces/bst-starguider-60-5mm-ed-eyepiece.html Have a look at First Light Optics' website and feel free to ask them questions - they're very helpful.

What with the Tak and the FT, that's a few bob's worth of kit!

They're fine by me!

It's the little 'ledge' on the nosepiece which is designed to stop the EP from falling out of the focuser / diagonal. These can hang up on compression rings, causing much swearing. I use diagonals with Clicklocks or similar and don't have this problem.

Hi. Can you confirm the dates are as you posted? I want to book it.

TV Delos 8mm. Thanks to @astro_al. The plan is to use it with my Baader 2.25x Barlow to get about 201x mag for planets, plus a good medium EP for everything.

I've been out three times to check and there are a few clear patches but with the clouds moving fast I think setting up is going to be an exercise in futility.....

Now, next on the list is to find two of every species of beetle.....🤣

I'd agree with GM. I have a Heritage 150p as my second scope and find it's happiest with an EP at about 5mm for the planets. You might get some benefit with going 4.5mm - it's surprising how much difference 0.5mil can make as a scope approaches its limits. I can thoroughly recommend the Morpheus 4.5, which I use a lot in my frac - excellent EP. In the 150p, that'd give you about 167x mag: well under its theoretical limit.

Well, he IDENTIFIES as male, certainly....

You'll like that one, Z - one of the best in the range. It suits my F/7 Starfield 102 perfectly.

I actually bought mine mainly for planetary work. I think both Jupiter and Mars could benefit from it - at its lowest setting, it's only knocking off 1% of the light.

The Morpheus 6.5mm is a superb EP (and the 4.5 is too!).

I had the same problem of having two finders as you with my SL 8". I eventually solved it by getting a twin finder mount.

I believe the exact distances to Orion star clusters are still in doubt.....😂

Do you know, I was just considering exactly that. So it's true: I can mix the 1.25" and the 2" halves?

Not the most thrilling delivery in the world but hopefully very useful: a variable polarising filter for lunar / planetary work. Thanks, R, but I did know that ... It's why I bought the two-part one. 😉 If you have a diagonal with filter threading, you can do the same.

Not the most thrilling delivery in the world but hopefully very useful: a variable polarising filter for lunar / planetary work.

I bought one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/SinKeu-Portable-Generator-Emergency-Adventure/dp/B09MZ736CZ?pd_rd_w=jcUkp&content-id=amzn1.sym.e18fa87a-f28e-45c1-b9cc-d4f596e707f9&pf_rd_p=e18fa87a-f28e-45c1-b9cc-d4f596e707f9&pf_rd_r=C6TE6NSJ9FY4AVP3QZYR&pd_rd_wg=ph46k&pd_rd_r=b53f68e3-f73e-4d08-93d4-ba61614784b6&pd_rd_i=B09MZ736CZ&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_grid_dv_rp_0_1_ec_ppx_yo_mob_search_bia_i An obvious Jackery copy but I've found it excellent.

My EP case is now stuffed full of them....not enough extra room for a fag paper, never mind about another EP. I refuse to have a second case, as I know I'd pick up the wrong one or leave one behind....so I have to retire an EP before I can buy a new one - great way to save money! Currently have 13 (including two zooms but not counting Barlows!).

Not the only one, John. I'd have my Morpheus range over those any day (or night 😉).

If you balance the dob with no EP in it (by adjusting the alt pivot position), logically the magnet needs to be no heavier than your biggest EP.

An odd but effective ready-made magnet is an aquarium algae magnet: made for removing algae from the inside of the glass. These are obviously made not to scratch glass so won't harm your dob's paintwork. You'd need a fairly large one.

I had a range of magnets on my SL 8" dob which I would slide up and down as EPs were changed. You can change the point of balance on the alt bearings, but it's a pain, needing the OTA to be separated from the base and messing about with an Allen key. The magnets were much easier. Just make sure the scope is protected by plastic (etc) at the foot of the magnet.