seven_legs

Some nices views there

lovely, i do like a nice widefield image

just recieved my new Skymax 180 pro this morning and this scope was on Skywatcher leaflet.

Anyone?

Does skysafari 7 work with the Ioptron AZ Pro mount?

Would be using it with a Android devices.

Thanks

I'm surprised there not more images of Double Stars in the forum.

Or I'm i not looking right

23 minutes ago, Ags said:

Great info, thanks @seven_legs!

The scope would be set up permanently in my dobservatory, so I think I should be able to keep the mirror clean.

I thought straps were the usual thing for large mirrors, to prevent pinching the optics?

Can I ask how the scope performed at mags above 300x?

To be honest i mainly used my 31mm Tele Vue Nagler 82º Eyepieces type 5 eyepiece which gives about 59x mag. But that yielded great detail on many objects. It was a shame that, at the time of my ownerships most planets were not in view. The only time was when mars was at oppostion,( i think.) i got one chance to see it low down, of course there was a massive dust storm that covered the planet. Even then the planets disc seem large in the field of view.

As for the straps, you may be right, i don't know.

I had Explore Scientific Ultra Light 16" Dobsonian Telescope Gen II awhile back, its a great scope with lots of pros and cons.

the primary mirror box i could carry myself easily, but it is easier with two.

The Pros:

The easiest and quickest telecope i have ever collimated.

The scope can be set-up in about 10 minutes at most.

The Views are amazing, 

I found the balance of the scope was fine and the scope movement was smooth.

The Cons:

I did not like how the primary seemed to be held in by straps. If you tried to stand the main box on its side you could hear the mirror move.

The mirror is like a grass and dirt magnet even when using a lightshroud.

The primary mirror cannot be removed from the box for cleaning, or i could not see a way of doing it due to the straps. So i would clean the mirror within the main box itself, which was not a big deal really but i would of prefered to be able to take out.

My main gripe was the upper secondary assembly holding the secondary mirror is an open design and the scope lightshoud does not cover it. So i used flocking to fill the gaps which work very well. I got the idea from a youtube video.

Conclusion:

Great scope, the cons are minor niggles. If you are good with your hands then this scope could be a modders dream.

Of course there are better designed scopes out there but might cost more.

The only reason i got rid of the scope was because i lost my job during Covid and had to sell for finanical reasons.

hope that helps

2 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

Heretic!  TeleVue rack and pinions are excellent; smooth, light and capable of holding heavy eyepieces without slipping. (This is a visual focuser, single speed.) I still have one on a 30 year old Pronto and the one on my merely 10 year old Gensis was perfect as well.

Everything about the build quality of TeleVues is designed to see the scope outlive its owners. They are fully repairable and adjustable as well.

I'm sure Magnus is right in that this is the F8.6. It certainly isn't one of the F5 scopes which are remarkably short, physically. (Edit: I took my F5 'Pearl River' Genesis onto a plane as carry-on.)

Olly

Oops, sorry lol, 

Like I said, I've never had experience of these scopes

The rak and pinion focuser seems a bit cheap.  But I've never had a Tel Vue scope so I may be wrong.

11 hours ago, MartianHill said:

It may be worth bearing in mind that this forum is open to all ages, experience and ability levels.

It costs nothing to be positive and polite.

+1

looking at the 200pds, (which looks a nice scope.) on FLO it weighs 8.8kgs so its light enough to handle.

Anyway look forward to your first light and thoughts.

I thought SCT or CC was better on planets than Newt of the same size because of the longer Focal lenght, F10 to F15.

I like watching the s@n monthly YouTube video on what's happening in night sky in the upcoming month, 

On the s@n program, I think the best bit is with  Pete Lawrence.

I don't get why we having such problems going back to the moon with modern technology, when we landed people on the moon for the first time 50 odd years ago.

the moon conspiracy folks must all be going wild

8 minutes ago, jjohnson3803 said:

I put a 2-speed Crayford on mine and the combo was a bit much for my mounts and to take camping, etc.  It sat unused in my scope cabinet for a year, so when I got an ST102, I sold the ST120.  No regrets there.  Maybe I'll miss the aperture one of these years.

It might sound crazy, but I wish I hadn't sold the Sears / Tasco 60mm refractor that was my first telescope.  I think it might be fun just to see what it could do now that I'm substantially older and marginally wiser.  But I wanted a better amp for my bass guitar at the time.  LOL.

I'm about to list a few more astro items for sale and I have to admit I'm wondering if I should just hold onto them, just in case.

 

My first scope was the 40mm Tasco on a wobbly table top tripod legs, have fond memories of that scope with my best friend.

Always remember Patrick Moore always saying that you need a minimum of a 3" refractor. As a  kid in the early 80's there was no way my parents could afford that lol

Regretted selling my ST 120 refractor, a few years back.

I have found that I get a quick reply from Ian

Sad news indeed

i was using a televue nagler 31mm type 5, which i had to sell during covid, but is one eyepiece i plan to get again in the future.

Also i dont know if you are using the orginal 45º Erect Image Diagonal that comes with the scope new, if so i would replace that with a proper one. i think i brought the Sky-Watcher 2" Di-Electric Star Diagonal. 

I had the SW StarTravel 120, its a great scope for widefield and nebula objects.  The Double Cluster is a wonderful sight

You could try something second hand. I noticed you can get a 8"  skywatcher Dobsonian for £180 on astro buy and sell.

https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=209360

This is not me selling.

But it's worth keeping an eye out. Most second hand stuff are in good condition 

i don't why, but i don't enjoy his videos

Nice set up. I was looking st these mounts myself sometime ago

why don't we do a poll of all the sites people have mentioned. 

the needs of the many out way the needs of the few😇