ST102 on DSO's

[Andyfx]

Hi, does anyone have and use a Star Travel 102 on DSO's at all? I got a good deal on one from FLO to compliment my Skymax 127 and I'm wondering how good it might be.

[nicnac]

this is one of the OTAs i was looking at, the STs are well regarded and at f5 good for the job, you do get CA with the STs, that bothers some folk, not so much with others.

if you can get a good deal on the ST120 or 150, your on for a good en, the EQ 5 you have will handle the weights, visually with the 150 anyway

[Andyfx]

Thanks for that. I picked up the ST102 at a very good price for its wide view and intend on trying it out with my 25mm BST Explorer, I'll probably take a nose at m57 when I get it

[ronin]

Should be fine for DSO's, allowing for it being 102mm of course.

On brighter objects, Moon, Jupiter possible Saturn some CA may appear. Depends on how you feel with it.

Not sure if that scope has to have the erecting prism in the path, if not then don't use it as it does not help the viewing. One I saw seemed to be supplied with all possible user options and they simply complicated to whole setup. Did like the finder scope arrangement however.

I would get the 8mm BST as well.

[Andyfx]

My Skymax 127 will be handling planetary viewing and does it nicely, I bought the ST102 purely for DSO really. Oh and yea the 8mm is good, I have that and 15 + 25mm and a handful of plossls too.

[John]

Your Skymax 127 will probably show M57 better than the ST102 will because M27 is a pretty small object and the extra aperture counts. The ST102 will have an advantage on large, extended objects like M31, the Veil Nebula etc which can't fit in the field of view of the Mak.

[Andyfx]

Thanks Jahmanson, looks like you have some very nice equipment there!