Show us your Frac

[IB20]

A new addition to my frac collection. 😁

Expect some Tak 76Q v 102ed-r shootout reports very soon!

Edited March 25, 2023 by IB20

[John]

I don't think I have posted in this thread for a while so I thought that it would do no harm to post some pics of my refractors. In order of aperture they are a Tasco 12TE-5, an Altair Starwave ED70, a Takahashi FC100-DL, a Vixen ED102SS, a Skywatcher ED120 Pro and a TMB/APM/LZOS 130mm triplet. As can be seen, I rather like refractors on alt-azimuth mounts 😄

 

[mikeDnight]

 

After almost continuous cloud due to all the inconsiderate astro purchases at the Practical Astronomy Show earlier this month, tonight the skies gave me a half decent view of the Moon and Venus. Tacky hasn't played out for almost a month so I thought I'd take some pic's of him all excited and ready to strutt his stuff.

Tonight I also had chance to really observe with my new Maxbright l l  binoviewer, and also my new Altair 30mm Ultra Flat eyepiece. Tonight was also the first time I'd tried my Baader click lock on my BBHS Zeiss prism with the 30mm 70° field ultra flat. What a wonderful combination!

 

[Telescope40]

Mike. All working well. Good to hear.👍

Still not one session since PAS. Ho hum. 👎
 

John 

[mikeDnight]

32 minutes ago, Telescope40 said:

Mike. All working well. Good to hear.👍

Still not one session since PAS. Ho hum. 👎
 

John 

I'm sorry it's remained cloudy for you John. If it makes you feel any better, I had a really good time tonight as I beach-combed the eastern shores of Mare Crisium & made a sketch of some subtle cloud top detail on Venus. Later I played around with my new 30mm Ultra Flat eyepiece just aimlessly looking at a few stars that were beginning to turn on their lights.  I'm very impressed by the Maxbright binoviewer. It is definitely in a different league to my faithful old revelation viewer. I'm glad I was encouraged to buy the Maxbright bv by you and the gang. I hope you get some clear skies soon. 

Best wishes, Mike

Edited March 25, 2023 by mikeDnight

[dweller25]

1 hour ago, mikeDnight said:

 

 Tacky hasn't played out for almost a month so I thought I'd take some pic's of him all excited and ready to strutt his stuff.

 

Mike - bad news - your Tacky is a SHE 👍

[mikeDnight]

31 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

Mike - bad news - your Tacky is a SHE 👍

I've always attributed male qualities to my Tak's, especially the FC100D, as they are scared of nothing and punch above their weight. They also know who has the right of way at roundabouts.    Sorry girls, I don't really mean it! 

[Rainmaker]

These are the “Keepers”   
Takahashi TOA130NFB, Skylight Telescopes AR101 F15 and Berry&Mackay 3.25” F15

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

The Starwave has not been out of the case since around Chrimbo... Tonight I get to test the used TS-Optics 2" diagonal I bought six weeks ago...

I've just had a quick look at the moon in daylight and no complaints up to now...

[Roy Challen]

After a long period of cloudiness, last night was clear enough for me to get the Baby Tak out for a quick look at the moon. Set up in daylight, quick alignment, then waited for twilight. I guess it isn't really a lunar scope, but it's pretty good nonetheless, moon image heavily cropped 😊

Edited April 3, 2023 by Roy Challen

[Stu]

My two little Taks having a ride on the ScopeTech Zero together. Worked well for being able to compare views.

[Ags]

Is that two scopes, or a scope and a finderscope? 🤣

[Stu]

43 minutes ago, Roy Challen said:

After a long period of cloudiness, last night was clear enough for me to get the Baby Tak out for a quick look at the moon. Set up in daylight, quick alignment, then waited for twilight. I guess it isn't really a lunar scope, but it's pretty good nonetheless, moon image heavily cropped 😊

I love that mount Roy, looks really wel engineered but quite compact too 👍

[Stu]

5 minutes ago, Ags said:

Is that two scopes, or a scope and a finderscope? 🤣

Could have been scope and finder, but actually with the CQ Extender module both are very similar focal length (570mm vs 600mm), so it makes for interesting comparisons. Foolishly I forgot my pairs of 10mm and 6mm BCOs which would make the comparisons much easier to make! I’ll try that next time, could even be tonight looking at the forecast 👍

[Ags]

I must try a side by side with my ZS66 and LP90  with y NLV 9 and 12's.

[Roy Challen]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

I love that mount Roy, looks really wel engineered but quite compact too 👍

I guess the angle that the pic was taken from hides the size quite well😃, it's quite a big mount really, HEQ5 size maybe, or Vixen GPDX. 20kg anyway. So it holds the little Tak quite well 😅

[Stu]

2 hours ago, Roy Challen said:

I guess the angle that the pic was taken from hides the size quite well😃, it's quite a big mount really, HEQ5 size maybe, or Vixen GPDX. 20kg anyway. So it holds the little Tak quite well 😅

Wow, that is deceptive! Either that or you have the biggest FS-60C in the world 🤣

[Highburymark]

TSA outside preparing for a lunar session. Seeing was very good last night - 272x was steady and razor sharp. After the Moon, said a final goodbye to Mars for a while - even at 360x, details difficult to pick out. At the end I did a quick sweep through the open clusters on view - M44, M35, and the Auriga clusters. Even in London skies, they looked beautiful. 

[garryblueboy]

This little Beauty added to the Stable and loving the looks and build quality the Glass is sooooo nice 

[Space Hopper]

Early one Gary....?  No. 027. It looks in great condition. 

Nice find 🙂

A new review had appeared on Roger Vine's 'Scope Views site, which may be of interest.

 

 

[Sunshine]

5 hours ago, garryblueboy said:

This little Beauty added to the Stable and loving the looks and build quality the Glass is sooooo nice 

Love the image of the objective. Like a cyborg’s eyes or something.

[garryblueboy]

6 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

Early one Gary....?  No. 027. It looks in great condition. 

Nice find 🙂

A new review had appeared on Roger Vine's 'Scope Views site, which may be of interest.

 

 

Yes Rob and 1 of only 34 with the black Dew Shield I’ll give that review a look 👀 

[garryblueboy]

1 hour ago, Sunshine said:

Love the image of the objective. Like a cyborg’s eyes or something.

Yes have to admit I have never seen an objective so clear 

[John]

My Tak FC100-DL setup on the Ercole mount for a change. Hoping for some further lunar observation using my newly acquired TOE 4mm eyepiece. The FT micro-pinion focuser is a relatively new addition to this scope as well. I'm not that fussy about focusers generally but I have to say that this FT upgrade is rather good 🙂

 

[mikeDnight]

10 minutes ago, John said:

My Tak FC100-DL setup on the Ercole mount for a change. Hoping for some further lunar observation using my newly acquired TOE 4mm eyepiece. The FT micro-pinion focuser is a relatively new addition to this scope as well. I'm not that fussy about focusers generally but I have to say that this FT upgrade is rather good 🙂

 

She's looking rather beautiful there John, assuming she is a she?