What did the postman bring?

[Dave scutt]

DPD just delivered a new ep with thanks to kerrylewis .

I've been using the standard skywatcher 28mm since I got the dob time for an upgrade, it's very big. Need clear skies now can't wait to test it out.

[russ]

5 hours ago, Rob said:

Pushed the button on a Asterion Pro upgrade for my EQ5 from FLO!.

I have to say it’s quality made.. there’s a new revision with the control/computer. WiFi now built in with an on off switch and USB port for PC/Laptop. Fitting was a breeze.. with control from my IPhone. 
 

very smooth being belt driven

Rob

That looks epic Rob

[bosun21]

Couple of much needed dew shields for my Dobsonian and Maksutov 

 

[Dave scutt]

16 minutes ago, bosun21 said:

Couple of much needed dew shields for my Dobsonian and Maksutov 

 

What size is the dew shield for the dob

[IB20]

On 14/05/2022 at 16:29, Alan White said:

I have no idea why I made the swap out Jeremy, a moment of madness, but some calm returns now.

If it helps to lessen the masness I absolutely love your old 5XW. It’s one of my most used EPs. 👍🏻

[Pixies]

2 hours ago, Dave scutt said:

DPD just delivered a new ep with thanks to kerrylewis .

I've been using the standard skywatcher 28mm since I got the dob time for an upgrade, it's very big. Need clear skies now can't wait to test it out.

We need the coke-can / tin-of-beans in shot for size reference!

[Dave scutt]

12 minutes ago, Pixies said:

We need the coke-can / tin-of-beans in shot for size reference!

Wife is out food shopping so the cupboards are quite bare and I would be embarrassed to show what's left so I used a tin of dog food.

[bosun21]

2 hours ago, Dave scutt said:

What size is the dew shield for the dob

It’s for the 8” Dobsonian. I think the outside diameter of the scope itself is 9.5”

[StuartT]

Baader IR pass 685nm

 

[Chaz2b]

No! The postman didn’t bring this one, no way would I let them either!! I just drove nearly two hundread miles round trip to collect.

I’ve owned Tele-Vues, Borgs, Meades, Orions and Celestron, now I’m a Takahashi dad!

Please…please gods of reason, don’t let anything happen that would mean parting with it, it’s….beautifull!

what I’ll add to this, is that the focuser is as good as the focusers on the Televues, no backlash at all but I might fit the fine tuner later. Oh!….the optics…sweet.

Edited May 22, 2022 by Chaz2b

[DaveL59]

6 minutes ago, Chaz2b said:

No! The postman didn’t bring this one, no way would I let them either!! I just drove nearly two hundread miles round trip to collect.

I’ve owned Tele-Vues, Borgs, Meades, Orions and Celestron, now I’m a Takahashi dad!

Please…please gods of reason, don’t let anything happen that would mean parting with it, it’s….beautifull!

know what you mean re getting things shipped. I drove Kent to Coventry and back to pick up my TAL100RS a couple years back. Long trip but it arrived to my home safe and sound. Nothing like the value that your lovely new Tak has but in the end, vintage and hi-end optics are worth the extra care 🙂 

[JeremyS]

44 minutes ago, Chaz2b said:

No! The postman didn’t bring this one, no way would I let them either!! I just drove nearly two hundread miles round trip to collect.

I’ve owned Tele-Vues, Borgs, Meades, Orions and Celestron, now I’m a Takahashi dad!

Please…please gods of reason, don’t let anything happen that would mean parting with it, it’s….beautifull!

That FS 78 looks superb and it is a real classic. 
Glad you’ve got the Tak clamshell too

[badhex]

Last time I saw a decent 0.965 EP in good condition at a reasonable price (a couple of Swift Circle-Ts I was after) I hesitated and lost out, so when I saw this on that auction site I snapped it up. Not a bad price at 45eur and looks in flawless condition! 

[callisto]

7 hours ago, Chaz2b said:

No! The postman didn’t bring this one, no way would I let them either!! I just drove nearly two hundread miles round trip to collect.

I’ve owned Tele-Vues, Borgs, Meades, Orions and Celestron, now I’m a Takahashi dad!

Please…please gods of reason, don’t let anything happen that would mean parting with it, it’s….beautifull!

😍.........the scope not you 😂

[Dave scutt]

A new StellaLyre Cheshire with thanks to pitch black skies 

[StuartT]

[jacko61]

8 minutes ago, StuartT said:

Welcome to the club Stuart. Best (astro) investment I've ever made.  Now of course you'll have to build a permanent observatory and fasten it to a massive lump of concrete

Graeme

[badhex]

My acquisition of hard to find EPs continuums: Lacerta's version of the TMB Paragon 40mm.

I have the TS "Paracor" (why?!) branded 35mm which I bought for my travel kit when I couldn't get the 40mm for love nor money anywhere in Europe. I also have a Panoptic 41mm which is an lovely EP but it's just too damn heavy, and I end up using the 35mm so I don't have to rebalance my scope just for search and survey.

Anyway, seems like either this is new old stock, or Lacerta have taken up the mantle and are ordering in this EP once again. Either way, I figured I'd get it while I can! 

[Astroscot2]

Oh it's been worth the wait.

[StuartT]

55 minutes ago, Astroscot2 said:

Oh it's been worth the wait.

I've got the SCT version. Lovely focuser

[F15Rules]

On 06/05/2022 at 16:00, Alan White said:

Well Postie Pete has been today while I was at work,
he deliverd something as rarely found as Rocking Horse Manure.....
A Vixen 22mm LVW, only been looking for a number of years.

Lucky find on Fleabay on Wednesday evening while sitting in the hospitla carpark.
 

Fabulous ep!!🤩🤩👍

I know how much this find means to you Alan, after a long wait, and so I am delighted for you..

When I had mine it comfortably beat my then Pentax XW20mm in my FS128 and Vixen ED103s scopes, in terms of contrast and lack of field curvature vs the Pentax..the slightly smaller FOV of 65deg vs the XWs 70deg was hardly noticeable. A very underrated eyepiece.

I now have a wonderful Celestron Axiom LX 23mm 82degree, having effectively given up on finding another LVW: it is a large, heavy 2" eyepiece, but optically as good as the LVW22, and a noticeably wider fov, so I am content😊👍.

Enjoy, Alan.

Dave

Edited May 24, 2022 by F15Rules
Typo

[Franklin]

On 21/05/2022 at 12:08, Chaz2b said:

No! The postman didn’t bring this one, no way would I let them either!! I just drove nearly two hundread miles round trip to collect.

I’ve owned Tele-Vues, Borgs, Meades, Orions and Celestron, now I’m a Takahashi dad!

Please…please gods of reason, don’t let anything happen that would mean parting with it, it’s….beautifull!

what I’ll add to this, is that the focuser is as good as the focusers on the Televues, no backlash at all but I might fit the fine tuner later. Oh!….the optics…sweet.

I recognise that little beauty. Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of what is possibly the best 3" refractor ever made. I only had it for a few months but the optics are superb, flawless.

[Neil27]

Pegasus descended from the heavens over the last few days. Courtesy of RVO and great service as always.

1 pocket powerbox advance, 1 Focus Cube v2, and a standard dew heater.

Clear skies everyone 🔭💫

[F15Rules]

On 21/05/2022 at 19:35, badhex said:

Last time I saw a decent 0.965 EP in good condition at a reasonable price (a couple of Swift Circle-Ts I was after) I hesitated and lost out, so when I saw this on that auction site I snapped it up. Not a bad price at 45eur and looks in flawless condition! 

That's a great find, Badhex👍

I think the older Japanese made Kellners were really underrated..I have a nice Circle T 18mm volcano top Kellner..it's pin sharp, edge to edge, with great contrast, really ortho like, and with excellent transmission as it only has 3 elements, albeit with single layer mfg coatings.

It's a shame that so many cheap and nasty "Kellners" sold with rubbish department store scope in the 1970s to 1990s got proper Kellners a bad name..

Enjoy your Vixen made example!

Dave

[DeepSkyMan]

An eagerly awaited package finally arrived from Holland yesterday and following a little reading and exercise of my grey matter,  this:

 

 

turned into this:

 

first coarse balance achieved, plan to dive into the electronics and software tomorrow evening😀