What did the postman bring?

[F15Rules]

I thought I'd give this nice little Celestron 18mm Xcel LX a go..

I sold my Morpheus 17.5mm to help fund my new Maxbright IIs and other bits. This isn't a focal length I use a lot, but there is a sizeable gap between my Pentax 10.5mm and Axiom LX 23mm, so here we are. I've read good things about this range at the price point..it certainly feels well made, a nice heft to it, and has a nice twist up eyecup.

I don't expect Morpheus performance, but will be interesting to test it out..if we ever get another clear night in Lincolnshire, that is!🤦😂

Dave

[Telescope40]

1 hour ago, Sunshine said:

Is the knob on that clamshell stock Tak? do you need two hands to turn it like submariners turning those valve wheels? 🤣

As per Dave. @F15Rules  Excellent description. No tube rings required 👍👍

[Sunshine]

26 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

I thought I'd give this nice little Celestron 18mm Xcel LX a go..

I sold my Morpheus 17.5mm to help fund my new Maxbright IIs and other bits. This isn't a focal length I use a lot, but there is a sizeable gap between my Pentax 10.5mm and Axiom LX 23mm, so here we are. I've read good things about this range at the price point..it certainly feels well made, a nice heft to it, and has a nice twist up eyecup.

I don't expect Morpheus performance, but will be interesting to test it out..if we ever get another clear night in Lincolnshire, that is!🤦😂

Dave

Nice! I’ve had three X-cel’s and tbh I really didn’t have any complaints, I cannot recall which scope I was using them with but the only reason I sold them was because money was burning a hole in my pocket and I wanted XW’s, I’m sure they are better eyepieces in a side by side comparison but the X-cels seemed to be great for their price.

Edited March 3, 2023 by Sunshine

[F15Rules]

4 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Nice! I’ve had three X-cel’s and tbh I really didn’t have any complaints, I cannot recall which scope I was using them with but they only reason I sold them was because money was burning a hole in my pocket and I wanted XW’s, I’m sore they are better eyepieces in a side by side comparison but the X-cels seemed to be great for their price.

I've actually had a bit of an "in and out" spree lately. Having sold a fair bit of kit, I then bought Maxbright IIs, a Pentax XW7mm, pairs of William Optics 20mm 66 deg, BGO 18mm and Tak Abbe orthos 12.5mm for the Maxbrights, and now this Celestron. 

Time to stop now for a while I think!🤦😊

Dave

[mikeDnight]

1 hour ago, F15Rules said:

Time to stop now for a while I think!🤦😊

Dave

Until next saturday at least! 

[Greymouser]

A bit more mundane this time, but still very useful. A bag for my Jackery battery.

And here with the excellent battery in. ( I do think a little extra padding on the bottom though... )

[Nakedgun]

7 hours ago, F15Rules said:

I thought I'd give this nice little Celestron 18mm Xcel LX a go..

I sold my Morpheus 17.5mm to help fund my new Maxbright IIs and other bits. This isn't a focal length I use a lot, but there is a sizeable gap between my Pentax 10.5mm and Axiom LX 23mm, so here we are. I've read good things about this range at the price point..it certainly feels well made, a nice heft to it, and has a nice twist up eyecup.

I don't expect Morpheus performance, but will be interesting to test it out..if we ever get another clear night in Lincolnshire, that is!🤦😂

Dave

~

Optically, they're not bad at all (I have a set), and a good value, though the AF will be less than those you're bracketing it with. Some may have specks of dust between the lenses, my 2.3 is rather annoying if I point it at the Moon.

 

.

Edited March 4, 2023 by Nakedgun

[Nakedgun]

~

Lunt Solar.

Photos when I can get them.

 

:

 

 

.

[Simon Pepper]

Manage to snap up a lost in post EQ6r from FLO offers yesterday pulled the trigger at 1pm and arrived 12:55 today talk about lucky and exceptional FLO as always! 

 

Edited March 7, 2023 by Simon Pepper

[SuburbanMak]

Not strictly the postman as I spent most of the day driving to collect, but am now the very proud owner of this thing of beauty (a year old & as new). 
We can no doubt look forward to a prolonged cloudy spell… 

[Andy ES]

Love this thread, seeing all the new gear, which gives me good ideas and the passion of the buyers.

lots of enjoyment, thanks for sharing it’s great. 😁👍

[Greymouser]

14 minutes ago, Andy ES said:

Love this thread, seeing all the new gear, which gives me good ideas and the passion of the buyers.

lots of enjoyment, thanks for sharing it’s great. 😁👍

I cannot argue with you, but it should come with a wallet health warning too...

[Andy ES]

48 minutes ago, Greymouser said:

1 hour ago, Andy ES said:

Love this thread, seeing all the new gear, which gives me good ideas and the passion of the buyers.

lots of enjoyment, thanks for sharing it’s great. 😁👍

I cannot argue with you, but it should come with a wallet health warning too...

They say think about it for 30 days and then see if you still want it.

Also don’t make a FLO wish list 😁

[F15Rules]

On 03/03/2023 at 20:15, F15Rules said:

I've actually had a bit of an "in and out" spree lately. Having sold a fair bit of kit, I then bought Maxbright IIs, a Pentax XW7mm, pairs of William Optics 20mm 66 deg, BGO 18mm and Tak Abbe orthos 12.5mm for the Maxbrights, and now this Celestron. 

A few shots of the newly acquired William Optics 20mm 66 degree wide angle pair mentioned above..

The cloned versions of these are optically identical to my eyes..but I like the finish on these and that Swan logo..

 

But if I can find a nice pair of 26mm Pseudo Masuyamas..🤦😉😊.

Dave

 

Edited March 7, 2023 by F15Rules

[Astro_Dad]

Having enjoyed entering (and recently writing) Astronomy quizzes for my local Astro society (York), I am delighted now to have come joint 4th place in the British Astronomical Association's Christmas quiz 2022 - a very challenging and fun "exam"!

The postie brought the prize today - collection of novels by Astronomer Tom Boles - personally signed 🙂

[JeremyS]

59 minutes ago, Astro_Dad said:

Having enjoyed entering (and recently writing) Astronomy quizzes for my local Astro society (York), I am delighted now to have come joint 4th place in the British Astronomical Association's Christmas quiz 2022 - a very challenging and fun "exam"!

The postie brought the prize today - collection of novels by Astronomer Tom Boles - personally signed 🙂

Congratulations. Well done! I hope you enjoy Tom’s books

[JeremyS]

16 hours ago, F15Rules said:

A few shots of the newly acquired William Optics 20mm 66 degree wide angle pair mentioned above..

The cloned versions of these are optically identical to my eyes..but I like the finish on these and that Swan logo..

 

But if I can find a nice pair of 26mm Pseudo Masuyamas..🤦😉😊.

Dave

 

Swan? All I can see is a rabbit 🤔

[Ratlet]

Now the proud owner of a 10" dobsonian!  Base.

Tube never made it to the depot.  Last update seems to be it's still in hinkley.  Hopefully it'll make it here tomorrow.

[F15Rules]

27 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Swan? All I can see is a rabbit 🤔

Should've gone to Specsavers..🙃😉

[Stu1smartcookie]

4 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

Now the proud owner of a 10" dobsonian!  Base.

Tube never made it to the depot.  Last update seems to be it's still in hinkley.  Hopefully it'll make it here tomorrow.

Wait for the tube before you build the base ! But isnt it annoying how one parcel can reach you and the other one comes later ?

[JeremyS]

3 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

Should've gone to Specsavers..🙃😉

Funnily enough I did 🤣

[Ratlet]

Just now, Stu1smartcookie said:

Wait for the tube before you build the base ! But isnt it annoying how one parcel can reach you and the other one comes later ?

Indeed.  DPD delivered me the greatest gift of all: hope.

False hope.  But hope none the less.

[F15Rules]

23 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Funnily enough I did 🤣

Aah!! So you're far sighted then!!🤪😂

[bosun21]

Just had my new David Lukehurst EQ platform delivered this afternoon. Amazing quality of workmanship and materials, not to mention fantastically packaged. Quickly assembled the crescents as instructed and it’s working perfectly. Just need a clear night to fine tune the speed of travel. It’s been well worth the wait.

[bosun21]

50 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

Now the proud owner of a 10" dobsonian!  Base.

Tube never made it to the depot.  Last update seems to be it's still in hinkley.  Hopefully it'll make it here tomorrow.

I was half right about Tuesday delivery then. I have had several two part deliveries arrive in separate vans.