Skywatcher Evostar- ED120 DS PRO Apo - first light

[adamsp123]

After much researching, heartache etc etc I decided on the Skywatcher 120ED mainly down to cost, I had a discount voucher that meant I could buy this one real cheap, the other options I considered were the Meade 127mm triplet, vixen 140ss neo, SW Equinox.

Received the ED120 today.

Comes in a nice aluminium box with (2"): 28mm LET

2"/50.8mm Di-Electric Star Diagonal 9x50 Finderscope Dual-Speed 11:1 2" Crayford Focuser (Backlash-Free) Tube Rings & Mounting Plate.

Mounted it on my Celestron CG5 goto, set everthing up and ready to go, what to look at tonight....the moon, the moon, the moon.

Using my Revelation GSO eyepieces+moonfilter the views were stunning if extremely bright, my viewing eye has yet to recover properly. Features were sharp and incredibly clear. After a good spell on the moon I had a quick look around, stars were pin points again no false colour except near the horizon. Easy focusing using the Crayford which was sooo smooth, a silk worm would have been proud, absolutely no stiffness, notchiness or whatever in either fine or coarse focus mode unlike some focusers on other SW scopes that have been mentioned in this forum.

(click to enlarge)

THE BEAST

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SHOWING CELESTRON C80ED and MEASURE extended to 36 inches

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My first ever astrophoto using hand held, nikon coolpix L11 6M pixels, to eyepiece + photoshop jiggery pokery. Doesn't do the real view credit.

I am very pleased so far and when the moon is away I will thoroughly enjoy using this scope on many other celestial objects.

Oh yes the mount was very stable with this on. A good nudge to the scope the vibrations took about 2-3 seconds to die off, no wind tonight though so thats another test.

When I have the dosh then better mount + some proper attempts at astrophotography.

Thanks for all the advice in the past.

Clear skies for all

pete

[A McEwan]

Fantastic Pete! Great choice - and you got first light on your first night of ownership! It must be a sign...

I too was lune-gazing tonight, and managed to pick out 4 craterlets in Plato with my Equinox 120. I bet you'll have the same success and many more with that scope.

By the way, just think how good it would look on a nice hefty white HEQ-5 Syntrek... :mrgreen:

Good snap too!

Ant 8)

[jgs001]

Very nice Pete, that looks great.

[TheThing]

Great looking scope and a good first photo. Congrats on your purchase.

[philsail1]

Lovely instument Peter!

Roll on those warm clear summer nights next year!

Best wishes,

philsail1