One thing I've always wondered about

[Zeta Reticulan]

Just now, SthBohemia said:

@Zeta Reticulan is it just a matter of the scope not being correctly collimated? Do you have anyway of testing its optics?

I can't recall who makes these now. I believe they are made in Japan. I'm not the only person who has noticed the focusing acuity problems. 

Some have suggested that there was a problem with internal baffling. As far as I can tell the collimation on mine is fine. I was disappointed with the entire build quality considering it was the same price as the Orion.

A lot of it appeared to consist of Bakelite lol.

[Zeta Reticulan]

6 minutes ago, Orange Smartie said:

I agree. It would be nice to have an article aimed at those starting out with a consensus view on what makes a good starter set up given ambition, budget, local light pollution conditions etc.

It would still be a confusing answer to a total noob. I'm still confused now by most aspects of astro gear lol. Another response that amuses me is when people describe Mak's as 'versatile'.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Mak's, but in my honest opinion they are hardly versatile scopes. They are excellent for high powered observation of bright targets. Very portable for their aperture size. But 'versatility' escapes me. Unless it includes 'can also be used as a large paperweight'.

[DaveL59]

15 minutes ago, Orange Smartie said:

I agree. It would be nice to have an article aimed at those starting out with a consensus view on what makes a good starter set up given ambition, budget, local light pollution conditions etc.

trouble is if you ask "what would you like to see" the answer is usually "everything" and that's simply impractical for a single scope in most people's budget let alone one that's in the starter bracket. Thing is there's lots of "what scope" threads some similar to others in circumstances but then what's available changes year on year as well so folks tend to ask, either because they're struggling to filter the info that's out there or because it seems easier to ask but then get a barrage of probably conflicting viewpoints that they again need to try and filter. Doesn't seem to be an easy answer so far, or we've not yet thought of it 🙂 

[DaveL59]

oops double post, sorry 🙂 

Edited August 13, 2022 by DaveL59

[SthBohemia]

I wanna know why @Zeta Reticulan has so many telescopes, let alone the selection of EP's, barlows, diagonals, mounts and kitchen sinks! Then we have @Dave59 with a few hundred sets of binoculars 🙂 

😞  I must be the poor orphan of SGL ! Gonna go and sulk inna da 'orphans hovel....

[PeterStudz]

1 minute ago, DaveL59 said:

trouble is if you ask "what would you like to see" the answer is usually "everything" and that's simply impractical for a single scope in most people's budget let alone one that's in the starter bracket. Thing is there's lots of "what scope" threads some similar to others in circumstances but then what's available changes year on year as well so folks tend to ask, either because they're struggling to filter the info that's out there or because it seems easier to ask but then get a barrage of probably conflicting viewpoints that they again need to try and filter. Doesn't seem to be an easy answer so far, or we've not yet thought of it 🙂 

I think it can be even more complicated than that. Eg I thought I wanted to see DSO and so did my daughter. It was only after months of observing that we discovered how we liked the planets. I still prefer DSO but for my daughter she prefers the planets. For a start there’s no need to get eyes use to the dark and many of the planets have been around in the summer when it’s not freezing cold. Cold and dark adaption aren’t kid friendly. And then there’s the sun. I initially only got a solar filter to see the partial eclipse (of course it was cloudy) but we both found how much we both enjoy solar. So much so that I’ve seriously thought about investing in dedicated solar gear.

Basically many people don’t know what they want to see until they’ve spent considerable time observing.

[DaveL59]

6 minutes ago, SthBohemia said:

I wanna know why @Zeta Reticulan has so many telescopes, let alone the selection of EP's, barlows, diagonals, mounts and kitchen sinks! Then we have @Dave59 with a few hundred sets of binoculars 🙂 

😞  I must be the poor orphan of SGL ! Gonna go and sulk inna da 'orphans hovel....

ahh I bought all mine dirt cheap off the wonderful bay-of-E and DIY repaired/adjusted, same with many camera lenses. Some nice bargains can be had if you look for "for parts/not working" and with some understanding of how you might fix them are prepared to take a risk, like that big Tamron 150-600 lens I bought the other week 🙂 

Besides, they gave me something to do while I was between jobs too, kept my mind alive and all that...

Edited August 13, 2022 by DaveL59

[bosun21]

51 minutes ago, SthBohemia said:

^^Eh? Why? Forget GOTO and all the modern bells and whistles that some come with. An EQ mounted scope on even a DIY jumble of shafts and pipes is simplicity itself to use as it is aligned to follow the stars!! Mark the meridian with 2 stakes driven into the ground, point scope at stake.. Done. Better still (for those who like digging and mixing concrete) drive a 6" rainwater down pipe into the ground, fill with concrete, and make a permanent pier for the concocted mish mash of shafts 🙂 

I beg to differ. I’ve seen numerous beginners get tied in knots trying to use an EQ mount.

[Zeta Reticulan]

11 minutes ago, SthBohemia said:

I wanna know why @Zeta Reticulan has so many telescopes, let alone the selection of EP's, barlows, diagonals, mounts and kitchen sinks! Then we have @Dave59 with a few hundred sets of binoculars 🙂 

😞  I must be the poor orphan of SGL ! Gonna go and sulk inna da 'orphans hovel....

I may have a problem ...

[DaveL59]

1 minute ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

I may have a problem ...

me too, a small collection for fun quickly filled a cabinet tho I have managed to stop, mostly lol

[Zeta Reticulan]

Just now, DaveL59 said:

me too, a small collection for fun quickly filled a cabinet tho I have managed to stop, mostly lol

I don't think we'll ever be able to stop, Dave. lol

[DaveL59]

50 minutes ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

I don't think we'll ever be able to stop, Dave. lol

so true, thankfully fiddling about with reflecting film to try improve the temps in the conservatory had distracted me enough to miss the chance to snipe on a pair of Swift Osprey 7.5x44 bins that I had on watch. And wouldn't you know it £24, oh well another bargain missed 😄 

Edited August 13, 2022 by DaveL59

[SthBohemia]

Seeing @Dave59 started this off about el cheapo eyepieces-

Comparing a 12.5mm Kellner purchased some 55 years ago (probably Unitron @ $8-10Aus) and a magnificent TV Radian with 24.78 lenses and umpteen coatings of something or other, I find little difference visually apart from FOV and edge vignetting on the respective eyepieces!

Thus price is not always a guide, there is an examples of a 7" Questar within  the Cloudy Knights forum that needed to be returned to the factory FROM UK at horror buyer pays all postage costs 😞 Rare, but even Questar it seems does not always check that the component mirror/lens is spherical....

[Zeta Reticulan]

1 minute ago, DaveL59 said:

so true, thankfully fiddling about with reflecting film to try improve the temps in the conservatory had distracted me enough to miss the chance to snipe on a pair of Swift Osprey 7.5x44 bins that I had on watch. And wouldn't you know it £24, oh well another bargain missed 😄 

So many astro accessories, so little time ...

[SthBohemia]

@Zeta Reticulan soon you are surely going to need another Zeta Reticulan spacecraft to house all ya bits-an-pieces!

I might make you an equatorial mount for it from used water pipes if I manage to live another few days...

Edited August 13, 2022 by SthBohemia

[Zeta Reticulan]

5 minutes ago, SthBohemia said:

@Zeta Reticulan soon you are surely going to need another Zeta Reticulan spacecraft to house all ya bits-an-pieces!

I might make you an equatorial mount for it from used water pipes if I manage to live another few days...

Obviously I keep most of the gear in the mothership. 

[Orange Smartie]

10 minutes ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

So many astro accessories, so little time ...

Which is why you need an 8" dob.  Very little set up time. 

Runs off and hides....

[Zeta Reticulan]

Just now, Orange Smartie said:

Which is why you need an 8" dob.  Very little set up time. 

Runs off and hides....

If it fits into this bag ...

[PeterStudz]

8 minutes ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

If it fits into this bag ...

Looks a bit bulky and heavy  These cost £20 secondhand from a member here. So much fun for such a low price! It’s our second pair of binoculars so we can both scan the sky at the same time. We also use them to plan/work out star hops and for wildlife. 

[Zeta Reticulan]

52 minutes ago, PeterStudz said:

Looks a bit bulky and heavy  These cost £20 secondhand from a member here. So much fun for such a low price! It’s our second pair of binoculars so we can both scan the sky at the same time. We also use them to plan/work out star hops and for wildlife. 

Binoculars are fine, if you can use both your arms.

[PeterStudz]

22 minutes ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

Binoculars are fine, if you can use both your arms.

Haven’t noticed the need for both arms with light binoculars. My daughters 8x42 can easily be used with one arm. We’ve also mounted them on a tripod & monopod  with pistol grip  - no need to use both arms there. 

[Zeta Reticulan]

15 minutes ago, PeterStudz said:

Haven’t noticed the need for both arms with light binoculars. My daughters 8x42 can easily be used with one arm. We’ve also mounted them on a tripod & monopod  with pistol grip  - no need to use both arms there. 

I don't think bino's work for me. 

[DaveL59]

Bino's are fine but craning your neck when looking high gets to be a chore esp in winter and for us who are age disadvantaged. A reclining chair/lounger does help there tho but one-handed probably would quicker find a tired arm and shakey views, 8x or less being more manageable for steady viewing. I use mine on a monopod more than tripod for the easier flexibility at least till my neck complains 🙂 

[Zeta Reticulan]

I suppose I could lie down on the lawn and look directly up lol.

[DaveL59]

6 minutes ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

I suppose I could lie down on the lawn and look directly up lol.

if I did that I'd likely fall asleep till the cats or other wildlife woke me 😄