Starfield 102mm & EQ-5 - just drooling... (with pics)

[Mr Spock]

Whether it's planets, moon, double stars, or the sun, I've got my scope, mount, eyepieces and accessories just how I want them.

It's cloudy at the moment so I've just had my set up out for a play. I thought I'd take a few pics as that seems to be all I use my camera for these days.

It performs as good as it looks. Hopefully it won't be too long before it's outside again.

 

[JeremyS]

Very nice 👌 

[RobertI]

That really does look the business. A very ‘together’ setup. 👍 Funnily enough I was thinking today that I should get my 102ED on the CG5 so that I have free hands to sketch Jupiter. The CG5 isn’t white though, won’t look so good. 😉

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

2 minutes ago, RobertI said:

That really does look the business. A very ‘together’ setup. 👍 Funnily enough I was thinking today that I should get my 102ED on the CG5 so that I have free hands to sketch Jupiter. The CG5 isn’t white though, won’t look so good. 😉

Oh I dunno... The black and white contrasts well... 😉

 

The Starfield is a very nice looking scope Spock. I hope somebody has one or a variant at Astrocamp I can try. 🧐

[RobertI]

3 hours ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

Oh I dunno... The black and white contrasts well... 😉

 

The Starfield is a very nice looking scope Spock. I hope somebody has one or a variant at Astrocamp I can try. 🧐

 Very nice too. Unfortunately my CG5 is sort of dark grey, so doesn’t match anything, but it’s mostly in the dark so doesn’t matter I guess! Perhaps I’ll set it up and take a pic - see if we can turn this into a “Show us your 102 ED on an equatorial mount” thread! 😆

[Mr Spock]

I do like the combination of EQ mount and rotatable focuser. At the full height of the tripod, I can view from zenith to horizon sitting comfortably on a stool. By twisting the focuser, the eyepiece is always in the right place 👍

Because it has tracking, I can just sit and observe. No fiddling with the mount or nudging 

This scope, purchased the end of last year, is what finally gave me back my astro mojo. With the addition of the 12" Dob, I've been out more times this year than in the previous ten.

[Davesellars]

Snap!   I've had my EQ5 mount since 2014 when I bought it to put an 8" SCT on - it's a real workhorse!  I much prefer using it an Alt/Az mount.  After all this time, I've just bought an RA motor to put on it though as when binoviewing with it's a pain having to nudge it constantly.  The F/7 102ED is a really great match with the EQ5 and agree with the rotatable focuser just makes using it a breeze.

[RobertI]

On 11/09/2022 at 23:25, Mr Spock said:

This scope, purchased the end of last year, is what finally gave me back my astro mojo. With the addition of the 12" Dob, I've been out more times this year than in the previous ten.

This is combination of scopes which I aspire to. I have one, just need the other. 🙂 I too have really loved having my 102ED and it’s added a whole new dimension to my observing - more so than any other scope I have owned. I think it’s the fact that it really has no foibles mechanically or optically (unlike most mirror scopes) - there is really no sense of compromise. As for the views, it produces perfect stellar views, and performs impossibly well on solar system. And wide field. Oh, and it’s really portable! What was it about the scope that helped get your mojo back @Mr Spock? 

[Mr Spock]

2 hours ago, RobertI said:

What was it about the scope that helped get your mojo back

No fuss, no nonsense, put the scope out and enjoy the views. Everything else had problems which put me off:
Previous to that - A 250mm Skywatcher Flextube goto Dob - spent 9-10 months with the base going backwards and forwards for repairs. Went through two bases and eventually sent the whole thing back.
Previous to the 250 - An iOptron 150mm Mak for 3 months which didn't live up to expectations. Sent that back too.
Previous to the 150 - 10 years with a C9.25 on an EQ6. Ended up not being able to lift the EQ6 (bad back) and the C9.25 was always susceptible to poor seeing. Put it all out, let it cool, take a look, get disappointed, put it all away...

The 102 and EQ5 had no issues at all - none! Goods views and good build quality. All that was missing was aperture. Fixed that with the Stellalyra 12" Dob. That had a rickety base which was soon sorted, but again, perfect optics - a keeper - which has given me my best ever views of the moon with the kind of fine detail at x400+ I can't put into words.

[RobertI]

Nicely described. Sounds like you have been through quite a journey to get your perfect setup. There is definitely a 12” dob in my future…..