Holy Grail Scope

[ArnieVXR]

It’s just to test the scope out. I’ve had it 10-years and never looked though it. I couldn’t find a mount big enough.

[Sunshine]

7 minutes ago, ArnieVXR said:

It’s just to test the scope out. I’ve had it 10-years and never looked though it. I couldn’t find a mount big enough.

Oh wow, I wouldn’t resist ten days without looking through it even if I had to hold it up to my face like a sailors spotting scope 😂

[Froeng]

All this talk of refractors makes me think… how about a Zeiss APQ150? They are 1200mm fl which is a very nice allrounder… must be amazing! Apparently they even made an 8” f10. I guess that one would kill my humble C8 without even taking the lens cap off! 🤣

[pipnina]

10 hours ago, andrew s said:

For my interests this would do nicely 

 

Spectrograph on one side, photometry on the other.

Dream on.

Regards Andrew 

Why stop there?
https://www.astrosysteme.com/en-us/products/az2500-f6-f2/

Anyone got 7 million euros to spare?

[Sunshine]

Maybe I can 3D print one of those.

[fozzybear]

9 minutes ago, pipnina said:

Why stop there?
https://www.astrosysteme.com/en-us/products/az2500-f6-f2/

Anyone got 7 million euros to spare?

i'll ask the wife ;( 

[Sunshine]

9 minutes ago, fozzybear said:

i'll ask the wife ;( 

Bring flowers, many.

[fozzybear]

10 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Bring flowers, many.

actually she has got me a season pass  600 mm aperture telescope, Valméca manufacture (Vernet optics), equipped with a Newton focus (3.3) and two Cassegrain focusses (8 and 16) at our local gov observatory so a hands on once  a month on thursdays eve subject to clear nights 

 

[fozzybear]

29 minutes ago, fozzybear said:

actually she has got me a season pass  600 mm aperture telescope, Valméca manufacture (Vernet optics), equipped with a Newton focus (3.3) and two Cassegrain focusses (8 and 16) at our local gov observatory so a hands on once  a month on thursdays eve subject to clear nights 

 

So a bit like Jodrell Bank and Goonhilly Earth Station. They provide a gov service and also a visitor attaction during the daytime.

[paulastro]

I have my Holy Grail scope, and it's not a Tak, it's not even a refractor!  It's the Celestron Starsense Explorer 8inch Dob, which I bought last July.

I sold my 102ED F7 refractor to buy it, as I'm waiting for my second hip replacement and I have severe multilayer spinal stenosis. This means I can only use a finder with great difficulty, and it causes ne great pain despite shed loads of pain killers.

The SS means I can observe largely pain free (as long as I'm sat down) and the target finding app means I can find any object I want in less than a minute, and through thin layers of cloud where you literally can't see a single star, I kid you not. Plus no set up procedure each session and no finder necessary.

It's means I can carry on observing and making the most of every session I am outside. It's been a game changer for me.

What's more I have to say I can see a lot more through  the  8inch Dob than I could ever could see through my refractor.

 

 

[jetstream]

21 minutes ago, paulastro said:

I'm waiting for my second hip replacement and I have severe multilayer spinal stenosis.

I feel your pain, literally. I had 2 hip replacements a year and a half ago- complete success! zero pain. A couple of disks decided to try to fuse the prongs to the other one- yeah I have that too. The back is holding its own thankfully, but I know what you mean about refractor gymnastics...

Nice choice in scopes Paul.

[Sunshine]

1 hour ago, paulastro said:

I have my Holy Grail scope, and it's not a Tak, it's not even a refractor!  It's the Celestron Starsense Explorer 8inch Dob, which I bought last July.

I sold my 102ED F7 refractor to buy it, as I'm waiting for my second hip replacement and I have severe multilayer spinal stenosis. This means I can only use a finder with great difficulty, and it causes ne great pain despite shed loads of pain killers.

The SS means I can observe largely pain free (as long as I'm sat down) and the target finding app means I can find any object I want in less than a minute, and through thin layers of cloud where you literally can't see a single star, I kid you not. Plus no set up procedure each session and no finder necessary.

It's means I can carry on observing and making the most of every session I am outside. It's been a game changer for me.

What's more I have to say I can see a lot more through  the  8inch Dob than I could ever could see through my refractor.

 

 

Great story, if you notice in my signiature I am 8” starsense adorned too! Starsense is awesome! I love the fact that It guides to to fuzzies time and time again without fail, literally without fail. One more thing I love about this (I’m guessing any 8” dob will be the same) is the fact I can be seated the whole session with legs parted enough so the scope sits between my knees and I don’t have to bend like a contortionist to look through finders. Recently I have made a couple of modifications which improve the smoothness of the scope, but Asside from this, it (starsense) has been a game changer, it finds its position even when I can only see a few stars when the sun has barely just set.

[Deadlake]

16 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

I'll be putting my name down for the upcoming AP 110 F6 when it is ready, so you never know, my name could be pulled out of the hat.

I’m tempted by the AP110GTX, the light weight of it and portability is attractive

https://www.astro-physics.com/110gtx

Thanks for the scope, I’ve added some lightweight printed rings so it fits in a Stellarvue case.

the small size of the scope grows on me, handy for moving around the garden.

 

As far as dream scopes, tempted by a Doc Telecope 12.5” dob running at F3, would show some deep rich field views.

http://www.doctelescope.com
 

Edited February 25, 2023 by Deadlake

[Grump Martian]

11 hours ago, F15Rules said:

I consider myself very blessed, and very content..

So much so that I no longer own any other scopes. "Trinity" has been with me  now for almost 6 years and is 24 years old.

Her objective makes me smile every time I look at it, as well as through it..😉😁.

Dave

 

Hi. It looks traditional and fantastic. I once had an ED 120 and an Explore Scientific 127mm. They gave great views but were quite heavy weight wise. I understand that the Taks are a lot lighter for similar sizes. Would you agree?

Edited February 25, 2023 by Grump Martian
Spelling

[F15Rules]

Hi Martin, 

Yes, the FS128 is very light for it's size..7.5kg for a tube that is almost 6" diameter and c. 1 metre in length. The finder, diagonal and big EP or binoviewers bring that up to c 9 kg.

The newer 4" Taks are even lighter. If the day comes when I can't lift my current setup (and that would probably be the only reason I would change it), I think I'd go for one of the FC100 range on a light  Altaz type mount.

I was very moved by Paul's post though and feel a) so fortunate that I can still lift my present setup and b) more importantly, so pleased for Paul and others like him that they have found a literally perfect "Holy Grail" solution for their needs.

We often joke and tease one another about which of refractors, dobs, newts, scts or maks are best..but surely, in extremis, surely the best scope is the one that prolongs our ability to participate in our wonderful hobby for longest.

Dave

[Alan White]

We all clearly have varying challenges that lead us to the choices of mount type and scope, 
clearly that is not always the direction we might feel we want, but that is always one of life’s ways.

I have spoken with Paul about the Dob choice and fully understand with the thinking and result, 
A Dobson mounted Newt when sat at can be comfortable, the Starsense technology is clearly the real deal here.

I have to sit when I observe if for more than a cursory look see, my knees were wrecked a few years back from infection,
being seated is the critical part for me, especially if it’s cold and damp and let’s face it UK observing is cold and damp a lot of the time.

So dream scope for me is one I can sit at…

Always my now old Red MFI stool, purchased in 1979 with a desk for me by my Grandad.

The stool has outlasted Grandad, The desk and my Parents, the only upgrade is the seat pad a few years ago.

[paulastro]

2 hours ago, Alan White said:

We all clearly have varying challenges that lead us to the choices of mount type and scope, 
clearly that is not always the direction we might feel we want, but that is always one of life’s ways.

I have spoken with Paul about the Dob choice and fully understand with the thinking and result, 
A Dobson mounted Newt when sat at can be comfortable, the Starsense technology is clearly the real deal here.

I have to sit when I observe if for more than a cursory look see, my knees were wrecked a few years back from infection,
being seated is the critical part for me, especially if it’s cold and damp and let’s face it UK observing is cold and damp a lot of the time.

So dream scope for me is one I can sit at…

Always my now old Red MFI stool, purchased in 1979 with a desk for me by my Grandad.

The stool has outlasted Grandad, The desk and my Parents, the only upgrade is the seat pad a few years ago.

I love your 'obseratory' Alan, much neater than my observatory - garage 😊

[JeremyS]

3 hours ago, F15Rules said:

We often joke and tease one another about which of refractors, dobs, newts, scts or maks are best..

I never joke about Taks, Dave.

Or handles.

[saac]

@ollypenrice 's recent photographs taken with a RASA 8, I think, are truly stunning and show what a capable imaging system this is. So I think I am going to start apportioning off some of my retirement funds for a RASA 8 or 11 

Jim 

Edited February 25, 2023 by saac

[Sunshine]

6 hours ago, Alan White said:

We all clearly have varying challenges that lead us to the choices of mount type and scope, 
clearly that is not always the direction we might feel we want, but that is always one of life’s ways.

I have spoken with Paul about the Dob choice and fully understand with the thinking and result, 
A Dobson mounted Newt when sat at can be comfortable, the Starsense technology is clearly the real deal here.

I have to sit when I observe if for more than a cursory look see, my knees were wrecked a few years back from infection,
being seated is the critical part for me, especially if it’s cold and damp and let’s face it UK observing is cold and damp a lot of the time.

So dream scope for me is one I can sit at…

Always my now old Red MFI stool, purchased in 1979 with a desk for me by my Grandad.

The stool has outlasted Grandad, The desk and my Parents, the only upgrade is the seat pad a few years ago.

I love that Vixen, which one is it? 

[Alan White]

36 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

I love that Vixen, which one is it? 

ED103s now known as 'Lazarus'

[Sunshine]

16 hours ago, paulastro said:

I have my Holy Grail scope, and it's not a Tak, it's not even a refractor!  It's the Celestron Starsense Explorer 8inch Dob, which I bought last July.

I sold my 102ED F7 refractor to buy it, as I'm waiting for my second hip replacement and I have severe multilayer spinal stenosis. This means I can only use a finder with great difficulty, and it causes ne great pain despite shed loads of pain killers.

The SS means I can observe largely pain free (as long as I'm sat down) and the target finding app means I can find any object I want in less than a minute, and through thin layers of cloud where you literally can't see a single star, I kid you not. Plus no set up procedure each session and no finder necessary.

It's means I can carry on observing and making the most of every session I am outside. It's been a game changer for me.

What's more I have to say I can see a lot more through  the  8inch Dob than I could ever could see through my refractor.

 

 

Look at that frost caked dob, you guys don't mess around across the pond.

[ollypenrice]

2 hours ago, saac said:

@ollypenrice 's recent photographs taken with a RASA 8, I think, are truly stunning and show what a capable imaging system this is. So I think I am going to start apportioning off some of my retirement funds for a RASA 8 or 11 

Jim 

The only thing that would, now, tempt me away from the RASA 8 would be a RASA 11 or 14. There is nothing of which I'm aware, at any price, which I would take instead.

Olly

[tomato]

The RASA is a fine scope but like all of these "Which Scope?" threads, it depends on want you want to see/image. If you want small galaxies like this:

Then you need one of these:

Oh, and it needs to be located in Atacama...

[jetstream]

6 hours ago, JeremyS said:

I never joke about Taks,

Yeah me neither 😬