Ultimate visual set up

[NGC 1502]

Here’s my dream scope-

One year at Kelling star party I was privileged to observe through Liverpool Astronomical Society 30” Dob.

The night was not especially transparent, but the spiral arms of Messier 33 were very obvious indeed.  This 30 second observation was very probably all I’ll ever get…..but what a fabulous half minute that was😁

[Sunshine]

1 hour ago, The60mmKid said:

I already own my version of it 😊

 

And these 😊

 

You know you’ve done well for yourself when your scope has nothing less than eyepieces for counterweights 😂

[paulastro]

My ultimate visual telescope is the telescope which allows me to see the amount of detail I want to see, in the objects I like to observe which is commensurate with my current age, fitness and finances.

At the current time this is a a Celestron 10 inch Dobsonian Starsense Explorer.  The Starsense Explorer push-to app based location system allows me to find any object I want quickly, easily, accurately, silently and  without any pain, WiFi connection. or an electricity supply - other than my phones battery!

Luckily for me, I already have one 😊.

[IB20]

Maybe a pier mounted 7” APO refractor. AP/Tak/TEC. A real bank account/credit card ruiner.

[SCANS]

This would probably suffice for my interests : Taurus T350 f/4.8; Borg 107FL f/5.6; APM UFF 30mm; Baader Morpheus set; Baader VIP barlow; Rowan AZ75 mount for the Borg with suitable tripod; and 20+ ha in a safe, warm, dry, 21.8 mpsas or better area, without snakes, scorpions, poisonous spiders, or other beasties that might bite or eat me.

[mikeDnight]

9 hours ago, SCANS said:

This would probably suffice for my interests : Taurus T350 f/4.8; Borg 107FL f/5.6; APM UFF 30mm; Baader Morpheus set; Baader VIP barlow; Rowan AZ75 mount for the Borg with suitable tripod; and 20+ ha in a safe, warm, dry, 21.8 mpsas or better area, without snakes, scorpions, poisonous spiders, or other beasties that might bite or eat me.

That's a modest and achievable list of wants as far as equipment goes. When it comes to the "beasties", you could move to the UK. All we have to worry about, beastie wise, are the Adder, which keep themselves to themselves, and Weresheep, that sneak up behind you when on the moor's at night and cough loudly just like humans. They make me jump every time! A sheep once ate my hotdog, and there was one time when a duck swallowed my meat pie. I'd only taken one bite and then it was gone, swallowed almost whole! Scary!!!😨

[Peter Drew]

What did the duck taste like?    🙂

[Mr Spock]

1 minute ago, Peter Drew said:

What did the duck taste like? 

Chicken?

[bosun21]

If you have the skies dark enough then a >20” dobsonian will blow the other scopes out of the water. But being realistic a >6” apo frac would be my choice.

[Beardy30]

3 hours ago, bosun21 said:

If you have the skies dark enough then a >20” dobsonian will blow the other scopes out of the water. But being realistic a >6” apo frac would be my choice.

Yea 6” apo would be lovely 

[mikeDnight]

18 hours ago, Beardy30 said:

Yea 6” apo would be lovely 

I thought that, until my back gave way while putting it on my G11, and I slid down the 6 ft tall pier in absolute agony, desperately clutching the £10,000 tube assembly of my precious FS152. At the time my pier was sunk permanently into my back lawn and I didn't have an observatory. The scope had to be mounted and dismounted with each observing session. Had I had the brains I was born with, I'd have shortened the pier and observed from a seated position, making mounting the scope much safer. Instead, I eventually sold the FS152. The lesson has now been learned, but my bank account couldn't take another hit at that level.

Edited February 6 by mikeDnight

[Nicola Fletcher]

I was reading online - I think on CN - about someone who took a year off work and shipped a 36’ Obsession to New Zealand to observe the southern sky. I would absolutely love to do that!

If that was too much, a 24’ Planewave would do. I recently had a look through one - it was amazing.

You did say ultimate setup!

[The60mmKid]

Ultimate ultimate is a spaceship. I keep whispering pleas to the superior beings to beam me up but they've gone unheard so far 😞 

[mikeDnight]

15 hours ago, Nicola Fletcher said:

I was reading online - I think on CN - about someone who took a year off work and shipped a 36’ Obsession to New Zealand to observe the southern sky. I would absolutely love to do that!

If that was too much, a 24’ Planewave would do. I recently had a look through one - it was amazing.

You did say ultimate setup!

Are they carrying handles on the mount Nicola? If so I think you may have won Jeremy over! 😅

[F15Rules]

On 04/02/2024 at 21:32, mikeDnight said:

Dito!

I've just had a look and what do you know - I've got one! 

 

Lovely, Mike..

But isn't it hideous how scopes age so much better than we do?😏🤭

Dave

[F15Rules]

On 04/02/2024 at 22:22, JeremyS said:

Can't fool me, Jeremy..

I know that that finder is actually a handle!!😁

 

 

[Nicola Fletcher]

7 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

Are they carrying handles on the mount Nicola? If so I think you may have won Jeremy over! 😅

Absolutely Mike - I even thought of @JeremyS when I saw them. Mind you, Jeremy is single handedly responsible for the fact that a Mewlon, with its own handle, is winging itself to my house as we speak. I think I’m going over to the dark side!

[JeremyS]

Just now, Nicola Fletcher said:

Absolutely Mike - I even thought of @JeremyS when I saw them. Mind you, Jeremy is single handedly responsible for the fact that a Mewlon, with its own handle, is winging itself to my house as we speak. I think I’m going over to the dark side!

M180 or 210, Nicola?
Ultimately, we will need photographic evidence, of course 😊

[Nicola Fletcher]

Just now, JeremyS said:

M180 or 210, Nicola?
Ultimately, we will need photographic evidence, of course 😊

I thought long and hard, and went for the 180C in the end. The smaller size, weight and mount requirements were the deciding factors. The best telescope is the one you use, and I have learned the hard way about buying scopes that are too big for me. I’m obsessively watching the courier’s progress - it will be here on Friday or Monday. I will post pictures!

[JeremyS]

Just now, Nicola Fletcher said:

I thought long and hard, and went for the 180C in the end. The smaller size, weight and mount requirements were the deciding factors. The best telescope is the one you use, and I have learned the hard way about buying scopes that are too big for me. I’m obsessively watching the courier’s progress - it will be here on Friday or Monday. I will post pictures!

Perfect! 👍🏻

[mikeDnight]

3 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Lovely, Mike..

But isn't it hideous how scopes age so much better than we do?😏🤭

Dave

Ouch!  

[F15Rules]

29 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

Ouch!  

I think the last laugh is with you Mike...I hit 68 orbits next Tuesday!🤦‍♂️😱

[dantro]

'Class', but not too much.  'Price', but too much.

[F15Rules]

On 04/02/2024 at 23:05, paulastro said:

My ultimate visual telescope is the telescope which allows me to see the amount of detail I want to see, in the objects I like to observe which is commensurate with my current age, fitness and finances.

At the current time this is a a Celestron 10 inch Dobsonian Starsense Explorer.  The Starsense Explorer push-to app based location system allows me to find any object I want quickly, easily, accurately, silently and  without any pain, WiFi connection. or an electricity supply - other than my phones battery!

Luckily for me, I already have one 😊.

Paul, I never thought I'd  "Like" a Ship's Funnel photo, but your description of your ideal scope combination of Wants, Needs, Finances, Health etc at this time nailed the OP's question. Thank you for your post.

In the past 10 years I have owned 3 main scopes, each of which met all the above criteria for me at that particular time..

2014 -Beautiful D&G USA 5" F15 achromat, customised by Moonraker, London, and fitted with a Moonlite 2" focuser and tube optimised for Binoviewers. Completely undermounted as I had no funds left for an upgrade after the scope was done. Still got some amazing views though!

2017

I fulfilled a lifetime ambition to own one of the finest 5" refractors ever built..the Tak FS128. Owned her for 7 years.

2024 February

Vixen SD115S 

Sadly I had to recognise that deteriorating eyesight, especially in my right eye, plus the significant bulk and weight of the Tak setup and awful recent weather was working against my getting out under the stars so often..and I was probably not able to detect the very best images that the Tak could deliver.

My new setup is significantly smaller, lighter and less bulky. With the proceeds of the Tak sale I've been able to acquire this lovely and still premium quality and powerful refractor, plus an almost complete set of Vixen LVW eyepieces. So I hope this is now my personal ultimate setup for the observing time I still have to look forward to..

Dave😊

Edited February 8 by F15Rules
Typo

[bosun21]

8 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Paul, I never thought I'd  "Like" a Ship's Funnel photo, but your description of your ideal scope combination of Wants, Needs, Finances, Health etc at this time nailed the OP's question. Thank you for your post.

In the past 10 years I have owned 3 main scopes, each of which met all the above criteria for me at that particular time..

2014 -Beautiful D&G USA 5" F15 achromat, customised by Moonraker, London, and fitted with a Moonlite 2" focuser and tube optimised for Binoviewers. Completely undermounted as I had no funds left for an upgrade after the scope was done. Still got some amazing views though!

2017

I fulfilled a lifetime ambition to own one of the finest 5" refractors ever built..the Tak FS128. Owned her for 7 years.

2024 February

Vixen SD115S 

Sadly I had to recognised that deteriorating eyesight especially in my right eye, plus the significant bulk and weight of the Tak setup and awful recent weather was working against my getting out under the stars so often..and I was probably not able to detect the very best images that the Tak could deliver.

My new setup is significantly smaller, lighter and less bulky. With the proceeds of the Tak sale I've been able to acquire this lovely and still premium quality and powerful refractor, plus an almost complete set of Vixen LVW eyepieces. So I hope this is now my personal ultimate setup for the observing time I still have to look forward to..

Dave😊

Absolutely beautiful telescope in typical @Franklin condition. Great acquisition Dave!