If you HAD to keep only one scope?

[Captain Scarlet]

5 minutes ago, Flame Nebula said:

Hi Magnus, 

If memory serves me (and it's touch and go😬), you mount your 12" on an AZEQ6? I imagine you could get some terrific planet images with that combo. 

Yes that’s right, AZ-EQ6 in alt-az mode.

My most memorable planetary moments have been Saturn/Mimas recently with my 140mm refractor, and Mars, at opposition, just when I first got the mirror which is now part of my 12” newt. At that time I had just evicted the SW mirror from its 300p blue steel tube and drilled a lot of holes to provide temporary accommodation for the longer-FL OO mirror. Mars that night was like an atlas-map with the 12”. I have observed Jupiter through it but seeing hasn’t cooperated. The best I’ve seen Jupiter has been through its smaller sibling, my 8” newt.

Magnus

[paulastro]

1 hour ago, Flame Nebula said:

Hi Paul, 

How do you rate the Askar refractors to other brands, like SW, Tak? 

Well, all of these makes produce some great scopes, and I've enjoyed owning and using samples of all of them over the years.  

The most important thing to me is clearly the optics have to be of a good standard, and after that it's if the scope I'm considering buying has other features that may be particularly useful for the purpose I have in mind for it 

Many four inch refractors have good optics.  I went for the Askar because it had a few features that swung it for me such as two finder feet, a handle you can fit accessories to easily, binoviwer friendly   calibrated rotating focuser which is a rack and pinion etc etc.  Other observers will have their own priorities.  

Personally, I don't feel any make of scope is better than all of the others in all aspects, it's a matter personal preference.  We are very lucky in that there are many good quality manufacturers out there.  Certainly many more than there were fifty years ago!

[WolfieGlos]

Quite easy, referring to my post in the other topic….Starfield 102 😁

[Saganite]

1 hour ago, Elp said:

A lot of astro farms have their own equipment you can rent so if you're likely to visit one of these places this isn't necessary, just enjoy the trip.

My feelings exactly. I will be going on a long visit to Australia and New Zealand next March principally to visit my daughter  and her family and fully intend to spend time under the darkest skies. I am already investigating Astro observing opportunities  with larger instruments that could not be taken with me, and in truth I don't want the bother.

In 2019 I was able to observe under Arizona sky with a 28" DOB. Dedicated Astro trips into the Bush are available  around Alice Springs.

It makes my decision simple to make.

I would select the 152mm f8 refractor sitting in my dome, as the one to keep.

[bomberbaz]

given one option it would be my dob. It is superb on nebula. and galaxy work, best galaxy was 420mly away. Stopped down ( not that I have one) it could be made a nice F15 star spotting bit of kit and it has already been successfully used to get the HH and a couple  of billion LY plus blazars, so utilised properly it cover all my bases.

 

[Flame Nebula]

1 hour ago, Captain Scarlet said:

Yes that’s right, AZ-EQ6 in alt-az mode.

My most memorable planetary moments have been Saturn/Mimas recently with my 140mm refractor, and Mars, at opposition, just when I first got the mirror which is now part of my 12” newt. At that time I had just evicted the SW mirror from its 300p blue steel tube and drilled a lot of holes to provide temporary accommodation for the longer-FL OO mirror. Mars that night was like an atlas-map with the 12”. I have observed Jupiter through it but seeing hasn’t cooperated. The best I’ve seen Jupiter has been through its smaller sibling, my 8” newt.

Magnus

Hi Magnus, 

Interesting stuff! If you had to keep on scope for overall observation of planets, which would it be? 

[Flame Nebula]

Just now, Flame Nebula said:

Hi Magnus, 

Interesting stuff! If you had to keep one scope for overall observation of planets, which would it be? 

 

[Ags]

I have bought my scopes to complement each other so going down to one is hard to imagine. I suppose it would be the ZS66, simply because it is the lightest and most fun.

[John]

3 minutes ago, Ags said:

I have bought my scopes to complement each other...

I suspect my scopes of being quite rude to one another, when I'm not around 🙄

[Flame Nebula]

1 hour ago, Saganite said:

My feelings exactly. I will be going on a long visit to Australia and New Zealand next March principally to visit my daughter  and her family and fully intend to spend time under the darkest skies. I am already investigating Astro observing opportunities  with larger instruments that could not be taken with me, and in truth I don't want the bother.

In 2019 I was able to observe under Arizona sky with a 28" DOB. Dedicated Astro trips into the Bush are available  around Alice Springs.

It makes my decision simple to make.

I would select the 152mm f8 refractor sitting in my dome, as the one to keep.

Many years ago, I went to an astronomy evening in Alice springs. I had a look through their C11, and Saturn looked like a photograph! Fantastically sharp. But then I suspect it was fully eqilibrated and that the seeing was as good as it can get. It was my first time in the southern hemisphere, and I can remember seeing an upside down Orion. Couldn't quite get my head around Rigel and Betelgeuese swapping places. 🤪

[Flame Nebula]

Just now, John said:

I suspect my scopes of being quite rude to one another, when I'm not around 🙄

Yes, you can imagine the conversation. "12" to 4": Call yourself a scope!? 

4" to 12": It's well known that it's not size that matters, it's what you do with it! 😆

[John]

Just now, Flame Nebula said:

Many years ago, I went to an astronomy evening in Alice springs. I had a look through their C11, and Saturn looked like a photograph! Fantastically sharp. But then I suspect it was fully eqilibrated and that the seeing was as good as it can get. It was my first time in the southern hemisphere, and I can remember seeing an upside down Orion. Couldn't quite get my head around Rigel and Betelgeuese swapping places. 🤪

We did a similar thing when we visited Alice Springs in 2018. Unfortunately it clouded over before we got to using scopes 🙄

It was odd seeing Orion rise "feet first" !

Seeing the Magellanic Clouds and the magnificent globular cluster 47 Tucanae with my 8x56 binoculars on another night was pretty special though 🙂

I've seen Saturn looking like that with a C8 many years back when it was high in the sky here in the UK. Almost like the Voyager 1 images !

[Flame Nebula]

1 minute ago, John said:

We did a similar thing when we visited Alice Springs in 2018. Unfortunately it clouded over before we got to using scopes 🙄

It was odd seeing Orion rise "feet first" !

Seeing the Magellanic Clouds and the magnificent globular cluster 47 Tucanae with my 8x56 binoculars on another night was pretty special though 🙂

I've seen Saturn looking like that with a C8 many years back when it was high in the sky here in the UK. Almost like the Voyager 1 images !

Yes, I remember seeing the naked eye view of the magellanic clouds. Wonderful. It's views of saturn through SCTs that have tempted me towards the C9.25. I still think it's top of my list so far. Just not sure about uk seeing and some worrying comments about mushy views from some owners on this forum. 

[Marki]

For me, out of my current stable, I think I'd keep my Skylight 10mm f13 achro, even over my APM LZOS 130mm triplet. I'd miss the aperture and the quality and crispness of views in the 130mmm, but I think the 4" would be more manageable in the long-term, as I get older... . Its a lot lighter! And that 100mm Carton lens in the Skylight at f13 is no slouch in terms of quality and I can live with the pretty limited CA.

Edited March 16 by Marki

[Roy Challen]

9 hours ago, paulastro said:

Not necessarily, users of other makes and apertures of scope just don't feel the need to go on about them all the time. 

Personally, I'd prefer to have something with more aperture that was more useful for deep sky as well as planets and double stars 😊.

 

 

 

 

Agreed, much as I do love my Tak, it would be the first go in a forced cull.

So on that note, I'd keep the Skylight and get an adapter made up for the Solarscout's quark enabling me to use it in the Skylight.😀 

Actually, now that I've thought about it, that's a great idea. More resolution, more focal length, less telescopes😁

Edited March 16 by Roy Challen

[Saganite]

5 hours ago, Flame Nebula said:

. It was my first time in the southern hemisphere, and I can remember seeing an upside down Orion. Couldn't quite get my head around Rigel and Betelgeuese swapping places. 🤪

Yes, it pulls you up at first doesn't it..😅

Mind you, it would be fun listening to a 'flat Earther' explain that one away..🙂

 

[Flame Nebula]

55 minutes ago, Saganite said:

Yes, it pulls you up at first doesn't it..😅

Mind you, it would be fun listening to a 'flat Earther' explain that one away..🙂

 

That would be easy for them to explain. 

Because, clearly the pixies turned it upside down, whilst on their way to the fairy party! 🤪

[Earl]

From my history of scopes ID probably never be able to work out which ROFL all have strenghts.

Edited March 16 by Earl

[Littleguy80]

Between my 10” SW Dob, Tak FC100DF and Daystar SolarScout 60, I’d choose my dob. DSO’s are my favourite and the dob at my dark site can really push the limits. Does a great job wity planetary and could do white light solar too. I’d buy some nice binoculars for travel. The Tak is my most used scope currently and I love that I can bring it on holidays with me. However, whenever I take it to my dark site with the dob, I always spend more time with the dob. 

[Stu]

9 hours ago, Marki said:

I think I'd keep my Skylight 10mm f13 achro

Gosh that’s tiny, pocket sized in fact, ideal for travel 😉

[Grump Martian]

My Celestron C6 and Starfield ED 102 mm really give great views. But if I were forced to keep just one  it would have to be my Skywatcher Equinox ED 80 mm. It gives both great wide field and planetary views. Observing the moon is a delight. The little Equinox is a real performer.

[Paz]

I'd probably keep my 5" refractor out of my current scopes and then step down to a 4" if/when circumstances require it. ... but if I could only have one scope it probably would not be any of what I have currently...  I'd be very tempted to go for a 10" dobsonian. 

[Second Time Around]

17 hours ago, Flame Nebula said:

Thanks. Point3 is very useful. But I'm intrigued on point 5. Please tell me more about your night vision eyepiece? 🤔

I ought really have said night vision device, although mine can also be used as an eyepiece.

They hugely amplify the light coming in but, unlike EAA where the image builds up over time, the effect is immediate and so it's just like looking through a normal eyepiece.  

They'll show much fainter stars and nebulae, plus with an h-alpha filter most nebulae will really pop!

However, they're extremely expensive, especially outside the US (their military doesn't allow exports).

Mine cost me over £6000.  I could only afford it because I had a lump sum on retiring.  Go to https://www.ovni-nightvision.com/en/content/11--ovni-m-

Anything further is really off topic, but Cloudy Nights has a specialised night vision forum.

Edited March 16 by Second Time Around
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[Grump Martian]

9 minutes ago, Paz said:

I'd probably keep my 5" refractor out of my current scopes and then step down to a 4" if/when circumstances require it. ... but if I could only have one scope it probably would not be any of what I have currently...  I'd be very tempted to go for a 10" dobsonian. 

I recently bought a ten inch Dobsonian. But sold it to a school friend. After having abdominal surgery, I would not like to lift it being too heavy. If I could permenantly mount a telescope. Where I did'nt have to lift.  It would be a large Meade LX telescope.

[Backyardscope]

A 100mm Doublet, very versatile scope.