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Pages: 1 jimarshall sage Reged: 03/20/07 Loc: Virginia I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece!       #5272719 - 06/15/12 11:49 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have always been disappointed with views through my TMB eyepiece so I seldom used it. Yielding 333x with my C-8, local seeing conditions never allowed good results but last night was different. Views of Saturn at 125x looked very good so I tried the 6mm TMB...wow, Saturn was very sharp with the Cassini division really standing out and I could easily see 4 moons. After starring at Saturn for 20 minutes I took a look at tiny Mars. Even though the disk was small, I could make out a tiny polar cap and dark markings on the gibbous disk. So, I guess the TMB is a good eyepiece after all...I just have to wait for those rare moments to use it. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: jimarshall]       #5273059 - 06/15/12 03:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes you start thinking what a pile of junk your gear must be to deliver such lousy images all the time - then, you get the magic night, and suddenly you realize how really good it all is! We should all keep that in mind when we start lusting after new, better gear. Post Extras:       MikeBOKC Post Laureate Reged: 05/10/10 Loc: Oklahoma City, OK Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: jimarshall]       #5273426 - 06/15/12 06:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have very few nights when I can go below 8-10mm anyway, regardless of brand or design. It's pretty much all about seeing conditions, especially on planets. Post Extras:       HellsKitchen Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/05/08 Loc: Melbourne Australia Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: MikeBOKC]       #5273609 - 06/15/12 09:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Isn't it great when that happens Just the other night I had my 5mm in the 2.5x powermate with the 8". It's worth having a couple short FL eyepieces in the case because when you do get to use them, you are glad you have 'em Post Extras:       azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: HellsKitchen]       #5273643 - 06/15/12 10:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   With my 8", on Saturn - 333x or anything over 300x is really a good night ONLY thing. It is a revelation sometimes if the seeing is poor enough, long enough, just how sharp an image your scope can produce when the sky cooperates. Glad you found great seeing! Pete Post Extras:       E_Look Post Laureate Reged: 03/06/08 Loc: near New York Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: azure1961p]       #5273863 - 06/16/12 02:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ah, the TMBs! I have and use each one of the set. The 6 mm was about all I could use on Saturn tonight; the air was definitely unsteady. I also Barlowed that TMB Planetary 6 mm and got a bigger unsteady image. But in both cases, the TMB was able to also give me the Cassini division in those short and few moments of sharpness (I won't say stillness; there was none). I love those TMB Planetaries; even more when I Barlow them! Post Extras:       rdandrea Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/13/10 Loc: Colorado, USA DM59ra Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: E_Look]       #5274909 - 06/16/12 09:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have a couple of eyepieces that I can only use once or twice a year. I never blame the eyepieces. After 50 years in the hobby, I know it's the seeing. On those rare occasions when I get to use them, I am glad I have them. Post Extras:       brianb11213 Postmaster Reged: 02/25/09 Loc: 55.215N 6.554W Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: rdandrea]       #5275240 - 06/17/12 05:30 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I have a couple of eyepieces that I can only use once or twice a year. I never blame the eyepieces. After 50 years in the hobby, I know it's the seeing. On those rare occasions when I get to use them, I am glad I have them. +1 Anything that is still not satisfying, on that night when your 5mm monocentric is giving a steel etching image, is a good candidate for selling on or hurling into the trash. Post Extras:       Tristantene member Reged: 12/27/10 Loc: West Brookfield, Ma Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: brianb11213]       #5280163 - 06/20/12 06:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   By awesome coincidence, my first light with my 4" apo turned out to be a night of awesome seeing. I was able to push it to 284x (71x/in) with a 2.5mm XO. The eyepiece was the only thing holding that image together, but by god was saturn glorious. You know, people in astronomy always tell you to not bother with the crazy-high-power EP's. For those special nights of crystal seeing, though.... man, nothing can beat 'em. Edited by Tristantene (06/20/12 06:23 AM) Post Extras:       YktwnCVS10 member Reged: 01/26/10 Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: jimarshall]       #5321252 - 07/17/12 12:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have the TMB Planetary eyepiece in both 6mm and 5mm. I love the comfortable viewing they give for such a short focal length EP. I've used both with my 6" f/8 Newtonian, but mostly the 6mm at 200x. My scope is on a Dob mount, so no tracking. Yet, I've gotten some sharp pics of the moon and even some not-too-bad shots of Jupiter and Saturn, using just my Kodak EasyShare 8.2 mg pxl, 3x zoom, digital camera. Just snap-shots taken with the camera directly at the eyepiece (is that what they call "afocal"?). I have to take a lot of pics to get a few good ones out of them all, but to me it's well worth the effort. I also have 7mm, 6mm, and 5mm focal length orthoscopic EP's. They are great for planetary viewing, but I couldn't possibly take pictures of the moon or planets with them like I can with my TMB's. Thank God for Thomas M. Back; so sorry we lost him. Post Extras:       azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: Rick Woods]       #5321393 - 07/17/12 03:37 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes you start thinking what a pile of junk your gear must be to deliver such lousy images all the time - then, you get the magic night, and suddenly you realize how really good it all is! We should all keep that in mind when we start lusting after new, better gear. Bad seeing has a way of conditioning the observer to the point it can be a revelation when the sky settles finally and your best night memories werent embellished after all. Its been too long for me but summer is my nest seeing season. I havent been astonished in disbelief with my 8" in years but I dont get it out as much. Im still waiting for my still kinda new C6 to have its night[s] this summer. Its uplifting to read about someone getting his great night seeing finally. LOL, besides Norme. Pete Post Extras:       nirvanix Pooh-Bah Reged: 06/07/07 Loc: Saskatoon, SK Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: Rick Woods]       #5323348 - 07/18/12 10:08 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes you start thinking what a pile of junk your gear must be to deliver such lousy images all the time - then, you get the magic night, and suddenly you realize how really good it all is! We should all keep that in mind when we start lusting after new, better gear. Truer words were never spoken. I want better seeing rather than new gear. I'm wondering if I can buy a slightly used off-shore ocean platform somewheres? I hear the seeing is pretty good out on the seas. Anybody want to go halves? Post Extras:       E_Look Post Laureate Reged: 03/06/08 Loc: near New York Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: nirvanix]       #5323802 - 07/18/12 03:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   nirvanix, here's my ten bucks. Post Extras:       azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: E_Look]       #5324367 - 07/19/12 01:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There is a platform tens of miles south of long island. We can use that one. Pete Post Extras:       Ed D Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/30/10 Loc: Sunny South Florida Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: YktwnCVS10]       #5327907 - 07/21/12 08:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I've used both with my 6" f/8 Newtonian, but mostly the 6mm at 200x. My scope is on a Dob mount, so no tracking. There's something about a 6" f/8 Dob and a 6mm EP at 200x that hits a sweet spot, especially with good mirrors. Ed D Post Extras:       azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA Re: I actually got to use my 6mm TMB eyepiece! [Re: Ed D]       #5332073 - 07/23/12 08:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I agree Ed. It is a sweet spot to be sure where contrast and clarity really come together well skys permitting. Pete Post Extras:       Pages: 1

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