849 replies to this topic

[Bill Barlow]

My one gripe with the otherwise superb Takahashi FC-100DC is the focuser, which is adequate for low to moderate magnifications but frustrating at high magnification because the motion is too stiff and not nearly fine enough.

 

SO, Starlight Instruments to the rescue! 

 

I tried an MPA-TAK2.5, but it was too big for the 100DC, so it has now been replaced with an MPA-TAK-FS60/76, which fits perfectly. The focus action is superb and the MPA coordinates beautifully with the Takahashi aesthetic. 

 

More details in this Refractor Forum topic.

 

Here is a picture of the TAK-FS60/76 on the 100DC.

 

Nice upgrade, Fiske.  I did the same thing with my Tak FC 76 DCU as I wanted the fine focus capabilities the stock focuser didn't have.  Except I got a silver fine focus knob instead of the gold.  Totally new observing experience now.  Worth every penny.

 

Bill

Edited by Bill Barlow, 14 October 2024 - 03:00 PM.

[Fiske]

Nice upgrade, Fiske.  I did the same thing with my Tak FC 76 DCU as I wanted the fine focus capabilities the stock focuser didn't have.  Except I got a silver fine focus knob instead of the gold.  Totally new observing experience now.  Worth every penny.

 

Bill

  

[jrazz]

Since selling the TOA and building the DT I figured I didn't need a support telescope. Last night I discovered that, yeah, a dob is still fun. I need to make it better but I think this is going to be my support telescope:

 

[Takuan]

My new flat no longer has a terrace, only a small balcony, and the narrow and steep access to the roof makes it impossible to get the 10" dob up there.

That's why I bought a new telescope. It's a 6" Mak (Skymax 150) on an Eq5 mount. I'll use it, above all, for the Moon, planets and double stars. Last night it had its first light (with and without a binoviewer) and I'm very happy with the result. A very fine focus, pinpoint stars almost like a refractor and a magnificent contrast.

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[Terra Nova]

For me, a telescope intended to complement my handheld binoculars must offer a correct image and be able to operate at similar magnifications with similar fields of view, and offer similar eye relief. For several years I have been using an AT72ED2 in this role, but have recently replaced it with an AT80EDT shown in the photo, which has some advantages. 
 

It’s 8mm larger in aperture, 3 inches longer in length, has a triplet objective and weighs about 1 pound more. The larger aperture slightly increases its optical performance. Its longer length and heavier objective allow it to be more easily balanced with larger 2” eyepieces without it becoming too large and bulky to be stored fully assembled on a shelf in my safe, requiring a larger mount/tripod, or used as a grab&go scope at this forested site that requires a lot of tree dodging. 
 

As shown in the photo with a 35mm Panoptic (14x80 mode), it offers a 4.6° TFOV at 14x, a 5.8mm exit pupil, and 24mm of eye relief making very comfortable to look through for long observing sessions. Substituting 3mm eyepiece at 160x,  it’s much less comfortable, but capable of providing acceptable planetary views. It’s shown mounted on the same SV M2C mount and Manfrotto 475B tripod that I used with the AT72ED2. 
 

I can’t think of a more perfect support telescope. 10+ months and I’m still loving mine! (AT80EDT)

Edited by Terra Nova, 03 November 2024 - 11:37 AM.

[Rich V.]

I can’t think of a more perfect support telescope. 10+ months and I’m still loving mine! (AT80EDT

I'm on board with Gary and Terra; there's a lot to like about a good 80mm f/6 triplet as a support and grab-n-go telescope.  Small and easy to handle but still potent.  I've had my Lomo 80mm f/6 for 17 years now and it's a prize I'll never let go of.

[Terra Nova]

I'm on board with Gary and Terra; there's a lot to like about a good 80mm f/6 triplet as a support and grab-n-go telescope.  Small and easy to handle but still potent.  I've had my Lomo 80mm f/6 for 17 years now and it's a prize I'll never let go of.

And with a 2” 40mm eyepiece it’s 12X a 32mm gives 15X, a 30mm is 16X, and a 24mm puts it at 20X so it’s really easy to match most common bigger binocular magnifications for nice comparative views. 

[Rich V.]

The only downside I've found with the short 480mm focal length of an 80mm f/6 is that with wider fields approaching or exceeding 4°, my old eyes can't cope with the field curvature and the outer areas of the FOV get blurry.   

[jrazz]

Not to be outdone by Fiske...

 

 

 

These are NICE!!!

They are bigger, smoother and have a lighter operation than the More Blue focusers they replaced. 

 

 

 

Much more expensive but you definitely get more for your money. Seeing the details that went into these focusers I can tell it's not a simple knob and housing, there are sleeves and bearings. All really really well machined. REALLY well made. You definitely get what you paid for and feeling the action of it, it's worth it!

[aznuge]

Not to be outdone by Fiske...

 

ft_focuser_beanie.jpeg

 

 

These are NICE!!!

They are bigger, smoother and have a lighter operation than the More Blue focusers they replaced. 

 

MB_FT_focuser.jpeg

 

 

Much more expensive but you definitely get more for your money. Seeing the details that went into these focusers I can tell it's not a simple knob and housing, there are sleeves and bearings. All really really well machined. REALLY well made. You definitely get what you paid for and feeling the action of it, it's worth it!

Nice

[Fiske]

Not to be outdone by Fiske...

 

ft_focuser_beanie.jpeg

 

 

These are NICE!!!

They are bigger, smoother and have a lighter operation than the More Blue focusers they replaced. 

 

MB_FT_focuser.jpeg

 

 

Much more expensive but you definitely get more for your money. Seeing the details that went into these focusers I can tell it's not a simple knob and housing, there are sleeves and bearings. All really really well machined. REALLY well made. You definitely get what you paid for and feeling the action of it, it's worth it!

  

 

Well done, Jordan!! 

[Fiske]

I finally did some observing Wednesday evening, from my front porch with the 100XL-SD and Pentax 20XWs (28x / 2.50* FOV), and found myself wishing I had set up the Tak 100DC too. Throughout the session.   Achird, Miram, Almach... 

 

I did have a stunning view of the Double Double in Perseus. Somehow I had not realized that it is beautifully positioned for observing from my porch in November. I was fooling around in Cassiopeia, then wandered over to Stock 2. And then was like, hold on. 

 

The 100XL+20XWs is an ideal configuration for observing the Double Double. It frames Stock 2 beautifully as well.

 

Edited by Fiske, 08 November 2024 - 10:31 PM.

[Bill Barlow]

Nice FT focuser upgrade, Jordan, to your 100 DC BT.  I added one to my 76 DCU and it makes a big difference when getting a sharp focus at higher magnifications.  
 

Glad you were able to het out with your 100 BT recently, Fiske.  I’m hoping to get up early one morning soon around 4 AM to do some observing as the moon gets brighter in the evening sky.  
 

Bill

[Fiske]

Planning to deploy the support Tak 100DC this evening. 

[Doug Culbertson]

Since selling the TOA and building the DT I figured I didn't need a support telescope. Last night I discovered that, yeah, a dob is still fun. I need to make it better but I think this is going to be my support telescope:

 

Here’s mine, ES Firstlight 10”, but I’ve done a lot of mods/improvements since this photo was taken. That said, I use my smaller refractors and C5 much more often. 

 

BTW, love the new focusers on your Tak Binoscope. 

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[jrazz]

I might have gone over the top in the support telescope category. 

 

 

That's a 15" f/5 mirror.

 

Well, I guess the DT needs some serious support!

[Fiske]

 

I might have gone over the top in the support telescope category. 

 

 

 

 

That's a 15" f/5 mirror.

 

Well, I guess the DT needs some serious support!

 

You, Jordan?

 

Go over the top???

 

Nah!

 

  

 

(Congratulations. It's going to be wonderful.  )

Edited by Fiske, 23 November 2024 - 11:13 PM.

[Bill Barlow]

Jordan, are you going to build your own 15” Dob?

 

Bill

[jrazz]

Not going to, am building.

 

OK, TBH It's a Telekit. I love their look and the quality. Best of all, they are a short 40 minute drive from me and are awesome to talk to. 

 

So yeah, building my own Telekit.

[Scott99]

That's going to be a serious telescope!  I like the longish f/5 ratio, you don't see too many of those at 15 inches

[columbidae]

Not going to, am building.

 

OK, TBH It's a Telekit. I love their look and the quality. Best of all, they are a short 40 minute drive from me and are awesome to talk to. 

 

So yeah, building my own Telekit.

In the context of "binocular support telescope", I'm imagining a mount coming off of the upper cage of the 15" with a L-bracket to attach the binoculars to - that way the scope is always pointing to where the binoculars are pointed, and you can easily exchange views between the two.

Edited by columbidae, 25 November 2024 - 12:31 AM.

[Echolight]

I'm on board with Gary and Terra; there's a lot to like about a good 80mm f/6 triplet as a support and grab-n-go telescope.  Small and easy to handle but still potent.  I've had my Lomo 80mm f/6 for 17 years now and it's a prize I'll never let go of.

I like the idea of a small refractor. Mainly the small size and weight.

(Plus they do widefield very well themselves.)

 

But for support of binoculars....

...for the same small and light reasons, and more, (and noticeably more affordable than an FC100), I appreciate 5 inches of aperture in a tiny lightweight package.

The "deuced and reduced" C5 goes very well with low power widefield binoculars, Maybe not taking over directly where they leave off, but starting low enough and going much farther away, from 2.3 degrees to 275x.

 

It boldly goes where no 80 has gone before.

And still one hand out the door on the mount.

 

Since we have delved into larger apertures, the 10 was affordable and is very quick and easy to set up.

And definitely brings a new and much brighter dimension to viewing.

Albeit a bit of a drag to carry out (fat 40 pound tube).

 

I have much respect for those with enough dedication to drag out something larger into their back yard, .... and then piecing it together, only to have to tear it down and carry back in later that night.

I could only imagine a bigger truss scope as a travel scope for me. For dedicated dark site trips,.. which isn't something that happens, ever really just yet.

The solid tube 10 is the limit of pain for me at the moment.

Edited by Echolight, 28 November 2024 - 01:31 PM.

[aznuge]

Solo Telescope Session

 

And me a binocular man ... This was one for the books.  First ever astronomy session for me with only a support telescope.  It took place in an urban area, in an unlit parking lot, away from home, from 4 to 5am MST.  My targets were NGC 6818, M84, M86, Epsilon Lyra Double Double, M11 (Wild Duck Cluster) and NGC 7009.  The conditions were clear, except for some hazy clouds hovering over the SW horizon.  The moon was waning at 95%, and my SQM brought down an average reading from zenith of 17.9.  So not the best conditions, but it was what it was for this urban location, and a good test for my Astrotech 125 EDL with 20mm and 7mm XW eyepieces.

 

NGC 6818

Faint, star-like and a little fuzzy, NCG 6818 appeared first with averted vision, then directly in my FOV.  Eighth magnitude HD 186107 appears about a half degree to the WSW of this planetary nebula.

 

NGC 6705

Also known as M11 or the Wild Duck Cluster, this open cluster was brightly visible in these urban skies, also within the glow of the waning 95% moon.  Two nearby stars frame and form a triangle with M11 - ninth magnitude SAO 142703 to the SE, and 8th magnitude HD 174281 to the SW.

 

STF 2382 AB, CD (Epsilon Lyra)

First I viewed the double double at 49x, then switched to a 7mm eyepiece for a power of 139x.  This clearly brought into view each separate star with a line separating the double in each pair.  Epsilon1 Lyra appeared in the upper left of my FOV, and showed a clear separation (2.15") line for the AB stars.  Epsilon2 Lyra appeared in the lower right of my FOV, and showed a clear separation (2.34") line for the CD stars.

 

NGC 7009

This planetary nebula is also known as Caldwell 55, and the Saturn nebula. I could not see its ears tonight.   It appeared as a relatively bright, somewhat soft edged, star-like object among other stars in the FOV.  The most notable adjacent star was 7th magnitude HD 200157 about a degree to the SW.

 

M84/M86

Not even in my imagination could I make these two galaxies pop tonight, under the conditions of the newly waning moon being in the same quadrant of the sky.  I'll get back to these two next week when I am back home, from my own suburban back yard. 

 

The Astrotech performed very well, was easy to deploy, and had the deep penetration and longer focal for the tight doubles.

 

[aznuge]

I chose the Astrotech 125 EDL again as a solo instrument for a brief session.  The purpose this time was to observe one double star from my urban setting - Beta Scorpii.  I have logged this one previously from darker sites, but needed a view from my light polluted conditions for a project I am working on.  My front yard in this case was appropriate, and the Astrotech was mounted on a 612 head, atop a Gitzo series 5 tripod.  The target was easily acquired when Scorpius rose up above my neighbor's house toward the SSE.

 

Beta Scorpii, H 3 7 AC: 

Brightness contrasted by about 2.3 orders between the primary and the 2nd.  This is a very beautiful double to my eyes, largely due to the magnitude difference.  Both stars are bluish white. At 98x with 5" aperture, the separation of 13.4" was very comfortable to my view.

 

The night before I had followed up on my post above with a session on M84 and M86, after being frustrated with these two in another city out of state.  In this case the Astrotech became the support telescope in tandem with the Oberwerk BT127XL SD.  Success. They make a great observing pair, especially for DSOs!

 

[aznuge]

I also used the Astrotech 125 EDL in support of the BT127 about a week ago in a long and focused session at a darker site.  Strong support it was!  I used this Telescope/BT team to observe and log twenty seven DSOs on the Herschel 400 list.  The conditions were great for the location, with very good seeing and SQM at 20.7.  I am highlighting a few of these objects:

 

NGC 3686

Yes, got it, but it took several minutes, 20 or more before it popped. I used the 52 powered binocular telescope to see this barred spiral galaxy.  It is very faint. I used averted vision and waited patiently.  It finally it appeared. I sketched it, and confirmed the background pattern of stars.  11th magnitude TYC 1437-1796-1 was visible just at the northern end of this circular spiral galaxy.

 

NGC 3395

This is a very faint spiral galaxy in the constellation Leo.  It has another galaxy seemingly entwined with it - NGC 3396.  Both were seen together with no distinction in my view.  I observed patiently viewing, glimpsing, and confirming it through my BT eyepieces for the best part of half an hour.  The location of it was at the bottom of an "barn side" asterism that I made up of five adjacent stars - 12th magnitude Gaia DR2 737665683969544576, Gaia DR2 737671254542467584, 10th mag TYC 2519-324-1, and 11th mag TYC 2519-718-1 and TYC 2519-565-1.  Sure of its location I could make it pop into averted vision with tapping the BT.  Had to work hard for this one.

 

NGC 4179

Through a 5" refractor telescope at 49x, NGC 4179 appears at the end of a string of five, 10-11 magnitude stars, in a perpendicular to the line.  The string begins with 11th mag TYC 281-480-1 and proceeds in a NE to SW direction until it ends with 10th mag TYC 281-588-1 just before it encounters the galaxy. The view was clear in my refractor.  It is a lenticular galaxy in Leo with a long, skinny shape in the  SE to NW direction.

 

But you can't win 'em all.  The extremely faint and small spiral galaxy NGC 3912 eluded my gaze during this session.