Looking for some recommendations please on hopefully a simple new set-up, for short observing sessions on cold winter nights. Cold for here on clear nights is often -10F to 15F. (Northern new england in Bortle 3-4 location) Favorite target is getting a nice look at Jupiter at least before needing to head back indoors to warm up.
I already have the new telescope (Tried to get one that is supposed to need less cool down time after my Edge C8 froze over last month. Started looking for a 4” Tak during the sale and only one I could find in stock anywhere was a DZ.) so I now have a 100DZ plus some Maxbright Binoviewers.
Where I am getting stuck is regarding what I should use for the simplest combo of GPC and 1.25” eyepieces to get me magnifications up to the 130x-200x range. When its super cold, I dont want to be changing the set-up too many times. Ideally, I think only 1 GPC and either 2 or 3 eyepiece sets would be great, if that is feasible. Something along the lines of:
lowest mag 50X range
normal night max 130X - 150x
best nights max 160x - 200x
There are 3 GPCs, 1.25x, 1.7x and 2.6x
I’ve read that Binoviewer eyepieces should ideally be at least 10mm or more
Given the range of lowest to highest mag range I am after, I am also not sure if a Barlow or Powermate would be good to have and where it would go in the optical train or if I’d need one or two? lol
If the mount I’d be using matters, I have 2 go-to tracking options (AZ-Gti (which might be too light?) and a Rainbow (the Rainbow (or the external battery) got so cold on the night the Edge froze over, it would no longer slew.)
Please let me know what combo of GPC, EP sizes and/or Barlow/Powermate(s?) you’d recommend. Thanks very much for the help 🙏