87 replies to this topic

[Erik Bakker]

[....]

IMO it is at the eyepiece where the beauty of such excellent optics truly shine.

Good luck!

 

Cheers!

 

JMD

+1  

 

 

[Ben Diss]

Turns out the 645 flattener won't be here for a few weeks so I'll have to make do with visual use only. Somehow, I'll manage.

[Kitfox]

Turns out the 645 flattener won't be here for a few weeks so I'll have to make do with visual use only. Somehow, I'll manage.

 

Once you get a visual back on her, you may never image again!!!  Too bad the planets have moved on, but dark skies, a TOA 150 and galaxy season is kinda nice, too!!!  Throw in some doubles and star clusters?  Where did the night go 

[Wildetelescope]

Once you get a visual back on her, you may never image again!!!  Too bad the planets have moved on, but dark skies, a TOA 150 and galaxy season is kinda nice, too!!!  Throw in some doubles and star clusters?  Where did the night go 

Not sure about THAT:-)  But to be sure, the visual side of a superb 6 inch refractor is something truly special.   My AP 152 starfire was the first scope that I was able to see dust lanes in Andromeda from my Bortle 7 back yard.  Also gave me the most memorable view of the Double Cluster.  M13 is a wonder to behold as well.   I love imaging, but there is something very spiritual for me observing at the eyepiece, and the 6 inch refractor is a real step up for visual observing.  

 

Cheers!

 

JMD

[25585]

A beautiful celestial object is like a beautiful thing on Earth, you want to see it with your eyes, and photograph it for the memory. 

[Kitfox]

When, oh when?  

 

This weekend is the annual Messier Marathon weekend...40N you won't get all of them, but maybe high 90's?  And a polar-aligned Mach 2 will make it as easy as it possibly could be:

 

 

http://www.messier.s...hon/mm2025.html

Edited by Kitfox, 25 March 2025 - 07:33 PM.

[Ben Diss]

When, oh when?  

 

This weekend is the annual Messier Marathon weekend...40N you won't get all of them, but maybe high 90's?  And a polar-aligned Mach 2 will make it as easy as it possibly could be:

 

 

http://www.messier.s...hon/mm2025.html

 

Oh great. I started that last spring and got about 20 objects logged. Couldn't see many with a C8 on an AM3, but it sure was fun. I had just come back from NEAF with a few really cool eyepieces.

 

Too bad it'll be cloudy here for a month.

[Kitfox]

Clouds are the biggest Marathon killer...and a new TOA makes it worse 

Edited by Kitfox, 25 March 2025 - 07:59 PM.

[alejandrocarelli]

You won’t regret it. Go for the TOA-150! 

[SandyHouTex]

So I just looked and wow.  The TOA-150 is up to $15,070.  A couple of years ago it was around $10,000, but if money is no object for you...  For me, that would be a big no.

[25585]

So I just looked and wow.  The TOA-150 is up to $15,070.  A couple of years ago it was around $10,000, but if money is no object for you...  For me, that would be a big no.

What is your 6" refractor Sandy?

[SandyHouTex]

What is your 6" refractor Sandy?

I currently have a FS-152.

[Ben Diss]

So I just looked and wow.  The TOA-150 is up to $15,070.  A couple of years ago it was around $10,000, but if money is no object for you...  For me, that would be a big no.

 

Well it surely won't be going down anytime soon. 

 

Anyway, it'll arrive on Monday.

[SandyHouTex]

Well it surely won't be going down anytime soon. 

 

Anyway, it'll arrive on Monday.

Round trip flight on United to Tokyo from Houston - $1477

Tak TOA-150 at Kyoei-osaka - $9600.07

 

If I want another Tak OTA, that's the route I'm going.  I've never been to Tokyo.

[manbot13]

You'll need to hop on a shinkansen (bullet train) to get to Osaka. Although you may be surprised just how easy and affordable that is.

[CHASLX200]

So I just looked and wow.  The TOA-150 is up to $15,070.  A couple of years ago it was around $10,000, but if money is no object for you...  For me, that would be a big no.

11k too much for my blood.

[Ben Diss]

Round trip flight on United to Tokyo from Houston - $1477

Tak TOA-150 at Kyoei-osaka - $9600.07

 

If I want another Tak OTA, that's the route I'm going.  I've never been to Tokyo.

 

I seriously considered that. Full disclosure I have flight benefits so the travel would be free. The complication of shipping it home and the duty would be a complicator.

[CHASLX200]

I seriously considered that. Full disclosure I have flight benefits so the travel would be free. The complication of shipping it home and the duty would be a complicator.

Pay off a pilot to sneak it on the plane.

[Heywood]

I seriously considered that. Full disclosure I have flight benefits so the travel would be free. The complication of shipping it home and the duty would be a complicator.

 

I would worry about the scope losing collimation during intercontinental shipping.  I don't know whether such a worry is warranted, though.

Edited by Heywood, 27 March 2025 - 06:51 PM.

[25585]

I would worry about the scope losing collimation during intercontinental shipping.  I don't know whether such a worry is warranted, though.

TOAs are pretty solid, one reason I bought one. 

[Ben Diss]

Soon. Any minute now. Following the UPS truck online.

[Ben Diss]

OMG. What have I done?

 

The wife left the house 20 minutes before the brown truck pulled up. I've got everything unpacked and put away. She'll be home soon. Wish me luck.

 

 

Edited by Ben Diss, 31 March 2025 - 04:23 PM.

[Kitfox]

Congratulations!!!  They are both beautiful!

[Markinspace]

Dude, you bought it sans telling the wife?  At least you have a dog house to go to.

[Kitfox]

The dog looks like she can never keep a secret