42 replies to this topic

[bjkaras]

I haven’t been here for a few months because I’ve been dealing with probate issues. Anyway, I know many of us have more than one scope. I have three but some of you have more than that. What I’m curious about is which one gets the most use. Lately I’ve been using my 6” f/8 newt a lot. I cane pick it up and take it in the back yard very easily. The 10” f/5 rolls out onto the driveway, but there’s a steeetlight right there. Therefore I save the 10” for the trips to my dark sites. I haven’t done that recently for the same reason I haven’t been for for a while, therefore I use the 6”. I haven’t used the 6@ refractor because it’s packed away in the other house until I get around to selling that house. So yes, it’s nice to have more than one telescope. They all have their purposes.

[Inkie]

I make a point of rotating through all my scopes, whether only in my Bortle 5/6 back yard or when I load up and drive up the ski mountain to Bortle 2/3 on moonless nights. The most daunting is the 12" Dob, but I can still handle it okay in and out of the back of my SUV.  My small APO and the small Mak are much more pleasant to use, less anxiety and stress, but their views are much reduced due to their small apertures.  Still, in dark skies, and above a lot of the haze, smoke, and lower atmosphere moisture, every one of them is a joy to use.

[balcon3]

By far my Takahashi FC100DF f/7.4. It can do it all for me: planets with a binoviewer to 250x and more (on the moon), wide field up to 3.6 degrees, and everything between, with superb sharpness, contrast, and color correction. It is light (3.1 kg) and easy to mount. Although I have 3 other scopes (including a Mewlon 180c, a 6 inch f/8 reflector, and an 80mmEDL), ever since I got it last yearI would say I use the 100DF 80% of the time. It is just so versatile and easy to take out and set up and so satisfying to use. 

Edited by balcon3, 23 April 2025 - 02:53 AM.

[therealdmt]

I also have three, arguably four, telescopes: a 10" Dob, and then refractors of 4", approx. 3", and 2" (I haven’t quite decided on an official status for the 2"er, which is kind of half telescope/half finder).

 

The last number of months, my 10" Dob has been getting the most use. It’s two trips to take it out (and back in), plus more trips for the sundry items I tend to accompany my use of it with, but… I’m finding myself more willing to do that these days if conditions are good. The added aperture is nice for DSOs.

 

Before that, I kept a seperate small apartment by my work in the city, where I kept my approx. 3" refractor (a SW 72ED), and that scope got a lot of use there, for a couple of years it being perhaps my most used scope of all. Now that I’ve consolidated everything back to one suburban house though, the 3"er isn’t seeing much use, really. At first I still used it a lot out of habit, but eventually I ended up just taking out the 4" for anything but the quickest of views. The 72 is still good for just a lunar peruse, catching Venus, Pleiades, the Beehive, etc., or just for a change o’ pace. And then for messing around with the optics or for a true ultralight, there’s the 2". Also by the time I get that small/light, my couple of binoculars vie for my attention, too.

 

The 4" is good for when conditions are somewhat marginal (however, conditions have tended to be more "all or nothing" this year), or for when I don’t have much time, or as a complement to the Dob. Also, for just a planetary session, I’ll be grabbing the 4". Also for a double star session. Accordingly, that’s my second most used scope

[gstrumol]

Without a doubt my PST for Ha and my AT80EDL for WL solar imaging.

[truckerfromaustin]

My AT92 is the most commonly used scope in my collection. It will probably be surpassed by my Comet Hunter this year. The extra aperture of the CH will make it a better choice for the upcoming galaxy season, if I ever get a cloudless night with good seeing conditions.

CS

[VA3DSO]

I have three scopes as well, and these days my Celestron Omni AZ 102 gets used the most. I usually have it set up by the back patio doors so I can take it outside in one go and set it up in the garden. I use it for both solar and nighttime viewing. It's been a real treat to use ever since I put it on my AZ4 mount...

 

 

My Meade 2080 LX3 gets used the second most. I use it on the same AZ4 mount. Usually I take it out to my dark sky observing site...

 

 

My last scope is a little Sky-Watcher Mercury 705 (70mm f/7.1 achromat) that I use more for travel. I recently replaced the objective lens in it, and it works fine, but the optics in my Omni are sharper.

 

Clear skies!

 

Rick

 

[sevenofnine]

Three seems to be the magic number here   My 80mm ED refractor is my grab-n-go that gets used the most. Followed by the 5" Mak then an 8" Dob. Actually, what's got the most use this Fall/Winter is a mounted 70mm ED binocular. I can pick it up in one had and be out the door to view in seconds. It's wonder-full to have so many nice choices! Good luck! 

 

.

[Jon Isaacs]

My wife and I have a home the city about 5 miles from the ocean and a second little hideaway in the high desert where the skies are reasonably dark.

 

From the city, I do double stars, the planets and brighter DSOs. My most used scope is the 10 inch GSO Dob followed by one of the 4 inch APO/Ed refractors. 

 

 

At our place in the high desert, the 12.5 inch, 16 inch and 22 inch are located there. It used to be that the 22 inch was the most used but as the years have passed (I just completed my 77th orbit around the sun), I'm using it less and less and now the 16 inch is the most used. They stay assembled in the garage and I just wheel them in and out.

 

 

The refractors travel back and forth, the Dob's do not. The 16 inch and 12.5 inch also travel either in my pickup or our older motorhome to darker sites.

 

 

Jon

Edited by Jon Isaacs, 23 April 2025 - 09:39 AM.

[ABQJeff]

Most used: C11Edge (mostly for DSOs with 0.7x reducer, 2” filter wheel and diagonal for visual.)

 

Second: 140mm F/6.5 apo (mostly for large DSO up to 2.93 degree FoV)

 

Third: 80mm F/6 apo (mostly for full disc solar H-a)

 

Fourth: ST120 (mostly for super large DSO up to 4 degrees)

 

Fifth (tied): 102 F/7 apo and 150mm Mak (mostly for air travel)

 

Never use: C9.25 Edge with excellent optics (thinking of selling)

 

For star parties, viewing extravganzas, etc. I will use these in combo with my 23x110 on PM2/TR3 and hand held 15x50IS and 8x42s.

 

 

 

Edited by ABQJeff, 24 April 2025 - 09:09 PM.

[PJBilotta]

Three does seem to be the magic number. My most used is my 8" SCT - convenient to wheel out because it's on a cart.

Second is my 72ED I have piggybacked on the 8" for wide-field views. I'd prefer an 80ED, but it's more weight than my mount can handle well.

Third is a 102mm f/5 achro that's just the right balance of portability and aperture when traveling. Nice rich field views with enough aperture to capture many DSOs from nearby medium to dark sites. Lightweight enough that it's fine on a photo tripod. Also really cheap.

If I could have only one scope, none of the above. An exceptional 6" f/5 Newtonian. Does it all, from DSOs to planets with a good Barlow, color-free, light enough for a modest mount. It matches the performance of a 5" to 6" APO at a fraction of the weight and cost. A simple "almost everything" scope for $250-$300.

[balcon3]

Three does seem to be the magic number. My most used is my 8" SCT - convenient to wheel out because it's on a cart.

Second is my 72ED I have piggybacked on the 8" for wide-field views. I'd prefer an 80ED, but it's more weight than my mount can handle well.

Third is a 102mm f/5 achro that's just the right balance of portability and aperture when traveling. Nice rich field views with enough aperture to capture many DSOs from nearby medium to dark sites. Lightweight enough that it's fine on a photo tripod. Also really cheap.

If I could have only one scope, none of the above. An exceptional 6" f/5 Newtonian. Does it all, from DSOs to planets with a good Barlow, color-free, light enough for a modest mount. It matches the performance of a 5" to 6" APO at a fraction of the weight and cost. A simple "almost everything" scope for $250-$300.

I’m not sure that an 6” f/5 Newtonian could match a 5” or 6” Apo refractor given the fairly large secondary mirror that would be necessary if the Newtonian had a 2 inch focuser. I’m speaking theoretically here because I don’t have either type of scope. But the Newtonian sure would be lighter.

[gw_dra]

I've actually started keeping track of my usage of each of my scopes over the last few months to help figure out what's worth keeping and what might be worth upgrading in the future. Here are my stats for that time period:

• 8 inch Dob: 6 nights
• 90 mm Mak: 7 nights
• Coronado PST: 1 day
• 7x50 binoculars: 18 nights
• Seestar S50: 13 nights
• 1-m radio telescope: haven't used yet, been too busy to get everything working
• 70 mm achromat refractor: 4 nights

[cbowlsby]

My FOA-60 gets 4x more usage than my AT115EDT, mostly because I use the FOA for solar during the daytime and it serves as the closest thing I have to my grab and go scope.

Edited by cbowlsby, 25 April 2025 - 04:47 PM.

[Orion68]

I try to rotate through my scopes just for the fun of using different instruments.  The AP 110GTX has the most perfect blend of optics and mechanics of all the scopes I own. Whenever I observe it seems like that one is always in the back of my mind.

 

[Dave Mitsky]

The optical instrument that I've used most often by far since the fall of 2020 is not a telescope but my Canon 15x50 IS.  

 

As far as telescopes are concerned, I use my 6" Apertura AD6 Dob from my home most often.  When I'm going to a dark site, which is far less often, it's my 10" Sky-Watcher Collapsible Dob and when I'm observing at the Naylor Observatory it's a 17" classical Cassegrain.

[PKDfan]

What do I use most ?

My vintage Bausch & Lomb zoom 60mm spotter does most everything up to its 15X-60X ceiling, solar, plane spotting, lunar and some birding. With Jupiter i get two belts of various texture...just enough detail to be satisfying.

I'd say then that the B&L and my binoculars get about equal time before finally pulling out the big glass, my 2 SD apochromats and despite their excellence when i found my super quick and super easy to use spotter (on a fluid head tripod) they saw much less use.

Sometimes the conditions are so poor that a brief view using the 'high class' scopes just isn't worth the time or hassle so it was a revelation to find that the B&L zoom was Highly capable with fantastic apochromat-like views.

I'm finding that with that ease and high quality view it promulagates, it fans the flames of passion much higher, so that i look for any small reason to use it.

Plane spotting is particularily awesome as i am on the main approach/departure route to Edmonton international.



CSS
Lance

[bobhen]

The image below shows all of my current telescopes plus a C8 that is not pictured. From the top...

 

Takahashi TSA 120
Takahashi FC-100DF
Lunt 100 Ha refractor (for solar only)
4" F5 achromat
50mm refractor (for night vision only)
C8 (not shown)

 

As an educated guess, last year it's probably the Takahashi FC-100DF. I've had some health issues that has had me reach for the Tak FS-100DF over the Tak TSA 120 more last year than ever. The Tak FS-100DF also gets used for solar white light observing, which adds to its usage over the TSA 120. And like the TSA 120, it's just a killer refractor!

 

For the previous 10 years, the Tak TSA 120 was used the most.

 

The Lunt 100 is likely in second place below the two Taks. I've been doing solar observing for 35 years. My first Ha filter was purchased from Del Woods who owned Daystar. 

 

The 4" F5 refractor is below the Lunt and is used for rich field, deep sky observing with my image intensifier.

 

The 50mm refractor is used for ultra-wide field, deep sky observing with my image intensifier. And even though hand-holdable, the 50mm falls below the 4" refractor. The views in the 4" are far more detailed. So, it's usually worth the extra 2-minutes to setup the 4" over the 50mm. 

 

I'm definitely sure that the C8 is used the least. The C8 is only used for deep sky observing with my image intensifier, and then, only for small, deep sky objects like globulars and galaxies. It's not the scope's fault, it's that the weather here in PA limits that type of observing the most. The C8/intensifier combo delivers great deep sky views and is also very portable. For example, my best view of the "core" of M42 was with the C8/intensifier combination, easily besting the view in my old 15" reflector used visually.

 

More than scope design, my age and local sky and local seeing and the weather in the northeast have dictated scope type, size and scope usage over the last 40-years. 

 

Bob

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Edited by bobhen, 26 April 2025 - 07:52 AM.

[Eddgie]

130mm Apo probably gets used the most.  It is great for planets and doubles, but I can also compress it down to f/3.5 so good for deep sky and large nebula.

 

I just leave the mount covered on the patio, so not really much time for setup. 

[GSwaim]

I have 3 scopes, all refractors. I use all 3 about even amounts.

 

Lately I've been using my TV85 with the TV HD4 Gibraltar alt-az mount for solar and lunar observations. 

[12BH7]

Here in Arizona it depends on the weather. 

 

1- most used - During the cooler months (Oct - June) I use my 12" SCT. When the temps start hitting 105-120 degrees I pack it up and keep it inside to protect it against the damaging heat. 

 

2- Used quite a lot when the 12" is packed up - During the hot summer months (June - Oct) I use a bare bones 8" SCT with Nexus Pro DSC.

 

3- Lease used - I sometimes use an 80mm for fun or travel

 

I used to bring my 12" SCT to dark sites.  Now I'm considering a downsize plan for those dark site trips. As far as travel scopes I still use the 8" SCT, as that is what it was built for. Or possibly buy a 4" refractor. Still up in the air about that one???

Edited by 12BH7, 26 April 2025 - 05:07 PM.

[DC869]

A Celestron Omni 102 XLT is the scope I use most right now. But from mid-Sept thru mid-Dec, I tend to use my 8" dob the most.

I previously had a Celestron Omni 102AZ, which I absolutely loved for it's ease of use, lighter weight, etc. It was out every clear night, and would still be my most used telescope if I still had it. (The South Fork fire of Ruidoso, NM claimed it in 2024.)

De

Edited by DC869, 01 May 2025 - 10:14 PM.

[HellsKitchen]

8" F/6 Dob. Easy to deploy, point and shoot. Excellent optics that continue to surprise me to this day. 

 

At the grab n go end, starting playing around with an ST80. That will likely see many late night quick peeks. I might actually upgrade to a ST102, these things are the bomb for slinging under your arm for a quick Milky Way trip at 3am on a work night!

 

 

[VA3DSO]

A Celestron Omni 102 XLT is the scope I use most right now. But from mid-Sept thru mid-Dec, I tend to use my 8" dob the most.

I previously had a Celestron Omni 102AZ, which I absolutely loved for it's ease of use, lighter weight, etc. It was out every clear night, and would still be my most used telescope if I still had it. (The South Fork fire of Ruidoso, NM claimed it in 2024.)

De

I'm sorry to hear about your Omni 102AZ - hopefully you didn't loose too much more than that in the fire (but I'm guessing you did lose a lot more - for that I'm also sorry).

 

I totally agree with your description of it, though. I have one and lately it has been by far my most used scope. Super light and easy/fast to set up, big enough to pull in some good details, and with nice sharp optics (especially for an achromat).

 

Clear skies!

 

Rick

Edited by VA3DSO, 02 May 2025 - 06:19 AM.

[DC869]

I'm sorry to hear about your Omni 102AZ - hopefully you didn't loose too much more than that in the fire (but I'm guessing you did lose a lot more - for that I'm also sorry).

I totally agree with your description of it, though. I have one and lately it has been by far my most used scope. Super light and easy/fast to set up, big enough to pull in some good details, and with nice sharp optics (especially for an achromat).

Clear skies!

Rick

Thanks, Rick. It's been almost a year and I'm still replacing astro gear that I had with me on that trip.

The Omni 102 XLT is a nice scope... it's just much heavier on the CG4-EQ mount, which I use converted to AZ mode. So, that's more cumbersome in itself with the slo-mo controls all on one side. And at f/9.8, it has me doing calisthenics to observe at any decent altitude.

I had the Omni 102AZ on a Vixen Porta II. The tripod was a little light for it, but that mount was a dream to me. All the grandkids loved tracking manually with it, too, so it made for some fun, impromptu time under the stars for this grandma.

De

Edited by DC869, 02 May 2025 - 07:06 AM.