Posts Made By: Evan Chan

Was out viewing Saturn tonight in some pretty darn good seeing! I was reminded of just how good the gas giants could look through a top-shelf 4" like the FS102nsv. I was using the shortest f/l eyepiece I have (Tak 2.8) and the scope handled it wonderfully. Image was getting dim but I was getting some stunning ring detail on Saturn. Star tested - the seeing was definitely excellent. I was able to focus down to a nice tight airy disk easily. False color quickly seen out of focus, magenta inside and green/yellow outside. But in focus with the Tak 2.8 only a mere hint of CA came and went with the seeing.

Did I mention this is only after 20 minutes of cooldown??? I had it side by side with a 90mm fluorite triplet and the FS102 cooled down quicker - I was stunned. Hmmm, a 4 incher as a quick peek scope? I gotta rethink owning a 90 triplet for a quick peek scope if it ain't gonna cool down quicker than a 102 fluorite doublet.

These Tak fluorite doublets...really hard to beat.

-Evan

BTW, I see there's a FS102 available on astromart now...

Purely from an aesthetics, which to choose? I ordered the 2.7" focuser since I don't do imaging (thus far) but am now second-guessing the decision.

All pics I've seen of the 140 have the 4" focuser and it looks great.

OK, so I just went and picked up a super mint Celestron C102F. This is the scope I drooled over as a kid but couldn't afford. Now at age 35 my dream finally comes true...but I can't come to focus with any eyepiece I tried tonight.

Nagler 16
Radian 12
Tak 3.6

It seems that there's not enough infocus. The tube apparently is too long. Any other Celestron/Vixen/Orion 102 Fluorite users out there with the same problem? If so, any idea how to remedy his issue?

Thanks in advance.

-Evan

p.s. As soon as I get this scope up and running, I'm going to do a side-by-side with the vaunted Takahashi FS102nsv

Observing Venus tonight at sundown, I saw dark shading along the terminator. Looks to me like lunar maria as observed with the naked eye. Equipment used was SV102ABV with 5mm AP SPL and 3.6mm Tak LE.

So my question is - what am I seeing?

-Evan

I was out observing the moon tonight with my TEC6MC and was using the 10mm AP SPL yielding 180x - this was the max the seeing would allow tonight. Pulled out the brand new ZAOII 10mm to do some comparisons.

Here's the thing...try as I did, I could not discern any differences between the two. Having read the comparison review of numerous 6mm eyepieces where the ZAOII came out tops, I was expecting to see a visual difference. Swapping them out numerous times, I tried to see if there was any differences in the following areas:

1) Color of the moon
2) Contrast differential when observing the "shadows"
3) Resolution

Nope. Couldn't do it. No difference. Nada. Is this because of the relatively slow F/12 Mak-Cass? Is it because the 10mm ep? Perhaps is it a combination of both? Or maybe my visual acuity just isn't that great?

Really hoping you eyepiece experts can shed some light on this

Just one more thing...no craterlets in Plato were visible tonight so perhaps it is seeing related?

-Evan

an oldie but definitely a goodie

Just received the TEC110FL Eclipse and several things surprised me just handling it

1) It is light, as light as the Traveler
2) It is well balanced, not front heavy
3) It is actually an inch shorter than the Traveler

Great pics Jeff and thank you. My TOA130 2.7" is supposedly among the first batch but I have yet to hear from anyone (dealer or TNR) as to when I am to get it. Can't wait to compare it to my AP130!

I use the Lapides Teegul with my AP130EDT F8.35. This is the single best alt-az solution ever. Slow motion controls are a luxury and it effectively holds the AP - allows me to use high power (2.8mm Tak).

I like your processing fine. You've preserved the natural look as to mimic a view at the eyepiece with the 6" apo. Of course image scale is bigger her but the color rendition is very nice.

-Evan