Fun with the FS-128

Re: New Moderator
OK, I will bite.

This weekend the weather was not bad for my part of the world and I was anxious to get out and take another look at Saturn. Knowing the Moon glow and high humidity would wipe out most every deep sky object, I packed up my digital SLR so I could take a few shots of the moon in between squinting at the ringed gas giant. I am not an astro photographer, but primarily a visual observer.

This night I used my FS-128 (2.7” focuser), Camera Angle Adjuster, Tak Wide Angle Camera Adapter, and Nikon D200. I shot images in Raw and processed them in Nikon Capture Sunday morning. The exposure was made at prime focus, f8. The shutter speed was 1/60th of a second. I thought results were pretty interesting.

As a side note, about a month ago we had another humid but very steady night. I was out again with the refractor. The view of Saturn with my 5mm Tak LE (208x) was bright, crisp, and colorful. I dropped in my Tak 3.6mm LE (288x) and much to my surprise, the image was still crisp and steady, but a bit less bright then the 5mm. Now, I swear I was not drinking any of the fine malted beverages that are a staple of our fair city, but I think I may have seen the Encke Gap in moments of exceptional seeing. I did not have anyone on hand to confirm the sighting, but I think the chances are pretty good that I did see it. Have others observed this feature with the current ring tilt or did my imagination get the better of me?

Clear skies,
Paul

P.S. James, it is partly your fault that I have an M250. I read your on line reviews…

Attached Image:

Lukman,

I have been very pleased with the results I get with the two LE’s that I own. To me they produce very sharp images. I have not done any extensive back to back testing with other oculars, but they sure seem awful good to me.

I picked up the 5mm when I had my FS-102 a few years ago and recently found the 3.6mm here on AM. I wanted to have a higher power option for Saturn while using the refractor. I was worried the magnification would not work out, but it has every time I have used it, except one night (Astronomy Day), when the seeing was just a mess. The other nice surprise was the eye relief. I do not wear glasses. If I place my eyebrow so it just touches the rubber eye guard, I can easily and comfortably see the entire field.

What difference, if any do you see between the Tak and the Pentax 5mm. I have never used the Pentax?

Yes I have used the Mewlon on Saturn quite often this spring. The M250 is the scope I use most of the time. Earlier this spring I would set the scope up at dusk and spend the first part of the evening letting the sky settle and Saturn get nice and high in the sky. I would use this time to hunt down deep sky objects. Once I moved to Saturn, I knew I would be spending most of the rest of the night studying the rings and planet. I recall seeing a bit more color on the surface of the planet and more details in the cloud bands when using the Mewlon compared to the FS-128. If it clears tonigt the way it supposed to, I will take the Mewlon out and post a more definitive comparison.

Both scopes do a great job on Saturn, I am enjoying every minute I get to look at the planet.

Sincerely,
Paul

Paul

I am further encouraged by the excellent shot in your post of my new acquisition of a FS-128 off the AM. (Moving up from a FS-102!)

I will be selling the 102, but keeping the TOA130r reducer/flattener. Do you use the same piece on your 128 and if so how has your luck been with it?

The 128 arrives this Tuesday and hopefully the Casady TAK clamshell dovetail plate arrives the same day so I can get it up on my ME and start making shots like yours.

Michael in very bright San Jose