I think I have this contraption sorted.

[Pepper]

Ok. It’s been a few nights since Chrissy, I been staying up every nite trying to sus this setup out.
Finally after a few issues I have the bigger aligned and tracking well.
Took a bit of reading here to achieve this so thanks for all the info here guys.
Got to look at heaps of cool stuff, but unfortunately where I am at the moment is quite bushy and you could put a dollar on the object being behind a branch.
Anyhoo, once I’m back home to dark skies and open skies I’ll be a happy camper.
Quickly realising I need just a touch more mag to see things better.
47tuc and other globular are juuuuuuust out of reach, although I can almost make out the stars. Loving it.
These open star clusters are just magic as well. Could sit there all night.
Would I be well served getting a decent Barlow? That be the logical next step?

[brian nordstrom]

Nice review , but ,,,:shrug: what is it ? .

Cheers and :welcome: to IIS .

Brian.

[Pepper]

Sorry mate, it’s an ed100

[brian nordstrom]

:thumbsup: Nice , these are a great telescope , enjoy .

Brian.

[brian nordstrom]

:shrug:seems like the ED100 is not worth a thread :astron: sad as .

Don't worry , your ED100 is a world class APO , by the way what eyepieces do you have ?

Brian.

[brian nordstrom]

here is my 110mm ED APO that like yours ain't no Tak or AP but ,,, like yours is 97%performance at 40% the money , snobbery is rife here sorry to say .

I have owned and loved some $$$$'s APO's , this one like yours is world class ., the scope in the background is a 102mm f10 with a GSO Liner Bearing focuser that really performs .

eyepieces Steve ?

Happy new year .

Brian.

[Pepper]

Only the 28mm eyepiece that came with it Brian.
I reckon I was lucky my missus got me what I did.
I’m thinking I may buy a mid range zoom piece to get an idea of what the different sizes do and how they affect the view and go from there with buying some good quality pieces.
Don’t wanna go to crazy in that direction though as the scope will eventually be used primarily for ap.

[brian nordstrom]

:thumbsup: Nothing wrong with a good zoom , just a smaller FOV compared to say a good Plossl eyepiece of the same size , eg a 25mm Plossl will give about 52 degrees where as a zoom at 25mm gives about 45 degrees , its no big deal in an f9 refractor like yours .

But you have a reasonably good low power eyepiece in the 28mm so thats sorted , yes a zoom will suit your scope well .

I am sure tho at the smaller sizes ( higher powers ) like say 8 - 10mm the FOV is similar in the zoom to a Plossl .

Brian.

[silv]

Sounds exactly like me. I got my faster, blue-er Skywatcher 102/500 and an iOptron Alt-Az GOTO mount in October, just when the cloudy season set in over here in North-East Germany. But whenever I get the chance, I am "drinking starlight" .

I went for binocular viewing from the start and after 2 mis-purchases of another brand, am now a happy owner of a TS Binoviewer. Would that also interest you at some stage? Viewing with both eyes to me has a wow-effect like in a 3D-cinema.

Regarding zoom eyepieces, I'm thinking along the same line as you: get a zoom to figure out which magnification I am using most. I only have an unobstructed view to the west and this and my own preference restrict me to starfields, open clusters ... the moon and sun (with ND5 solar filter foil !) -no planets.
So a wide field of view in eyepieces is a matter of importance, like Brian suggests.


At the moment, until January 31st, the Baader Hyperion Zoom MARK IV, for 2" with a 1.25" adapter, is on Christmas sale at every vendor. The rather narrow FOV is
8mm 68°
12mm 63°
16mm 58°
20mm 53°
24mm 48° . It's an expense but you only need 1 (not 2 like me)...
https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/baader-hyperion-universal-zoom-mark-iv-8-24mm-eyepiece-(1¼"--2").html
(https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/baader-hyperion-universal-zoom-mark-iv-8-24mm-eyepiece-(1¼"--2").html)Don't know which shop sells them in Australia, unfortunately.
Anyway, hope you'll enjoy the new world you opened up for yourself with the beautiful ED100. :)

Happy new year!
Annette

[Pepper]

Hey silv.
Would really liked to have got the Baader zoom. But at $350 vs $125 for the Meade zoom, it was a no brainer for me. Specially since it’s mostly going to be a tool to decide what ep’s I might buy.
Soon enough however cameras will be my eyes soon.