Yeah, their whole range looks good.

 

How much does it weight when fully packed?

 

I make it just over 2kg with my bathroom scales. That's with the Sky-Watcher 102mm SkyMax OTA, a diagonal, a couple of eyepieces, a Rigel and an Orion 6x30 raci.

 

That's light weight excellent

 

I decided to take the ST102/Vixen Porta II out for a spin as the weather was looking promising. I was set up by 00:40 British Summer Time. The seeing looked good although there were some transparency issues. Eyepieces used were: a 30mm Vixen NPL (17x), a 19mm TeleVue Panoptic (26x), which are possibly my two most used eyepieces, an 82°, 14mm Explore Scientific (37x), a 7mm Sky-Watcher UWA (71x) and a 2.5x Revelation Astro Barlow.



First up were the Western and Eastern Veil Nebulae with the 30mm NPL and an ES S/N1484 OIII filter. Albireo, M29, Caldwell 37 and M27 were next although I soon switched to the 19mm Panoptic (no filter). I split the Double Double at 178.5x with the 7mm UWA and 2.5x Barlow. As the transparency worsened over the Summer Triangle I turned to Cassiopeia. The Owl Cluster, Stock 2 and the Double Cluster were very clear, especially with the Panoptic. I also clocked Caldwell 10, M103, Caldwell 8 and Caroline’s Rose. I was interrupted momentarily by a very loud barn owl (you can normally hear a pin drop where I live) who seemed to be having a good screech at something. After the owl and myself recovered I got a crystal clear view of M52 with the Panoptic.



After searching in vain for Bode’s Nebulae in Ursa Major (but managing to split Mizar) I decided to look at the Andromeda Galaxy (30mm NPL), it seemed fairly impressive considering, as I normally clock this with my Orion ST80.



For some bizarre reason I often can’t find it with my identically modified Sky-Watcher ST80. I may have to write to the Fortean Times about this! The seeing seemed a good A-I but light drifting cloud often obscured some targets for a while, so I spent some time scanning different areas. I spent most of the night with the 19mm Panoptic or the 30mm NPL, but I did give the 14mm ES a good workout. Compared to the 16mm T5 Nagler it seems to hold its own, although the the Nagler seems to give a better contrasted dark background to me. I like my 15mm Luminos with the ST102 but there is some edge astigmatism, which the ES doesn't suffer from. I also got a chance to test my newly hybridised part GSO/part William Optics BAK 4 Amici prism.



Eventually I caught a rising Pleiades, when you see the Seven Sisters it’s a sure sign that autumn is coming. By around 03:20 I decided to call it a night as the cloud was getting thicker. I’m not sure what happened to the barn owl.

 

After a lovely night puncuated with lightning - bolts & rolling-thunder, the sky has cleared and tonight bodes clear and cool. Rather like it is following an intense storm. Imagine that!

So my perch is set-up and ready to go. Eyepieces, Barlows, and filters are prepared - the whole case of filters at my perch, along with my adjustable red/white light flashlight~torch. Now I'm trying to think of that which I've managed to overlook.....

Suggestions welcome.

Ah! Yes, of course - MUSIC!

​

 

Yes, don't forget the MUSIC! Right now, I'm dealing with afternoon and evening thundershowers that leave behind mostly cloudy skies, but today the rain chances have decreased and tonight the forecast is only for partly cloudy skies late. So, there's hope for tonight! Tomorrow night looks even better!

 

I enjoyed your report, Mak. Ahh, the owl...I know the situation well. In fact, I've made it part of my late-night-into-the-wee-hour astronomy sessions, along with the crickets. I hope to get out there tonight if these thunderstorms would just move away BTW, Mak, you should consider making a sub-forum for your observation write-ups.

 

Heavy turbulence in the upper-atmosphere tonight from my perch. But not enough to stop me from my plan to compare the B+W FL-D Filter and the Celestron Mars Filter.

The B+W is by far the more subtle of of two, which I suspected from the get-go. But some surface details were indeed evident. The dust is indeed lifting at 199.99X in my ST80 using an Astromania 6mm coupled with a TeleVue® 3X Barlow. The ST80 does indeed stand-up to high-power on planetary-targets.

The B+W FL-D is a great filter, but you need to understand how to use the 'virtue' of patience-at-the-eyepiece for details to reveal themselves to you. Whereas with the the Celestron, they more 'leap' out at one. If you want that 'instant-gratification' thing, you'll get it with the Celestron. The trade-off being a strong magenta-color is imparted to your view. If you like this effect - you'll not be disappointed by a Celestron Mars Filter.

I prefer a 'gentle' approach for this sort of thing. I make a lousy 'American' as I don't much care about needing things to be jammed up my nose in order to see them. And I like as little false-color added as possible, so that I'm left to do the work seeming all by myself. So the B+W FL-D is my new favorite. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy - the bad news is these B+W's are quite a rare commodity in the USA. As Gabby tipped me off to, eBay is where to start - and likely wind-up. In Europe. I found mine in Hungary outside of Budapest. Us astro-people thankfully tend to treat our gear like a Ming-Vase. So you'll most likely find things very close to new-condition. My B+W arrive in such shape. And the packaging for shipping was superb! Though these filters are for photographic purposes, and my B+W came in 46mm (48mm is what fits a 2" threaded eyepiece or 90° Diagonal), adapters are easy to find and mine cost me about $5.00. So no worries.

Backing off the 6mm Astromania* eyepiece to a 9mm Astromania eyepiece (133X) was still enough power to easily bring out some details beneath the dust. Hints of albedo are present - chiefly in the North Polar-region, if it's not in fact 'something' else up there. That's with the filters. Which is how I'd suggest going after the Red One, especially in the throes of a Dust-Storm! It's just a matter of taste: To color or not to color? That is the real question that, YOU, must answer for yourself. But if you like filters like I like filters - go ahead and sprint over to Europe on eBay and snag a B+W FL-D!

Remember - It's always better to regret something you did, than to regret something you didn't!


* The are branded Astromania I found in Amazon for $49.99, but are available under many other names, I think he told me they're actually BST's. I'm sure he'll pop in to correct me or expand on this. I bought these as 'Astromania' simply because I am a nut. I wanted a 'mania' in my eyepiece-case!

https://www.amazon.com/Astromania-58-Degree-Planetary-Eyepiece-Telescope/dp/B013S7H6T4

 

Thanks. We don't have chirping crickets (although we do have cricket lol) so no chirping cicadas on northern European nights, although I think they have them in the Mediterranean. A lot of British barn owls are often erroneously referred to as 'shriek' owls, principally due to the bloodcurdling shrieking they do. It can make you jump out of your skin! They're also big, at least a metre wing span. I live right next to a lot of woods and farm land and they all come from nearby. I've read that barn owls mainly eat small rodents or ground living mammals (and hopefully small cats), but no one's told that to 'Screechy' who seems to delight in taking roosting birds out of the trees, raptor style, in mid flight. I regularly witness this. I think the frequent nocturnal palaver are a pair of owls having a territorial dispute.

I had another session this morning (just past midnight to around 02:00) with the ST102. I tried my 32mm TeleVue Plossl on the Veil Nebulae, then realised why I normally use a 30mm NPL instead. I'll have to get an eyeguard extension for the 32mm TV as the eye relief is a bit long. It's superb on fast refractors though. I split the Double Double at 71x (7mm UWA) but couldn't split the pair into four stars. I realised I was losing the transparency, open clusters were good at low magnifications though. By 02:00 my finders had dewed over, the objective was fine, but I could feel the damp. I have acquired a couple of dew strips for the ST102. I couldn't decide between an Astrozap and one of RVO's specials, so I bought both lol.



It looks OK.



I already have a smaller strip for the finder. Bring it on dew!



I've often thought about a separate report thread, but I like to keep this going.

 

@Mak the Night

Thanks for your rapport #4025 very motivating and interesting for me. I am glad to hear you say your Panoptic is one of your most used eyepiece (for unknown reasons) It's certainly is a beautiful eyepiece has well has your 14mm ES.

I caught the Pleiades too last night for the first time, the views of these hot blue stars. But now barn owls.. I would like to see them one day, big fan of birds.

@Dave In Vermont

the whole case of filters at my perch,

I have a motivation problem with the filters these days.. they never satisfy me except from the Mars one which I think it's unique on Mars. I tried my NPB last night in my new 24mm and there was important vignetting, I think my filter is smaller then the field stop of the eyepiece, both were absolutely terrible together.

I liked these objects very much: The Lagoon, Saturn nebula very bright. has well has the Little Gem nebula, which can take quite a bit of power.

 

Reasons to cheerfully use the 19mm Panoptic:



1/ Superb optics with a relatively simple design. It gives sharp, Plossl quality contrasted images right to the edge of field.

2/ Very high build quality (including brass drawtube).

3/ Ergonomics are a factor; it is light in weight and has a 13mm eye relief which is the sweet spot for me. Eye positioning feels perfect, the 21.3mm field stop makes it seem like its FOV is as large as, or larger than, some 82° EP's I have.

4/ I have a bino pair.

5/ Barlows and reduces well.



The 30mm NPL is a firm favourite on my refractors and some nights it's all I've used. Again, superb optics, large eye lens, ergonomically comfortable viewing with sharp and contrasted views. Easily rivals the TV 32mm Plossl. I keep going back to these two eyepieces, and have been for years. They both just feel right.

Bloody noisy though! lol

 

I just realized you were talking about barn owls, Mak, and not barred owls. Big difference! I have a few barred ones taking up residence in my neighborhood. Pleasant rhythmic hoots from time to time. Those barn owls would drive me absolutely crazy!

 

Mak -

Ian Dury link won't work in US. Here:



Speaking of music -

The influx of People from other states and cultures into Vermont continues UN-abated! I do believe word has spread like a California wildfire! And I am truly elated!

Whereas in the USA the police are using ethnicity as grounds for target-practice - "He was running away from me. So I'ze 'plugged' him!" "Here's your medal Occifur Twitter!"

Vermont has hoisted the 'Black Lives Matter' flags in front of our schools and City Halls. And the music is blasting (in excellent sound-systems!) all over the place! One household across from me plays the best! I've got to ask them for their play-lists! We exchange the 'Left-Fist Salute' bu I really need to get about dropping by to do a formal (for me ) 'Welcome!'

I'll be blasting you!

 

Thanks Dave, I had a feeling it wouldn't play Stateside lol. Bloody DRM!

 

Yeah well, barn owls should be barred from making a racket if you ask me. Apart from the powerful wing beats as they fly over me they're normally silent. I don't know what sets 'Screechy' off, kinda defeats the whole stealth approach to hunting if you ask me lol. I normally can't even hear traffic noises where I live and it's deathly quiet in the night ... until ...

 

Wonderful! You really need a good leather glove to handle those critters. Those talons' are murder.

 

I wouldn't get that close to one Dave, they can be big! lol

 

I did handle one. It had a broken wing, and a fellow was nursing it back to health, and he told me what to do and loaned me his gloves. So I put my hand/wrist up against it's chest (this works for all Birds) and the Owl stepped-up onto my wrist.

Beautiful Birds!

 

Yeah, beautiful and deadly, if you're a small bird or mouse lol.



I was ready at midnight, unfortunately so were the clouds ...