I think he is evil from within from what I saw in the past or with like, a very short tolerance span. I don't know what kind of life path would push you to be like that. But it helps me to be something I don't need to be on forums.

Mars was OK, I used my 5mm OR-HD, it's a EP I rarely use (most of the time I prefer the views through the 6mm) 200x was not bad at all with the well cooled 8" mirror, the disk was clean. After 7 years I see that I underestimated the initial cooling time a lot.

 

@Mak the Night

I should integrate the jetstream in my routine while checking the forecast. Yesterday was different, I saw clear sky by the window and took the telescope out.

Yampo is cool, I had a good idea that it was an insult. We have people like that occupying jobs at high level of government, no wonder why we are turning into a tyranny day by day.

External temperature was about 0 Celsius, it's a bit more then 1 hour for the 8" obviously. IF it's -10 Celsius the cooldown I think, should be much faster.

 

@Mak the Night it's true, after more then an hour last time, there was still heat in the mirrors while defocusing.. It was usable but not perfect..

I need to change my strategy in order to get better cooldown period for the optics.

 

Oki you have reached a point where you can say, considering all the facts that it's the 4" APO, it's a good thing.

Do you have such a large APO?

 

Cool doublet @Mak the Night.

It must be a capable instrument to split doubles I bet. I had a load of problems tonight trying to split tight doubles with my 8", too much tube current again, not enough cool down time to clear the heat and to add enough power.

The views of mars were quite impressive however.

 

That's a brill set-up, Dave

 

Very cool, I should sell my 6" reflector eventually (which I rarely use), to get a nice 4" refractor like this one instead, the sharpest views possible.

This one is a nice size for a refractor, 102mm

 

It's not too expensive for a 4" refractor. I looked at a couple of them on some websites, I am guessing it must be something like 1000 ~ 1500 CAD, I had a friend he picked up a Celestron Omni 102mm + EQ mount almost for free with another telescope. The original focuser was not very impressive unlike yours.

If I get a refactor one day, it will be second hand.

 

The omni looked like entry level everything which is probably not the case with yours.

 

Ok so a good 4" doublet with ED lens, this would be good for visual. I never used a good Refractor so... can't say too much for the moment.

Saw an article the other day, an enthusiast bought a 8" APM refractor and the telescope it's competing against 12.5" 22" dobsons, much like what you say, the DSO views are apparently very good.

Affordable 5", I don't have to many of them in memory, explore scientific has a line of inexpensive large refractor the ARs probably not as good as your ED right?