Aperture is much more important than focal length or focal ratio. Planets are small with fine detail that cannot be resolved without enough aperture. An 8-inch Dob is a great place to start without breaking the bank. It easily outperforms much more expensive longer focal length (but smaller aperture) Maksutovs.
@@Astronurd I had a 6'' Intes Mak and it was nice but not quite a match for my 8'' Dob in terms of resolution in decent seeing. And it's more cumbersome to setup, move around and use. And you can't go as wide on bigger DSOs. I expect a 7'' would be very nice on planets but these Maks (+ mount) cost many times what an 8'' Dob costs... it's a very different and more specialised animal, but definitely not without its merit! I looked through bigger Maks at star parties and they come the closest to big apo-refractor-like views without being a refractor. And for that aim they do deliver excellent value.
@@zetacrucis681 you saw mars on these big mak ? Like the mak 180 , that quality visual are good ? Because i have a 16 inch for planetary its hard to observe mars on dob ! I think mak will be the good deal
@@Exohumanity67 I saw Saturn and Jupiter through the SW 180 Mak, not Mars (only through 150s, SW and Intes). The 180mm Mak is comparable to a well figured and collimated 8 inch f/6 Dob (my old GSO with few simple mods like flocking and baffled cooling fan). The 180mm Mak is a great scope and if you can afford it along with sturdy EQ mount, don't mind the weight of the setup, and appreciate that it's an inherently slow scope not that well suited to deep sky especially when it comes to astrophotography (despite the relatively high cost), you won't regret it. Contrast is better on the Mak than the Newt/Dob (with good eyepieces) because of no spider vanes but similarly small central obstruction. I believe that's why the slightly smaller 7-inch Mak shows about the same detail on planets as the 8-inch Dob: the increased contrast makes up for the slightly lower resolution. The 8-inch Dob definitely gives better views than the 150 Mak though (more detail, especially in decent seeing). 16-inch mass produced Dobs just don't have their mirrors as well figured as smaller scopes with larger f-ratios, their faster mirrors are more sensitive to collimation errors, and even higher quality custom made optics of that size are difficult to get close enough to thermal equilibrium for high powers (at least without significant effort/investment: Peltiers, fans, sensors, electronics and/or Pyrex glass). They're great for low-to-mid power deep sky though.
@@Exohumanity67 I thought I replied to you last night but can't see it. I saw Saturn and iirc Jupiter through a 180mm SW Mak and it's good - very nice scope indeed. Reveals similar detail to a well set up 8" Dob/Newt (f/6 or slower) with a well-figured mirror; bit better contrast on the Mak if you're using a high quality eyepiece which makes up for the slightly smaller aperture. Fast large mirrors (like your 16 inch), esp. mass produced ones have multiple issues/quirks at high powers: thermals, collimation, precision of figuring.
Thank you! Appreciate your insights, especially on the binoviewer and filters. We do exclusively visual, so it is nice to see this video that doesn’t focus just on astrophotography.
Thank you for your wonderful channel. I recently picked up my first telescope, a 6' Skywatcher dobsonian, and your channel has been of immense value as I get started in the hobby! :-)
Thanks for focusing om the Subject of visual Astronomy! And yes, I second your Opinion about a Binoviewer :-) It is so much more comfortable to observe and also enhances the Perception. I strongly recommend to at least try it out. Clear Skies, Marc
Longer focal length instruments are better for planets than fast apo refractors. An SCT at f/10 or a Newtonian at f/8 are ideal and long focal length refractors do a good job as well but with less aperture. Eyepieces are also critical as they are half the telescope. I personally prefer my vintage Ultima eyepieces with my C8 SCT and I have also achieved excellent results with my ES 9mm 100.
@@BogdanDamian The 7" LX200 was too heavy, plus I was never getting above 250x due to our turbulent skies, so I sold it for a 5" f/15 to continue using with Baader's zoom. Happier now. Scope fits in a backpack
Another way of dealing with vibration when focusing at high magnifications is to use electric focuser, these are fantastic when using a less sturdy mount because sturdy mouths can be most expensive, I have a 120mm refractor and I even up to 480x as you could imagine just touching the scope would cause it to vibrate in the field of view and would be impossible to focus, I have my refactor on a Vixen Porta 2 mount manual slow motion controls and using an electric focuser is just a dream, because there is simply no vibration whatsoever and the image comes in and out of focus and it is dead still, so for those who don't wish to buy an expensive mount and find it hard to focus on High magnifications even on low magnifications it is just a dream no vibration whatsoever, I would recommend this to everyone who finds it hard to focus due to unstable mounts,
Increasing Magnification is pointless without increasing resolution and the way to increase resolution is using a telescopes with more aperture. Compound telescopes have large secondary mirrors/lenses which decreases contrast and making images blurry. The very planetary telescopes are large Newtonian or long apochromatic refractors.
Thanks for a great overview and useful tips for planetary observing, I think your videos are great! I am just getting into Astronomy and planetary observing and bit the bullet on a Denkmeier Binotron 27 Binoviewer. It came with a 2x Power Switch for 2x mag and a Filter Switch that holds two 2” filters. I decide to set it up with pairs of Delite 18.2. , 15mm, 13mm, and 11mm which I turn gives me 9mm, 7.5mm, 6.5mm and 5.5mm mag. The 5.5mm with my SCT8” will max out the usable rating of the telescope, so if seeing conditions are “exceptional” I will be ready to max the system. I am so looking forward to dialing in the BV and scope this upcoming planet season. All the best and clear skies!
Here more than anything-more $$$ brings the best views and astronomy is ALL ABOUT the views. You R very correct though on apo's Sir !! Buy a F/9 4" 100mm. Does not necessarily mean Takahashi ! Sky-Watchers got FPL-53 which with the F/9 means exceptional contrast AND sharpness. I enjoy your reviews Bogdan !!! Need to explain the nuances of higher Strehl and the variability of figure plus the need for higher (much!) dollars for highest Strehl optics.i.e. apo's =much pain !!
All telescopes are good for planetary observations as you mentioned! it also depends on the person using the telescope as there different techniques one would use to view and capture planetary bodies. My friend captures his planetary objects totally different to me because we have different setups ☺
My setup: 305mm go-to Dobsonian Binoviewer 6.7mm Explore Scientific (x2) Explore Scientific 2x Focal Extender (2 inch, only under good seeing) I get 225x magnification without the extender and 450x with it. The very large aperture means that dimmer targets like Saturn can be seen even at high mag and the resolution of the telescope is far better than a similar priced SCT or APO. The downsides are the very large size, and more hassle with collimation.
@Ishan R Nice setup! What kind of binoviewer do you use? And how sharp are the views at the magnifications you mentioned compared to views without the binoviewer at the same magnifications?
@@BogdanDamian I got a secondhand former microscope binocular from a Japanese manufacturer called Mitotoyo. Sharpness feels similar, detail feels higher and it's a more relaxed viewing experience than monocular. I feel as if I can see more detail although some people say this is an illusion. It is definitely a bit brighter when monocular viewing. Last night I had a look at Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter plus the waxing moon. Great views, highly recommended!
@@BogdanDamian No problems achieving focus because I have a Skywatcher Flextube so it can be raised to 2 different positions which effectively gives you more inward travel than a solid tube. Unfortunately I don't really have the skies to fully benefit from such a setup (bortle 8 or 9)
I just bought a 102mm ED Astro-Tech f7 after looking through one at our club's monthly Star Gazes. It hardly has any aberration, had to try to make it get a blue fringe, he managed to do it at very high magnification with a 5mm Plossl and looking at Rigel it had a little fringe. He said it never has chromatic aberration with good eyepieces. Then he told me something I never knew. A #11 light yellow green filter gets rid of the blue fringe even in achromats. I already have one because it helps make the clouds on Venus and Saturn stand out better. For smaller aperture telescopes it is best to use the lighter filters and even UHC broad band nebula filters for visual on an aperture of less than 8" or 200mm they only work on the brighter DSOs like the Orion Nebula, but dimmer targets like the Crab Nebula just disappear. I can see the Crab Nebula, but not with a filter.
@jimmontg I'm currently also thinking about getting a similar ED refractor as a replacement for my current 102mm Mak, but I'm not sure if it will really be an improvement. Glad to hear that yours provides such great views. I also didn't knew that about the #11 filter. It's really interesting. Now I have to get one and try it out.
@@BogdanDamian Reading the reviews and talking to the guy who let me look through his, they apparently are so sharp they can go past 250x with no issues as long as they have good eyepieces. I am waiting for mine to be delivered. He also told me to get the 1/12th wave mirror 2" diagonal. as he tried his regular star diagonal and didn't get nearly as good results at high magnification.
@jimmontg That sounds really promising. I'm leaning towards getting one as well. I'm curious about your opinion once you get yours. Let me know how you like it once you get to test it.
@@BogdanDamian OK, will do, mine is apparently going to be late as they marked it in stock, but over the weekend someone got the last two. I was 4th in line so they said they'll have them in a week.🤔😮💨
I have a 4 inch mak, the moon and planets appear more high def than with my 130mm Newt. The newt on the other hand is far more superior for dso off course.
Hell B.D. Tonight I used my 12" Dob. Pulled in Jupiter nicely w/Moons. However, Mars was a different story Why is Jupiter easier to observe, but farther than Mars? Mars, was just an Orange light. I could see shadows very very faintly though. Can you explain, please. I used a 2x Barlow with a 12.5 mm lense. I was hoping for more... 😞
@georgel.correa4921 Hi George! Even though Mars is closer to us than Jupiter, it's also much smaller. That is why it's also harder to observe. I'm guessing that the 240x magnification you were observing Mars with, was a bit too much for the seeing conditions last night. Last time I observed Mars I wasn't able to use more than 166x on it. Beyond that the planet turned into a fuzzy orange ball with no features on it. Try out this Nightshift app to see more details on the seeing conditions: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waddensky.nightshift
Hello Bogdan. Question; what does a 35 mm extention tube used for ? What is the advantage? Thank you on advance does your response. Clear skies, George
@George L. Correa Hi! Extension tubes are useful when you need more out-travel for focusing on nearby terrestrial subjects. It's also used in astrophotography and helps the camera better reach the focus point.
@Bogdan Damian Thank you Bogdan ! I think I'll go with the diagonal. My Aperturav12" Dob AD12 came with a 35 mm extention tube. You're the man ! Clear skies! 👍🙏💪🏽👋
@@BogdanDamianthe 35mm extension tube is actually used to reach focus with an eyepiece. Reflectors that come with 35mm extension tubes reach focus with cameras without the extension. 20 years ago, most reflectors wouldn't rack in far enough to reach focus with a camera, and some sort of modifications like a low profile focuser or shortening the tube were needed to reach focus. As everyone and their brother wanted to be able to take photos, even with dobs, forced the manufacturers to change the design for cameras and include an extension tube for visual use
Hi Bogdan. I am new to this hobby and recently purchased a new 6” dobsonian (1200mm scope with 150mm diameter). I have a 9mm Celestron xcel lx eyepiece and when I look at Jupiter I see it as a bright ball and its moons but can’t see Jupiters bands. Is there an eye piece you recommend to get a better view or is my telescope the limiting factor. Thanks.
@lpines8891 Hi! Your telescope is just fine. You only need a bit more magnification. You could get a 6mm eyepiece for a 200x magnification for example. Jupiter's cloud bands should then be nicely visible. The 6mm 66° Goldring eyepiece from TS-Optics, Svbony, Omegon, etc. would be a decent and inexpensive option. If you want to spend a bit more money on the eyepiece, then look at the Hyperion from Baader Planetarium or the 82° series from explore scientific. Hope this helps.
What is the advantage of purchasing a Tpo star finder 90 degree diagonal ? Also, eye relief goes out the window if one wears glasses correct ? Thank you in advance for your response. Clear skies.
@George L. Correa The better the diagonal the more brightness and contrast gets preserved. Also the reflective coating in premium diagonals help reduce unwanted reflections. However it's not a linear improvement that increases with the price. At some point, like with any other equipment piece, you get diminishing returns. Regarding the eye relief - it depends on the glasses and how far they sit from your eyes. For me anything above 18-20mm is enough so that I can observe with my glasses on. But yeah, in general glass wearer have a harder time observing with glasses on. Especially in winter when they fog up pretty fast.
Bogdan, just one more thing today. Can I unscrew the base for the finderscope & place my new Telrad right over where the Finderscope was ? Orcshouls I leavecthevbase in place and just place the Telrad directly behind it ? Thank you in advance forvyour response & assistance. George
@George L. Correa That is how I was using my Telrad the first couple of months, so it should work just fine. If you know that you won't be using your finderscope anymore than you can do it like that, but you will need some kind of adapter to be able to mount the telrad in the finderscope's base. I used a piece a hard foam that I cut to the right dimensions and double sided tape. If however you think that you might be using both the Telrad and finderscope, then you could place the Telrad right beside the finderscope's base. There should be enough free space there for both of them. Clear skies!
Thanks for this video, I finally was able to get a telescope last year but have been a little confused about which lenses work best for planet viewing (also want to learn about Barlow lenses etc). All I have right now are the lenses that came with the telescope and a small plossel lens kit with a couple filters & a cheapo Barlow lens I got from Amazon for $75). Those didn't seem to be any better than the kit lenses. I appreciate videos like this since I can learn more about the lenses plus I do not want to waste more $ by getting items that will not help make my viewing experience better. Thanks again!:)
I thought you were going to talk about orthoscopic eyepieces... What do you think of their quality? Are they better than the eyepieces with lanthanum like Vixen SLV series?
@lightcatcher590 Orthoscopic eyepieces are can be excellent for planetary observations. Their 4-lens design allows for bright images with good contrast and very good center sharpness. Their FOV is usually flat and presents very little chromatic aberrations. In this regard, they are comparable with premium eyepieces from Tele Vue, Pentax or Vixen. Their design comes with a few major drawbacks, though. For example the FOV is very narrow (30-40°), the eye relief is extremely short (3-4mm) and the top lens is oftentimes only a bit larger than a pinhole. Othos can also be demanding when it comes to eye positioning, requiring the user to hover perfectly above the lens, which can be fatiguing after a few minutes of observing. These are largely the reasons why I don't like using them as much and prefer other more modern optical designs. In my opinion the viewing experience is just as important as the quality of the image produced by the eyepiece. Hope this helps.
I would appreciate a view thru your mak at the planet Venus. If is not too much to ask you to wake up at 5:30.... I would like to compare your view with mine.
Dragos Marinescu....that's a great idea! I often cross reference my captures with fellow Astronomers and the captures what Scientists do 🎓🔭 here is my capture of Venus ua-cam.com/video/DS0KdNvVo1E/v-deo.html Me teaching my students ua-cam.com/video/4uYRHZ7LhIE/v-deo.html
@Iornaz1975 I haven't had the opportunity to test the Pentax yet so I don't know how they compare to the Delite series. Do you have the possibility to test both of them? The Delites are my favorite eyepieces for planetary observations so far. I'll try to get my hands on the Pentax and make a comparison between them.
@@BogdanDamian I do have both actually. The Pentax has a 70° apparent field of view. Personally I think 60° is where field of view becomes acceptable. Larger is always better. Both are really good eyepieces. It seems that possibly there is more internal reflection in the Pentax but that might be hard to really say. I am leaning towards the Pentax due to the FOV. One more thing. Seems with all Tele Vue eyepieces you have to focus out more than other eyepieces (that is to rack the focuser further out than normal). This is not the case with the Pentax. I have no idea if that is good or bad or indifferent.
@Iornaz1975 I agree with you, below 60° the AFOV is too narrow. But for planetary observations you also don't need a much wider AFOV. If you are thinking of high and low power observations, then the Pentax with it's wieder AFOV would definitely make more sense.
I can't seem to find the Omegon 1.25” Variable Polarizing Filter available to buyers in the United States, do you have another recommendation for a Variable Filter?
linou1968 Hi! I don't know anyone who might be interested right now, but you can always try ebay. I believe there is quite a bit of a demand for telescopes right now. If you still have the original packaging, then shipping shouldn't be a problem. Astroshop also takes in used gear if I'm not mistaken. Maybe that is an option as well.
Aperture is much more important than focal length or focal ratio. Planets are small with fine detail that cannot be resolved without enough aperture. An 8-inch Dob is a great place to start without breaking the bank. It easily outperforms much more expensive longer focal length (but smaller aperture) Maksutovs.
My 7" Intes Maksutov spanks my 8" dob and my 8" SCT.
@@Astronurd I had a 6'' Intes Mak and it was nice but not quite a match for my 8'' Dob in terms of resolution in decent seeing. And it's more cumbersome to setup, move around and use. And you can't go as wide on bigger DSOs. I expect a 7'' would be very nice on planets but these Maks (+ mount) cost many times what an 8'' Dob costs... it's a very different and more specialised animal, but definitely not without its merit! I looked through bigger Maks at star parties and they come the closest to big apo-refractor-like views without being a refractor. And for that aim they do deliver excellent value.
@@zetacrucis681 you saw mars on these big mak ? Like the mak 180 , that quality visual are good ? Because i have a 16 inch for planetary its hard to observe mars on dob ! I think mak will be the good deal
@@Exohumanity67 I saw Saturn and Jupiter through the SW 180 Mak, not Mars (only through 150s, SW and Intes). The 180mm Mak is comparable to a well figured and collimated 8 inch f/6 Dob (my old GSO with few simple mods like flocking and baffled cooling fan). The 180mm Mak is a great scope and if you can afford it along with sturdy EQ mount, don't mind the weight of the setup, and appreciate that it's an inherently slow scope not that well suited to deep sky especially when it comes to astrophotography (despite the relatively high cost), you won't regret it. Contrast is better on the Mak than the Newt/Dob (with good eyepieces) because of no spider vanes but similarly small central obstruction. I believe that's why the slightly smaller 7-inch Mak shows about the same detail on planets as the 8-inch Dob: the increased contrast makes up for the slightly lower resolution. The 8-inch Dob definitely gives better views than the 150 Mak though (more detail, especially in decent seeing). 16-inch mass produced Dobs just don't have their mirrors as well figured as smaller scopes with larger f-ratios, their faster mirrors are more sensitive to collimation errors, and even higher quality custom made optics of that size are difficult to get close enough to thermal equilibrium for high powers (at least without significant effort/investment: Peltiers, fans, sensors, electronics and/or Pyrex glass). They're great for low-to-mid power deep sky though.
@@Exohumanity67 I thought I replied to you last night but can't see it. I saw Saturn and iirc Jupiter through a 180mm SW Mak and it's good - very nice scope indeed. Reveals similar detail to a well set up 8" Dob/Newt (f/6 or slower) with a well-figured mirror; bit better contrast on the Mak if you're using a high quality eyepiece which makes up for the slightly smaller aperture. Fast large mirrors (like your 16 inch), esp. mass produced ones have multiple issues/quirks at high powers: thermals, collimation, precision of figuring.
Thank you! Appreciate your insights, especially on the binoviewer and filters. We do exclusively visual, so it is nice to see this video that doesn’t focus just on astrophotography.
Thank you for your wonderful channel. I recently picked up my first telescope, a 6' Skywatcher dobsonian, and your channel has been of immense value as I get started in the hobby! :-)
@Phillip Styles Hi Phillip! Congratulations on your first telescope! I'm glad that my videos are helpful to you 😊 Clear skies!
Thanks for focusing om the Subject of visual Astronomy! And yes, I second your Opinion about a Binoviewer :-)
It is so much more comfortable to observe and also enhances the Perception.
I strongly recommend to at least try it out.
Clear Skies, Marc
Longer focal length instruments are better for planets than fast apo refractors. An SCT at f/10 or a Newtonian at f/8 are ideal and long focal length refractors do a good job as well but with less aperture.
Eyepieces are also critical as they are half the telescope. I personally prefer my vintage Ultima eyepieces with my C8 SCT and I have also achieved excellent results with my ES 9mm 100.
At 7" an f/15 Maksutov with an 8-24mm zoom is 336-111x magnification. For planets, this was the leanest setup I could piece together
@oninoyakamo Hi, that setup is really perfect for planetary observations.
@@BogdanDamian Yeah, Barlow not required! :)
@@BogdanDamian The 7" LX200 was too heavy, plus I was never getting above 250x due to our turbulent skies, so I sold it for a 5" f/15 to continue using with Baader's zoom. Happier now. Scope fits in a backpack
Another brilliantly explained video. Thank you for helping me on my journey back into astronomy.
Another way of dealing with vibration when focusing at high magnifications is to use electric focuser, these are fantastic when using a less sturdy mount because sturdy mouths can be most expensive, I have a 120mm refractor and I even up to 480x as you could imagine just touching the scope would cause it to vibrate in the field of view and would be impossible to focus, I have my refactor on a Vixen Porta 2 mount manual slow motion controls and using an electric focuser is just a dream, because there is simply no vibration whatsoever and the image comes in and out of focus and it is dead still, so for those who don't wish to buy an expensive mount and find it hard to focus on High magnifications even on low magnifications it is just a dream no vibration whatsoever, I would recommend this to everyone who finds it hard to focus due to unstable mounts,
Increasing Magnification is pointless without increasing resolution and the way to increase resolution is using a telescopes with more aperture. Compound telescopes have large secondary mirrors/lenses which decreases contrast and making images blurry. The very planetary telescopes are large Newtonian or long apochromatic refractors.
Thanks for a great overview and useful tips for planetary observing, I think your videos are great! I am just getting into Astronomy and planetary observing and bit the bullet on a Denkmeier Binotron 27 Binoviewer. It came with a 2x Power Switch for 2x mag and a Filter Switch that holds two 2” filters. I decide to set it up with pairs of Delite 18.2. , 15mm, 13mm, and 11mm which I turn gives me 9mm, 7.5mm, 6.5mm and 5.5mm mag. The 5.5mm with my SCT8” will max out the usable rating of the telescope, so if seeing conditions are “exceptional” I will be ready to max the system. I am so looking forward to dialing in the BV and scope this upcoming planet season. All the best and clear skies!
@Erik Jorgensen Thanks! The Binotron bino is really great and together with the 2x power and switch it's just the complete package. Clear skies!
thanks a lot for all your perfect information
Here more than anything-more $$$ brings the best views and astronomy is ALL ABOUT the views.
You R very correct though on apo's Sir !!
Buy a F/9 4" 100mm.
Does not necessarily mean Takahashi !
Sky-Watchers got FPL-53 which with the F/9 means exceptional contrast AND sharpness.
I enjoy your reviews Bogdan !!!
Need to explain the nuances of higher Strehl and the variability of figure plus the need for higher (much!) dollars for highest Strehl optics.i.e. apo's =much pain !!
All telescopes are good for planetary observations as you mentioned! it also depends on the person using the telescope as there different techniques one would use to view and capture planetary bodies. My friend captures his planetary objects totally different to me because we have different setups ☺
Thank you forcshsring your knowledge, tips & advice. You've been very helpful my friend.👍🙏
Always great advice. Thanks. 👍
My setup: 305mm go-to Dobsonian
Binoviewer
6.7mm Explore Scientific (x2)
Explore Scientific 2x Focal Extender (2 inch, only under good seeing)
I get 225x magnification without the extender and 450x with it. The very large aperture means that dimmer targets like Saturn can be seen even at high mag and the resolution of the telescope is far better than a similar priced SCT or APO. The downsides are the very large size, and more hassle with collimation.
@Ishan R Nice setup! What kind of binoviewer do you use? And how sharp are the views at the magnifications you mentioned compared to views without the binoviewer at the same magnifications?
@@BogdanDamian I got a secondhand former microscope binocular from a Japanese manufacturer called Mitotoyo. Sharpness feels similar, detail feels higher and it's a more relaxed viewing experience than monocular. I feel as if I can see more detail although some people say this is an illusion. It is definitely a bit brighter when monocular viewing. Last night I had a look at Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter plus the waxing moon. Great views, highly recommended!
@Ishan R Thanks, this sounds really good. Don't you have problems with achieving focus without the focal extender?
@@BogdanDamian No problems achieving focus because I have a Skywatcher Flextube so it can be raised to 2 different positions which effectively gives you more inward travel than a solid tube. Unfortunately I don't really have the skies to fully benefit from such a setup (bortle 8 or 9)
@Ishan R I never thought of the flex tube from skywatcher of being the perfect dob to use in combination with a binoviewer. That's so awesome!
Love your channel.
Thanks for all these vids. Always well explained! Keep going pls
I just bought a 102mm ED Astro-Tech f7 after looking through one at our club's monthly Star Gazes. It hardly has any aberration, had to try to make it get a blue fringe, he managed to do it at very high magnification with a 5mm Plossl and looking at Rigel it had a little fringe. He said it never has chromatic aberration with good eyepieces. Then he told me something I never knew. A #11 light yellow green filter gets rid of the blue fringe even in achromats. I already have one because it helps make the clouds on Venus and Saturn stand out better.
For smaller aperture telescopes it is best to use the lighter filters and even UHC broad band nebula filters for visual on an aperture of less than 8" or 200mm they only work on the brighter DSOs like the Orion Nebula, but dimmer targets like the Crab Nebula just disappear. I can see the Crab Nebula, but not with a filter.
@jimmontg I'm currently also thinking about getting a similar ED refractor as a replacement for my current 102mm Mak, but I'm not sure if it will really be an improvement.
Glad to hear that yours provides such great views. I also didn't knew that about the #11 filter. It's really interesting. Now I have to get one and try it out.
@@BogdanDamian Reading the reviews and talking to the guy who let me look through his, they apparently are so sharp they can go past 250x with no issues as long as they have good eyepieces. I am waiting for mine to be delivered. He also told me to get the 1/12th wave mirror 2" diagonal. as he tried his regular star diagonal and didn't get nearly as good results at high magnification.
@jimmontg That sounds really promising. I'm leaning towards getting one as well. I'm curious about your opinion once you get yours. Let me know how you like it once you get to test it.
@@BogdanDamian OK, will do, mine is apparently going to be late as they marked it in stock, but over the weekend someone got the last two. I was 4th in line so they said they'll have them in a week.🤔😮💨
I have a 4 inch mak, the moon and planets appear more high def than with my 130mm Newt. The newt on the other hand is far more superior for dso off course.
Hell B.D.
Tonight I used my 12" Dob. Pulled in Jupiter nicely w/Moons. However, Mars was a different story
Why is Jupiter easier to observe, but farther than Mars? Mars, was just an Orange light. I could see shadows very very faintly though. Can you explain, please. I used a 2x Barlow with a 12.5 mm lense. I was hoping for more...
😞
@georgel.correa4921 Hi George! Even though Mars is closer to us than Jupiter, it's also much smaller. That is why it's also harder to observe. I'm guessing that the 240x magnification you were observing Mars with, was a bit too much for the seeing conditions last night. Last time I observed Mars I wasn't able to use more than 166x on it. Beyond that the planet turned into a fuzzy orange ball with no features on it.
Try out this Nightshift app to see more details on the seeing conditions: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waddensky.nightshift
Hello Bogdan. Question; what does a 35 mm extention tube used for ? What is the advantage?
Thank you on advance does your response.
Clear skies,
George
@George L. Correa Hi! Extension tubes are useful when you need more out-travel for focusing on nearby terrestrial subjects. It's also used in astrophotography and helps the camera better reach the focus point.
@Bogdan Damian Thank you Bogdan ! I think I'll go with the diagonal. My Aperturav12" Dob AD12 came with a 35 mm extention tube. You're the man ! Clear skies!
👍🙏💪🏽👋
@@BogdanDamianthe 35mm extension tube is actually used to reach focus with an eyepiece. Reflectors that come with 35mm extension tubes reach focus with cameras without the extension.
20 years ago, most reflectors wouldn't rack in far enough to reach focus with a camera, and some sort of modifications like a low profile focuser or shortening the tube were needed to reach focus.
As everyone and their brother wanted to be able to take photos, even with dobs, forced the manufacturers to change the design for cameras and include an extension tube for visual use
Thanks!
Hi Bogdan. I am new to this hobby and recently purchased a new 6” dobsonian (1200mm scope with 150mm diameter). I have a 9mm Celestron xcel lx eyepiece and when I look at Jupiter I see it as a bright ball and its moons but can’t see Jupiters bands. Is there an eye piece you recommend to get a better view or is my telescope the limiting factor. Thanks.
@lpines8891 Hi! Your telescope is just fine. You only need a bit more magnification. You could get a 6mm eyepiece for a 200x magnification for example. Jupiter's cloud bands should then be nicely visible. The 6mm 66° Goldring eyepiece from TS-Optics, Svbony, Omegon, etc. would be a decent and inexpensive option. If you want to spend a bit more money on the eyepiece, then look at the Hyperion from Baader Planetarium or the 82° series from explore scientific. Hope this helps.
What is the advantage of purchasing a Tpo star finder 90 degree diagonal ? Also, eye relief goes out the window if one wears glasses correct ?
Thank you in advance for your response. Clear skies.
@George L. Correa The better the diagonal the more brightness and contrast gets preserved. Also the reflective coating in premium diagonals help reduce unwanted reflections. However it's not a linear improvement that increases with the price. At some point, like with any other equipment piece, you get diminishing returns.
Regarding the eye relief - it depends on the glasses and how far they sit from your eyes. For me anything above 18-20mm is enough so that I can observe with my glasses on. But yeah, in general glass wearer have a harder time observing with glasses on. Especially in winter when they fog up pretty fast.
Bogdan, just one more thing today. Can I unscrew the base for the finderscope & place my new Telrad right over where the Finderscope was ?
Orcshouls I leavecthevbase in place and just place the Telrad directly behind it ?
Thank you in advance forvyour response & assistance.
George
@George L. Correa That is how I was using my Telrad the first couple of months, so it should work just fine. If you know that you won't be using your finderscope anymore than you can do it like that, but you will need some kind of adapter to be able to mount the telrad in the finderscope's base. I used a piece a hard foam that I cut to the right dimensions and double sided tape.
If however you think that you might be using both the Telrad and finderscope, then you could place the Telrad right beside the finderscope's base. There should be enough free space there for both of them. Clear skies!
Thanks for this video, I finally was able to get a telescope last year but have been a little confused about which lenses work best for planet viewing (also want to learn about Barlow lenses etc). All I have right now are the lenses that came with the telescope and a small plossel lens kit with a couple filters & a cheapo Barlow lens I got from Amazon for $75). Those didn't seem to be any better than the kit lenses. I appreciate videos like this since I can learn more about the lenses plus I do not want to waste more $ by getting items that will not help make my viewing experience better. Thanks again!:)
@lilmama4426 Hi! Im glad my video was helpful to you. Let me know if you have any questions. Clear skies!
I thought you were going to talk about orthoscopic eyepieces... What do you think of their quality? Are they better than the eyepieces with lanthanum like Vixen SLV series?
@lightcatcher590 Orthoscopic eyepieces are can be excellent for planetary observations. Their 4-lens design allows for bright images with good contrast and very good center sharpness. Their FOV is usually flat and presents very little chromatic aberrations. In this regard, they are comparable with premium eyepieces from Tele Vue, Pentax or Vixen.
Their design comes with a few major drawbacks, though. For example the FOV is very narrow (30-40°), the eye relief is extremely short (3-4mm) and the top lens is oftentimes only a bit larger than a pinhole. Othos can also be demanding when it comes to eye positioning, requiring the user to hover perfectly above the lens, which can be fatiguing after a few minutes of observing.
These are largely the reasons why I don't like using them as much and prefer other more modern optical designs. In my opinion the viewing experience is just as important as the quality of the image produced by the eyepiece.
Hope this helps.
I would appreciate a view thru your mak at the planet Venus. If is not too much to ask you to wake up at 5:30.... I would like to compare your view with mine.
@Dragos Marinescu I'll see if I can make that happen and get back to you.
Dragos Marinescu....that's a great idea! I often cross reference my captures with fellow Astronomers and the captures what Scientists do 🎓🔭 here is my capture of Venus ua-cam.com/video/DS0KdNvVo1E/v-deo.html
Me teaching my students ua-cam.com/video/4uYRHZ7LhIE/v-deo.html
I am currently torn between the Tele Vue Delites and the Pentax 1.25" SMC XW.
@Iornaz1975 I haven't had the opportunity to test the Pentax yet so I don't know how they compare to the Delite series. Do you have the possibility to test both of them? The Delites are my favorite eyepieces for planetary observations so far. I'll try to get my hands on the Pentax and make a comparison between them.
@@BogdanDamian I do have both actually. The Pentax has a 70° apparent field of view. Personally I think 60° is where field of view becomes acceptable. Larger is always better. Both are really good eyepieces. It seems that possibly there is more internal reflection in the Pentax but that might be hard to really say. I am leaning towards the Pentax due to the FOV. One more thing. Seems with all Tele Vue eyepieces you have to focus out more than other eyepieces (that is to rack the focuser further out than normal). This is not the case with the Pentax. I have no idea if that is good or bad or indifferent.
@Iornaz1975 I agree with you, below 60° the AFOV is too narrow. But for planetary observations you also don't need a much wider AFOV. If you are thinking of high and low power observations, then the Pentax with it's wieder AFOV would definitely make more sense.
One idea the filters do not knock down the brightness to see details
@WiseOldOwl3: Some of them do (e.g. ND filters).
Can a goto mount go on my celestron powerseeker 70eq?
@Oso and Lola Brass Yes and theoretically you only need to change the head of the mount. You can keep the legs from the EQ mount.
@@BogdanDamian ok thanks
Fun fact: if your telescope has a focus knob you don't need to wear glasses at all
Astigmatism enters the chat.
@@rogerpitre8663+1 million
I can't seem to find the Omegon 1.25” Variable Polarizing Filter available to buyers in the United States, do you have another recommendation for a Variable Filter?
@getafterit8967 Try out the one from Explore Scientific. It's very good and it shoud be availabe for purchase in the US.
@@BogdanDamian thanks!
@@getafterit8967orion also has them
Hello bog.i would like to sell my dobson héritage 150/750 .do you now some one? Thx
linou1968 Hi! I don't know anyone who might be interested right now, but you can always try ebay. I believe there is quite a bit of a demand for telescopes right now. If you still have the original packaging, then shipping shouldn't be a problem. Astroshop also takes in used gear if I'm not mistaken. Maybe that is an option as well.
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