I was finally able to use my TV102 this morning to look at Mars and the Moon. This was the Televue’s first use and my first time observing in many months, due primarily to poor weather conditions here in the east. I was out by 5:15 a.m. and was able to obtain a great view from across the street on my neighbor’s front yard. My house is surrounded by large (75+ foot) trees, but the Moon and Mars were nicely framed between them directly over my house.
Mars was first up, using my set of Meade 4000 Super Plossl eyepieces. I readily found it using the 26mm (I haven’t gotten a finder yet) and then I quickly switched to the 6.4mm, my highest power ocular. Mars appeared as small rusty globe with some darker (olive drab?) splotches. I couldn’t make out the polar cap at first, but when I switched to an Orion 7.5mm Plossl it was apparent.
So far, everything I’ve read about this scope (and believe me, I’ve probably read everything that’s been written as part of my research before buying it) is true. Contrast is great. When I slid over to view the Moon, it was primarily black and whites, with terrific contrast and definition. This scope was made for lunar observing. And there was absolutely, positively no false color/fringing around the moon. My ETX90 RA, which I sold to help finance this scope, had difficulty taking power. Above 75x, things began to get mushy. Not so with the TV102, which easily took the 138x the 6.4mm produces. If anything, I desperately need a Barlow lens to take advantage of this scope’s optics.
On the down side, the Gibraltor mount is not the most steady platform for high power observing (a criticism I had read about before purchasing it). Each time I adjusted the focus or nudged the scope, Mars would rock back and forth like a pendulum. I prefer Alt-az mounts for portability. The Gibraltor is not that light, but its also not as heavy as a GEM. So, I’m not displeased with it and in all fairness this was my first use, so I probably need to get more familiar with it.
All in all, a great scope, great morning, and great way to start the day.
Mars was first up, using my set of Meade 4000 Super Plossl eyepieces. I readily found it using the 26mm (I haven’t gotten a finder yet) and then I quickly switched to the 6.4mm, my highest power ocular. Mars appeared as small rusty globe with some darker (olive drab?) splotches. I couldn’t make out the polar cap at first, but when I switched to an Orion 7.5mm Plossl it was apparent.
So far, everything I’ve read about this scope (and believe me, I’ve probably read everything that’s been written as part of my research before buying it) is true. Contrast is great. When I slid over to view the Moon, it was primarily black and whites, with terrific contrast and definition. This scope was made for lunar observing. And there was absolutely, positively no false color/fringing around the moon. My ETX90 RA, which I sold to help finance this scope, had difficulty taking power. Above 75x, things began to get mushy. Not so with the TV102, which easily took the 138x the 6.4mm produces. If anything, I desperately need a Barlow lens to take advantage of this scope’s optics.
On the down side, the Gibraltor mount is not the most steady platform for high power observing (a criticism I had read about before purchasing it). Each time I adjusted the focus or nudged the scope, Mars would rock back and forth like a pendulum. I prefer Alt-az mounts for portability. The Gibraltor is not that light, but its also not as heavy as a GEM. So, I’m not displeased with it and in all fairness this was my first use, so I probably need to get more familiar with it.
All in all, a great scope, great morning, and great way to start the day.
I've heard once you start using one there's no going back to single eye viewing.
