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Could have DEFINITELY been worse!!

Hey Kenneth, sorry for the late reply here! I want to say that's a "stalk mounted secondary". They are a pain in the neck, but I'd use both a laser and a Cheshire eyepiece to line it up. (The one on the Pal Jr. shown here bends slightly into place.) You can also buy or build your own four vane spider. (Some guys even like a curved spider. There's no diffraction spikes that way, although stability and contrast suffers ever so slightly.) That might be the best choice, and shouldn't be too expensive. Let me know if you've got any further questions!

Thanks dude!!! Man, you gotta come check it out soon!

Hey, thanks, Arko! Do appreciate it! Just got a new GoPro, so let's see how that goes. Stay tuned, and keep looking up! (BTW, did you get some binocs?)

Probably about $350 when I was all done with it. (100 for the tube, 120 for coating, plus plywood and parts.) Definitely NOT the way to go if you're looking for something cheap, but this was such a fun, cool semi-restoration project

Thanks, man! Just put a new one up!

Awwww thanks, Lady!! Hey, lemme know if you have any requests -can't wait to write the next one!!

Roughly...they're a LITTLE small, but still work OK. It doesn't have enough "in-focus" travel for some modern designs, but about half of my eyepieces work.

Mars + Orthos = ideal combo!! Loved looking at that planet. So cool, right?

@@JoshUrbanAstronomy Too bad its slipping away from us!

@@lornaz1975 No kidding! It was a GOOD season for planets in the fall! But...I'm getting stoked for Galaxy Season!

@@JoshUrbanAstronomy Good point! Its big dob time!

Ha, took your input to heart, David - check out the latest scope review th-cam.com/video/REoEksSRIhM/w-d-xo.html

Hey Andy! Got a video reply in the works for ya!

I'm also going to try out the barlow trick too.

I LOVE that Portaball! Yep, it's the 12.5" model, and it is "out of this world." (#PundayMonday!) The Zambuto mirror is stunning, and blows a 14" SCT out of the water. It packs up super compact (takes up less space than an 8" f/4 dob in my car! fits in the front seat of a Kia soul!) One of my favorite things about it is the ability to rotate the eyepiece for the most comfortable viewing, since it's a ball scope. I'll have to do a video on it. It's a fairly unusual scope, but I don't know why you don't see more of that type. Lemme know if you have any questions about it. I love talking gear!

Sure do! www.spectrum-coatings.com/ Tell Paul I sent you! (He probably won't know who I am, but I'm a fan of his work!) They've got a price list on their site, but it starts around $80. I got the top-tier one, which I think was $125 or so. I've also got an amazing 12.5" Zambuto that's gonna need a recoating soon, and you can bet that I'll be sending it to Paul!

@@Poodlemanjosh Thanks Josh. I am not sure the scope is worth it. Its an old Tasco and needs upgrading to 1.25in focuser and a mounting for a viewfinder plus I need some way of mounting it to a tripod (i.e dovetail). So far its $75 without the new coating. With the coating it approaches the price of a new one. I will still check them out and still might go through with it. If not then in the future I know were to take a mirror. Thanks again! If I do I will be sure to say hi to Paul.

@@lornaz1975 Oh yeah, that's always a thing with builds and resto projects - gotta make sure it's worth it . Sometimes, the PROCESS is, and sometimes it's not. Do you like THAT particular scope, or are you looking for a cost-effective way to grab some starlight? If it's the latter, a used 6" dob might be just the ticket, OR, some parts on the classifieds on CloudyNights. But, restoring things can be a ton of fun!

that is SO COOL! Man, I'd hate to be their "windshield wipers" Talk about some cosmic bugs!

neat, neat stuff! They're one of my favorite sights in the sky!

Hey, excellent suggestion! Apps really have changed the world of observing. I've been meaning to incorporate more of them into my sessions. I also picked up the (paper book) Uranometria series. WOW!

@Josh Urban, the 2000.0 Deep Sky Atlas by Tirion, Rappaport, and Remaklus? Or the 1603 one by Johann Bayer?

@@chasg76 AH! Guess I'm not hipster enough...because I'm sad to say, just the modern one! Lol!

@@JoshUrbanAstronomy Have you seen Comet NEOWISE yet? I tried two days ago, but I think I have to get up earlier. Or wait until next week to see it in the evening, and hope it's still bright.

Mannnn now I've gotta get a pair of those! Been eyeing 'em lately. Love how we can all influence each other to...BUY ALL THE GEAR!

@@JoshUrbanAstronomy Unfortunately I buy too much!

@@lornaz1975 I hear that!! me too!

Thanks! I'm definitely looking at getting a nice little 80mm APO in the future! I didn't mention it, but you can see a little 80mm achro (Celestron Firstscope 80) on the accessory tray of the big scope here. Talk about a size difference!

@@JoshUrbanAstronomy I think I saw your vid on it. Its the black one correct?

@@lornaz1975 Yep, it's the black one (in the long intro to the channel, too) I haven't done a big review on it, but that little scope is a workhorse!

@@JoshUrbanAstronomy Do you find it to be a workhorse do to the compact size and ease of carry and use or some other reason? I am looking into possibly getting an 80mm thus the reason for the question.

​@@lornaz1975 Ah, great question! I should specify: it was my first telescope, and I used it to its max. I could see a surprising amount of stuff with it! HOWEVER, given the similarity in price to a 6" dob, I'd definitely choose the dob. But, it's definitely a nifty platform. I'd like to get an 80mm APO and see how that goes. Mine is a little f/5 short tube achromat.

Duuude, thanks a million, bro! Welcome aboard, and cheers to some good astro adventures!

Hey there! It's an AstroTech 102ED. I'd call it a "Semi-Apo", and unfortunately, no, not a feathertouch. It's a pretty decent refractor at f/7, though - will have to do a review video on it soon! I got the OTA used for about five hundred bucks, and I love it. It's not EXACTLY a grab 'n go scope, but it's manageable, and throws up some great, mostly color-free views!

@@JoshUrbanAstronomy I have a skywatcher evostar 100 ED. Its not bad. I'm happy with it. Thanks! Looking forward to the review!

@@lornaz1975 I think this is VERY similar - it might even come from the same factory! I've gotta look into it. This semi-APO revolution is interesting, and sort of a parallel with the Chinese Dob. It opens up a lot of possibilities, and if people really want, they can get that uber-expensive Tak if the bug bites hard enough.

@@JoshUrbanAstronomy Yours is prettier than mine. Some differences. I think yours is F7 mine is F9 and you got two millimeters on me too. Might be from the same factory.

@@lornaz1975 got the review up! Thanks for the inspiration! th-cam.com/video/eJoE3HgnX84/w-d-xo.html

Hey there, and AWESOME! Welcome to the Palomar Jr. Club! (Well, I don't know if there is such a thing...but there is now! :) First off - mirrors can look terrible and not need a cleaning. Using a flashlight to look at them will make anyone's heart stop, so best to view during the day under normal lighting. If it DOES need to be cleaned, Here's a great article on how to clean a mirror: skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/caring-for-your-optics/ I also sometimes use isopropyl alcohol, although that's hard to get these days! Let me know if you have any questions, and as the article says, DON'T SCRUB IT! Try that blast of tap water first. Good luck!

@@JoshUrbanAstronomy thank you so much!!! I'm really surprised you don't have more subscribers. Your channel is really fun!

@@CYoung-hq7zs Hey thanks so much! Appreciate the encouragement. Yep, gotta get those numbers up. I have a blast doing this, so I'll keep at it...gotta work on a new vid soon, too. Glad you're enjoying it!

Duuude thanks so much! I totally remember you guys - jealous of your dark sky stories! Lemme know if you have any requests...working on a winter sky tour soon.

WOWWW! I'm stoked, Mica! Let me know how the view is. (Keep in mind - the moon is "messing" things up with natural light pollution, so it'll look more sparkly in about a week when the moon is rising later.) This is so cool! I'll do a fall sky tour video soon so you can put 'em to good use :)

MICA! That is soooo awesome!! I'm delighted! My brother just got an incredible photo of the galaxy through a new scope. It's on my Instagram @JoshUrban, and I'll feature it in the next video, too. You gotta see it!

Thanks, Ben! If you're ever in the Southern Maryland area, come on by for some views on a clear night!

HEY! Nice to see ya online! Oh, my pleasure...so glad we got to share such a cool view. :) Thanks for the comment!

Same man, thanks for showing me the moon!

@@TheIbrahimalagha absolutely! It's rockin' stuff, isn't it??