Diagonally challenged.

[+Bino-viewer]

My collection after nearly 20 years of astronomical observing.

All from Baader Planetarium. All of them investments. All of them are solidly made, and perform superbly.

 

 

On the left are my dedicated binoviewing diagonals which all have a direct T2 quick changer for the binoviewer (either Maxbright 2 or Mk 5) to fit straight onto, minimising lightpath length.

The barrels are non standard Moonlite Smoothbores (no undercuts !) which gives the focuser a much better purchase with a heavy binoviewer setup.

They are all prism types, of short lightpath. The bottom one is used for low power viewing (without a compensator) and using my low power widefields i can get 27x or 40x in my 2 refractors.

 

The middle diagonal is identical, but has a 2.6x GPC permanently fitted inside, as switching between low and high powers and removing / replacing the small, fiddly GPC with cold hands in the

dark tends to be problematic (usually ending up with the GPC burying itself on the ground in long grass)

 

On top is my Baader Amici prism. T2 direct binoviewer fitting again. Note the body length is a bit bigger. 

I mainly use this for daytime use, but its nice to view the moon with it as well, giving a correct RACI type view.

I've been very impressed with it, and have so far only noticed the horizontal spike aberration when viewing a very bright Venus.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Top right is the newest addition and completes my collection.

This is a 2 inch mirror diagonal, and features a ceramic mirror.

I've brought it for critical viewing in mono in high and low power to see if using a binoviewer somehow degrades the views i'm getting and to compare the two.

Also for travel use with a minimum of kit and to use with prime focus photography (the extra out focus is needed here) with and without focal extenders.

 

And last but not least is my Baader Herschel Wedge. 

It does not get a whole lot of use, as i only view the sun occasionally.

It was purchased with a Solar eclipse and Mercury solar transit in mind, and i got lucky with the weather on both occasions.

It works very well, and shows sunspots and solar granulation nicely.

It can also be converted to use with a binoviewer by removing the big Clicklock and replacing it with a simple adapter.

Thanks for reading 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 5, 2020 by Bino-viewer

[+Glafnazur]

Nice collection Rob. I looked through your Baader Herschel Wedge when we were at Alvaston Park for the transit of Mercury, it gave a great view 👍

[Nightspore]

I'm a big fan of Baader diagonals and have several. I'm convinced the 2" Baader clicklock mechanism is the best on the market.