My new scope is a 4″ f/5 equatorial from Orion, which I’ve upgraded with a 9×50 finder. It usually gets me where I need to go.

When I lived in Califoirnia I used to have an 8″ f/5 Equatorial Newtonian, but the light pollution here in Lauderdale made it a totally impractical instrument. I needed somehing more portable, and suitable for planetary work.

I would like to specialize in visual Deep Sky observing, but the nearest dark sky site is out in the middle of the Everglades, and that is a pretty dangerous place to be in the middle of the night.

That really loooks like a nice rig you’ve got there, and a nice set-up for it.

With a 2800mm focal length and, as you guessed, a 9x50mm finder.

I also installed a Telrad finder. This device is an absolute godsend. It projects a red LED “bullseye” on the sky where the scope is pointed. Can’t imagine not using one now.

What is that, a 14″ SCT? It’s hard to tell with nothing to scale it except the finder objective, which I assume is a 50mm.

The problem in urban Fl is not ice, its acid dew. When the moisture droplets dry the pollutants in the air leave little blemishes in the lens coatings. I use lots of water, and a clean, soft, fine weave cotton cloth (like old Y-fronts or t-shirts)to gently swish the water off (no pressure). You have to be careful no moisture gets in the air space of the doublet, or you have to dismantle the entire objective. Capillary action will cause it to scoot across the entire space between the two elements.

With mirrors, I just submerge it in a pan of distilled water and drag the cloth across the mirror, without actually touching it with my fingers or applying any pressure other than the weight of the cloth itself.