Saturn and Jupiter were easy, but not super clear. Mars was maybe just out of reach even on good nights.
This 6 inch will likely be perfect. Very clever design as well!
A 6" packs a lot more punch in a not too much bigger package, and 6" f/5 consumer mirror kits that we test often range from okay (0.77+ strehl) to actually quite good (around 0.92).
You'd get quite an improvement on planets !
chantepierre•5h ago
A friend released files for this 6" f/5 telescope conversion kit yesterday.
It is a synthesis of a lot of telescope builds he, I and a few friends made over the last years, as well as general ideas floating in the amateur telescope making community.
It is compatible with most existing 6" f/5 newtonian optics kits. I've tried his model IRL and was pleased with both the movements and the focuser, which is often lacking on commercial offerings (which are also heavier and bulkier).
Unmounted, it forms a quite compact package to hike with or take camping.
It is licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA as he would like to sell parts kit at some point, but the files found on Printables are fully functional.