bomberbaz

I would go for a zoom but use it with the hyperion 24mm as your next eyepiece. Baader Hyperion Zoom Eyepiece | First Light Optics Something I notice no one has asked, are you using a bog standard diagonal or a dielectric version. Personally I found the dielectric versions offer a much cleaner image on planets and marginally brighter response, especially on dimmer objects. Something to consider. Steve

have a spring clean out sale Louise, but first spend sone time figuring exactly what you want then gear yourself around it, I will give you my pre-requisites that led to my choices. Lightweight overall Able to carry good payload mount (without counterweights, refer to point one) and also lightweight itself (only 5kg) Reasonable aperture (150) and suitable for suitable for spectroscopy All in one system able to operate via tablet/phone Simple to operate I am no expert, anything but however my setup allows me to do what would be unthinkable a few years back, especially to a novice such as I. Given what you say, I feel points one and two above should be of particular interest to yourself. Not sure about the rest but that was important to me. Oh and my powertank is Lithium/Ion type, much better in cold weather and no charge memory issues. Cheers Steve

It's a HEM15 louise, very capable little mount which carries quite a good weight with no need for counterweights. iOptron HEM15 Hybrid Harmonic Drive Equatorial GoTo Mount (without iPolar) | First Light Optics The lack of needing a counterweight up to 8kg I think is one of the things that really attracted me to it, Down side, pricey compared to eg EQ3 but it suits my purposes.

I use one of these Celestron Lithium 13.2 Ah LiFePO4 Powertank Pro | First Light Optics not cheap but holds a lot of juice and is reasonably lightweight at 2kg. I am now using a 150p quattro, hem15 atop a skywatcher tripod Sky-Watcher Tripod for Star Adventurer | First Light Optics with asi air and ZWO cameras and can carry the whole set up out as one. Not sure I would like to carry it all downstairs though. The tripod is very light so I put the powerbank on the utility tray to add stability. Using this setup I track circa 0.6-0.8. Not sure whether any of this is suitable to your needs but there as an idea.

To me it looks like it could possibly be gas (HB and OIII spring to mind) that has been blown off during the merger and left behind as the merging galaxies have moved away from it. A lot of imaging programmes remove excessive green noise and this would point to why it hasn't been picked up before. Was this done under dark skies or were you subject to LP at the location? I would try gathering data again from another location and see if you can recreate this phenomena. If it is recreated with the same amount of data and processing techniques, you may have discovered a new nebula!

Available on BBC Iplayer, might also be on youtube. Just watched it and frankly the technology that went into this project is mind boggling, a stupendous collaboration of teams and countries together and incredible technology. AAA* Think it might be a rerun, still worth a watch again. BBC Four - How to See a Black Hole: The Universe's Greatest Mystery

slightly concerned about my trip now given the latest eruptions. I would welcome the opportunity to witness ( at a very safe distance) volcanic activity as seen on tv, just a tad worried regards travelling via air being affected like back a few years since when ash grounded flights to iceland.

It would mean clear skies from now til possibly 2026 (although it is likely to be sooner if what I read is correct) and you being glued to the eyepiece at every waking (and dark) minute. So nice thought but highly unlikely. I do share your enthusiasm for this event though, will be very interesting.

given one option it would be my dob. It is superb on nebula. and galaxy work, best galaxy was 420mly away. Stopped down ( not that I have one) it could be made a nice F15 star spotting bit of kit and it has already been successfully used to get the HH and a couple of billion LY plus blazars, so utilised properly it cover all my bases.

Thanks for the heads up, I shall look at the map and see which of the days these are best likely to be viewable on and add to my viewing list, I already have 5 waterfalls on my list on things to do, don't think the one you listed is on it (yet) many thanks steve

Ah well when I was checking my data I did get some links coming up to shall we say, less reliable or sources who are likely to be more of a cut and paste approach to researching, so I was pleased when I found the S&T details and being a more reliable source of data.

All booked everyone, I am having 11 days so praying for the sunspot gods to be active during those days. It was a little more expensive than I thought it was going to be but it is unlikely I will be going again. It is something of a pilgrimage for want of a better word. My late wife and I had planned a visit there but her doctors advised against it so we never went through with it. SO I will be doing this with her photo close to my heart and a hope that she visits me in the form of an aurora. Steve

Sorry if this has already been posted up else where, I haven't seen it but then my visits have been less frequent than they used to be. Is T CrB About to Blow its Top? - Sky & Telescope - Sky & Telescope (skyandtelescope.org) A decent source for this so thought it worth reporting on. Very easy to find in just a degree below epsilon Crb in Corona Borealis but type in T Crb into stellarium will highlight where it is, also available under same search in Sky Safari 7. A quick overview is this went Nova almost 80 years since, previously it went nova in the late 1800's and has recently brightened nearly a full magnitude plus has started shining with a more bluish tinge indicating it is heating up, so if you get a clear sky worth a quick shufty. Once it blows it will shine at c+2 magnitude for around a week before fading rapidly. Unless it has gained the magic 1.4 solar masses in which case it will be far more dramatic. Whichever it will make a dazzling object to observe and will be a fantastic spectroscopy imaging object. Steve

Hello all. I am sure this question has been asked before but I am sure people won't mind imparting their views again so here goes! I am planning visiting Iceland later this year, beginning of 2025 depending upon what views and/or opinions are on here. The trip will be an 11 day self drive tour of the Icelandic circle and as you might expect I am hoping to see aurora as well as some of the beauty of this volcanic island. I am thinking either October 24 or March 25 will offer the best opportunity of reasonable weather for sight seeing and with skies still dark enough to see aurora. Any advice gratefully received. Steve

very impressive image, I envy the skies you must have to image such tight data, I grow tired of my garden results and yearn for such as you display here. Loving the intereacting galaxies too, these cosmic dances impress me on a number of levels, well done!