Well last night I managed to do some observing for the first time since 4th December!!Really started to worry that I wasn't going to get any done before the next moonrising but was lucky.It cleared about 10pm and I managed to stay out until 1am when the clouds rolled in.They were due to clear again in half an hour but I like my sleep so went in.managed to tick off some more ngc's,herschels and caldwells and add a few galaxies as detailed below:

ngc 1973

ngc1975

ngc1977

these are listed together in my guide and just look like patches of nebulosity that I couldn't distinguish in my light polluted skies.

ngc1662

ngc2264 cluster easy but could make out the gap of the cone with uhc but not the exact shape

ngc 2261 hubbles variable nebula-looked almost like a comet in the 20mm

ngc2251 almost looks like an asterism rather than a cluster

ngc1817 faint but looks excellent

ngc1807

ngc2355

ngc2395

ngc2304

ngc 2419 intergalactic wanderer-was small and faint but I think from a dark site this will be mega!!

ngc2683 ufo galaxy,bright and easy find

ngc2859 small and faint galaxy

ngc3675 faint round galaxy

ngc 3184 very faint galaxy,had to use averted so will recheck when im at a dark site.

was great to be out but I had left my illuminated finder on so that didn't work and my mirror needs cleaning again as it is a bit foggy on the lower edge after dewing a while back.new batteries on order and try and find the time to clean the mirror in the next 2 weeks :)

on to the mirror.

a few problems.i seem to have a slight turned down edge at the top and bottom of the mirror(12 and 6 oclock as I call it).when I got the blank it was raised in the middle and I think its just whats left from this so I think I will probably have to do some chordal strokes and get the centre lower then the edges will come back but have asked for some more professional advice to make sure.have got a new straight edge and some more 60 grit and some 400 on the way so hoping to gte the back done the coming week and get on with starting the front!!

also thing that at 9" my sub diameter tool is a little on the small side(5kg weight disc) so im going to order a bigger 10kg weight which will be about 11.5".

the turned down edges,not massive but I want it perfect

you can never have too much grit

a staright edge that's actually flat!!

a new dust mask,this one I can actually breath in!!

hopefully another update midweek.

clear skies