dweller25

Thanks Jock, I used a pair of 15mm Vixen LV’s in a Binoviewer

Thanks Mike 😀

Brilliant sequence of drawings - well done for staying up 👍

Another great observation and drawing Mark.

Great drawings Mark 👍

Excellent observation and drawing. I also keep seeing subtle shadings in the Northern hemisphere but they don’t show up in other peoples photo images - strange !

Great sketch @globular, what scope did you use ?

Phenomenal 👍

I used binoviewers and a neutral density filter to try and see Olympus Mons last night in my DZ but no joy 🙁

That’s very good Mike, I was out observing at the same time 🙂

Yes the setting circles on the Vixen SP don’t work as they should. I added a small locking screw to mine by drilling through the setting circle and tapping a thread. But even then they were not very accurate to be honest.

I have a bad back and find viewing from the back of a scope and sitting down to observe is best.

That’s great Michael 👍

Hello @Grumpy Martian I had similar issues and have ended up with a lightweight 4” F/8 refractor. Anything small with a central obstruction will be visually compromised on the planets. A 6” F/8 Newt would be a good second choice.

Your scope may have an extension tube on the focuser - remove it and try to focus on a distant object (more than a quarter of a mile)

Great images, you caught Olympus Mons 👍

So, modified... possibly for a Newtonian ? What are your plans for it ?

Hello @tico SCT’s are challenging at high visual powers but there are a couple of things you can do to optimise your scope.... 1. Wrap the scope with a couple of layers of reflectix from B&Q - this will bring much better thermal stability inside the scope and it will also slow dew formation on the corrector. 2. Accurately collimate the scope. If you are still not happy then I would suggest a Skywatcher 120ED may give you the results you seek.

Hello Victor, Here is a drawing I did at x217 on October 10th which looks to be the same CM as in your video 🙂

Two layers of reflectix from B&Q will do the trick

Another great drawing Mike, I was out slightly earlier but a big lone cloud blanked Mars off !

Had a brief look at Mars tonight - before the only cloud in the sky obscured it !! It was very bright and I did notice that when the cloud started to obscure it the view got dimmer and more comfortable to watch. Takahashi FC100-DZ at x217

Brilliant 👍

That’s good 🙂 keep them coming 👍

Which one though ?