Jiggy 67

I only bring my mount in for a few months a year in the summer as I don’t do as much observing due to the short nights and work. When it’s out in the winter, with 200PDS mounted for weeks on end, I keep it under a TG cover, one specifically for this mount, tripod and scope. I have never had an issue. I think this equipment is a bit more robust than people often give it credit for, and with the weight of equipment, setup time, alignment issues and general faffiness I wouldn’t observe half as much if I had to drag it out each time

I have to say, I can’t really be doing with camping these days which was why we were in a motor home last year and I’ve just booked another one for this year

In the UK carrying a knife of any description without a lawful reason (self defense is not a lawful reason) is an arrestable offense. Sounds ridiculous but if challenged by an idiot, as far as the law is concerned, the safest thing to do is just hand everything over ☹️

Looking forward to it 😀

Do you mean centering it on the axis or setting the clock face correctly (if it has one) or both. The first I would do on a distant object or Star, the second, I wouldn’t bother as you can turn the mount in RA so the clock is set correctly for PA. As for cleaning it, unless it’s un-viewable, again, I wouldn’t bother. The scope serves one purpose so as long as you can see Polaris you’re good to go

Was it this………

I would suggest that they are satellites reflecting the sun as the fly over which is why they appear to brighten and then disappear 

Have you considered one of these

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/diagonals/baader-clicklock-2-dielectric-star-diagonal.html

The beauty of this is the click lock which holds your eyepiece really securely but also enables quick release for ep changes. It leaves no marks on your eyepiece. Optically it’s Baader, so say no more. You can also get a 1.25 click lock adapter if you need to. It’s expensive yes, but worth every penny in my opinion 

8 hours ago, Froeng said:

NGC7008 - the foetus nebula

A nice nebula, easily spotted even at lower powers. I’ve recorded it as a blue/green disc at X143 mag. I did try an OIII like you but I found it better without a filter…..shows how different people can see things in a different way

Yep, the circle with a cross is always a globular and the cluster of dots an open. I think it’s standard across maps and apps

These are well worth considering for an 8” their maybe smaller ones available somewhere 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dew-prevention/4tronix-secondary-mirror-heater-for-8-12-inch-newtonian-telescopes.html

Don’t see why not, give it a go. Don’t know what effect it would have on the reticle though 

When they were introduced, I was under the impression that LED’s were supposed to assist in reducing light pollution but it appears to be the opposite. I have always observed from my back garden but have recently ordered a lightweight AZ mount to travel out to darker skies….sign of the times I suppose 😢

I think the point of the animation is to demonstrate the difference between 2017 and 2029…..I don’t think it’s suggesting that you won’t be able to see any sky

This may scare you to death. Amateur Astro photography may become very difficult in the near future 

Planetary nebulae are a bit of an obsession of mine, they can be beautiful and also challenging requiring an OIII or UHC filter to really bring them out. I have a few favorites, all the famous ones but amongst the best, but pretty low at the moment I think, are NGC7662, The Blue Snowball and NGC7009, The Saturn Nebula which actually does bare a remarkable resemblance to the planet

Welcome to a great forum where you can ask anything you want and pass on your knowledge to others 

I’m with you @SuburbanMak I love observing, but I love recording just as much. It doesn’t matter how you do it, but I love the next day when I sit down at the computer and I transfer my handwritten log notes from the night before into SkySafari and onto a spreadsheet (if I have one for that observing list). It’s not only great fun but  if I’m reading an observing report on here for example, I can go straight to SkySafari, search the object and all my observations are there….it’s all part of the hobby imo 

I use the same for observing only, it’s not overkill, it’s a good solid mount with a good accurate GoTo and will future proof you for any other purchases.

Cons: It is VERY heavy and can take some time setting up and taking down so it’s not very in/out of the house friendly. I leave mine set up outside for months at a time under a TG 365 cover (no issues). You really need to consider this because if you are setting up and taking down every night, it may discourage you from going out as often 

……To get back to basics. I have the Sky Atlas 2000.0 Deluxe, cost me a small fortune!!….but it’s a beautiful piece of art, my wife says it’s the prettiest “book” she’s ever seen…..never used it!!  I’ve not Star hopped since my earliest beginnings, I use SkySafari and GoTo and everything works. However, I do feel a bit guilty having the ultimate star charts but never using them, I feel like I want to get them weathered scope side which I will be doing soon. I’m awaiting an AZ5 mount to be delivered and I intend to get out and about with it and the 4 inch refractor to some dark skies. No GoTo so I will be using the star charts properly………and maybe SkySafari too 😀

I agree with what’s been said, a decent refractor will enable you to see a lot. As mentioned double stars are good in light polluted skies and there are hundreds of them to see, many of them very very beautiful. Some of the brighter planetary nebulae should work as well and the planets will be fine. I would recommend a GoTo mount though as Star hopping can be challenging in light polluted skies 

The clock numbers are irrelevant, you just need to match the view in an app, such as PS Align Pro, in your polar scope. However, if you want to get the numbers correct, use this method but the mount must be level to do it:

Place Polaris at the centre of the polar scope. Then using altitude bolt only, place Polaris at the top of the circle. Rotate in RA until 12 o’clock is on Polaris. The polar scope is now calibrated correctly (assuming it’s central in the mount). Now carry out PA and when complete return to the home position..

As for the green setting circles….there good for only one purpose imo, setting up the perfect home position 

20 hours ago, Soligor Rob said:

next on the list the 17.5 mm & 9mm.

……..Followed by the 4.5 and the 6.5 and  as a finale…the 14mm 😀😀 Shall we open a book on it? 😂

9 hours ago, Tiny Clanger said:

A word of caution :

not everyone gets on with zoom eyepieces, they have their fans. but  it is a personal thing, beware of jumping in and spending all of your budget too soon.

Don Pensack really knows his stuff, he is a retailer of eyepieces etc   in the US.

Apologies Heather, but how does anyone know if they get on with something unless they “jump in”……let’s remember our youth!!!!…..😀

I’ve just took delivery of the EQ6-R-Pro bag. It’s a good quality item. Only problem is I had to spin the mount round  the RA axis for it to fit (I like to keep it setup ready to go on the tripod) into the bag It takes a bit of working out and head scratching to get the shape right to fit the shape of the bag 😀