Jiggy 67

To make your polar scope accurate, try the following but the mount MUST be level for this. place Polaris at the centre of the polar scope reticle Now, using ALT BOLTS ONLY adjust the altitude until Polaris is at the top of the reticle circle Now rotate the axis in RA until the 12 o’clock position of the polar scope reticle is sat on Polaris. Your polar scope is now calibrated Carry out PA as normal Return to home position Hope that helps

Funny you should mention Saturn....the Saturn nebula (which isn’t visible in the UK at the moment) is one of my favorites, it really does look like the planet

Hi Wookie sounds like you had a good night despite the alignment issues. Synscan always gives me Sirius first but I always skip it, too low and go for the next one which recently has been Capella. The second one is usually Procyon. These work really well from my location and all targets have been spot on afterwards

Great report. I got M78 for the first time last night but it was very faint and diffuse, required a lot of work and a UHC filter . I agree with @Zermelo I was expecting more, it’s quite a difficult nebula in light polluted skies. Like you @Epick Crom I had a go at the Intergalactic Warrior with no luck 😢 As a fan of globs it’s getting me down that I just can’t get this , it’ll have to wait for a darker skies area 😀 M42 was the best I’ve ever seen it last night though so not all bad

Always worth a re-visit. I’ve had the second binary in the same fov with a 4.5mm Morpheus, it’s easily split, at 2 o’clock

......careful 🤣🤣 Sigma Orionis is lovely, I’ve never got a fifth star though. Did you spot the binary, HD 294272 in the same field of view even at high magnification ?

I used the Astronomik UHC...Very impressed, it slightly blurred the stars in the nebula but darkened the background bringing out a larger expanse of nebulosity, without the filter the stars were brighter and sharper but the nebulae retreated. you’re absolutely right M42 was the best I’ve ever seen it

Just come in after a couple of hours but, my word it’s cold!!! The main reason I’ve come in, 4 pairs of socks and walking boots and my feet are frozen. Got my first real view of M78 though and M42 was spectacular, the best I’ve ever seen it! Through the 17.5mm Morpheus and a UHC filter. Tried it with and without the filter which I’ve never really done before and it was stunning with the filter, I don’t normally use them. I found it looked a lot bigger as more nebulosity became visible. The Christmas Tree cluster (but no Cone Nebula) and a couple of other open clusters before I surrendered to the cold 🥶

One tip. To make it more accurate, attach your phone to a piece of wood or something by an elastic band to take it away from the metal of your mount, then place the wood in your dovetail cradle. This stops the magnetic effect of the mount affecting the result. I don’t bother with that cos I can see Polaris, I just use it to get Polaris in the fov of the polar scope when setting up during the daytime . I then tweek it through the polar scope at night to get bang on. Total time for accurate PA- 5 minutes

I’m not sure actually, I think so but don’t quote me on it, I think there may be similar apps if you search around, I’ve only ever used this one and it works well

At the risk of provoking a reaction similar to one recently on a similar thread 😀 but in the interest of helping you. If you’re using an iPhone, then there is an app called PS Align Pro which has a daytime polar align routine which means you can’t see Polaris, obviously it can be used at night as well. Follow the very quick routine and you will be very close to the NCP and Polaris. Close enough for decent tracking of an object for a decent period of time

It ain’t a dream, forecast clear across most of the UK, gonna be a night for those faint fuzzies with no moon

Damn work on Thursday!!!!.......though I haven’t called in sick for a few years!?!?!.......

This is what you need https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-optics-cleaning-protection/baader-optical-wonder-set-cleaning-fluid-and-cloth.html Though I would leave them be unless you really need to clean them

Totally agree and it’s way funnier than the film with a lot more science

A great night, Beta Mon is one of the best!...Glad to see you like the Morpheus, they are really nice.

Can I refer you to my earlier post re the app PS Align Pro

There’s two different subjects here. When I talk about using an app, I’m talking about getting Polaris in the polar scope fov, not finding Polaris, most people can see it, we know where it is. What can be a faff is setting your tripod and mount up, so that Polaris is in the fov, highly unlikely by luck and can result in taking time squatting behind the mount whilst you try and line it up, by eye, with Polaris, my point is, apps and gadgets make this a whole lot easier and quicker

Another handy bit of kit is of these, makes life a whole lot easier!! https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-right-angled-eyepiece-for-polar-scopes.html

No it’s not, it’s easy, but what can be awkward is getting it in the fov of the polar scope which is where the app comes into its own

I use an app called PS Align Pro, similar to @Neil H It has a daytime polar align routine which you can carry out when setting up. It is not accurate enough for good PA but it will get Polaris in the fov of the polar scope so at night it just needs tweaking

Just looking at the observing section of forum and, at the time of writing, there hasn’t been a post for 1 day, apart from one 18 hours ago in the binocular section. Is this a bi-product of our appalling, and worsening weather?? Global warming models predict wetter weather in the UK, which obviously means more clouds. It appears that the evidence may be becoming obvious ☹️

I can hear them calling out to me 😀

I can’t be doing that. With my setup it’s not possible, I just wouldn’t bother as much as I do. I leave my mount (and quite often, scope as well) set up on a semi permanent basis. No pa required (occasionally) and no star alignment required (occasionally). I can be up and running in 10 minutes. All you need is a good cover, TG 365 and you will have no problems. I have never really understood why people pack away equipment every night that is designed to be outside unless it’s a security issue. As long as you take some precautions it will be fine. It’s there to be used, not look pretty in the conservatory. I used to pack away every night, no more, it’s just a pain in the you know what. Life is easy now and I get out a lot more.

Wow.....looks a right faff!!!.....thank God for technology!!