John

There is no controversy over NV and I certainly don't regard it as a threat at all. I think the queries are the usual ones you get when a quite expensive piece of equipment is being discussed, similar to the ones when expensive eyepieces, scopes, mounts or, I assume, imaging devices are being discussed. Discussions like this help people to form conclusions about whether they want to move in this direction, either now, in due course, or that it's not for them. All good stuff

From my short experience of the Sabre mount (a mk II) I don't think it would make a good mount for a C11 in all honesty. It would hold the scope (ie not break) but the long focal length and narrow field of view will make actually using it to observe a chore I think. The new AZ100 might do the trick though

No. I think NV is great but it's just not how I like to do astronomy. No wires, no tech, just me, the scope, a case of eyepieces, a star chart and a dark sky and I'll do the best I can with that. Thats just me though

NV does bring a very large improvement to a range of targets but there are many others that it does not benefit so you will still need a quality set of equipment to view those. I'm not sure that NV is an "either or" type choice. It's a very, very nice facility to have but does not replace all other observing methods.

I've just been thinking - having the 2 Berlebach UNI 28's for a while will make the comparison between my current HEQ5 fitting mounts (Skytee II and Giro Ercole) and the AZ100 much simpler - I can have 2 mounts setup side by side and just switch the scope between them. Thats going to make comparisons easier and quicker than trying to use a single tripod shared between them

I had a custom EQ6 adapter made for a Meade Giant Field tripod a couple of years back. It was very similar to the adapter pictured above. Not a low cost item to have made I found. Anyway, the AZ100 is the topic of this thread and I'm really looking forward to unpacking it next week and having a play

I'd like both fittings on my Berlebach so something that can convert fairly easily between the EQ6 and HEQ5 fitting would be nice

Thanks Dave. Out of interest have you compared the performance of the Intes Micro 815 with a top shelf 6 inch apo refractor ?

I'll do the best I can to measure and describe the mount as comprehensively as I can but I won't be taking it apart folks It is being supplied with a Berlebach Uni 28 tripod with the the EQ6 fitting - my Berlebach is the HEQ5 type. The mount is due with me on Monday - thanks very much Steve / FLO

Fabulous scope the Intes Micro 815 Dave. I think they are available to special order only now, is that correct ? The last time I saw one for sale new it was around £4,000 for the optical tube. How does the somewhat more affordable and available Skywatcher 180 Mak-cassegain compare out of interest ?

Sorry to hear of the loss of your Father-in-Law. It is worth bearing in mind that the price of used equipment is usually around 60% of the new price, assuming the equipment is in excellent condition and full working order. If you use e.bay to sell it you will have their fees and possibly Paypal fees to take into account as well. In the case of a vendor such as Rother Valley Optics, they will have expenses to take into account as well and will have to spend time checking that each item is in full working order. I'm not saying accept the RVO offer but being realisic about the price that you might realise from the equipment is important. I do hope you are able to dispose of the equipment for a decent price without too much trouble.

5 is not bad - most of my observing is done under Bortle 5 skies. 8 and 9 are where it gets tough ! We (BAS) have run observing sessions on the Clifton Downs and it's OK as long as you stick with brighter targets. Our observatory is about 7 miles south of Bristol where it's around Bortle 5.

Here is a bit more about the Bortle Scale: https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-resources/light-pollution-and-astronomy-the-bortle-dark-sky-scale/ Depending where you are in Bristol it can vary from Bortle 6 to Bortle 9. Local street lights, security lights and housing and industrial lights have a big influence.

At the bottom of the 2nd link there is some information about that. Your 1st visit is free. For subsequent visits we ask for £3 a session unless you decide to join. The "Clear Outside" webpage is free to use and gives lots of info about your local observing conditions if you put them into it. This link is set up for my home town, Portishead but you can change it to suit your location: http://clearoutside.com/forecast/51.48/-2.79 An estimate of your Bortle Scale conditions is in the yellow box below the location details.

Thats true - last night was not supposed to be clear but I got some observing in because the forecast was incorrect. My scopes are quick to set up and tear down and right next to where I observe so I can be responsive when the opportunity presents itself

Bristol Astronomical Society meet off Gloucester Road on Friday evenings. Here is the current programme - the "scope surgery" on 22nd November might be of interest as it's aimed at those who have got a scope that they are unsure about using and those who are thinking about getting one. http://www.bristolastrosoc.org.uk/www/pages/programme/programme-20192020.php Here is a bit more about coming to our meetings: http://www.bristolastrosoc.org.uk/www/pages/programme.php

And one more good one https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-equipment/how-to-choose-a-telescope/

The starting prices on e.bay are sometimes very low but the bidding usually carries the final price up to, or sometimes beyond, the used market price. The scope you have linked to is a decent one but it almost certainly won't go for £49 - by the time the bidding has ended, the final price will be similar to the figures that fozzybear has quoted I expect, possibly a bit more. Due to your transport situation, I assume you are planning to get the scope delivered to you ? That scope is collection only from Torpoint.

No chance of seeing the comets conjunction with Neptune tonight due to

Filters may bring some subtle improvements (personally I don't find them useful but some do) but the low altitude of Jupiter, Mars and Saturn at the present time from the UK limits the quality of the views whatever measures we might take. To see what our scopes can really do with them I think that either patience or the ability to get somewhere further south to observe is required. Saying that, I have had some nice views of all 3 of these planets but not as regularly or of quite the quality that I've seen when they are higher in the sky.

Not yet Dave - it seems to be listed as mag 12+ currently so I'll need the 12 inch dob for that one.

I've just about managed to find it with the Tak 100 - darned hard work tonight !: I think it's fading slowly and getting lower.

A surprise clear night here gave me the opportunity to have another peek at this comet now on its way between the Pisces circlet and Aquarius (near Neptune tomorrow evening). I did manage to track it down but frankly it was hard work with the Takahashi 100mm refractor that I was using this evening. I think the comet has faded back to around magnitude 10 and the lowering altitude each evening adds some atmospheric extinction. If the clouds allow the conjunction between Comet Africano 2018 and Neptune to be observed tomorrow evening I think I'm going to need to get the 12 inch dob out to make much of it. Otherwise, had a nice scout around some binary stars including Theta Aurigae rising to the NE and a few brighter DSO's including NGC 404 (Mirach's Ghost) in Andromeda. Really feels autumnal tonight - more layers needed to keep cosy !

If you are observing from the UK the factor that limits the results when observing Jupiter at present is it's altitude in the sky - it's very low and observing obliquely through the atmosphere takes it's toll on sharpness and contrast. This opposition I've consistently found that my refractors (100mm - 130mm aperture) give better images of Jupiter than my 12 inch dobsonian. When Jupiter has been higher in the sky the 12 inch dob has delivered superb images of it.

It's a tiddler, but it's something