Bart

Last night was a decent night, not great transparency though, hedge has a bit to grow yet! Might be ready as a wind break next year...

One of my favourites, that, the Cat's Eye

Here's one of my 16" amongst many others at the recent Skellig Star Party in Kerry 

Thanks wimvb

yep, lots of dew. Managed to get to  about 3:30am though. The Telrad has a home made few heater which is an absolute godsend. Looking forward to the longer evenings. Thanks. 

Got a couple of hours in tonight, bit patchy with the clouds. The transparency wasn't great either. Still, good to get the kit out. Saw some nice Perseids as well, which was nice. 

This is the 10" ready earlier. 

Pictures of the stripped ES 30mm 82*

Ha! A very keen eye you have John. Many many moons ago I stripped the huge moving eyecup from a little older version of the ES 30mm 82* that I got at a great deal from the US new. I realised I was making it a 'keeper' by doing so, but haven't really regretted it. It was  huge with the eyecup. I had to then buy a new rubber 'eyecup' which then went over a ring at the top of the eyepiece nicely! I don't use it that much nowadays but do occasionally, and could never see myself selling it, even if someone wanted to buy the slimline version...

one of these fella's below   I'll take a photo of the stripped EP later in case anyone's interested

Recently made a hames of arranging the new case. Might need to order some new foam. The Nagler is sitting in a larger than needed space as that's left aside for a 5mm 100* EP if I take the urge this coming season, ahem.....

i also see the ES coma corrector permanently installed in one of the Dobs..

The case with all the glass weighs a fair bit.....

Here's my 10" ready for tonight! First time in ages. Going to catch some sleep as its been a busy week and staying up till two would probably be the death of me. 

Like it, Niall

hope to have mine out tonight for the first in ages, Astro darkness, moonless until 2ish and clear skies apparently tonight!

Raanan

must say, I like your style, 18", 31mm Nagler, paracorr. No point hanging around, just get in there!! Look, once over the niggles, you'll get it moving around nicely and then you're in for a treat. Don't know where you are as I'm on the phone here, but if you've darkish skies, you're gonna be spoilt. I started at 6", then 10", then 16" and the wows got bigger and bigger. After looking through your big fella, looking through my 10" would probably disappoint you. Good luck on your adventure!

Hey Pat

say what you mean anyway!

That's a shame. 

To reiterate what someone else said earlier, I see dust lanes in M31 with 16" and NELM 5.5-5.6

Barry

No difference visually. I think Argon would escape more slowly than Nitrogen as Argon is more than twice as heavy. I think maybe that could be why they switched to Argon perhaps?

I thought they were heavier alright.

Barry

for what size Emad?

Here's mine

Barry

The 16" is very heavy. I whip it out of the garage on a customised wheelbarraow arrangement, so it takes me 2 mins to get it out there, and I have a bad back. My skies are pretty good so I won't travel much with it. I have a 10" and that is a piece of cake to manouever and to get into and out of anywhere. To get it (16") in and out of a car would, I imagine, be a big deal. Mind you, maybe the others would be as well. It would definitely be hard work with the LB. Don't get me wrong, you'd have to prise my LB out of my cold dead hands as I heard someone say here before, but it is a real handful. Because I just wheel it in and out, it's no bother for me.

Barry

all well and good you 10"ers going 16 but where do us 1`ers move on to next? i feel as if i'm being discriminated against and poked fun at

Estwing , if we knew what the 1" was. we might be able to poke fun properly.

I understand that GSO a company that manufacture many astro related stuff, including scopes (I have a 10" GSO dob) and these are rebranded under many names, such as Zhumell, Meade, Orion etc, not sure about Celestron (I also have a Celestron dob)(I also have a Meade Dob)(I like Dobs), anyway, back to your question. They do make repuatble stuff and therefore assume Zhummel would be fine. Many folk your side of the water use Zhummell and are around for years, which in itself is no recommendation, but I don't hear anything negative about them. Someone would need to comment on the Astro-Tech, I have no experience

Good luck, you'll love your Dob, everyone does!! Did I say go for the 10 inch already?

Barry

Of coarse if you do go on from 10" you are realistically looking at a 16"

Good luck with your decision

He speaketh the truth View sig !

10 inch

10 inch

10 inch

Need I say more?

Might be the only one you'll ever need.

Good luck!

Bart

Alan, trying to talk himself into buying a Sky Watcher 16 goto Dob.

And doing a good job...

Rob,

I have a 6" Dob, a 10" DOb, and as of yesterday, a 16" Dob. Like Moonshane, I like Dobs! The 10" gives good views, and after assembing the 16", the 10" will be the one I travel with as the 16" is heavy, very heavy. Must work out a good transport system, such as the wheelbarrow arrangement. Cannot wait to see the difference between it and the 10". M51 mmmmmm! I say travel, but I haven't done it yet. My garden is pretty dark, but you know, the grass is always greener, or blacker.... I have actively been looking for dark sites and plan to try a couple out in the early Autumn/late summer, or August as i like to call it.

To me, hunting the galaxies and teasing out detail is my thing nad so I went for the biggest I could mange. And believe me, the 16" is the biggest I can manage....

Good luck

Baart

Russell,

Nice, enjoy. Clear skies to you.

Gary, recently found ther Cats Eye, I agree, its beautiful.

Bart

I would have to say that my recent experience with James has been excellent. I had an issue with a delivery to Ireland and James' understanding and customer service was at a level that is hard to find these days. Refreshing. I would say the lads have won customers based on their personal dealings alone.

Bart