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Thank you, and only £35 from Tring Astro too, ordered one! Thank you Matthew. Chris

After 4 years, my Petzl Tactikka + torch is failing, I like this head torch as there's a red filter that flips down to uncover the white light. It's replacement needs to be light weight, easy to use with gloves and can switch the red light on / off without cycling through a white light....any recommendations please? The current Tactikka + plus doesn't have the red filter, some of the Petzl range now have to cycled through white to red light which is crazy. Thanks, Chris

I stored the OTA in a Lowe Alpine Flipside Backpack and left the mount attached to the tripod all the time...Think the scope was stored pointing down, but my room never really gets THAT warm, so unsure...Good hunting!

Congrats, the 5SE is an excellent scope; I had one for 3/4 years. The design means that they are very prone to misting up, with even the slightest hint of dew...Buy or make yourself a decent dewshield for your first night observing would be my tip. The Celestron alignment routine is superb, you can Solar Align on the moon (for example) and then GoTo other planets in the solar system that you may not be able to see in the early evening sky. Good luck, Chris

For those of you in East Anglia. Mark McCaughrean will be speaking at the Forum, in Norwich on Monday 22nd October at 5pm for the Norwich Science Festival. Not often we get an ESA Scientist in Norfolk, think it will be an excellent talk. Details can be found on the Science Festival Website at https://norwichsciencefestival.co.uk/events/once-explorers-always-explorers/ Chris

Good luck Mark, NV tech an interesting development. As you say €4K a lot of money, but if it gives you views that you otherwise would not get. Chris

Safe travels, clear skies and good hunting @Stu. With the unsettled weather here in the UK, think more and more Astro trips abroad will happen. Looking forward to your report(s), I still have your Samos trip write up bookmarked! Chris

Easily doable! The aluminium case that my Altair 72mm frac came with “died” as our train pulled into Kings Cross. At Gatwick I spent £72 (more than I wanted to) on a Samsonite backpack took the foam innards of the case plus contents, and just slid into the backpack. That plus a lightweight photo tripod and you’re good to go! I haven’t a pic of the backpack, but can take one later this week. Chris

Hi @Steve Ward, just to let you know that these guys have moved to Leighton Buzzard now, their new web site and phone number is at https://condor-cases.co.uk/. Cheers, Chris

Good luck, I can vouch that he’s a decent / honest person to deal with.

There is one being sold complete for £175 by the president of Norwich Astro if of any interest? Email is mark at markthompsonastronomy.com Chris

Thank you everyone, very helpful and much appreciated. As I live just 25 miles away from @Steve Ward's suggestion, I'll be giving them a call on Monday. Have a great weekend all, Chris

Does anyone know of a supplier of foam please? I’m looking to store my 125 frac in a hard case but need to replace the existing foam. Plenty of replacement foam for sofas on the internet, but a recommendation of a trusty supplier would be good. Thanks in advance, Chris

In the Winter, Hagdrid’s Dragon, an Open Cluster, NGC2301 is beautiful to look at in a small scope. In the Summer / Autumn, M22 the Wild Duck Cluster, sweeping downwards to the Lagoon Nebula (M8) a favourite. I usually at least once per session look for Kemble’s Cascade; again great in a small scope...NGC1502 at the base. Great idea for a thread @Geoff Barnes Chris

Thanks Dave, yes after another night under the skies, am well pleased. Was two weeks ago; clouded out by midnight, but a good view of comet 21P/ Giacobini - Zinner along with the usual suspects including NGC 6543. It’s going to take a few sessions so that I’m as ‘fluent’ at setting it up as I am my Tak, but well worth the extra effort. Chris