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Congrats, I’d be proud of an image like that. Chris

Thank you, the flight is only 4hrs from Stansted, and the backpack with all the bits was just under the 10 kilo weight limit for carry-on, but at 35 degrees latitude, much better views of the Southern / eastern Milky Way, than home in the UK at 52 degrees. Good luck, wherever you choose to go. Am hopefully heading to Kithira (Kythira) this year. Chris

Loutro, Crete. A tiny village with no roads. You have to take a small or larger boat in and out ( or a strenuous, long hike). Get up the hill behind the village by the ruined castle. The next stop on the eastern horizon is Libya. I went last year with a Star Tracker and Sony Camera. It’s a long journey, flying to Crete and then a taxi down to a little port to catch the ferry, but well worthwhile. Cachet Travel have ready made holidays there, but not many other companies. The pic below was the first widefield that I am reasonably pleased with after a number of false starts in the UK. Think a telephoto or short frac would give superb results after midnight. Chris

Is usually the first object I hunt for in the night sky at the start of an observing session. If I can find the "cascade", then usually the sky quality / my eyesight is good enought to have an enjoyable evening. Chris

Not sure exactly what modifications you mean, but these guys https://advancedcameraservices.co.uk/ did an excellent job in cleaning / servicing the sensor on my Sony when a guts of wind blew a load of muck onto it. They also do the IR / UV mods. Hope this helps? Chris

Not sure who is suppling your kit, but @FLO have a few AZGTi’s listed as being in stock. Only 8, left, and when I was looking (during 2020) they were out of stock for a long time, so I purchased the Ioptron Sky Guider Pro. That’s an excellent mount, but I struggled with the supplied wedge, so purchased the much better, although heavier and costly, William Optics wedge too. Good luck with whatever you choose. Chris

Depends upon how far you want to travel. I live just south of Norwich, but prefer the friendliness and the vibe of the AstroCamp at Cwmdu in Wales. (Just North of Crickhowell) https://www.astrocamp.awesomeastronomy.com The Spring event May have sold out now, but you may get lucky! Good luck to whichever one you choose. Chris

Has anyone visited the Greek island of Kythira (also spelt on some websites as Kithira)? Planning a trip in May as the island has great walks, is interesting, but not hugely busy. https://www.kythera.gr/en/ Going to take my startracker to try and get some more photos of the Milky Way, so any tips / recommendations welcome. Thanks in advance, Chris

That’s the star cloud above the Lagoon and Triffid? Well, from 52 degrees North, my viewing has been limited, but remember all of the Sagittarius area just enchanting. I’ll be sure to have a look later this year.

Sure! 😁

For a long, long time, I swore that the Tak would have to be prised from my cold, dead hands...but that extra 16mm...as the highly experienced dude on FB said; "The view was 3D like with huge detail in its letter box core, suspended in space above pinpoint diamond like stars." The Feathertouch focuser, although is a joy to use too. If you're heading to Cwmdu for the AstroCamp, I'll have it with me there. Chris

Am not at Seething so often now (long story, not for here) but let me know when you're next headed there, if not on a Friday then as a keyholder, and I'll try and swing by with it!

The baby Tak went to an accomplished observer that we both know. The Stowaway is something else. Had a few memorable nights last year https://www.facebook.com/groups/479353680354/posts/10166985478450355/ Chris

Neil, 4 inches of 'frac is just delightful, not unwieldy like a 5 inch, much more portable, and the are views terrific. You've had a look through my 'nearly 4 inches" of A-P? Chris

I was in Tenerife in November 2020 and did the 'Teide by Night' trip booked locally during my week long stay, partly to have a look around the area. They had 2 CPC 9.25 scopes, one pointing at Jupiter and one at the moon. At the time, the Parador was fully booked up for months ahead. Could you get a fly drive holiday and have a nice villa with a pool at say Vilaflor? Booking.com has a few interesting properties? A small frac on a lightweight head and you'll see all the reasonable stuff in Sagittarius? Good luck! Chris

First time for a few years for me, pitch 23, so will be a "commoner". Have a bit of a dilemma, do I bring the #BFS ( a 125 Altair Astro ED on a sabre mount) or the Stowaway. I'm leaning towards the Stowaway as the 125ED is a bit of a beast to set up and cart back to the tent. See you there! Chris

Needed a Bahtinov mask to help focus my telephoto zoom lens (attempting to photograph Comet C2022 / E3) and came across www.jacktheprinter.co.uk who 3d prints Bahtinov masks and more from the UK. My mask arrived today, a few days after ordering, fits my lens and will be a useful addition to my adventures with the camera at night.

Thank you, Steve. That's my first "tracked" image that I am pleased with. Taken from a hilltop above a tiny fishing village on the South coast of Crete with no raods in and just a little light pollution. Chris

I do not think any tracker is "idiot proof" - my experience is that they all need some reading the manual / watching the youtube video and practice to work After a trial with the clockwork Omegon star tracker (trailing stars whenever I used it) I tried to purchase the Skywatcher in 2020, but it was out of stock and so I purchased the Ioptron SkyGuider Pro. I consider myself a beginner with this lark. The Ioptron is well made, tracks very well (I'm getting 5 minute exposure with a 20mm lens) and has an in-built rechargeable battery. The weak point for me was the Ioptron wedge supplied; I could not get it to lock accurately, and so invested in the William Optics wedge with the extra expense and weight. You mention climbing in your bio, if you plan on hiking with your kit, then then think about the all in weight of your camera and tracker etc...For a MFT camera, perhaps the lightweight Move-Shoot-Move tracker promoted by Alyn Wallace might suit? Good luck, I think once you have decided to get one, all of them on the @FLO website are great, just down to personal preference and circumstances really. Chris

Good morning, The eyepiece experience is a much, much tougher question. I've had many more hours with the 125 since my first light report, since July 2018. The planets are great, Jupiter and Saturn have been superb, but not Mars. (Most recently looked at approx 2 weeks ago) it's too bright at present. I used my Panoptic 24mm and 9mm Nagler. I'll have another attempt when the weather improves, but at that time, it felt very much as if I needed an ND filter to "dim down' the brightness. All of the comments have been about the Stowaway; ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/479353680354/posts/10166985478450355/ ) it's probably seen a little more action as the weather has been less than settled. If I had to keep just 1 scope, then it would be the Stowaway... Probably no help whatsoever, sorry!! Chris

Good luck in choosing @Sunshine! I went to a 125mm as an increase in aperture from a Tak 76; a huge difference in "light gathering". My 125 is a doublet from a UK company called Altair Astro; the same scope is available from other retailers under differing brand names. This is a slightly newer version with a handle included ,though the scope OTA, I think, is the same as mine https://www.altairastro.com/altair-wave-series-125-edf-f78-apo-w-large-m92-rp-focuser-454-p.asp Mine came with a test report and has a Strehl ratio of 96.6 No noticeable 'cool down' time needed, but I tend to drive to Seething Observatory (the home of Norwich Astro - my local club) with the heating off, or on a minimal amount. Am not sure if you plan on using your existing mount, but a frac of this size and weight needs careful balancing at the start and handling, especially at the end of a session when you are cold / tired packing away. I use an Alt Az manual mount that needs counterweights, so more time to set up / take down. I upgraded my Tak to a 92mm Stowaway, and it really depends upon the weather forecast as to which gets used...if the weather forecast is for clear skies for most of the night, then it's the 125mm that accompanies me, but, if the forecast is less than settled, then it's the Stowaway. Looking forward to seeing what you go for! Chris

The constellation of Orion, rising in the East / South East above ‘The Scallop’ at Aldeburgh. Taken at around 21:00hrs on Thursday December 15th. Foreground exposed for 5 minutes, and then the stars / sky exposed for 5 minutes with my Ioptron Skyguider switched on. The two images were then blended in Photoshop. The Scallop was partly illuminated by someone driving their 4x4 along the coast road with their main beam on. The lights on the horizon are from a wind farm ( I think) boats heading to / from Felixstowe and from the Dutch coast. Chris

Not the 102, but yes to my 125. I purchased the WO handle from @FLO. Not inexpensive, but a quality piece of equipment. Honest opinion; it's transformed the use of the scope; attaching / balancing the scope to the Sabre Mount is now easy at the start of the night, more so, taking the scope off the mount when tired and with cold hands after a night of observing. Wish I'd bought one sooner, but was waiting for Altair to have stocks of their dedicated one since 2018! Good luck, Chris

Almost, I have an Altair 125 EDF that sits on a Sabre Mount: super views, but all the kit needs more carrying from the car to the observing pads, so doesn't get as much use as it could. I am however, really fortunate to own a rather nice 92mm scope that is special, but just a little less bright at the eyepiece. Another post recommends a Tak 76, if you can get one, that too is a great compromise and very lightweight. I sold mine only because the very nice people at Astro-Physics got in touch to let me know my number was up for a Stowaway. When the forecast is for settled skies, I never have regretted the extra hassles in getting the Altair 125 out and setup though.

Remember to have a look on the used section here too. A quick look tonight shows this one. No connection with the seller, but an ED doublet for £175 , so some bargains to be found, especially as this comes with an eyepiece and diagonal.