LukeTheNuke

Thin cloud here again, and against my better judgement and despite having a backlog of stuff to do, I had to have a peek. I blame all of you, LOL! I think it's only more recently that I've realised that sites like this can be so helpful for keeping you engaged in the hobby. So a little thank you, while I'm on the subject. It makes a difference, and I think hobbies and interests can be something that puts an important spring in our step. Anyway, my renewed appreciation for the gear Sarah and I have accumulated over the years continued today, and I was thinking how ace the Vixen Hal 130 tripod is plus a dual mount bar. Oh yeah, that monster active region is so impressive! I loved the trail of smaller spots, artistically spaced out - there was so much detail in white light. H-alpha was very interesting too on the monster, a bit of flaring. I did get some pretty decent, steady views, despite the thin cloud. So it was well worth the (fairly minimal anyway) effort. Oh, and I was pleased to see yesterday and today that my old Quark is okay on proms. The proms looked really faint the other day, and it has been a while since I used my Quark, but it was just the thin cloud robbing me of brightness on the proms that evening, it seems. I am due a windfall soon hopefully, and it's tempting to think about a Lunt (I'm trying not too look too closely at the 100 mm for sale, I hope someone snaps it up before I get my cash, LOL!) Part of me, though, enjoys using my different fracs for solar. Despite my problems with the Quark, there is a terrible temptation to buy a new one. I'll have a ponder and perhaps check with FLO if they check them first or would be okay about me returning it if I'm not happy with it. There is still the risk though of if it goes faulty and having to return it, being unsure what the quality will be like of what I get back. Or I suppose Solar Spectrum, though the price is much steeper.

Please buy this one before my windfall comes in! What would tempt you the most to splash the cash? One of those fancy Solarscope filters?

Thanks for the info and tip! Full frame sounds good. Oooh, you have a posh cooled 174 as well. I feel I can't get another 174, alas, as it would feel an own goal, having sold mine! So you're using the Evostar 150? Have you had that a while? Is it a bit of a handful, or not too bad? I've thought about a 150 a few times, but our 120 feels fairly big already.

Do you take stills or do a movie? Is the 6D a lot posher than the 1000D? (I did buy an 1100D in 2012, dunno if that is the one I still have)

I'm not 100% sure yet on getting back to the imaging. But there's quite a lot in place. I saw the other day how expensive HEQ5 mounts are now - already got. Lappy on the shopping list for other reasons (funds hopefully due by end of this month - a windfall, touch wood). Have the scopes and Herschel wedges. Can make time during the day (it's a bit complicated, but I'm kinda working from home for myself and can be flexible with my hours). So much in place already. Just missing a camera and my wife's tolerance. Mind you, I do have a DSLR somewhere. And lunar imaging tempts me back too, my Edge 8 would like to come out to play more often. LOL about the shade of the summerhouse. Very civilized! You know, for years I've stuck a towel on my head while observing the sun. Today I found I no longer need it. Coz I have a sun hat. I feel rather silly now. I noticed the old shade last year, I think it was, while getting the dob out of the shed. I'd completely forgotten about it! Clearly a sign and a nudge from the powers that be! Anyway, well done getting that monster!

Very nice! Glad you got in on the action! I saw it after dinner yesterday, but it was through thin cloud. The view was better this morning! Ah, sunspots like this tempt me back to imaging! And if my luck is in, I might be getting a new lappy soon. I might have to dig out my ©Steve Ward Monitor Shade. I believe I still have it!

You lot are a terrible influence! I have multiple things that need doing, and the thin cloud was still there, but against my better judgement, I had a look. What an AR! White light stole the show. Though it was nice to see the flares in h-alpha. The view was wobbly at times, but it did steady now and then and wasn't too bad. Well I say white light stole the show. The big prom was rather huge, but very faint in my Quark, I don't know if that's just my Quark or it was very faint. My wife Sarah didn't even notice it. I forgot to tell her about it! I also took a moment to appreciate my gear. My little 1.25 inch Herschel wedge is still showing cracking views. I love the Sky-Watcher Evostar 100ED DS-Pro. As Sarah will never let me forget, I initially wasn't very keen on us getting that scope all those years ago. I love it now! It gives such sharp views (well, when the seeing steadies) and is nice and light. The Tele Vue 85 is built like a tank, and the stock focuser has such a nice action. And I'm glad we kept our Tele Vue Radian eyepieces. They are lovely for white light, and not too bulky or heavy. And I observed without the solar continuum filter for a few minutes, which was interesting. I found the white of the disc rather bright. Thanks IB20 for posting that iPhone snap, I think it gave me a little nudge to brave the clouds!

Fabulous! I haven't set up the solar gear today, alas, as although it's sunny, it's been through thin cloud (I'm sure I'd still get a view through it, but I can't be bothered to fight my way through). I've been hoping it would clear properly, but no joy. Looks like it may properly clear just after the sun dips behind the houses!

Very nice! And funny enough, I was wondering just yesterday what lunar imaging with this scope would be like!

Nice one, David, good to see you back in action! Thanks for the views. Those spots have some lovely details.

Cor, that's a fab transit, well done! Did you not feel a drop it temp as it flew over and see the light dim? I enjoyed watching an airplane our way doing some loop-the-loops this morning. Must be quite a thrill!

Thanks, Piero. Or is it Master Yoda? Very wise words. We're hoping to move to Dorset, and if it happens, I will pile on the pounds in cream teas. But it could be years away, or never happen. So I was starting to think whether we should e.g. delay getting a big dob to see if we make it to Dorset. But I hadn't yet thought about the obvious, which is to buy used and resell if needs be. I wish I could call you a genius, but the truth is perhaps closer to that I am a dunce. Perhaps both are possible. I'm surprised by just how flexible Sarah is with what we get. She even mentioned possibly getting a used Edge 11 today, as that would work for star parties as well. I was really surprised by that! I'm not sure it gains us a lot on the GSO 10, though I think it would tempt me back to lunar imaging. It is a bit heavy, but I think it would work for us as I'd be okay lifting it up to the mount, while Sarah secures it to the mount. The trouble I had with our old C11 was trying to do both on my own. I think really I just want to see what the used market has to offer in the coming months, unless there's a really aggressive price reduction on a new scope. Thanks again for the thoughts, and apologies that I thought I kinda knew what I wanted in general terms. I'll have a bit more of a ponder, and perhaps some sense will return to me at some point. The biggest gap does still seem to be a bigger dob really. Or a solar scope, as we're not enamoured with the Quark. I think deep down I might want the VX14 really. Which I think is compatible with getting a 20 inch in Dorset. I just need to work out the money bit for the move (there's always a snag).

Gosh, I need a brass telescope one day! Posh mount, too. My dad had some brass telescopes up in the loft, as he collected antiques. I asked him if he'd ever tried doing some stargazing with them. He said to me, "I couldn't think of anything more boring!" I dunno what happened to those scopes. Well this doesn't look like a fast scope. What's the focal ratio? I'm guessing it's not a Coronado! The finish does look up a notch...

Having attempted off-axis guiding with a C11, I have only word word to say: obsy.

Wow, it's got some nice depth / a 3D feel to it. I feel like I'm about to fly through it. Warp speed, Mr Spock!

Thanks for the idea, I think that one is over the magical £300? (I suffer from being tight these days). But a built-in tilt plate is interesting, and I think I'd go mono. And there is the used market. I used to have the ZWO ASI174 Mono. Nice fast frame rate as you say, and I found that especially useful for drift imaging untracked, as I could get quite a few frames in before the solar or lunar disc was off the chip. But when tracked I'm happy enough at 30 fps (and Nigella's pics are fab!). I don't really want to go 174 again, though, as I sold one before, so it would feel like a bit of an own goal. Perhaps no harm done, though, if I can find a used one at a comparable price for what I sold mine for. I think, go cheaper, or maybe even go even posher if I don't use up all of my budget for changing my car. Thanks again for the idea, and I had no clue there was an option with a built-in tilt plate!

Ah, I see. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or be sad about you burning your jumper! It reminds me a bit of a story my mum tells me about my father. My dad used to talk on the phone a lot. One time, my mum interrupted him while he was on the phone, which he was annoyed about. I'll tone down what he said, but it was along the lines of, "Bob, this silly so-and-so is trying to tell me my chair is on fire, the silly so-and-so." A moment later, he jumps up and sees his chair really is on fire. It turns out that little Luke had lost one of his toy cars under dad's chair, and had cleverly used a match so he could see under the chair to find his car. I did like my toy cars, and still do! But as you say, solar safety is important, and I can well understand you being cautious with your eyeballs. I had a near miss one time, even after doing solar for a few years, I think. It was actually during the solar eclipse, and I got away with it because there was a bit of cloud. I'm normally quite careful, but I was rushing around because there was cloud and I was quite tense and not wanting to miss it. Which taught me that you should never rush when it comes to solar. Anyway, I do hope you found a nice new jumper! Mind you, it would be kind of cool in a way to keep your burnt one. "This is from the time I set fire to myself while doing solar".

Thanks, Nigella. Gosh, your images are from a £284 camera? Yikes, there IS a tempting camera for under £300! (I'm tempted to get back to a bit of lunar imaging, and maybe some white light solar). Full frame (3096×2080) at 30 fps (10 bit) or 60 fps (14 bit)? Hmmm. I'll check out for some info on G-band for visual then. Ah yes, I did know I may have left it a little late in life for CaK visual, LOL, good point! Out of interest, why wouldn't you advise that even young whippersnappers give CaK visual a go? Could it turn their hair purple? (I might fancy that, I do like purple)

I forgot about observing tonight, then remembered after midnight. I popped out with my GSO 10 inch dob and got my first view in, of M81 and M82, then the clouds started rolling in. Oh, why hadn't I remembered and got out sooner! I'd blown it! Oh well, I might as well stay on M81 and 82, and they're worth popping out for anyway. I stayed with M81 and M82 for a while, as the clouds swallowed up more of the sky. Then the pesky clouds took a hike, and I was able to take in a few more targets! M13 was fabulous, especially after I got the 12 mm Delos out to replace my lazy 21 mm Ethos eyepiece. It was hard to take my eye off of M13. Try as I might, I couldn't find the other fancy globular in Hercules! I gave up after about 15 mins. Time to get a Celestron StarSense to replace the GSO and my navigation skills? And I had a good look at the Ring Nebula - it's been a while, and I narrowly missed out on seeing it the previous session. Then I finished up on M51, which to my surprise I found quickly, despite it being high up. Note to self: buy a right angle finder! Hmm. Another nice session with my GSO dob that I keep threatening to replace. It didn't seem too shabby on M13...

Lovely shots! The spots are a bit more interesting than I realised from Gong. Hmmm, that looks pretty detailed with the 127 stopped down to 100mm. Are you using some type of ZWO camera? First time I've heard about a G-band filter. Is that imaging only, or does it help for visual as well?