mdstuart

Well that looks ok and the mirror has not fallen off the holder...yet😱

Thank you everyone.

As long as my epoxy and silicon hold and my mirror does not fall and break later today I will be happy!

Mark

My goodness what a thread. I am about to re-attach my secondary. The main mirror is 500mm and the focal length is 2000mm and the secondary is 95mm wide. I will shift the secondary 6mm towards the main mirror and as long as I can see the secondary as a nice circle through the focuser then I will be happy.

Mark

Yep the finder on the 130p cannot line up without modification. Mad!

Mark

The skies are not getting properly dark at the moment but it will not be long before the dark autumnal skies return.

Just wait until you see the Orion nebula in the winter!

I would get a few good eyepieces. You will get good advice from John. He has looked through so many over the years!

Mark

Top cage down from 8.2kg to 4.5kg.

My spider is not quite square 😞 despite measuring things many times, however the mirror holder is central so it will be fine optically. I will say the spider shift is a design feature to help spot the Sirius pup star 😉

This makes me appreciate the work of professional telescope builders!

Varnish and internal black Matt paint added.

Looking good now.😀

I think it might be Abell 1809 a cluster of 78 galaxies.

http://cs.astronomy.com/asy/m/galaxies/492530.aspx

Now known as the Han galaxy cluster or Han1

Excellent report. Saturn is beautiful.

I leave near you in Thornbury.

Welcome to stargazers lounge!

Mark

Tidied up the secondary holder today. Epoxy and silicon to add and then I can reattach the mirror.

I have seen about five of them.

Try this https://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/gcm31.htm

And I think you can see some that belong to M110.

https://astromart.com/forums/imaging/ccd-imaging-and-processingdeep-sky/globular-clusters-in-m110?page=1

Mark

Spider painted and phew it fits.

The secondary mirror was literally held by three clips all touching the surface...eek. I am going to make an oval shaped piece of wood so I can do the silicon blob plus epoxy resin emergency cord attachment approach..

All this is tough for a non practical person but I am getting there.

And low down. Thanks for the responses. I was hoping it might be a bit brighter and higher in the sky

Mark

Does anyone know if this asteroid passing by tonight is visible or not?

Mark

Perfect..

Summer has arrived so we continue. Making a focuser hole!

Great report. It is rewarding to push the limits whatever they are where you are.

Definitely try M94. I did this a while back which might help you select brighter galaxy targets.

http://bristolweather.org.uk/galaxies/Galaxy viewing with binoculars.php

Great report. If you like globulars have a look at M5 when you can as it's lovely.

Mark

My wife just said that's not a comet it's car headlights.

Mark

Loving the globular M5 at the end...

I might just hunt globulars tonight.

Mark

Well done! I can get to mag 12.4 mag stars in my 130mm dob so a mag 12 galaxy is some achievement.

Mark

John

That ties in with my observation. I could see the two star like points to the side of NGC 4273 as well. I could make out the host galaxy with averted vision. Very rich field of galaxies!

Mark

With your kit you should be able to discover your own supernova.

Imagine Alan 2020 supernova 1 in the designations.

Mark

Stare at NGC 6946 each nght and just wait might work...

Supernova are "super" to spot. The contrast between the point of light and the fuzzy galaxy is pretty special.

I might have a chance with the 14.9 one.

Mark