knightware2

If you decide to have another go at cleaning this mirror... I am a little concerned about the spots left after your first cleaning. Hopefully, they will clean off. Those are my favorite kind of spots! You might consider soaking it for a bit in a water and soap solution, then proceed with fingertips and ROR procedure. Rinse with distilled water. If this doesn't remove the spots, the coating on the mirror may be etched. The only remedy I know of then would be to have it re-coated. I hope the mirror still performs sufficiently. I am not a fan of shipping mirrors for re-coating, but is necessary sometimes. Good Luck! - Phyllis

Wonderful images - thank you for sharing! Regarding your image of PN NGC 7048. My info says the central star is mag 19.12. I would think the central star is the very dim star adjacent to the small bubble in the center of the nebula. Just an opinion, not a confirmed fact. I really like the image! - Phyllis

Beautiful capture Wim! I don't know whether you know why this is called 'Deerlick Group'. Many years ago (I guess 20-25), an observing friend named Tom Lorenzin was observing in nearby mountains at an overlook area. He and a few others observed this galaxy group and named it for the overlook parking area. The overlook is in North Carolina (USA) along the Blue Ridge Parkway - a beautiful roadway with several overlooks that are used for astronomical observing when weather is favorable. My husband & I visited the area in June and took this photo of Deerlick Overlook. - Phyllis

I'm happy to see that the Binocular Sky newsletter is back, and quite happy that you are feeling well again. Autumn skies present a lot of binocular opportunities - thanks for leading the way! - Phyllis

I got my copy in the mail today and found your picture on p 83. Very nice! It looks like you have a LOT of exposure time. Congrats! - Phyllis

Steve, I also wish you the very best. I miss your newsletter but I definitely want you to feel well soon. Take care! - Phyllis

The lap channels need to be opened up and the lap needs the net pressed again before proceeding. Do you have a stand that can hold the mirror vertical for testing? I can tell you how to measure focal length accurately using a stand, torch and some water. We did that for years in a mirror making class I taught at North Carolina State University (USA). Keep up the good work! - Phyllis

It sounds like you had an excellent visit to WSP. I haven't been in several years but I also cherish my visits. Thank you for the photos and sketches - they are a lovely nice reminder of these beautiful objects as seen from the south Florida Keys. - Phyllis

I hope the star test goes well. Once you have backed the clamps off so that they don't quite touch the mirror surface, you should shake the tube a little when pointed at the zenith so that the mirror settles in its cell. Then collimate. I usually do this, and after an hour or so of observing, check collimation again so that temperature changes can be addressed. My telescope if f/4.5 so collimation is important for good crisp images. Good luck! - Phyllis

The comet's tail looks so much longer than I am seeing visually with binoculars or naked eye. My observing location is rather light polluted so maybe that's it. The tail appears golden though as you image shows. Thanks for sharing your image, - Phyllis

Noctilucent clouds and a comet make a wonderful composition. Thanks for sharing! - Phyllis

Wow! Both shots are stunning. Getting it above the London skyline is very impressive! Thanks for sharing. - Phyllis

This thread brings back some happy memories. As I have thought about my own history, it seems I don't like getting rid of telescopes! C8 - To see Comet Halley and fulfill a childhood dream of having a telescope. 8" Homemade Dob - Fulfilling another childhood dream of grinding a mirror and building a telescope. Still use this one. Sold C8. Sad to see it go, but the 8" Dob has better optics. 20" f/5 Dob - Built by Tectron (USA) and eventually rebuilt by me. Excellent views but ultimately too heavy and required a ladder (which my knees did not like). Fujinon 16x70 binoculars. Viewed Comet Hyakutake through a friend's Fujinons and was hooked. Still use these on a parallelogram mount. Sold 20" Dob to a friend. Very sad to part with it. 14.5" f/4.5 Dob - Built by Teeter's Telescopes (USA). Wonderful telescope customized for me by Rob Teeter; still use this one. Leitz 7x50 binoculars - Inherited these and restored them. This 1945 model has excellent optics; still use these. Just think, if the clouds ever clear, I could use some of these! - Phyllis