Mark at Beaufort

That looks incredible Craig. I agree that using binos can be as good as using a scope.

Very nice I particularly like the 2nd image - really well done.

Clifff that is an excellent image of a lifting Prom. Too much high cloud here which is a pity.

I use a SvBony IR/UV filter when visually observing. I may not really need it but it just gives extra assurance and piece of mind.

Yes well done Tony.Also have a look at page 20 there is an article on Herefordshire Astronomical Society with a photo of me in the middle holding a sample of Moon rock from Apollo 11 to 17.

Thanks Paul for the 'heads up '. I have bought this book for many years. As Heather stated above it's sad that Nigel has lost Heather Couper she was a wonderful speaker. Best get a copy and plan for 2022.

Pete I had another session with 12" Dob last night. I tried both the neodymium and 0.9 ND filters and used the Nagle r 3-6mm zoom. I found the ND filter a little too dark. The neodymium gave a nice view and maybe was slightly better than no filter. On Saturn the Cassini division was very sharp and I was able to obtain some nice banding on the planet's surface. The same situation with Jupiter with multiple surface markings. So perhaps I should use the neodymium filter more often.

Stu I think my 12" Dob is similar to yours. I have tried many EPs over the years. I still use my ES68 24mm which is excellent in all my scopes. The price is similar to your budget. Again looking at your budget the ES82 range is pretty good and if you get the 14mm its a great general purpose EP. You will get many opinions Pentax, Televue etc but they are expensive. The BST range is much cheaper and has a good following. I bought a 10mm and 17mm Celestron Ultima DUO range 68 fov for doing outreach but they are very good and in fact I used them in the Dob last night. If you go with the ES range you won't be disappointed. PS I have just read Heather's reply and I have used the 7mm Nirvana and it was pretty good and a nice price.

What a fantastic refractor Stu and your new location looks brilliant as well. Hopefully, we will catch up later in the year - it would be nice if one of your fracs came with you 😀

I am not the best planetary observer because I am mainly a DSO person. However I found the viewing without a filter was okay. I must admit I should have tried the baader neodymium but forgot. I could also try a baader 0.9 ND. Anyway it's looking ok for tonight so will try both filters and give a verdict.

Yesterday was a very enjoyable observing day which started in sunshine. During the day I used my double stack PST plus the 150P Newt with solar filter to get incredible views of the Sun in WL and Ha. The forecast looked very promising so I also set up the 12" Dob with an observing session that lasted over 3 hours. Started with a few favourites M57, M13 and M92. I do find for star hopping I sometimes use my Helios 2x40 star field binos which give a wonderful 24 degree FOV. Using these binos I viewed Scutum and then switched to the Dob using the 13mm Ethos. M11 was a wonderful site so I added the TeleVue Nebustar 2 filter started with M16 then M17, M20 and M8. Over to Aquila and viewed the PN NGC6781. Dropped down to the PN 'Little Gem' 6818 and then tried to observe Barnard's Galaxy. Found the correct location and could see some of the fainter stars in the area although I really could not detect the galaxy - maybe tonight. When I view Globular Clusters I find that the 6mm Ethos (253x) gives excellent views and this was the case with M30. Because everything was sharp I set about viewing Saturn and Jupiter and used my 3-6mm Nagler zoom. Saturn was showing 5 Moons and the the Cassini division was very sharp - also I could detect banding on the surface. Jupiter was incredible I have not seen so much detail for some time with banding and barges. Back to Globs and viewed M2 and M15 again with the 6mm Ethos. I moved down to view the Helix and used the 24mm ES68 with TeleVue Nebustar 2 filter. Lovely image so decided to compare the view using my 20mm Myriad and the Castell O-III filter. The better view was the ES68 with the TeleVue filter. Finally I went for NGC7814 mainly because of the recent SN -2021rhu. Although I could see the galaxy could not detect the 14.5 star. Anyway that is my first observing report for a little while but a very enjoyable session.

Mike it's looking good

John that looks really nice. Although the 6" Newt gives good views it's not as good as my Astro Tech 4" ED frac which I sold - wrong decision . Love to use an APO again especially with a Herschel Wedge

Yes John hope it clears for you. I have just put out Skywatcher 150P + solar filter+ 13m Ethos. There is so much detail in each individual sunspot. Here is the set up - the gold cover in the distance is my 12" Dob being protected from the heat. Hope to use it tonight.

Just been viewing with the PST + DS. Lots of Plage around AR2863, 2864, 2866 and 2868. A number of filaments and an arching Prom on the eastern side + a number of other Proms around the solar disc.

Francis it looks brilliant. You are clearly very talented. Hopefully will see you Thursday.

I know that Skywatcher make an 8" Flextube but it only provides the goto variety at some cost. I wish they sold a standard manual 8" flextube. This would be ideal to transport. I have the Heritage 130P but it is used on a Skywatcher Pronto mount. I carry the OTA in a flight case plus the finderscope and 3 eyepieces (3-6mm Nagler zoom, SvBony 7-21mm zoom and a 24mm ES68.

Excellent Paul - perfect observing night. PS - did you have a few glasses of wine as well? 😄

I have always wanted to visit Peter's centre at Todmorden. Perhaps one day when life becomes more normal. I normally organise all outreach event for Herefordshire A.S. but under the current situation won't take the risk - which is a pity.

Thanks for this Paul. I have only just read this so I quickly took out the PST + DS. Its still showing some great activity plus a very nice Prom on the SW edge.

The comments have been really helpful because I have looked again at the badge which states 103a and 184. I never measured the lens width because I was told it was 90mm. However I think this is a Vixen 103a achro f/13 and it's manufactured number is 184. Does this seem a logical conclusion. I need to give his Wife an estimated of its for sale value - any thoughts?

Thanks Both I had a feeling that there would be knowledgeable members on the forum. I have a good friend who because of serious medical reasons has decided to sell his equipment. There most be 15 or more telescopes and boxes of eyepieces - many .965 size. There is a large Fullerscopes Newtonian 12" with an 'A' grade mirror -1/10th wave - lots to sort out. This 'Vixen' Achro looks a lovely scope for Planetary or Double.

I have been asked to identify a vintage refractor and some of the .965 eyepieces. The scope is 90mm and the F/L would indicate about f/12?? There is a badge which shows the name 'Polaris' and the figures 103A and 184 - see photos. I know that Meade had scopes named 'Polaris' but I have the feeling this is not the same. The scope uses .965 eyepieces - any thoughts?? There is also a box of many I mean many .965 eyepieces. Some have the name 'H' which I assume is Huygens. Others have 'Ortho' which is obvious. However there are others which have a symbol with a 'V' - is this Vernonscopes plus 'V' and HM - see photos. Help would be appreciated

Just a general comment about undercuts especially using the Ethos range. I use the Baader 28mm finetuning rings which gives 2" smooth insets.

Very enjoyable on both reports John. I used my 6" Newt last night but in hindsight should have taken out the 12" Dob especially reading your reports.