Mark at Beaufort

Jeremy funny you should say that because the other 3 did form a successful band. I have one of their CDs somewhere.

I found this photo of my first telescope taken (I Think) at the partial solar eclipse in September 1968. I am stood behind my 60mm frac with fellow astronomy friends. The location was my parents home with my home made observatory.

Thanks Michael - it does appear that the 2nd edition is a good improvement.

Doug I have been looking at your attached photo showing the SAO numbers which are not included in the first edition. It certainly helps using the SAO number in Stellarium. Perhaps I might consider an upgrade.

Thanks Doug that is really useful - my CDSA is the first edition which does not show it in the detailed text at the back of the book.

Thanks Michael - what I should have stated is there was no text to indicate the double. Anyway I am looking forward to your first light on the iOptron after the mount has arrived. Hopefully, it will be good on doubles for you.

Thanks Michael. Its not marked in the Cambridge Double Star atlas nor the Uranometria atlas although it is in Interstellarum. Doug @cloudsweeper you really found a difficult one - not only to split but also find. I will have a go with my 12" Dob - thanks Doug

Doug that is really good. Anyway can you help because I cannot find a reference to Sigma 418 in Cygnus. I have looked in Sissy Haas's double star book and my Cambridge double star atlas but cannot identify the double. Have you the RA and Dec?

Paul that is a great WL photo. AR2786 is a fantastic sunspot and I hope it grows further. I used my Skywatcher 150P this morning in WL and the PST + DS in Ha.

The manual that comes with the basic AZ5, which has the alloy tripod, states a payload of 5 kg. With the heavy duty stainless steel tripod the payload is stated as 9 kg. Its a shame that the tripod cannot handle the 6 inch CC better. I use a Skywatcher 150P Newt on the same arrangement and it normally settles after a few seconds.

Update - I have just checked Stellarium and I think Jupiter will be below the horizon at the critical time (UK)

I have been observing Jupiter and the shadow transit of Europa has just ended. However the GRS will transit at 18.44 so you have just enough time to catch it. Io will then transit a bit later - see the attached details.

Agreed Michael I have been observing all this activity with the PST+DS. Really impressive.

Just been viewing the Sun with the PST+DS. There is a huge amount of activity around AR2785 and especially AR2786 with bright Plage. We also have AR2783 which has some Plage. In addition there is some small filaments around the surface + some Proms. This is one of the best views in Ha for some time. Its pretty good in WL as well.

Joe once you have purchased a safe front filter you still need to be careful. Place the filter back in its secure box after each use. Then before using it again test that it has no damage - holes/rips etc - do this each time.

Yes just had a look with the PST. I notice that the large new spot has been numbered AR2785. There is a lot going on in Ha at the moment so will now attach the double stack to get more detail. Later will observe in WL.

That is very nicely done Greg. I particularly liked your primary mirror block with the attachment to the veins. I always push a white piece of paper down the tube - yours is a much better suggestion. I also agree its good to have a contrast colour card opposite the focuser.

Barry I am not an expert on the Concenter but looking at the third circle its touching the side of the secondary. However, on the other side its not. To me your secondary is not totally under the focuser and needs to come down.

Dave that looks a brilliant Prom. Cloudy here all day. Can't believe it as I stopped typing the Sun came out. Picked up the sunspot and the nice Prom in the PST. Glad I read your 'heads up'.

Too many clouds recently. Last night I had a clear patch so went looking for the Comet. I used my Apollo 15x70 binos and checking with Stellarium I could match the star field. It took a while but eventually I could make out a misty patch. Not really satisfied with that observation I woke up at 4am to a clear sky. I took out my Heritage 130P and used my ES68 24mm and my new SvBONY 10-30mm to track down the Comet. Found it and was able to confirm the 'misty' patch in more details. Its faintish so could easily be missed. Anyway good to catch it.

Pixies that is impressive

Ade I am surprised you have asked this question because the 6" Newt I bought from you had perfect collimation - you must have done something right at some stage When I collimate I always place a coloured piece of paper down the tube to stop the reflection of the primary. I then place another piece of different coloured paper opposite the focuser to determine that the secondary is underneath the focuser. Looking at your image it appears that the secondary is not totally in the centre. Measure the supporting veins to see that they are equal and then look again to see if the problem has been solved. You are pretty close to be honest. Remove all the coloured paper and adjust the primary if necessary. It looks like @Pixiesis showing a TS Concenter??? in the first photo above which explains the secondary position very well.

I did a short review of the SvBONY 10-30mm zoom here - At some stage I will use this zoom in the 12" Dob and really compare it with my more expensive EPs which are really too large and heavy for my Heritage 130P

There has been a discussion elsewhere on the forum about SvBONY zoom eyepieces. I knew nothing about these zooms until a few days ago and was particularly interested in the 10-30mm zoom mainly to use on outreach work. I have had problems in the past when one of my the eyepieces has been covered in mascara eye make up and nearly ruined a Nagler EP. So I ordered the 10-30mm zoom via Ebay and it arrived very quickly for the cost of £45.99 + free postage. The eyepiece appears well made with its 1.25" design and has a thread for filters. Its appears well blacked and has a twist up eyecup with stated eye relief of 17mm-18.5mm. The FOV is 33 degree at the 30mm setting going to 51 degrees at 10mm. Total weight is 198g. So how does it perform. I started using the zoom on the Heritage 130P (f/5) with the 2.25x baader barlow giving a zoom of 4.4 to 13.3. I looked at Jupiter (some bands visible), Saturn (no Cassini Division visible) but Titan was easily seen and Mars (South Polar Cap visible plus some surface markings). Without the Barlow the edges were going soft at the about 20% from the edge otherwise the views were okay. Decided to take in some DSOs and had reasonable views of M13, M57, M27, The Veil (both these with TeleVue Nebustar filter), M2, M15, M31, NGC 7790, M33, Double Cluster and finally Almach (nicely split) I did not cross check against other EPs because I wanted to use the PST Ha and test it against the TeleVue 8-24 zoom plus the Baader Classic 10mm Ortho. This morning the Sun obliged for a while so I set both zooms at the 10mm setting + the Baader Ortho. Three nice Proms visible + a small filament + a bit of Plage. The result they all gave the same. The Proms were sharp so I cannot complain about the view of the SvBony. Clearly the downside of the SvBony is the 33 degrees at the 30mm setting but overall its okay and will make a useful addition on the Heritage 130P which I use away from home - holidays etc. I know it will be said that you get what you pay for but at the moment it provides a reasonable observation view on a f/5 scope.

SVbony 10-30mm delivered today and is currently installed in my Heritage 130P scope. This is a brilliant little zoom for £45.99 and already had views of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars plus numerous DSOs - fuller report to follow. I like this zoom already.