Mark at Beaufort

Hello Alexa welcome to SGL. I appreciate your concern at the wildfires. My Son lives in Livermore CA and the fires came within 10 miles from his home. I have friends at the Tri Valley Astronomers and their observing site together with their telescopes were all destroyed. There sent me a photo of the site which I used the last time I visited in 2018.

Sorry to read this Mark. I also had high hopes and the price looked very good. However, I really wanted threads so I could use my 2" filters. It will be interesting how you get on viewing the stars.

I have the 15x70 Apollo binos and use them quite often with filters attached. I use the TeleVue Nebustar II on the one side and a Lumicon UHC on the other - excellent combination. I sometimes replace the Lumicon with an Astronomik O-III and don't find it too bad.

Thanks Bill for an excellent detailed report on filters. Some years ago I undertook a review using a filter slide. Can't remember the coloured filters now but of the two slots remaining one had nothing and the other I used a Neodymium Moon and Skyglow filter. The best result came from the Neodymium followed by no filter at all. I particularly appreciate your statement on exit pupil. Certainly on my 12" Dob using my 10mm Baader Ortho + Baader 2.25x barlow (exit pupil 0.88) gave very good views last night observing Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Finally, thanks for the overall conclusion that the Baader Contrast Booster gave the best results. It certainly appears to be the 'Jack of all trades'.

I previously owned the Vixen type which were very good. I often felt I should buy another pair but the cost was too high. I looked at these which were reasonably priced https://www.amazon.co.uk/Omegon-2-1x42-wide-field-binoculars-observing/dp/B01NGTGBWN/ref=asc_df_B01NGTGBWN/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309924713643&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2883094844327619224&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006790&hvtargid=pla-590821328761&psc=1 These Omegon binos have filter threads to allow filters to be used. Looking at the Helios (very good price) don't appear to have threads when you magnify the image.

Alex a very enjoyable review. The Baader Classic Orthos are excellent value for the money. I have a TeleVue zoom so I might undertake a similar review using the zoom against my 10mm BC. Thanks again.

Another very enjoyable video Chris. I never thought about imaging Planets - you have whetted my appetite.

I purchased some Baader Classic Orthos (6mm and 10mm) some months ago but have not really used them in the 12" Dob. A separate thread yesterday mentioned the GRS visible at a reasonable time so I felt this was a good test of the EPs. Not the best sky for Planetary observing but the GRS was easily visible - best mag was the 10mm Ortho (152x). I also used the bottom part of the Baader Classic barlow - 1.3x which gave me 198x. I then switch over to Saturn and picked up 4 Moons - unfortunately Enceladus was too close to Saturn and I could not make it out. I wanted to observe Mars which I have not done this season. So whilst waiting for it to rise above my roof I set about viewing some DSOs. First up was M51 which I used my 13mm Ethos and 9mm Myriad. Then M101 which I used my 20mm Myriad. Decided to observe something different and started with NGC 6781 (Snowglobe PN). Used various EPs + Astronomik O-III also the TeleVue Type 2 Nebustar. Then down to the GC NGC 6760 and then another PN - NGC 6751 (Glowing Eye). A move over to M11, M16 and M17 (the latter being a great view in the 13mm Ethos using the TeleVue Nebustar. Another PN - NGC 6818 (Little Gem) and then the hunt for NGC 6822 (Barnard's Galaxy). Not easy but using the 20mm Myriad and moving the scope back and forth over the area I picked up some very faint glow. Took in M72 and NGC 7009 (Saturn Neb) before observing the Helix Neb - NGC 7293. I thought I would experiment with different filters using the ES 24 68 degree EP. Used Astronomik O-III, TeleVue Nebustar and Lumicon UHC. Which was best? - a tie between the Astronomik and TeleVue with the contrast using the Lumicon only slightly behind. Back to Planets - viewed Neptune using 6mm Ethos and 10mm Baader + Baader 2.25x barlow - could not see Triton. Finally Mars - it was wobbling - because it was still just above the roof. However, the polar cap easily visible plus some planetary marking (although I will need to check what they were) So not a bad observing night. Look forward to having another go at Mars.

An interesting find John. This PN does not appear in my list of 666 bright DSOs. However, it is an object in Steve O'Meara's 'The Secret Deep' - No.106. In his book he is using a 5" Frac and at 33x the PN was readily visible with averted vision. I also found that the PN is recorded as one of the best 100 to observe - http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/plannebs.html I observed this PN in August 2016 so a return would be appropriate.

Great report John. I never appreciated that you could observe Phobos or Deimos so I will give it a go. I have looked at Stellarium and you can judge the best time when the Moons are furthest away from Mars. Not observed Mars this season so I must give it a go.

If you want a higher base you can place the Dob on a Water Butt Stand. I use the Wickes version to get extra height with my 12" Dob. https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Universal-Water-Butt-Stand/p/189521

Ecki welcome to SGL. What a fantastic start - lovely image of the huge Glob Cluster. I have only see Omega Centauri once from California - not visible in the UK so its great to see this photo - thanks

Great read Doug. I have yet to see Mars this season so your thread has got me motivated to view Mars - if the rain and cloud ever go away.

Glad you had a good trip to view the site - despite the terrible wind we had. I will mention your report to the Admin/Mod team when we have our next zoom debrief meeting. Clearly SGL want to return to Lucksall at some stage. Look forward to meeting you at a future star party - I live about 10 minutes drive from Lucksall

I agree Philip - Never tried the Explore Scientific brand of filters but I am sure they work perfectly okay. Just checked and the UHC has a 48nm bandwidth and the O-III is 28nm. This is an interesting list 2016 Nebula Filter Buyers Guide(1).xlsx

I currently use an Astronomik O-III filter plus a TeleVue Bandwidth type 2 UHC and I also have a Lumicon UHC. However, in saying that I have a Castell 2" O-III filter which I bought from 365Astronomy and its very good. I would recommend this filter if you can't afford the more expensive products. I am hopeful we can arrange a StarGaZine talk covering visual filters O-III, UHC and H.Beta and discuss their bandwidth, transmission charts and the best objects for the various types. If you want more information on seeing and transparency have a look at StarGaZine EP5 which is on YouTube. In that video I explain Ursa Minor and the different levels of transparency to judge your local situation.

Lucksall looks really good after the terrible flood 'Dennis' we had earlier in the year. I assume the road to Fownhope is still being repaired which was estimated to be the end of September. Glad that Gary is keeping the site up to his usually standards

Very enjoyable read Rob. I always enjoy using my 15x70 binos with an O-III on one side and UHC on the other.

I have just received an email from my astronomy friend in California. The owner of the private Astro Site was evacuated last Tuesday so they think that the observing site might have been destroyed. They cannot visit the area because of the dangers. I will be really sad if the site has gone because I used the 18" scope there to view Omega Centauri. Fingers crossed the Lick Observatory and the 120 inch Scope might be saved. Here is a photo of the 120 inch scope which might also be at risk

As some of you know I have a Son who lives in Livermore, California which is not too far from San Jose. He was telling me, about 30 minutes ago, that he is surrounded by major fires and that the famous Lick Observatory was under threat but currently still okay. Here is a link - https://news.ucsc.edu/2020/08/mt-hamilton-fire.html There is also a wonderful site, with telescopes run by the Tri Valley Astronomers, which is close to Mount Hamilton and I am trying to contact a friend to see if everything is still okay.

Very nice Ade it makes me think why did I sell my 80mm Towa.

Alan a great set of EPs. I am curious because you state that you want a Pentax XW 5mm EP when you have a 5mm Tak LE - is there a specific reason for that wish? I ask because I want to purchase a quality 5mm EP and I am wondering whether I should get the Pentax XW, TeleVue Delite or the Tak LE - hence my interest in your statement.

My garden is Bortel 4 so most of my observing is done from the bottom of the garden. My Astro Society has two locations both giving me a better view looking North. Distance is only 10/15 minutes away and I usually just take a 6" Newt rather than the 12" Dob at home.

I had a 1000 Oaks H.Beta filter and failed to see the HH from home. At one of the SGL star parties a few years ago I saw the HH using a 16" Dob and an Astronomik H.Beta filter. I have since bought another H.Beta filter but I have not seen it since. I have a TeleVue Nebustar UHC filter and its bandwidth covers the 486 line so I will try again this winter. If I was going to a really dark site I think I would try using a UHC filter buying a H.Beta filter.

Yes whenever someone posts an image that I have not seen below I go looking in my sky atlas. I found NGC 7129 in Uranometria plus the cluster NGC 7142 which is nicely shown in your image. I think NGC 7133 is separated from NGC 7129 by a dark lane. In the Interstellarum deep sky guide on page 8b there is a sketch of NGC 7129 using a 14" scope at 200x. So really pleased that you posted this image I must have a go at trying to find this reflection neb in my 12" Dob. Sorry should have said - great image