Mark at Beaufort

Thanks to @johninderbyI also purchased this solar viewer from China. It came within 7 days and cost just over £17 with postage. Fitted the solar viewer in a finderscope bracket and both the main refractor and solar viewer were perfectly in line. I used a sharp pencil to outline the display screen to make it more easy to view. I won't show a photo as @chaz2bhas already done a good job above. However, I attach a eBay link just in case anyone else wants to purchase this handy little device. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SVBONY-Solar-Finder-Scope-Fully-Metal-Mount-Dovetail-Slots-Mount-Dovetail-Slots/323318485106?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Great report Geoff. Its a pity that Jupiter and Saturn will not be high in the UK for several years. I agree with your statement that when the sky conditions are perfect and your scope is well collimated you can get some excellent views with less expensive EPs.

John have you a link to where I can obtain this Svbony solar finder from. Also I think you previously had a Lacerta solar finder - any opinion which you prefer.

Neil that is a great setup. I am pleased that the Alt/az mount is working well. I must admit I do fancy one of these rather than the camera head that I use at the moment. I guess you are now set up for the Mercury Transit in November.

Matthew a very enjoyable read. It must be great to come from London to a dark site. Perhaps we can persuade you to come to the SGL star party at Lucksall in late October this year.

Paul I used a TeleVue 2" Everbrite Diagonal which was brilliant on the Astro Tech. To be honest if I am ever in Yorkshire it would be great to meet up with you and Mike and have a few drinks and chat about scopes and observing.

Mike my Son lives with his family in Livermore just outside San Francisco. I used the Questar on Mount Diablo not far from the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton. I checked that its about 400 miles to Mount Whitney from Livermore. Perhaps I should book a hotel in the area for a few night and take a look next time I am over.

Thank you Mike. At least I know its being looked after. Ply him with drink and get him during a weak moment!!!

Chris what an excellent, informative video. I have owned so many telescopes over the years including a 6" f/5 Newt (which I still have) and a 4" APO f/6.9 frac ( which I wish I never sold). The frac with a Herschel Wedge and binoviewers gave me so much pleasure - I will not forget the views I had of the last Mercury Transit. I undertake a great deal of outreach work and taking the 6" Newt is so easy to set up and will show a great deal. I suppose for all the convenience it gives I would agree with your findings. Last Thursday the Astro Society had a session nearby the SGL star party site with a sky reading of 21.2 and the views of DSOs in the 6" were very, very good. However, like John, when I get the energy and a period of clear weather then the 12" Dob comes into its own. Having enjoyed watching your video I am now really looking forward to the beginners scopes review. PS - Last year, whilst in California, I had the opportunity of using a Questar and viewed Venus. It was excellent but not worth the $4995 asking price.

Great upgrade Alan and the photos show the procedure if anyone has any doubts. Brilliant.

Gavin what a fantastic setup.

This is an interesting project - https://spaceguardcentre.com/drax/

Well I had a go last night with the 12" Dob. Transparency could have been slightly better as I had a problem seeing all the stars in Ursa Minor. Thanks to Neil I had an idea of the main stars and their magnitude. However, I also used this photo by the Maury Lewin Memorial Observatory to get a wide field. It took me a while to start seeing some of the fainter stars and like Neil I moved between the mag 13 and mag 14 stars to try and pick up the Quasar. I got my best view using a narrower FOV and the Televue 8-24 zoom really helped. Did I see the Quasar? Not totally sure - although I think I was getting a glimpse of something although this might be wishful thinking. Certainly from home it is possible and will try again.

Brilliant Neil and thanks to Stephan as well. I printed out the star chart last night and set up the 12" Dob. Unfortunately the fog came over and I could only just see the main stars of Orion. Left out the Dob over night for a session (hopefully) tonight.

Jon - Look forward to seeing photos of the scope and hopefully a review in due course. Maybe you will bring it to the SGL star party later in the year.

Jon I just thought someone could log on and use your name and customer number and maybe great further info. I am looking after you ?

Jon - I am really pleased with your decision. However, I am concerned that you have posted your name and account details in an open forum. I think we need to blank out that info - do you agree?

Jon you could wait and go to the Practical Astro Show in Kettering on the 9th March - AA are one of the sponsors. You could ask them to bring along the scope to have a good look plus ask questions. You may even get a show discount.

Sorry Jon I was referring to the scope that @paulastronow owns. However, I have had a look the Stellarvue on offer on ABS and it does look very nice. I am sure this is a similar Stellarvue that I looked through in California viewing the Venus Transit 2012. If it the same model it was an excellent 4" Frac.

I was the original owner of the Astro Tech 102ED before I sold it to Shane. It was brilliant in ever way and I highly recommend this size scope. I only sold it because I had far too many scopes at the time. It still looks great Paul.

Thanks Neil for the more detailed map and I will be pleased to receive further updates from you. I am certainly going to give this quasar a go.

Geoff I look forward to how you get on with this filter. There is a company in the UK that sell Optolong filters and I am looking for another O-III filter to use in my Apollo Binos.

Mark - I was not aware of Vol 4. I found Vol 1 and 2 brilliant so I will be interested in your view of this new addition. I accept it remains sealed for 47 days ?

John thanks for this thread and the link to the website - a very enjoyable video to watc h.

Matt I recently visited the United States and was able to view Omega Centauri in a 17.5 Newt so the delights of the Southern Hemisphere must be fantastic in your new Dob.