Mark at Beaufort

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.

Congratulations Luke - I agree where has this 10 years gone!!! SGL changed my life and my knowledge of astronomy. When I joined I never imagined how many new friends I was to going make - many in person.

That is very nice Helen. Not done any solar viewing today but the weather looks okay for the days ahead.

An interesting thread with many excellent comments. I suppose when it comes to travel you can base the discussion on two areas - UK and Aircraft travel. I owned a Celestron 5" SCT and it was an excellent lightweight scope and it had the 6.3 reducer to obtain a wider FOV. I had an Orion glass solar filter which gave excellent visual and photographic performance and in fact the images it produced was part of the winning video produced for the ESA competition for the 2004 Venus Transit. If I was choosing a scope to take on holiday using an aircraft I would take a small refractor mainly for a wider FOV but also to use as a solar scope. Using a Herschel Wedge would be so convenient. My main travel grab and go scope is a Heritage 130P but its disadvantage I cannot undertake solar viewing. So in conclusion nothing wrong with C5 for travel and together with a solar filter, dew shield and a 6.3 reducer covers must observing requirements.

I currently own a Skywatcher 150P and I have split the double double many times with this scope. When using this scope for doubles I use my TeleVue 8-24 zoom together with a Baader 2.25X barlow. If its clear over the next few nights I will have a look and try and pick up the double when its low in the sky to see what I can detect.

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.

Anthony a RDF simply puts a red dot into the sky so you can place it over the object. The finderscope gives a FOV of about 5 degrees so you can normally pick up the object in the field of view. On my various scopes I use both a RDF and a finderscope. My 6" Skywatcher has a 9x50 correct image finderscope and a RDF.

Over the years I have seen many beginners improve their ability of finding objects by using a Red Dot Finder. In addition books like 'Turn Left at Orion' help to locate the brighter DSOs. I also believe getting to know the night sky and the constellations help to track down these objects. In this respect a pair of wide field binoculars together with this pocket star atlas really help IMHO. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sky-Telescopes-Pocket-Atlas/dp/1931559317/ref=pd_sbs_14_6/261-1572737-3554610?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1931559317&pd_rd_r=9a74e407-6fe0-11e9-8c5a-d706e463e9e0&pd_rd_w=yEpCs&pd_rd_wg=mrfkM&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=W0WB3CJ6MVKNF2A6XP2W&psc=1&refRID=W0WB3CJ6MVKNF2A6XP2W

@jetstream- Gerry you may already have this but this is what I used to find the Quasar last night.

Yet another good transparent night and I promised myself whatever the time I would have a session on the delights of Virgo and Coma Berenices. I set up the 12" Dob with its 80mm correct image finderscope and started with the Leo Triplets and NGC3628 was showing itself very well. I know from experience that the best place to start galaxy hunting in Virgo and the Markarian Chain is to go from star 6 in Coma B. This will give a start at M98 and M99 and whilst in the area M100. Moving to the M. Chain I used the 20mm Myraid which helps with the extra FOV to identify each galaxy whilst moving along the chain. So starting with M84 I was pleased to see the fainter galaxy NGC 4387 and moved along the line all the way to M88 and M91. After this success I check out NGC4216 (Silver Streak) and NGC4168. I wanted to view NGC4565 (Needle Galaxy) which I think is one of the nicest edge on galaxies - I used the 13mm Ethos and 10mm Celestron Ultima Duo - incredible view. So whilst near Mel 111 I took in NGC4725, NGC4494 and NGC4559. I have been following Steve O'Meara's Secret Deep since 2016 and I wanted to take in some of his objects in Virgo including the Quasar. So I was able to observe NGC4636, NGC4665, NGC4753 and finally the Quasar 3C 273. Finally I took in M81 and M82 but one galaxy usually missed close to these Galaxies is NGC3077 which is also in the Secret Deep Book. Well that took nearly 4 hours and I am glad that I was well wrapped up including an observing hood.

Excellent report Niallk - its these nights that keeps us happy and dedicated.

Viewed the area this morning with the PST + DS and White Light. Good to see some activity around the AR.

I came off holiday yesterday arriving home about 9pm. I went out about 11.15pm and saw a very transparent sky showing the main 7 stars of Ursa Minor plus stars to the horizon. Went inside and took out my 15x70 Apollo Binos. Just saw M35 before it set then viewed M65 and M66. Moved over to Leo star 15 and saw M95 (although it could have been M96). Quick view of NGC 2903. Then M53 and M64 before going south. Not sure about M68 in Hydra but I wanted to have a go at M83 being at -30 Dec. I saw this Galaxy in California last year in 12x70 binos although I have only seen it once in the UK. I studied the area for some time and was seeing a glow using averted viewing so I am certain I was seeing M83. I took in a few more Globulars M3, M5, M12, M10, M13 and M92 and finally ended with M82 and M81. If I had been home earlier I would have taken out the 12" Dob - yet to view the delights of Virgo this year.

Wonderful work and shows the importance of keeping records of your observing. Pity the exhibition is so far away.

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.

That is a great looking frac Neil. I always admired the Equinox series and thought about buying the 66mm so you will enjoy this scope on your travels. The scope will also become your quick grab and go scope when you only have a short period to observe. If I remember you recently purchased a Herschel Wedge from John so all set for the Mercury Transit ?

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/

Neil - the next Venus Transit will be December 2117. My Granddaughters live in the USA and they watched the Transit through numerous scopes including a guy from NASA who had a Lunt 6" Ha scope, binoviewers + TeleVue EPs - it was a fantastic view.

Neil this is an important transit because the next in the UK is November 2032. Its well worth the effort to find an area to view it. In May 2016 a group of us were clouded out in Hereford so we drove to Derbyshire and set up our scopes in a Pub car park. I attach a photo. I saw the Venus transit in 2004 and 2012 (USA) and there won't be another in our lifetime. Anyway I really hope you get a nice scope - I would say that I used binoviewers with my HW but could not get focus in a TV Pronto