Mark at Beaufort

Thanks Paul for the heads up. I did have a session today with the PST + DS and there was a bit of activity. We might have a few clear days next week so fingers crossed.

Nice clear sky so before the Moon rose I decided to have a quick session with the 90mm frac. I used two diagonals one with a TeleVue Bandmate type 2 and the other with no filter. Two EPs a 24mm ES68 and a SvBony 7-21mm zoom. Started with M35 and also picked up NGC 2158. Moved down to NGC 2174 (Monkey Head Neb) nicely picked up with TeleVue filter. Over to the Christmas Tree Cluster and then down to NGC 2244 and The Rosette Neb. Again the Neb was clear using the 24mm and TeleVue filter. Moved down again to M46 and M47. Using the SvBony zoom at the 7mm setting together with the TeleVue filter I was able to pick up the PN NGC2438 Next M1 and I tried both with and without filter and the view was very clear - could not dec ide which was the better view. Dropped down to M42 and then the Globular M79 (I used the SvBony to get extra mag.) Over to M44 and then M67. Finally ended with M81 and M82 which again was very good using the SvBony zoom. So a quick session with an inexpensive Achro frac. Again really pleased with the performance of the SvBony zoom.

I once owned a Orion Optics 6" Newt with 1 /12th wave mirror and it was good. However, I now have a Skywatcher 150P which I use using high quality eyepiece and I am more than satisfied with the views. In addition I have a Revelation 12" Dob and I am again very satisfied with the view. My home was bortle 4 until recently and has now dropped to 5 with a reading of 20.30.

Very enjoyable video Chris. I will be interested how you get on with this scope which is impressive only weighing just over 5 kgs. For the money I quite fancy trying one but I only have a AZ5 mount with the stainless steel legs so I might get some wobbling at high mag.

Just had a chance to observe the Prom with my standard PST without DS. As everyone has stated it's really impressive.

Brilliant photos Stu. I am so glad that the scope survived and is good as ever.

That is a shame Stu really annoying. Do you think it will be safe to use if there was some internal damage. Can you check by using a camera first.

At last the Sun is now shining even though its still windy. I set up the PST+DS and yes the Prom is impressive. I did have a quick look yesterday and I could see that this Prom was starting to look good. There is quite a lot of Plage around the Sunspots plus a few small filaments. Switched to the SvBony frac and viewed in white light - really good sunspots.

I set up my 6" Newt just after 9pm and did an hour before cloud started coming over. I started with 19p borrelly and then decided to have a go at 104p/kowal which is situated in Cetus. I found the exact location and could see a faint smudge - is this the comet? Websites state from mag 10 to 15 depending which you look at. Anyway there was something there. After that it was M1,M81,M82,M97,M108,NGC 7789,M33,M35+2158

Yes I agree so I have changed the title

Great photo Mike. As you say these scopes gave us great service and set up a lifetime of enjoyment.

Yes I was a Beatles fan. The 3 others in the photo were members of a band - I still have one of their CDs Paul that is a great photo and some fabulous scopes.

Paul I can relate to that. I bought a 60mm Frac in 1965 with my first pay cheque. It included the 'SUN' filter which I thought was okay to use!!!! Anyway shortly after I bought a Swift Herschel Wedge so I could view the Sun more safely. This photo was taken in 1968 (partial eclipse) I am behind the scope.

Nice Paul. I observed using white light and Ha with the PST+DS. Although the Ha was impressive I did prefer the view in white light.

Had another session using SvBony frac for white light and the PST double stack for Ha. The Sun is certainly giving us a fine display.

Very nice Dave. I always wonder why Messier never found NGC2903.

I am clouded out so hopefully get another view tomorrow.

Agreed @Stuthe view of AR2936 is stunning and as you say a new unnumbered spot is coming onto the surface.

Because I had been solar observing during the day I left the 90mm SvBony frac out to see what faint DSOs I could detect . In addition I set up my 150P Newtonian to check out the two Comets. Using the ES68 24mm and the 17mm Celestron Ultima Duo I set about viewing two objects - M33 and M1. Both items were very clear in the 90mm frac but the 17mm gave the best view of M33. Switching to the 150P Newt and using the 20mm Myriad I star hopped to 19P Borrelly. I then moved over to Gemini to view the other Comet C/2019 L3 (Atlas). Following the initial view with the 20mm Myriad I used my 13mm Ethos and 9mm Myriad to obtain a better view. I then returned to view M33 and M1 using the 2" EPs especially the 13mm Ethos. Other objects were M79, Orion Nebula, M78, Beta Monoceros (using the Nagler 3-6mm zoom), M35 + NGC2158, M38, M36, M37, Fitted a H.Beta filter to my 30mm EP to view the California Neb ( something there not sure), M81, M82. Finally I ended the session tracking down the PN NGC1535 in Eridanus - star hopped from Zaurak. The PN is small so used the 9mm Myriad and 6mm Ethos to confirm the object. So not a bad day having an excellent solar views in both WL and Ha followed by a few hours of DSOs.

Interesting Mark I will give it a go with the 12" Dob . Unfortunately light pollution has increased at home over the past 12 months so I have dropped into bortle 5.

Paul I agree it's a great sunspot especially in white light. I viewed it over several hours with the SvBony 90mm frac using a continuum filter and zoom eyepiece. I preferred the view over the Ha image although there was an interesting prom, filaments and plage.

John what gives you a better view of the Moon and Planets between your 6" CC and your new 5" APO frac?

Jock my home sky is 20.29 which is bortle 5 and I can see M33 in my 15x70 binos. So your lovely Tak + the 31mm Nagler should detect it. I am sure giving a good transparency you will get it.

After the frustration of the outreach event I came home to a totally clear and transparent sky. Unfortunately my 12" Dob , star maps and eyepieces were all in the car. Anyway I grab my 130P Heritage and the SvBony 10-30 zoom (on PST) and had an hour session. First up the comet c/2019 L3 (Atlas) which was a faint smudge. Then I had a tour around M1, M44, M67 M35 + NGC 2158, NGC2244(no nebula filters in car), M38, M36,M37, M81, M82, NGC7789 and finally M33. It was surprising that my 5" Newt was showing more detail than my 12" Dob a few hours before so at least the observing night ended in a high.

Local Astro Society had outreach tonight and the sky was very clear at 6.30. Unfortunately by 8.00 the whole sky went milky and we could only just see Orion. Gave up at 8.15 although we did manage to see the comet c/2019 L3 atlas at about 7.30.