Mark at Beaufort

Hello @steenkh and welcome to SGL.

You don't say whether your PST was new or second hand.

I have had a PST for 17 years and although the front objective has the rust problem it still works great even with the double stack.

I would suggest the following. Use an eyepiece in the range 15 to 20mm to get a good full image of the Sun. Twist the big black ring to the right until it stops. At the moment there is a sunspot AR2934 which will appear on the right side of the disc. Now use the focus wheel to get sharp focus. Hopefully you will get that sharp image.

Now then turn the black ring to the left and you should start to see the image change. Look on the website GONG which will show the current Sun in Hydrogen Alpha and compare.

I would suggest leaving the double stack off until you are satisfied with the standard etalon.

Tells us how you get on.

Brilliant Nigella and well deserved.

Michael how annoying and frustrating. Do you have a similar piece of legislation to our sale of goods act in the Netherlands whereby you can demand a refund if goods are faulty?

Excellent observing report Dave so many wonderful objects.

Well done Stu having a go. I felt the Moon was just too bright.

Lovely scope Mark. I wonder who bought the OTA from John. I had the Orion VX8 and so regretted selling it.

Just been observing in Ha using the double stack on the PST. Sunspot AR2925 is really coming alive are we going to get a flare?. Also some activity in the edge of AR2924.

Another update - the Sun is changing ever day.

AR2928 has faded a bit but the ones without a number yesterday have developed into AR 2929, 30 and 31.

Michael the 12" Dob is going to be heavier than the 10" so you really need to check out the dead weight lifting the OTA onto the base. I had the 10" Flextube and when I bought the 12" Dob I had to install handles to make it easier to lift. I also installed lockable wheels on the base to make it easier to push the base into my shed.

I don't believe there is a huge difference between the 10" and 12" so most would recommend going to 14" or 16" from a 10". I appreciate you have limited space in the shed. For my situation the base stays in the shed and the OTA in the utility room.

@StuI am really enjoying the solar sessions although I wish I had your 4" Tak to see more detail. I still remember the solar session we had in November and the fantastic views of the solar surface.

Just observed again in White Light. The sunspot without a number is now classified as AR2928. In addition going North from AR2927 is a small group (three?) which at the moment has not been given a number.

The quality of the viewing is very good and really satisfied with this SvBony f5.5 Achro Frac.

Great image Paul I also like this particular phase of the Moon.

Just been outside again with the SvBony frac. There is certainly more detail in the new sunspot. - in 2 parts. The quality of the sky in much better than a few hours ago. I have just noticed that there is another sunspot (not numbered) going North from AR2927 - its small but a new sunspot.

I checked out Gong this morning and things looked very active. In addition using Spaceweather it showed the major spots in white light.

I first set up the PST + DS and there is so much activity taking place. A lot of Plage around the sunspots plus some filaments around the surface. In addition a number of Proms all around the edge. Really great view in Ha.

I then switched to White Light using the SvBony 90mm frac and checked out the spots AR2924, 2925, 2926 and 2927. However, there was another growing sunspot between AR2925 and AR2927 which is not numbered (as yet). So this new sunspot has developed since the image was taken in Spaceweather. These sunspots really show how the activity is increasing so well worth a look.

What a brilliant thread and really well done seeing the HH. Your approach to observing is first rate. I have only viewed the HH once and that was using a 16" Dob at a SGL star party a few years ago.

I keep trying with the 12" but I may now need to find a darker site because of lights that have been installed in recent times.

I am pleased with 2022 so far with several sessions covering Solar (WL and Ha) and night time observing. I woke at 2am this morning and went downstairs and made tea. Looking outside it was totally clear and no Moon. I had left the Heritage 130p set up so I had a quick 20 minutes session. Found C/2019 L3 (Atlas) which was fainter. Also took in M35, M1, M42.

Such a lovely refractor. I was desperate to own a Swift refractor in the 1960s but all I could afford was some Swift eyepieces.

So Neil you have done a grand job taking such a lovely Moon photo and also Ant for restoring this lovely instrument.

Excellent report Dave. After the poor December it's great to have a few nights of observing.

Great report Paul. I am glad you were able to get back into the car. I observed the crescent Moon at the same time and also picked up Mercury. I used my SvBony frac wish I had a 4" APO.

At last a lovely clear night so I started with the Planets + Moon.

I set up the SvBony 90mm frac and set about observing Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn and Jupiter. I tried to get a better view of Europa and its transit but the 12" Dob was blocked by my rear fence.

I switch to the Dob for my main observing and started with the Comet 19P/Borrell in Cetus. Easy to find star hopping from Deneb Kaitos. I estimate that the Comet is about 9.5/10 mag.

I wanted to have a good look at NGC891 and its a lovely sight in the 13mm Ethos. Not seen NGC772 in Aries for a while so that was my next target. A nice view of M1. Then dropped down to M77. I wanted to view NGC1097 (C67) but again the fence got in the way - next time I will put the Dob on its water butt. Over to Orion and tried to see Horsehead (failed) but I could detect the Flame Neb. Down to M42 and took in the Trapezium using the 6mm Ethos - E and F seen. Further down to M79 and used my 9mm Myriad. Took in the Rosette Neb with O-III Astronomik filter and then over to M47 and M46 viewing the PN 2438.

I wanted another go at the Comet C/2019 L3 (Atlas) which I had seen a few days ago using the SvBony frac. It was a nice sight using the 13mm Ethos and I estimate it was mag 10. Whilst in Gemini took in the PNs NGC2392 and the pair NGC2371/2.

I now had been observing for nearly 6 hours so finished using the 15x70 Apollo bins taking in M44, M67, M1 and M33

Joe a really enjoyable read. I would like to view Leonard now it resides in the Southern hemisphere. I did observe the Comet on a few occasions but it was not very bright.

Very nice Michael some lovely images. Is your University open with the restrictions you have in the Netherlands?

6 minutes ago, Stephen Green said:

Pressed twice by miss take

Stephen your double post made me smile I was going to delete it. Stephen I hope we continue to meet at a SGL star party when they resume.

Nice reply Dave. I have been playing squash for about 48 years and have played many matches against the RAF and SAS both having good facilities at their camps. I used to play the Commanding Officer at RAF Credenhill and having too many drinks in the officers mess.

Be careful with the ladder my neighbour decided to clean his gutters and fell off the ladder and was killed so perhaps your Wife is being sensible.

Just came in from an hour plus viewing the Sun in WL and Ha.

4 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

Just a pup at 63 here. My only issues are stiff joints and a bad back. Sometimes manoeuvring myself into position can be quite traumatic 

I think sometimes when I get up off the floor a crane would be handy 

You know Michael this new 4" APO you bought is going to keep you young and active. Next time we meet I look forward to seeing this new scope in action.