RobertI

Nice read! I can really relate to what you are trying to achieve. You’ve got a great setup there, quality refractor on a quality mount with slo mo’s that can be picked up with one hand. I ended up with a very similar setup, a 72mm apo on a Mini-Giro head (no slo mos) on a Horizon tripod. It was a fantastic g&g setup, really solid and good all rounder. The only downside (which I think you allude to) was using it without a seat - it had to be “wound up” to almost its highest setting and I also ended up with a neck ache (not so young now!). I now use a Heritage 130P on the same mount/tripod which is easier on my neck. Not such clean views as the apo, but a bit more aperture, pros and cons. 

Well below is my full review of the SkyProdigy mount a few years ago. I had some trials with it initially, but it has been generally good ever since. One nice feature is it has an internal battery and real time clock, you do not have to type in the date and time each time you use it, unlike many other mounts. However the mounts are now pretty old and there is a high risk problems with them I would say, might be worth it if you can get one really cheap. Personally I think your money would be better spent on something like the StarSense Explorer range of scopes, especially the Dobsonians. They are “push to” but have the advantage of using StarSense on your phone via a beautiful planetarium app. 

Nice job. Very satisfying to watch. 🙂

Managed to get out for the first time in a LONG time. A brief midnight session with the ultra-light Heritage 130P setup using the rather clever Astro-Hopper app to find my way around. Enjoyed some nice wide field views of the open clusters of Cygnus and the globulars of Hercules and Ophiucus. The H130P always surprises and delights, and the 17mm Hyperion seemed to be the sweet spot in tonight’s permanently bright summer skies. The highlights for me were M11 the Wild Duck cluster and M27 the Dumbell. It was lovely to be out again.

After packing away I was treated to the amazing sight of a trail of Starlink satellites  very bright and closely spaced, probably recently deployed - at first I thought it was the debris of a meteor but soon realised - a beautiful and slightly sinister spectacle. 

Congratulations on your new baby daughter, great times ahead. I understand your dilemma and I’m trying to remember what I did when my nine year old was a baby, but it’s all a bit of a blur, so not sure I can help much! Assuming robotic scopes like the Seestar aren’t the answer, I’m assuming remote observatories won’t help either? What about a simple run off shed for the equipment to allow it be semi-permanently setup, and a rain sensor to alert you, so you can run out and roll the shed on. Might not be completely usable now, but would become so over the next 12 months as your little girl sleeps through most of the night.

1 hour ago, quasar117 said:

However, after much thought I decided to swap it for a Stellamira 80mm F/10 ED.

Also a lovely scope, I hope you have better luck with it. 

Superb Alan, what an interesting and varied day. I’ll keep an eye out for the next one as it’s just up the road from me. What did you think of the views through the venerable refractor? 

Interesting to hear about your plans Alan, sounds like some nice opportunities for better observing and potentially darker skies ahead. I’ve never owned an observatory so can’t really give any in depth experience, but I did use a dome observatory for few years in my late teens and early twenties - it belonged to my local club, was made of wood and brick, and housed a 8.75” reflector. I remember the excitement of observing Saturn, Jupiter and many DSOs, and I have a real soft spot for dome observatories as a result. What I do recall is that it allowed for the possibility of observing in comfort, regardless of how windy, or frosty or cold it was. I suspect the dome had to be rotated away from the wind, restricting which objects could be seen, but can’t remember or sure.  It was a faff to get it ready, but a joy to observe in. But it was a long time ago and I have probably forgotten all the downsides. 

3 hours ago, Elp said:

You didn't by any chance observe in CaK?

Inspired! 🤣

3 hours ago, Alan White said:

Based on my luck in seeing all of last nights Aurora as I was out observing,

Well my run of luck continued today with my telescope given a lucky blessing while solar observing 😉

 

So another first, cleaning bird guano from my telescope!

That isn't Lazarus by any chance is it Alan? That telescope doesn't have the best of luck!!

1 hour ago, Hughsie said:

But the main issue here is you only live 5 mins from me and it should have been you on the ground with the Allen keys and me watching the laptop screen!

Ha ha, well I’m more than happy to help out for the “final tweaks”, I might learn something for when I collimate my RC6!

Interesting to see the image was at the native F8, not bad for 34 minutes and better image scale too I guess? Just realised my RC6 is an F9, but the RC8 is an F8. Wonder why?

That looks excellent John, I think you might have finally nailed the collimation. 

Lovely report of your visit. 

9 hours ago, FLO said:

Tele Vue will happily repair and restore a TV eyepiece or telescope, regardless of age. So if you accidentally damage yours, please get in touch with them or your supplier. 

This demonstrates their dedication to their products, and reinforces that Televue products are for life. Good enough reasons to buy from them. 🙂

I’ve often wondered whether remote EAA could be a thing.  I think it’s something I would have to try to see whether it provides the same kind of thrill as a home based EAA system. Sadly, I think even with a simple low cost remote setup, it would still be expensive for our humble EAA needs. 

57 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

I think the draw tube is on the front dust cap for some reason.

Ah yes, well spotted. 

Looks like the draw tube is missing from the focuser, will need some attention at some point.  

Very sad news. 

Great idea John, perhaps we can build this into the “SGL 100”! Great suggestions so far. 

My suggestion is to see a “two in a view” where Jupiter, Saturn, Mars or Venus can be seen in the same field of view as another well known object such as a DSO. I remember seeing Venus lying in the Pleiades and it was a spectacular sight. 

Lovely captures and informative comments. Thanks for the link too! 👍

Nicely captured!

2 hours ago, quasar117 said:

Perhaps there could have been a thin cloud as others have suggested.

I think it must have been something like that; if you saw no belts on Jupiter, something was seriously amiss! 

Could you see the two equatorial bands on Jupiter? 

Well so far I haven’t found another 4” I would rather have bought for the money (I have the Altair Astro version, it also comes branded as Technosky and TS). The Askar 103 triplet does look incredibly good value, and has a tube that can be shortened for using binoviewers without a GPC, so I would definitely have shortlisetd that if it was available at the time, not sure whether I would have forked out the extra though. I’m sure there are other interesting alternatives out there, like this one which, at F11 with FPL53 glass, presents the possibility of even better solar system views than the F7 Starfield, but at the cost of being more unwieldy: https://www.altairastro.com/altair-planeta-101mm-apo-refractor-telescope-13522-p.asp

1 hour ago, powerlord said:

So... it's been a while. What with the terrible weather I've had few occasions to commit astrophotography, but the odd night that has been clear, I've just no interest. Having spent the last 3 years accumulating 20,000 quids worth of kit and building a bespoke 2 pier observatory in my garden..this is a bit of a set back. I've read of others over the years losing interest, and thought 'pah..that will never be me'.. and yet here I am.

There's a clear night tue maybe. So I'm trying to kick-start my interest again. Maybe a wide view with pons brooks ? Any other suggestions ? Sonething to really energise me into the hobby again ? I feel some of it might have been general crappy weather, S.A.D. and stuff..but if it doesn't come back I might have to face up to it. 😕 there's not a lot of other hobbies that cam make use of a solid concrete based roof off shed. 😳

Sorry to hear this @powerlord - hang in there and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It’s a very common problem and my experience is that it’s rarely permanent, and people find something to inspire them to go out again. I am also going through exactly the same luck of mojo  - I decided to have a six month break from work last September and one of my key goals was to do more observing - well strangely I have done hardly any observing during my time off and have had no desire to go out on the rare clear night. Just don’t know why. But I’m pretty sure my mojo will return and I’m sure yours will.