wookie1965

One way to make the EQ3-2 more stable is to fill the legs with play sand keep banging the side as that will compact the sand. Another thing is get a EQ5 or a HEQ5 Tripod which fits the EQ3-2. As for the scope I don't know I started with the 150p on the same mount. There is a thread on here for people using the EQ3-2 for photography I would suspect you would need to attach at least a RA motor.

Well looking out at 10pm the seeing was horrible got my bins out to check before setting up, glad I did looking at Mars through the binoculars it looked like I was looking through a rain soaked window so I never bothered getting the kit out. That is twice you have saw details on Mars in a few days love the drawing much the same as I saw last week thanks for posting Nick.

Be careful with laser collimators the cheaper ones can need collimating. You can use the laser even if it's out with a Barlow lens you will see the primary mirror will be seen in the 45° surface just line the circles up. I have always used a Cheshire sight tube cannot beat it.

Went out at 10.15 hoping to see Mars higher up and get some better views. Started in Cassiopeia NGC 1027 Nice cluster in the "Heart Nebula" I did not see any nebulosity. NGC 189 Great open cluster I wonder how many there are around this constellation. NGC 225 Sailboat cluster and you can see the resemblance NGC 659 Small cluster here NGC 663 A young cluster with a estimated 400 stars NGC 454 A nice cluster surrounds a yellow 7th magnitude giant star. NGC 7789 "Caroline`s Rose" A cracking cluster I have viewed it better in my now gone 8" but as I will allude to later seeing was not good. ι (iota) (SAO 0122 98) Cassiopeiae Yes split this got all 3 components yellow with hair split blue star with a wider 3rd component Σ 48 (SAO 0041 90) Easy white twins Σ 59 (SAO 0217 16) Hair split here at x196 straw yellow with tiny companion Σ 65 (SAO 0114 40) Off white twins hair split. Σ 170 (SAO 0045 12) Another hair split off white and a bluish companion Σ 3037 (SAO 0208 32) This was hard triangle of stars main star has a gold tint x196 to get a hair split even then was doubting myself. σ Sigma Cassiopeiae (SAO 0359 47) Had to barlow my 10mm vixen plossl here to give me x236 off white hair split. On to Perseus NGC 1528 sparse is the only description I can say. NGC 1545 Same again I could only see 5/6 stars η Persei (Miram) (SAO0236 55) Nice yellow and blue here. Σ 331 (SAO 0237 65) nearly identical one more orange than the other. Σ 268 + Σ270 (SAO 0233 69) two pairs of stars here Σ268 is pale yellow with tiny white companion. Σ 434 03h 44.0m +38° 22` Nearly twins pale orange Σ 533 (SAO 0572 11) Lemon with a tiny dot 57 Persei (SAO 0396 04) wide double yellow and lilac θ theta Persei (SAO 0382 88) bright yellow tiny red companion. Now get back to seeing I had looked at Mars a few nights ago and could easily see detail on the the surface last night trying all combinations of eyepieces yielded nothing. Uranus no detail although did not expect any but still got the green/blue dot. That`s is I packed up for the night.

A warm welcome to SGL

I started with a 6" reflector which gave me great results its the only one that showed the 6 stars in the Trapezium, I then bought a 8" reflector hoping I would see more especially two targets M51 and the Leo trio alas I am still to see both from home. I did see M51 in Damian`s 22" (Mapstar) wow what a site that as. Then I got a Tal 100rs sold the 6" and the 8" and used the Tal after changing what to look at from home no more galaxies I now go for double and multiple stars and clusters I then picked up a 5" refractor and while sometimes I wish I had not sold the 8" or gone bigger I am seeing more now than ever and Sunday night is the first time I have seen detail on Mars that really gave me a wow moment. Reading about some of the galaxies some people on here have seen with there big guns I do think should I get one but then think well Paul how many times would you get it out from home, none skies too bad so it would get used twice a year at a couple of dark sky astronomy meets just not worth it. I will stick to the refractors and who knows I have had the 5" at a dark site (Galloway) and saw some deep sky objects with the 5" so I am happy with my choices. Where I to move house to a place where I had better skies now then I may be tempted to dip my toe in to a larger scope but as of now I am here and enjoying finding a couple of scopes seeing things I have never seen before and that is the point of a scope getting it out and using it.

A warm welcome to SGL

NGC 7662 the blue snowball lovely nebula.

Nice report John now should I get a a big telescope to get the same views or have I got aperture fever.

Nice report Mark and you hit one of my Nemesis objects M51 I have never seen this from home, the other one is the Leo trio.

Nice concise report Doug Sunday night was brilliant for me it was the first time I had seen any detail on Mars.

Great report Neil I totally forgot about Neptune and Uranus Sunday night hopefully I will get a chance sooner rather than later.

Great report the blue snowball NGC 7662 looked amazing Sunday night Monday morning the best I have seen it in a while.

I was out for 5.5 hrs went out at 10 came in at 3.30am I had a list not as big but kept adding to every time I thought I would get out. Paying for it today but I'm glad I did it.

Thanks John good to have a clear night for a change and been able get the kit out. Paul

12 weeks + I have not been out with the weather and ill health so last night was great for me. Set up at 10pm missed Saturn and Jupiter too far south for me behind trees. A few clusters to get my eye in. NGC 457 one of my favourites dead centre as well first time seeing these next ones apart from the double cluster M 103 Loads of colour here cracking cluster. Trumpler 1 1h 35 42m +61° 17` easy to recognise 4 bright stars in a row a bit like the belt stars of Orion. NGC 663 This is a young cluster over 400 stars in this cluster NGC 659 another nice cluster. NGC 752 pretty open cluster NGC 7686 small cluster about 80 stars NGC 869 and NGC 884 The double cluster what a sight it was stars springing out all over. Mars as it had just cleared the houses about half an hour ago there was a lot of turbulence coming from the roofs. Now for my doubles most of these where easy why it was my first time back. Pisces α piscium (SAO 1102 91) Well said they where easy but my first one wasnt this is a triple went to a 8mm x147 think I just caught the split but I could not swear to it. ζ piscium (SAO 1097 39/40) wide double lovely colour white with a lilac companion. 55 piscium (SAO 0741 82) another colour yellow and blue. Pegasus ε pegasi (Enif) (SAO 1270 29) Yellow and blue again. 1 pegasi (SAO 1070 73) yellow/orange blue 33 pegasi (SAO 0904 62) straw yellow and white Σ2978 (SAO 0730 10) yellow and blue Andromeda ρι Andromedae (SAO 0540 33) yellow and blue a few of these tonight. γ Andromedae (Almach) (SAO 0377 34) white and blue 56 Andromedae (SAO 0551 07) both yellow here. Ho 197 23h 11 4m +38° 13` lovely arc of stars here ΟΣΣ 242 (SAO 0527 26) lovely white pair Σ 3004 (SAO 0259 27) Gold with a speck at the side NGC 7662 Blue snowball The best I have seen this in a long time. Aries 14 Arietis (SAO 0751 71) A wide triple white, blue and lilac λ Arietis (SAO 0750 51) straw yellow and blue γ Arietis (Mesarthim) (SAO 0926 80/81) both brilliant white ε Arietis (SAO 0756 73) yellow and white here. Mars A lot higher now and at x147 with my 8mm could easily see the polar caps and dark areas on the planet as said by Nick (cotterless45) I am sure it was Syrtis major Magnificent site all in all a great night.

Well split them tonight in my Meade 127 with a 11mm Televue plossl x107 that was a definite split.

Sent you a pm

Very smooth.

Oh yes the revelation is far superior I have said you dont need one straight away you can use the scope with the one on and keep a look out on the second hand market for a good one to come up with a decent price.

There is this one on ABS https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=165608

Yes that would work if your not going to use dew strips you can halve the amps I started with a 5 amp added the dew strips and found my mount wasnt accurate I narrowed it down to power so I upped it to a 8 amp I think been great ever since.

John I should of said on my Meade I apologise I was reading the AR5 and AR6 my Meade is nearly exactly like a AR5. I have told Neil H the Bresser is the best one especially with that focuser.

Don`t I know it and the focuser was terrible especially on mine, I sent the focuser a Skywatcher dual focuser to Mark at Moonraker, he rang me up and said did I get the focuser out of the Meade from a lucky bag he said it was awful and threw it in the bin.

These are my two. That 102 Bresser looks ideal but you will need a extension it's worth it though seeing stars like balls planets the same and moon wow you can push the mag as well.