Darkstar_1

Hi and welcome, from another Lancastrian.

Hi robin , hope your doin ok long time since we spoke,

i have tried most of the smartphone apps and everyway to attach them to my scopes I gave up in the end due to not being that accurate and when you switch the phone on to use ,it killed your night vision , the best app I now use is called whereisit it's a app that coverts ra/dec coords into alt/az in real time you program your location and then I use a compass and a wixey to get to where you want , you preserve your night vision and its as good as a goto, the best is it costs 63p from android apps ,

hope this helps regards John

Thanks for the info, just downloaded for free from google play store, do you use your a compass on your phone or a separate silva type?

What a sad loss to the world of astronomy, Sir Patricks indomitable spirit and enthusiasm inspired many peoples interest in the stars. May he rest in peace, in full knowledge that his legacy will live on.

I agree totally that research is important when choosing kit, but the scopes in Argos, lidl and other chain stores are aimed at the young person market. Some young kid sees the pics on the box and says " wow mum look at that" and natters until he gets it (i have 6 kids i know). Which average mum would think to spend time researching when little Johnny is after his birthday pressie? Misleading images should not cover the box the wobbly 70mm frac on it's shaky mount comes in.

To find your lat and long anywhere in the world is easy, just install google earth on your pc, If i want to go to an other site to observe, i just find it on google earth and write down the coords, job done.