Ally8446

Might i suggest Fforest Fields. I'm 1 mile from it right now.  It's central and not that far from Hereford so relatively close to Lucksall. What I mean is, if Lucksall was central enough for most then Fforest Fields is roughly central too.

It's inky black. After only 1 minute of stepping outside of our lodge you can already see the Milky Way.  Does it have full electric hook ups, club house etc ?.... no idea. Worth a look... so I'll check it out tomorrow and post my findings. 

11 hours ago, Don Pensack said:

In my opinion, that eyepiece is superb in every way at f/5.

It has become my dark sky low power eyepiece, and was stunning on the Veil Nebula with a good O-III filter.

My OOUK is F6.3 and the APM 30mm UFF is mind blowing in it. It really does feel like I've got my head in a glass bubble looking into the cosmos. They're not cheap but omg they're worth every penny. 

p.s. I caught the Veil in it last winter  😲😲 amazing

Would this be suitable.....? 

http://apm-telescopes-englisch.shopgate.com/item/333631373637

I have one and it is simply magnificent. 

How do Sam, welcome 👍

Your 'Norn Iron' header made me chuckle. I have friends from your neck of the woods. 

Welcome to the forum 

👍👍

On 12/01/2021 at 12:40, Nigella Bryant said:

Thanks, just looked up the BBC one, stunning. I remember when I lived near Glasgow I saw an amazing Aurora event must have been around 1992. Coronal crowns, pink and green moving around the sky.

In all probability the 92 show was the one I witnessed. I was based at Lossiemouth, 8 lads off out for a few libations, stopped us dead in our tracks. Didn't get to the pub for at least another hour. It was incredible, the sky was on fire. 

You won't go far wrong with BST Starguiders

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces.html

For the money, they're great. 

I have the VX10L also and I can assure you that your focus troubles are now over. The in built extender is definitely required to bring any eyepiece to focus. Marvellous telescopes, I love mine. 

4 hours ago, Dantooine said:

Son’s are the business. That reminds me of a pan 27. 

Son's..... Typo ? 🤔😕

On 15/12/2020 at 14:04, Astroscot2 said:

My recently bought APM UFF 30mm,  provides stunning pin point views of the sky.

Yep, another vote for APM UFF 30mm. In my OOUK F6.3 10" dob the views are incredible. It makes you feel like you are actually in space. Brilliant eyepiece. 

Great first scope. Welcome 👍

13 minutes ago, John said:

The AZ-4 is compatible with EQ3-2 / EQ5 / HEQ5 mount heads and tripods so the extension that fits those will work with the AZ-4.

I used to use my Vixen ED102SS F/6.5 on an AZ-4 and it worked very well. The ED80 will be right at home on one:

 

That's great news, thanks.

Is that a Berlebach tripod ? 

10 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

A pier extension will help prevent the OTA hitting the mount when observing high objects.

The ED80 has a vixen type dovetail that will fit directly to the AZ4.

Steel is slightly heavier but more stable - better option in my opinion

Marvellous. I shall be searching the second hand market in the near future. 

Thanks for your assistance all. 

Al

1 hour ago, dweller25 said:

@Ally8446

I would suggest the SW80ED and as you want to view at highish powers and the SW EQ3-2.

This is a very light setup and as it’s an equatorial mount you only need to turn the RA knob to track and it can be motorised at a later date 🙂

Alternately the SW AZ4 is well suited to the 80ED.

I was hoping someone was going to suggest the AZ4 as it's a little cheaper than the AZ5. Would I need a pier extension at all ? Also, will the ED80 fit straight onto the AZ4 or will I need an adapter etc. Last one, aluminium or steel leg tripod ? 

I really appreciate everyone's help, thank you. 

Al

Right guys, I think, possibly, this might be the one. 

Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED or the 80. With budget in mind what tripod and AZ manual mount (from a weight pov) would be required. I'm factoring in the obligatory diagonal, not sure what di-electric means though 🙄. Are there any other must haves that I'd need ? 

Really appreciate all your help/input. 

Cheers

Al

Still deliberating guys, I'm not ignoring your replies. 

9 hours ago, merlin100 said:

The very same.😉

Back in the late 80s my dad lived in WK. We used to take our kayaks down to Portencross and paddle over to Millport. It's a place I've often thought, I wonder what it's like for LP with astronomy in mind. Do you live nearby ? 

On 02/10/2020 at 09:47, merlin100 said:

At Portencross last night, just waiting for the telescope to cool down. 

Portencross, not far from West Kilbride ? 

23 hours ago, PeterW said:

Depends what you want to see, anything reasonable will need a potentially heavy mount to be grabbed/lugged into the garden. Binoculars can give you a contrast to the bigger scope...

Like I said, I'm open to any other suggestions. 

Mainly it'll be planets and lunar, maybe some double splitting. The lack of aperture limits the DSOs but then that's what the OO dob is for. 

Can you get diagonals for binos ? I would imagine targets anywhere near zenith would be very awkward. 

Thoughts ? 

I'm considering the possibility of getting a grab and go set-up. Something I can throw over my shoulder and nip out the back garden (rather than planning a trip to my dark site with my OOUK 10" F6.3).

I really have no idea other than I don't think binos are the answer. My budget should be around £400 preferred - £600 at an absolute push. This has caught my eye - 

Bresser Messier AR-127S / 635 Refractor OTA

I know nothing of refractors/mak cas/cats so I'm open to any suggestions or advice. 

I'm purely visual btw so that should help. 

TIA

Al

20 minutes ago, wulfrun said:

I think there may be crossed wires here. I know the theoretical maximum is around x225, I also know that "seeing" and other factors make that rarely possible. I meant what would you consider a realistic maximum in the UK, given the scope? I'm hoping the Virtuoso mount will at least keep things in the FOV usefully well - reviews suggest it will.

I would agree that there are wires crossed ☺️

Imo you should be able to use an 8mm very regularly. On the occasion, 5mm. I'd doubt you'd ever get to use 2.5mm (5mm barlowed) 

Your maximum magnification would be around x225. It's generally accepted that the maximum mag is 50x the scope aperture. That said, 5mm ep barlowed would give you 200x mag, usable but only in exceptionally good conditions. The target would move across your very narrow fov so quickly. 

I lived in Wolves for 8 years but have lived in Wales for the last 16.

I'd say go with the BSTs, they're a cracking eyepiece for the money. 

One thing I would point out. I don't see the point in you getting a Barlow with the EP focal lengths you have stated. The 18mm barlowed would give you the equivalent of 9mm, you would already have an 8mm. Also, 8mm and 5mm barlowed would give you 4mm & 2.5mm respectively. Those kind of powers would very rarely be usable in UK skies. 2.5mm would probably be unusable as the magnification would be too great. My advice would be to go for 18, 12 & 8mm, forget about the Barlow for now.

Just my opinion of course. 

Clear skies

P.S You wouldn't happen to be from Wolves ? Going on your name of Wulfrun. 

Welcome aboard. 😁

13 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

That's where I find my hip flask comes in handy 

Dave

Unfortunately hip flasks and driving don't mix in my experience  😳. The drive is only 15 minutes..... but I make up for it when I get home with my 'mate' Jameson 🥃🥃

Slàinte mhòr