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scarp15 last won the day on September 1 2019
scarp15 had the most liked content!
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Visual astronomy, cycle touring, hill walking & backpacking, visual art, contemporary jazz.
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Newcastle Upon Tyne
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Good to reflect, so to speak; Celestron C8 Celestar Skywatcher 12" Flextube: manual version TV 70mm Pronto TV 76 Orion Optics UK VX14 Dob (still in my dreams) A bunch of binoculars in the 10.5 x 70, 15 x70 range
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Not quite that recent, yet the scope (and eyepiece) continue to provide occasional use and will act as a reminder to self; to make the effort to get back to dark sky observing sometime.
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Sat in the backyard, gazing up at a crisp night sky (as you do), sipping a cold Robinsons Stockport Golden, is a favourite tipple (or else a Guinness if I cannot got hold of the Robinsons) whilst pausing in-between views. Travelling to a dark sky location, which I haven't done for a while, definitely a largish thermos flask of coffee.
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I would expect that the 9mm would perform as impeccably with the same consistent relaxed comfortable eye placement and parfocal alignment as the rest in the line. Personally do not have one, since I mix DeLites up with Delos and dont want to crowd out that particular (medium / high) marginal focal length too much. 9mm is purposeful though, I had a 9mm Nagler T5 for a time, though perhaps as with yourself, simply prefer a relaxed 20mm eye relief, afforded to DeLites and Delos. Edit: T6
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The 4mm DeLite is lovely and will complement your 5mm (I use a 4, 5 and 7mm also 18.2mm in this line).
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Clear blue sky here to, equally at work, though from home today so can nip outside for a walk and soak up some of those Sun's rays (what a treat).
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Being outdoors in the fresh air, encountering the stillness of night-time is calming and soothing and with a clear objective to focus upon studying then observing within the night sky. It is remarkable to the extent that you can visually intimately connect with a celestial object from the comfort of your backyard or a dependable dark sky location.
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'Stargazer' is fine though it implies an impression of romanticism or someone who is a bit dreamy, whereby 'cloud dodger' is perhaps at times a bit more applicable. A few years ago I tried to convey the appeal to a friend though worded badly had his own thoughts, when at the time referred to going to a remote carpark late at at night to meet with others. Thus being termed a stargazer is quite all right.
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That's interesting, had overlooked this option. I ordered a sheet of black velour flocking, yet the sheets of Protostar Flocking board certainly would had been preferred.
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Great, wow 20 min good stuff.
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Good going and yes a headtorch is necessary.
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With a mirror clean due and no plans for this Sunday, other than batten down the hatches for the approaching storm, it was an opportunity to undertake a bit more tube flocking. The tube to my 8" reflector I'd previously partially flocked and from past experience fully flocking a 14" solid tube reflector, knew that good planning and patience would be a necessary virtue for this task. Perhaps it is the internal textured tube paint applied to OOUK tubes, but adhering firmly in place (in a narrow space) the material can in itself become a little frustrating and flop off., with bits of flaky paint then losing its stickiness. Also sometimes precision cutting, measuring can be a bit botched, leading to some wastage. However practice makes perfect and some of it at least was intact, making a very noticeable difference to the interior contrast. When out observing, flocking can make a marked difference I think, but applying it does require time, patience and possibly a bit of wastage in the process. Here is a picture following the mirrors being reinstalled, you can just make out a streaky light bit in the middle that has not yet been done. Footnote: the paddling pool was a bit overkill; had more applicably been used with a former much larger 14" mirror for which was ideal, so thought why not. Who else is about to, or has recently undertaken this task and if so, how did you find the procedure?
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Think that I would be pretty horrified if I saw cobwebs (Dobwebs) inside the tube of mine (though occurred with my former 14" once when the primary dust cap had dropped off). I do try to keep the dust caps tightly in place, yet is due a clean since a few annoying specs have formed / blown in onto the primary. There is no such place as a spider free zone of course, yet mine is kept in the corner of a relatively warm clean back room. Would employ using an air blower or vacuum cleaner suction hose maybe, if lodged onto a mirror surface, an artists soft sable brush used lightly might shift it.
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Definitely looks the part Stu and for this brief touch of winter sat or stood alongside the telescope. Reckon that you could blend in any nocturnal wildlife encountered.
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'Early doors' on Jupiter culminating south and the GRS still visible. Barge activity within NEB, STB nicely etched. VX8L, 6MM Delos. In for tea at 18.15, then out for some Lunar.