scarp15

Currently have little to say, constant wet, windy conditions with a storm emerging, travel restrictions for dark sky trips, winter is passing by. Some good Lunar observing prior to that, as seems always the case with a waxing moon.

Seeking advice through telephone enquiries, my personal experience, over the years, has been good. Recently the PTFE bearings on the friction brake of my 14" dob base had smoothed, glazed over too much causing the (bottom heavy) tube to move upright. There are grub screws for tensioning, but the bearings had become the problem. Unfortunately, would had meant buying an entire brake unit and not just the separate bearings, which would had been very costly. The advice was to use coarse sandpaper, which I duly did and has revamped the life span of the bearings tensioning, stiction control. Solid tube, is a personal preference dependent on various circumstances. OO-VX tubes are light and can enable, such as the VX-14, transporting for setting up quickly when at dark sky sites. The collimation is overall retained, set beforehand, I do not like collimating when typically arriving after dark. The VX8L / dob mount is convenient for just lifting the whole unit and taking it outside. Mirror cells, with each of my VX reflectors are fine, having taken them out of the tube and detaching the mirror a number of times. I agree with the above comments that they are a traditional, quite old fashioned in some ways and some of their service might be a bit rough and ready perhaps, yet the views through each of my 1/10 pv wave mirrors have been and are excellent.

Another consideration, at a little more power in a 1.25" format and just as with John, I have to mention TeleVue, would be for an 18.2mm DeLite. This compact lovely eyepiece, yields a pleasant 62 degree apparent field, same glass composition as Delos, relaxed eye relief / eye placement and field stop presentation on subjects. Initially purchased for a winter deep sky reasoning, I have non the less used it quite a lot on backyard lockdown sessions as my starter, wideish field, low power e.p. Mine was as new / second hand from ebay, they do from time to time come up used of course.

Perhaps consider, look out for a used 24mm Panoptic if your preference is to remain with 1.25" barrel eyepieces. 68 degree apparent field, 15mm eye relief, trade in your 25mm plossl as part cost.

Some more details on this here https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/jan/25/mastercard-to-raise-fees-to-eu-firms-by-500-percent-for-online-sales-to-uk-shoppers#:~:text=Mastercard to raise EU fees,online sales to UK shoppers&text=Credit cards,The Guardian

I read that Visa who have yet to comment, have not ruled out the same measure, increasing the cost of transactions from an EU purchase from 0.3% to 1.5%. Also that debit card purchases will also increase.

There are quite a few, including recent, topics on which filter, either an OIII or UHC (or both). It is widely accepted that a filter will be highly advantageous and there would be no harm if you started another thread on the subject. It is a topic that never ceases to rouse interest even though the conclusions are often largely of the same outcomes. Probably if only one or as a first, a good quality 2" OIII filter.

I am seeing this on other forums. A popular tent maker, Hilleberg and other Scandinavian and German outdoor equipment brands and retailers are no longer importing to the UK. Small UK businesses struggling advised by government to relocate into the EU, will lead to those working for these companies to lose their jobs.

Good session, particularly considering the bright moon and good to hear that you located The Eskimo Nebula. Great that you enthused your family to come out. The moon mostly occupied my session tonight, in clear cold conditions, although M42 was sharp with an OIII filter. Later on the Beehive Cluster M44 is good to. Therefore an OIII or UHC filter will make for a good investment whether observing brighter nebulae from home or else bright and dim nebulae from a dark sky location. I too found it to be quite dry tonight with little condensation.

Can make out a sequence of points of light emerging, forming the rim of Kepler along the terminator.

Wow what a feature, the 'silver horns' I have never seen this feature profiled like this before. It is lapping up magnification and have paused at 300X, require a 3mm DeLite. There is a lot 'jumping out', but will return to the 'horns' like a mythological beast, lots of silver dimples or spots.

Second consecutive clear night, but first time this year outside with a telescope; 8" F6 dob. Breathtaking to stare down within the refined terraced walls of Copernicus and later as the suns rays gradually hit, illuminating the floor and the mountains loomed into 3D splendour. A revealing, dynamic classic phase at all aspects, Plato, Mt Pico, the northern Plato Rille, the Straight Wall along to Bullialdus. Clavius, Tycho and so much more, I consider myself a continual relative leaner for Lunar observing, always something to discover and understand. Seeing was very stable, stepping through 18.2mm DeLite, 10mm Delos and 7mm, 5mm, 4mm DeLite, each conveying good graphic impressions. Clear again and set up for tonight.

It is worth while, if it is clear and you are out observing, which lately conditions having made this rather sparse. Last night I was out primarily to observe the moon from my urban back yard with an 8" F6 dob and later turned attention to the Orion and Eskimo nebula. Each was a satisfying observation. I was using a mid power eyepiece 120X mag and attached a 2" UHC filter to the extension tube of the focuser, which created good contrast and teased out the subtle colouration within M42.

Oh yes the extensive country wide network of hut to hut trails are highly adventurous and very organised by DNT staff. In winter the routes are marked by birch sticks, in summer, traditional red markers painted onto rocks. Of course competence in navigation is essential. The huts are remote and basic, with bunk beds and do have some very basic foods that can be paid for via an honesty box. They do have a wood shed, wood burner stoves and oil lamps and a separate composting toilet. They are very cosy, when the stove throws out the heat and steam from the buckets melting snow for cooking and drinking. Costs can be very reasonable actually, we took some basic food supplies but lived on pancakes - each hut tends to at least have pancake mix. Train fares were similar to the UK and significantly superior. No alcohol as that can be insanely priced, although encountering any Norwegians, they may share some of their own vodka - one sip is enough! Taking a snow shovel is essential, partly if you have to build an emergency snow hole but also comes in necessary to dig out snow to access the hut door, if no one has occupied it for a while.

It is like reading a report within a report brilliant. For quite a few years each spring along with a group of friends we flew or got the ferry across to Norway to go hut to hut cross country or nordic ski touring, such as to Hardangervidda, Jotunheimen, Rondane regions and also inside the Arctic Circle. Some routes between huts were very long and often we would not arrive until after nightfall. On more than one occasion we would encounter the Northern Lights. We were members of the DNT; Norwegian Mountaineering Club and had a key for their hut network, best described as a posh bothy and with ample wood supply for the wood burner. Expect that having the Cairngorms mountains so close by, that I can understand the appeal for winter camping. You don't have to go to Scandinavia to see the Northern Lights. The first time I saw the aurora was wild camping in the Cheviots as a student, that was overhead completely unexpected and spectacular.

Its what is termed a Tyneside flat and occupied by students opposite in the back lane, I do not know who the Landlord is but had mentioned it to one of the occupants once, may step up and take it further, yep altering the PIR sensor could be an approach I will take regard to thanks. The cats, one of them to add insult to injury even trots around to our front garden late at night to take a dump. I learnt about the takeaway matter today, speaking to a manager at an adult social care unit, they are already very heavily restricted and mentioned that at their sister home across the border now even ordering takeaways for the residents has been banned.

I read your report, having come inside from a rather unsuccessful session in the yard and it both inspired and reminded me about how good with some effort a winter dark sky trip can be. The Bl**dy cats repeatedly triggering a neighbour opposite, outside light were forgotten. I know that lockdown restrictions are to tighten further in Scotland and probably here usually catches up, if that spot is still in the vicinity of your allowable travel area, then I look forward to more reporting this winter.

Cannot agree more with this sentiment! Such as your chart illustrates, begin at the small grouping of reflection nebulae, that include M78 and drift across for NGC 2112. This northern section is the brighter region. My first encounter of this, with the 14" dob was as though I'd drifted into a faint veil or curtain, as background stars were blocked out, arriving at the other end, at the cluster. Experimenting with a larger exit pupil in conjunction with a wide field of view assists in clarification. The 'river' profile, following the curve had become possible with the 14" dob, yet was conveyed as a more wholesome structure, with a wide field refractor as both sides can be just defined. A considerable portion of the curvature of this immense structure is possible to drift along, although the southern section remained invisible. As always, having the time, being in the right circumstances, is challenging enough most years, this year nigh on impossible. Yet will still be there I suppose in the circle of things and is frankly trivial in the exceptional situation of this winter. At least this report has given ground to talk about it, so that's OK.

Excellent report Robert and great that you have somewhere, in this restrictive period, not too far to travel to and that provides a good quality sky. The restrictions are very limiting presently. A terrific mix of subjects and descriptive filtered impression of M42, in the 20" dob. I have seen pictures of quite a fair bit of Aurora activity within the Cairngorms and that would more widely reach into your locality. The description of Barnard's Loop as somewhat like the profile of a river is very apt, with very diffuse soft edges. Try your H-beta filter next time, to lift out subtle contrast and again visit Mel Bartels site and look at his sketches to see whether you can grasp the southern arc from near Rigel, a testament to how good the transparency, dark adaption and so forth will need to be, not certain but perhaps Gerry @jetstream has encountered this feature?

If a backyard observer, with some local light intrusion and general urban light pollution, there could be varied approaches. Some on here like to wear a hood to block as much light as possible from their line of vision and perhaps enable some potential dark adaption to develop. If this appeals, there are plenty of threads or just start a new one, the hooded brigade will soon chip in. A few with deep pockets have invested in Night Vision technology, visit the EEVA section. This may transform your observing sessions from a light polluted sky, if you are not a purist 'photon gatherer'. However very expensive and will now be issues importing and customs charges added from EU. Observe deep sky objects when the sky is transparent, perhaps after a period of rain, objects to observe are high and as late as possible for optimum darkness and perhaps less local light intrusion. On the subject of filters, perhaps a good quality 2" UHC and enjoy the Orion Nebula. If though 10% of your time can be made at dark sky locations, this will become both complementary and rewarding.

Yes as above, orienteering skills; for star hopping. Organisational skills; don't forget the coffee if venturing on a dark sky trip. Endurance, not so much a skill but a mind set; be prepared for standing around in the cold weather, long periods between cloud banks requiring much patience (and coffee).

Nice report Gerry, great conditions for those as mentioned objectives and nice simple set up. Wolfs howling in the background....what an atmosphere!

Camera accessories bags such as the Lowepro Nova series, I have one for each of my three scopes, purchased used through ebay. They are purposeful for finder scopes, air blower, perhaps an eyepiece or two, torches, Sky Quality Meter, etc. The padded front zip pockets are handy for storing filters contained in their native plastic boxes. This is often temporary as they are stored slotted within the eyepiece case and it is excessive numbers of eyepieces that are stored externally in a bolt case or inside my refactor case. Here are two pictures of the most compact bag.

Chance determines so much within our lives and within the vast realms of space. When Kielder Star Camp was first introduced and publicized and a family friend was actually planning on going, this became a strong incentive and a reawakening I guess towards an interest practiced from a young age. As also with John, a memory of my brother and I sitting up to watch the grainy and quite abstract, to my 7 year old mind, first pictures of Neil Armstrong stepping from the Lunar Landing Module, subconsciously remained. I have always had a fascination in the great outdoors and exploring landscapes, astronomy is a way of forming a connection with landscapes of different constitutions - just 'further away'. Not unlike other hobbies, is also a form of escapism, becoming transported elsewhere. Unfortunately many folk prefer their warm, dry and lit indoor environments, TV's and gadgets , to become transported elsewhere.

DeLite range of eyepieces provide excellent eye relief / eye placement and an observing experience by which you can see the field stop. With 62 degree AFOV, adequate drift time and glass element characteristics as Delos, considered excellent for planetary observing, revealing refined detailing and sharp contrasting views. Began with a 4mm when first introduced, since included a 5mm, 7mm, 18.2mm.