bingevader

Backpack as in hiking to the observing site? Or carry case to and from a car or the bus stop? This breaks down very nicely into kit bag sized chunks. It's a very sound piece of kit and from our reasonably dark back garden gave us an enjoyable whizz around Hercules, Lyra and Cygnus the other evening.

Derbados! I wondered if you'd been on your holidays, having had any of your excellent observing notes for a while (unless I have missed them!). That looks rather splendid, a shame you missed the D-Day Darlings (or will you be going back for that?! ;D

Hi, As Matt has said, you can stick the location into Stellarium and see what's up. There will still be some milky way from alongside Orion, down past Sirius. I'm sure it will still look impressive from a dark site. And as Matt has also said, there'll be plenty more to see.

I posted this elsewhere. It gives you an idea of the difference.

Hello Matthew, Best of luck with the astrophotography. I never made it to Blaenavon, but it always sounded like a lot of fun. There's a group in Usk, but I don't know anything more than that.

FOV and drift time to name but two!

That's what mine looks like.

Check your drawtube has a screw thread then, as that adaptor screws straight into it. I doubt I'd reach focus if I only pulled my EPs out by 12mm and fastened them there!

? Mine is 1 and 7/8th of an inch or about 47mm!

Never had a cracked EP, sorry. Never had one dirty inside either!

The biggest determining factor for me has always been the price. The top of the range are always going to be out of my league. But I have saved and bought mid range EPs as time goes on. My first bit of advice would be to fill the gaps! There's not much point doubling up on EPs with the same focal length until you know what you like and that it is markedly different to what you have. As people have mentioned, the BST Starguiders seem to be a favourite on here that tick both boxes in terms of price and a step up in quality from the stock EPs. I've only looked through an 8mm, but that was very good indeed and is a solid piece of kit.

On an 8" or above, I think I could probably see the advantage of a goto. Completely academic as I'll never be able to afford one! However, on my etx90, I quickly got fed up of the faff! As an intro to the hobby, the goto was a great way to learn the night sky. After a while though, I could find the night's favourites quicker than the goto. The fainter, more distant objects were beyond the 'scopes capabilities. So as a means of finding those faint fuzzies that evade my star hopping skills, it's appealing though unattainable. I'll keep hopping and hoping!

I'd want to check that the LX5 was in 'pristine' condition, as that is now rather an old model. I can't find anything about a 12" model either, 8" and 10" but not a 12". I'd be careful with that one.

Interesting, I thought I saw and iridium flare on Monday night and dismissed it because I assumed they'd all gone!

Thanks John! I think that'll do. I've hijacked the thread enough as it is! Back to the Green and Blacks. Mmmm, chocolate!

Helen, that's the same one! I especially liked the bit where it said, "In more general terminology..."! The pictures are still good.

No need to apologise, my question was about the influence of fast optics on eyepiece performance. I was hoping to understand what difference 0.4 WavesRMS made to the observer. I think maybe I'm not supposed to (understand, that is)! I read the info too! I liked the pictures.

Thanks Ruud, but I get the coma bit; In order to avoid step ladders, short, large newts need big curvy mirrors. Crass oversimplification, I know! It's the wavey business I'd like someone to explain and what a difference of 0.4 WavesRMS means to the observer, please.

And for the statistically challenged amongst us! Could we have a lay mans interpretation of what difference 0.4 of a Wave means, please? 👋

A frac and his money are soon parted! If the 16mm is your most used, I'd start with that too. From what I've read, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Found two screenshots I took of Stellarium a while back to justify my purchase of an 82º EP! The Double Cluster through my skyliner and a 82º 24mm EP compared to a 50º 25mm EP.

If it's just an idea of size you are after, then download Stellarium and stick your 'scope and EP details into that. It'll give you an idea of FOV and magnification.

I'd rather see a picture of the "pristine" EP for sale than worry about the box. I've seen a few that looked less than "excellent" condition but were promised with all the original packaging. As someone has already said, the boxes only end up on top of the bedroom cupboard anyway. I've some 20 year old EPs still with the boxes, I'd be laughing if I added 10 quid to the price. I know, my EPs aren't premium (but they've been bloomin well looked after)!

The answer to your question is a very definite, "YES YOU CAN!" Good advice above. I'd take your time though. For me, the greatest limiting factors in the UK, regardless of magnification or exit pupil, are light pollution and the conditions. You can't see through clouds! A streetlight in your FOV doesn't help much. And with the planets so low at the mo, we're seeing them through a bubbling, boiling gloop of an atmosphere! I wouldn't rush out and buy a kit, but you will end up with a range of eyepieces and more in the shorter focal lengths. As you do the maths above you'll see that a small change in focal length in a short focal length eyepiece gives a larger difference in magnification (or exit pupil) than in a longer focal length eyepiece. It's why I have 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8mm at the shorter end, but 18, 24 and 30 at the other end (and some others in between). Have you had a look at this thread?

If you could find Saturn through your 'scope, then use that to align the finderscope on as high a magnification as you can!