bingevader

Hello and welcome!

Looks good to me, but I know nothing about AP!
There is a sub-section in the beginners section.

Or a dedicated AP section further down.

They might be able to help.

Wish list: Peace on earth.

Why?: Just seems like a really good idea!

2 minutes ago, Gonzo0 said:

Is a 6" scope really that much worse than an 8" to warrant spending a few hundred to get a trailer just to transport an 8" Dob to dark skies though?

Yes!

4 minutes ago, Gonzo0 said:

Unfortunately I'm not made of money lol

But you have an MX5. 🙄

You're stuffed if you are keeping the sports car.

Return the 8" get a 6".

RIP

We ran SETI on the home PC for years until Folding At Home came along.

21 hours ago, faulksy said:

photos now included ben 🤣

Diolch yn fawr!
But, (dare I say it!) it looks a bit cloudy!

Spent the last few days in west Wales.

The first night was crystal clear.

Incredible Milky Way (and M31).

On 07/08/2022 at 00:16, faulksy said:

I will do a small video tomorrow 

16 hours ago, faulksy said:

observing reports coming soon 🤣

4 hours ago, faulksy said:

Photos of it all coming soon

Yeah, yeah. 😆

You keep promising, I'm beginning to wonder if you've actually moved! 🤣

I've seen the Veil nebula through my 8" and a UHC filter, so it is definitely possible.

I now have a Oiii filter, but haven't had the chance to try it on the Veil yet.

As teenagers, my brother and I got questioned by police on a quiet roundabout at 2am in the morning.

Sadly, we were stargazing (Perseid meteor shower if I remember correctly and we knew too much about it to leave the police in any doubt)! 😆

I think honestly is probably the key thing in all these debates.

Lets acknowledge Webb for all he did for science, but also point out his weaknesses.

Let's not pull them all down, but rather say, and put up a plaque if necessary, this man was homophobic, or racist, or whatever, we know where the money, or insight came from, and we are not happy.

Let's accept our failings and vow to do better in the future.

Saying he didn't do it isn't helpful, but saying he was of his time and it is no longer acceptable is much more powerful.

In fact, it raises debate.

The JWST, awesome telescope at the moment, JW made huge contributions to science, but he wasn't all good.

or

The Big Pointy Huge Telescope, it's big and pointy and sees further into space than we have seen previously (but was as a result of scientists whose views might now be considered dodgy).

I think I would rather have the debate, or else, how do we ever change?

Hello from south Wales!

7 hours ago, Zermelo said:

Of course this relates just to selecting a range of focal lengths in abstract, and ignores the focal length and aperture of the OTA, the observing conditions, characteristics of targets, etc., all of which may affect the actual choice of eyepiece focal lengths in practice

This is what always intrigues me about these EP ranges.

I have EPs that suit my needs.

I have more at the shorter focal length end of things, because the resulting magnification and the difference between EPs is greater.

I have the 4mm and 7mm Nirvanas and they have always been very good to use in my 8" 'scope.

Hadn't seen this!

Solar eclipse on Mars

Wasn't sure where to put the topic.

Too late for a heads up.

Could have gone in Solar observing or imaging I suppose, but none of my own work.

We could shorten your F lurgy to Fmf - man flu!

I'd dispute the moon fraction too, what's wrong with observing the moon (in all but full phase)?!

I need my glasses on to make sure I am in the right area of sky, I'm short sighted, but I take my glasses off to observe at the telescope.

If you have the chance to try some eyepieces, then that would be the best option.

You'll have an idea as to whether the so-so eyepieces will be more than adequate.

In general, the upgrade for me has been to 2", wider field of view EPs, rather than for any improvement in sharpness.

All of my EPs are within your budget and they more than meet my needs, but I have a reflector not a refractor.

Not enough friction for some reason.

I'm assuming that you have tried tightening or loosening the fittings?

Mine is a bit slippy at the moment, I've been meaning to take it apart and clean it.

Maybe it just needs a bit of an overhaul?

In the meantime, try not to move it all the way in!

A dying breed!?

I hope I have a few years in me yet!

On 19/03/2022 at 12:21, david_taurus83 said:

In construction, "buried to the b*******" is a commonly used and well understood measurement of depth to describe bogged heavy plant.🙂

We had a similar expression in our diving club. BLD. B****** Lappingly Deep. To describe the first sharp intake of breath when you have waded just a little to far into cold water.

On 08/02/2022 at 16:23, Carbon Brush said:

From what I have read, the rocket was not intended to hit the moon. It was out of fuel and therefore uncontrollable.
So we shouldn't criticise the company. Unless it was lack of forethought when planning the mission.
At least after crashing, it won't be a hazard to other spacecraft.

Is it a bit like when I throw cans, bottles and food wrappers out of my moving car and fail to hit a bin.
I usually manage to reach the roadside hedge so they aren't a hazard to other road users.
The recyclable content is there for anyone to pick up and maybe get a bit of money on the metal? So maybe it isn't dumped?🤣

I'm hoping this is all satire and irony too!

On 09/02/2022 at 16:02, johninderby said:

Divine intervention perhaps. 🤔

I thought it was the Tesla batteries the nuns were objecting to?

They were slightly off the mark with the prayers then!

Maybe they don't quite have a direct link?

Would Messers Musk, Bozo or Branston necessarily fess up to something failing that badly?!

On 23/01/2022 at 20:44, F15Rules said:

I think your point ref the driven mount is a good one.. I too use a driven mount, but I know a lot of observers these days use Dobs and Altazimuth mounts..for these observers I can see the appeal of a wide or ultra wide fov whereby the observed object stays in view longer between nudges..

Dave

The added drift time is very useful in a non-driven mount.

20 hours ago, vagk said:

Is it worth buying an eyepiece giving 430 mag with SW Dob 12inch or it is waste of money ? I don't use barlow. I want it for planetary (especially Mars) and double star observation

I have used 400x in my 8" on the moon when the sky is steady and it's super.

To put it another way, it's like being in orbit (1,000km) around the moon.

On 17/01/2022 at 18:31, PeterStudz said:

Thanks for posting this. Until now I never knew that this product existed. Just tried to see if I could buy one and I can’t find anyone that has stock. So looks like I’ll have to wait

I have one too.

Fab.

You'll have to wait for the eyepiece gurus to come along and help with this one!

I'd imagine, that in a 10" or 12" 'scope a zoom lens would need to be well corrected.

You'd be looking at the more expensive offerings from the off.

We've a cheap version for use in school, and in terms of versatility, flexibility and ease of use it's fab.

But then this isn't high end observing.

Obvs if you can afford a quality filter, then go for it.

However, I have the ES 2" UHC and it works for me!

I have seen the veil nebula.

What can't you see with the zoom that you think you will be able to with separate EPs?

I do have a 7mm and 6mm for the nice clear nights though.

We had a similar experience to you Tony.

Clouds came and went, but everything a bit fuzzy.

Still an enjoyable evening.

I had a 1º locking nut fall out of the 8" 'scope as I removed it from the car (recollimated this evening)! 🙄

How was your evening John?