bingevader

We're hoping to be out with school tonight. 🤞

If you have the space and can guarantee the safety of the 'scopes, then a bit of free time to run around in the dark is actually very worthwhile.

It's not often that children get to explore the dark in a safe environment.

I've a collection of the cheap LED rear bike lights that are also a complete bonus.

And a set of Christmas lights around the entrance and along the initial path for a bit of health and safety.

We can't do parents in school at the mo, so I have limited the numbers, but we do have 4 'scopes. :)

Above all, have fun and enjoy it!

Jaffa cakes? :D

3 hours ago, Louis D said:

Maybe someone got this one with their order up at the Tan Hill Inn.

No, that would have been, "May contain earache."

Oasis tribute band, I'd have dug my own way out!!!

It was spot on here for the school session last night.

Met and BBC saying all clear, CO saying cloud on the way!

Brought the session forward a bit and managed to get in enough of a session to make it worthwhile before the clouds rolled in.

And as CO predicted, it cleared up after (too late for the children).

On 16/10/2021 at 13:39, barkingsteve said:

Hi Mick,

I have an old etx autostar handset from my etx 125 which has been sitting in the cupboard for around 20 years !  as far as i recall it works fine last time i used it and if you want to pm me your address i am also happy to send it on to you free.

Regards,

Steve.

What a kind offer!

If all else fails, my etx90 has worked very well without the handset for some years now!

It's my travel 'scope and has been on many a holiday.

Best of luck!

On 22/10/2021 at 14:27, Louis D said:

I put together a camping outfit for my grown daughter two Christmases back.  It's a 127mm Synta Mak (Orion/Celestron/etc.) riding on a spare DSV-1 mount I had laying around.  I put it on a barely used Manfrotto 3033 tripod from ebay for stability.  It takes up very little room in the back of her Chevy Equinox which is important considering all the other camping gear back there.  I also mounted a 60mm finder scope I had laying around to it to bring in wider fields of view for finding objects.  Everything fits in two bags, a mid-sized gym bag and a long tripod bag.  Neither attracts much attention with the rear hatch open at campsites.  The tripod and mount are way heavier than the telescope, but both are super rugged.  They're easy to carry slung over the shoulder in the padded tripod bag.  You don't want a wobbly alt-az mount as it will ruin the entire stargazing experience.

The skies sound good, so I think I'd go for a Mak too!

I have a Meade ETX90 which fits in a tool bag and so can go anywhere with me very easily.

I also have an 8" dob.

Whilst I can fit the dob and all the kit in the car, it does take some planning.

With work, homework commitments, etc. it sounds like spontaneity might be the key.

A 105 or 125 Mak might be an easier option.

Above all, you want it to be used!

Mine didn't need collimating out of the box either.

I don't check mine very often, it's stood stationary in the shed most of the time.

Unless you are very heavy handed getting the 'scope out and putting it away, it should be fine for a good while.

But there will come a time when you just can't resist a twiddle!

As others have said, the first time can be a bit overwhelming until you understand why you are adjusting the various screws and which ones make things tilt or swivel in which direction.

Have fun!

I have the ES O-lll too, but haven't had the chance to use it yet.

I also have the ES UHC.

I think, as with all astronomy equipment, you have to stick to your budget and make the necessary adjustments to your expectations!

Could I see the Veil Nebula before I bought the ES UHC? No.

Have I seen it since? Oh yes!

As to whether the O-lll will make any difference to the Orion Nebula, I don't know.

On 09/09/2021 at 15:46, Nugs said:

Pictures of plastic ice cream tubs with a bit of bubble wrap will be politely ignored. 😇

😆

You might turn your nose up, but it actually works quite well for me.

Actually, they aren't ice cream tubs, but small storage boxes.

Each of the EPs is then in a camera lens bag.

It means I can take the required EP in its bag out with me without having to take the whole box! 😉

I like the idea of the foam boxes for storage, but in practice, my EPs in an ice cream container works quite well for me.

Each to their own, as they say.

Hello John.

20 hours ago, Philip R said:

and slightly more expensive than the OP's budget.

Nagler! Yes slightly more expensive.

That's why the Nirvana is such a steal, when available. 🙄

FOV too probably. 60º to 82º can take a bit of getting used to.

Just to stir things up a bit!

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/ovl-eyepieces/ovl-nirvana-es-uwa-82-ultrawide-eyepieces.html

Very good indeed in my 8" 'scope.

I have the 4mm and the 7mm.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/742206-astro-tech-paradigm-or-celestron-x-cel-12mm-which-is-better/

Post 16.

Before proceeding with dismantling the EP (if that is your intention), see if you can get hold of a diagram of the lens assembly first, just in case things don't go to plan.

I've had a quick search and can only find the 12mm in either Celestron or Meade.

Either of the companies might be able to help you.

Just to echo what others have said. if it seems too high a price, then just don't buy.

I was disappointed to see it happening on here too, when short supply meant that prices started increasing for new kit.

People were adding the increase to second hand kit also, knowing full well that they hadn't paid that much for it originally.

Disappointing, but the way of the world at the moment.

The only other thing I would add regarding EP acquisition is to go for the gaps first.

People get a bit hung up on replacing the stock EPs before comparing them to anything else.

The 8mm BST might be a good place to start if you are enjoying the views through the 10mm.

A 5mm BST will be pushing it a bit, the skies just aren't steady enough (good on the moon though!).

Well done!

3 hours ago, kev100 said:

Hi Ben,

I would have been fairly confident about people following guidelines, and would have made it clear that if you show any symptoms at all then you shouldn't attend. However, although it would have been nice, I decided against it as the risks are just not worth it. It's a real shame. Like many others on here, a lot of the enjoyment I get out of the hobby is through sharing it with others. Also, it's always good to spread the word on what constitutes light pollution and what effects it has.

Oh well

Kev

A good call, there will be other nights I am sure.

On 28/08/2021 at 20:13, PEMS said:

The number of "deaths" is slewed.

Yep, we've only recorded deaths within a month from Covid. All those who take longer to die by slowly drowning in their own secretions don't count. 🤔

Back to the OP.

How well do you know your village community?

Can you be confident that the people you invite will follow your guidelines?

I carried on with our club in school last winter because the classes were in bubbles and didn't come in if they were at all unwell.

I was with them all day, so an hour or so out side after school didn't really make much difference!

We wiped everything down, kept our distance and wore masks back then too.

Plenty of cloud here, but passing quickly with the strong wind.

Hence, we stayed inside, lay on the bed and watched through the velux!

4 tidy ones, long burners with good tails. A handful of faint quick ones. And one head on supernova style,

Not up there with the best meteor showers we've ever seen, but considering the weather, not a damp squib either.

I suppose I nearly have a full set of the Meade plossls now, but the rest are very much not of the same brand!

I too like the wider field of view, but my cherry picking has been done very much on price rather than performance.

Thankfully I haven't been disappointed, but that's probably the joy of not having anything 'better' to compare them too.

You are right John, 'work' probably wasn't the best word to use.

My stock 10mm isn't really that bad.

I'm happy to use it in school (with some other budget EPs) without feeling the children are getting a raw deal.

Anyway, I am sure the OP will enjoy the 8mm BST at least!

Comparing a budget EP with fewer elements to a high end EP with more isn't likely to work.

But how about from the same firm?

TV plossl v TV delos?

I don't know if that is a good comparison, as I have no idea how many elements are in a delos.

I'm sure the big boys with all the toys could do a sensible comparison,

Missed this somehow!

Fantastic contributor.

Well done John