mapstar

Wow Proper beauty Gerry and looks great. When will first light be? Look forward to reading how it compares with the 15" and how nice that mirror is? We're all waiting for the nights to draw in to get back to the deep sky stuff. Exciting times ahead 😉

Great read and a nice haul of fuzzies. Visited most of them several times and some great memories of being in that part of the sky, probably due to it being warmer viewing conditions.

Nice purchase. As above it's a whole different view with the larger aperture. Globs are spectacular and hunting down those elusive faint fuzzies is great fun.

Brilliant read Nick especially adapting the garden foliage to get southern views. Jupiter is low but really bright. Could do with a view of it but doubt I'll manage it with work getting in the way. A read is a poor substitute for actually getting out but a pleasure to sift through your views and remind me what I'm missing. Cheers

Nice one Nick. It's that time of year

Superb Danny. Nice capture

Dai I'm thinking of going up before the event on the run up to the new moon so may be there the same time. Probably 24th on? Tbc

Better than mine buddy. 19.35 . Usual viewing spot 21.45. Galloway star camp 21.92

We had the same figures from borreraig Isle of Skye and yes they are magnificent. Nothing more than a chair and mk1 eyeball to see the milkyway running horizon to horizon. Anyone seriously into astronomy should visit. Fantastic

It's a long way off but I'm looking forward to this. Hopefully the autumn weather will be kind to us and we will be able to make the 10th anniversary event something to remember for the astronomy instead of the stormy weather. Very little astro darkness left for this spring but hopefully I will be able to get out before it disappears for the summer. I will be packing the scope away in may until at least the back end of August. I'll then make a start on what may be my last winter of adding any sizable contribution to this forum. I wish everyone well and hope to read and catch up on your astro exploits until we all finally meet up again.

Professor Kenny Did you try to link the AP stuff to the big screen behind with what it says on there?

Booked for the above dates on leaving the spring bash. Probably alter my arrival a bit as the new moon is the 28th oct and really want to catch that.

Dangerous? I've been to nearly a dozen star camps and never thought it an issue as it's not like wild camping? Only danger is forgetting your torch as it's as dark as pitch during the star party. A lot will be there from the weekend before so quite a window to attend and meet like minded folks. Wouldn't think there will be any bonfires or fireworks for at least 10miles in any direction but doubt there will be any at all. I'm still looking at attending around the above might be monday the 28th to the following monday 4th nov so I catch everyone.

Are the clips on it over tightened? It shouldn't noticibly distort with a mirror of that size/weight? What use are you intending? Visual or A.P.? I guess for 18" with a cell its about right price wise looking at other mirror makers and then adding a cell. A skywatcher stargate 18" is about the same for a full scope though. Not sure how they compare with the spec of the optics?

I'm sure you'll be welcomed with open arms Calv bringing that much Whisky for everyone

Apologies you are quite right when referring to the newer types John. I'm talking from experience with the older type of MDF which so many 'diy' programmes used 15 years ago. It was banned from production in the US. Glad that Dave is wearing ppe and encourage others to always put their health first when using it.

Good to see this up Mike I think I will be booking for the new moon w/e friday 25th and maybe stop for the week.

Bit of a health warning to those considering using MDF Hope you have decent extraction and ppe as MDF is carcinogenic and far worse than the usual birch ply used for constructing scopes. It's banned in america but good old britons get to use it with no health advice given when buying the stuff. Be careful out there peeps.

Nice to see another home build gracing the pages of SGL. Seems to have been a while since one appeared. If you're going to be using a shroud make sure you've enough clearance between to truss pole and the bearing to get it over and down to the bottom. Just a couple of suggestions for the secondary holder. It looks nice, not sure what the central spider boss is made from? but it looks nicely profiled to mount the spider vanes. I find 4 screws easier to adjust than 3 and mounting the screws further out increases the accuracy of adjustment and gives more stablility to the secondary. Keep the screws as short as possible. Truss mounting is always something to ponder. I've changed idea's a few times whilst trialling them out in the field. I need to become more practiced with the CAD and nice to see it being used in scope design. Hope that helps keep up the build as I think it's about time it was completed after sitting on the optics for so long.

When I was doing the 22" I was told the optical polishing pads if used leave a rough surface. When I do finally get around to doing another mirror I will construct a m.o.m and speed things up. It is still a long process and watching a machine does require concentration. I did do some foucault images and got some good results.I did prefer the Ronchi test though. Next time I will try both again.

Garry have a look at Stu's Alkaid at the top of this page, he has his focuser on the top side 180° opposite to where you have yours. As Shane says we wouldn't want you to have an expensive accident with an eyepiece dropping out if you've not tightened your thumbscrews.

What Jonk is trying to say is you have the focuser (read upper tube assembly not aperture) facing the floor when viewing low objects?

Mirrors look good and in terms of views you won't notice any difference. First light is fast approaching

Agreed really fine detail. It's quite rough looking

As excited as we are always nice to see a freshly coated mirror.