SpaceWatcher

I wonder if something like this would help mask and reinforce the crack

https://joytidy.com/products/2022-new-glass-repair-fluid?sku=18054560919003177861790523&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm5T3wpfa-gIVi5ntCh07ggh2EAQYBiABEgIljPD_BwE

I use digiCamControl on laptop, works well, full control, live view, astronomy mode and free

http://digicamcontrol.com

There’s some live astronomy related webcams 

https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/webtv/ (Watch out for the clickable ads)

https://www.webcamtaxi.com/en/astronomy.html

Theres an Open University course

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/astronomy/astronomy-online-telescope/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab

(looks quite easy going) that gives you free access to image at 

https://www.telescope.org/

This site also has a great image gallery

👍🏻

Hi Ash

Astronomy is what you want it to be, not what someone else thinks you need, if that site’s ideas for what you need don’t agree with yours then don’t let it put you off, find somewhere else, it should be about making it accessible to anyone with an interest 😀

You can enjoy visual astronomy with no deep knowledge of the science, if you’re happy that a nebula is a cloud of dust/gas then that is all you need for now to enhance your enjoyment of astronomy

When I was 12 and first saw Jupiter, Saturn and it’s rings and the moon through a scope I had no real idea of what they were, I was just amazed and it started a love of astronomy that has lasted, um… quiet a while now 😬, I acquired more detailed knowledge as a when I needed it

Enjoy the stars and post questions on Stargazers Lounge, we’ll all help 

👍🏻

Taking shape nicely 👍

Re the street light, tell them it’s stopping you sleep

I told our council it was for stargazing and they didn’t want to know, my wife told them it was stopping us sleeping 2 months later and it was shielded within 2 weeks

I have Columbia and North Face snow boots, both good down to around -30 and waterproof, my feet never get cold 👍🏻

Welcome 🙂

I’m sure I’ve seen a formula somewhere that shows the level of cloud is directly related to the importance of the astronomical event 😜

I know I’ve suffered it’s consequences many times…

A long time ago my wife and me went to the brilliant but now sadly gone Starhill Inn in New Mexico (RIP 😢)

Through the day we met a very large 8ft tall Brown bear eating the hummingbird feeders at the ranch house and it was scared away by the owners

That night I was working through my list with a 16” LX200 when we heard a noise in the bushes nearby, I flashed across with a torch and two eyes lit up about 6” apart and ~30ft away, it was probably the bear attracted to the hot chocolate we’d got from the warm room nearby

It scared the hell out of us as it was pitch black, we walked rapidly back to our cabin with torches on and swinging around while singing loudly 

When you look at the pictures in the Ranger Stations of what bears do to cars to get food they don’t look so cute and furry 

Later on that trip we had a bear circling our tent sniffing in Yosemite
Food and cooking clothes were in the bear box nearby so it went and hit that instead, much to our relief as all I had was a small pocket knife 

We and the other campers were banging pans and yelling to drive it away

The USA has liven me truly some stunning views of the sky in beautiful locations while accompanied by bears, coyotes and some truly scary mosquitoes, I understand the need for some form of protection, we took whistles, bear spray and Deet with us everywhere after that, I’d also consider a portable motion sensor alarm if I was deeply into an observing session in some wilderness areas to alert if bigger critters got too close

Next time we’re there we may ask the National Guard to circle our site 😜

Also get her to check out Lonely Spec for Astro photography and landscapes with DSLR, tripod and lens

Helpful advice and some stunning photos without even using a scope

https://www.lonelyspeck.com/astrophotography-101/

Sign up for the free Sky & Telescope Astrophotography book, good advice for starting

https://skyandtelescope.org/astrophotography-guide-free-ebook/

What does your wife want to photograph to start with, even a Meade EXT can be used to take some moon/planet pictures easily, it’s small light has goto and tracking (in alt-az so limited exposure times) and is around your budget, it’s about working with what you can afford and knowing what you can expect to achieve

Hi and welcome

I’ve always found this the most friendly and helpful astronomy forum, hope you enjoy it here

Is it The Pillow?

You’ll find lots of detail on the Orion Nebula here
https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/star-trapping-in-orions-trapezium/

As an alternative I’ve been using Starmap2 since it came out. Good app and telescope control

Hey Peter, great idea, I’ve actually got an old Nikon one in the loft from my (very) old slr, l’ll have to do some playing with it and if it works I’m off to eBay for another one 👍

Interesting option I saw in this months Sky & Telescope

The 2.1 x 42 Constellation Binoculars
almost half glasses half binoculars, very interesting looking
https://www.vixenoptics.co.uk/Pages/wide_field_binoculars.html

Magnification2.1x

Diameter42mm

CoatingsFully multi-coated

Eyerelief8.4mm*

Approx real FOV12.2°*

Approx apparent FOV25.2°*

Close focus2m

IPD55~74mm

Size46 x 128 x 54mm

Weight410g

Mine are 

Zeiss 7x30B - 8.5 deg fov, great for sky views and almost indestructible in rubber armour, had them about 30 years and still great
Only pain is no tripod mount

Bausch & Lomb 8x42 Elites - 7 deg field of view and great optics, nice to use and light

Small Nikon pair of grab and go - don’t use for astro

I’ve used JB Weld to fix a few metal parts, it a two pack system, almost like a metal epoxy resin

Works really well and gives a strong repair, I got it from Amazon for £5.80 with free delivery

Take the mirror out before attempting repair (I know it’s common sense but I have to say it)

Thanks, I’m also 8” SCT user, this has saved me ordering one to try as I was only looking at one for bigger focal lengths

Looks like the Antares 6.3 will be the best option

👍

I was looking at the cheap focal reducers too, was about to post asking if anyone had used them when Info when I found this thread (below), don’t think I’ll bother with one now, hope it helps you to decide too