Saganite

At a recent dark sky gathering of our Astro Society, we had all set up when it swiftly clouded up and eventually dumped a shower on us. It did clear after a while and my colleagues all got some decent observing, but I was the first to see stars as this image taken by a friend proves.

Absolutely true. I get a real kick out of finding barely visible grey smudges with peashooters....

Great report Rob of a cracking time at Kelling. I remember seeing the Cat's Eye Nebula through my frends 20" Dob at Kelling a few years ago,the blue colour being so strong I doubt I will ever forget. A scope of that aperture does make you realise what you miss with much smaller instruments. Steve

The eyepiece travels longitudinally, in effect, backwards and forwards along the tube. It now runs very smoothly after a little fettling , and is really very good. The first time I have seen anything like this. This scope I believe, was only supplied to the French Astro market, but I could be wrong.

It was a general statement Roy....🙂

All so true Roy. It seems at least a decade since I have enjoyed an unbroken night's sleep...🤣 We all know of course that the best seeing is often in the hour or two before dawn, so really, it is a win, win. But, of course, I understand that things are different when retired.

This little treasure came with the SP. I only wanted the mount, but having had two sessions with it, I am very impressed so who knows I may have to keep it.... In this set up it is impossible to vibrate the image. Viewing Jupiter with a .965 Vixen 5mm Ortho, 144x was rock solid, not a ghost of a tremor !

I have bought 3 reflectors in the past few weeks Stu ,by mistake...can't help myself... 😅 One of them is a little 130mm Perl Vixen, never seen such a focuser on a scope before. It was in a bad way but I have fixed it, and it is super smooth. Had two sessions so far and I really like it. I will do a write up on it eventually.

I am Optimistic and patient, so going without observing merely whets the appetite. I know that a superb session will come and when it does it wipes the memory of the disappointments and frustrations..🙂

I feel rather guilty. Having the Pulsar observatory since last October with one or two scopes permanently set and ready to go has meant that I have had a pretty good year. Another major plus of course is being retired, so I can go out at 3am if the sky is good, for a short session, or I can stay out most of the night if the sky is good.

You are not alone Peter.

Had a couple of hours last night , reasonably good, but at a dark sky site tonight with the Bedford AS. Always good to observe with kindred spirits, and it will be my first chance to try out a lovely 130mm Vixen reflector, recently acquired.

So do I , a beautiful image. Thanks for posting it...👍

A lovely Vixen SP recently acquired to carry my ED103S on the Berlebach tripod so that I don't have to keep removing my AZ100 from the Obsy. It is in almost pristine condition, lovely and smooth. The plinth is a 20mm thick Oak blank in which I cut a 63mm hole and put in a North peg. I just happened to have a hexagon connector 10mm male to 12mm female which was perfect and means that when I lift off the SP and Oak plinth the AZ100 goes straight back on in seconds. I have yet to give the plinth a coat of Danish Oil to finish it off. The exact Vixen rings were supplied within a day or so rather amazingly, by a friend, who just happened to have them.....🙂

Dan Write your observing notes on loose A4 pages and stick them in a folder. After five years decide to write them up neatly with diagrams into a nice leather bound folder. You will have forgotten most of the great sessions that you enjoyed, the delights you have seen , at their best, and this will fire up your enthusiasm. You may always remain five years behind , I have , but then I am lazy when it comes to writing. It keeps you in touch during those long droughts....

I have loved Astronomy since the age of eight and now in my seventies, nothing has changed. I too have known plenty of observing droughts but the thirst for the next session just becomes more intense. My first telescope didn't arrive until I was in my mid twenties, so I would never part with my kit. A good observing session will come and you will be ready for it. We cannot change the weather so taking the opportunity when it comes is the thing and at least with a fixed pier you have a head start. Don't give up...Good luck

Congratulations Nigella, well deserved.

Looking good here also but I think I will go to the Observatory tonight and observe with club members.

Thanks Paz, very enjoyable reading and it looks like a very fine scope. I shall watch for your reports through the winter....👍

Just had a look at this John. What a treasure trove...Thanks.

The AZ100 carries my APM ED152 with ease Matthew . It is a big heavy scope but I can use powers 300x to 400x when star splitting without a problem. It is on a pier, but it still is very good if I put it on my Planet tripod. The mount is so easy to handle it takes under 90 seconds to move it from tripod to pier.

Congratulations Matthew. It is hard to believe that 10 years has passed.

Thanks John. That is a tough one and though my scope has a resolving limit of .76, the seeing was not good enough to be able to do it. By 11.40 the sky had clouded over so I packed away but resolved to rise at 4.45am to catch the GRS transit. I awoke at 4.30 but whilst having a few more minutes and wrestling with the decision, I drifted off....so, another time.....

Easy split of 52 Cygni, but Lambda Cygni just refused to be split, very close but the seeing seems to have worsened a little in the last half hour, so that one will have to be revisited. Not sure what separation is but certainly less than 1.3"

The APM ED 152 tonight with just a couple of zooms, the 7.7/15.4 APM and the Svbony 3/8. Albireo was excellent as always and the Double Double split text book fashion at 92x, so I had to have a crack at Zeta Herculis and that split nicely at 300x . Very pleased with that and the forecast shows clear until dawn, but I doubt I will get that far tonight....🙂