Saganite

Super image, just beautiful...

Thanks Mike.

My concerns about it not being stark white but creamy , something I have not seen before on a Vixen, do not matter because there will be none of the original accessories on it.

This has been used only briefly as a demonstrator, but looks and feels as new as a...... well ,new one, and at 25% discount I am very happy.  It came in its original box with all the accessories which I don't want so will be selling in due course. It has certainly lifted what was a disappointing show.  Meeting up again with Mike , Alan, and Ed made it worthwhile, as did  the Rowan boys Derek and Dave. 

The Feathertouch of course was on my ED103 and swapping focusers was the first thing I did once home.

11 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Pics or it didn’t happen 😊

I'll be there , I have to collect something...

PrimaLuce rings at Rother Valley Optics. I can't help as the spare set I have are 115mm, too big for your scope. They also do a gorgeous red anodised dovetail plate.  

34 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

Svbony sv211 handle.  Very nicely made and can also be used to hold a finder/guide scope. Though I now might have to get a red dovetail to match lol.

Already have the red dovetail and red rings...

On 20/03/2024 at 11:51, Mr Spock said:

Arrived just now 

Be very interesting to hear how it compares to your lower FL LVW's......

Very nice , what is there not to love about Astro goodies...

Love that red handle.......I need/ want  one of those for sure. Where did it come from  please ?

Oops, sorry Stu...........😂

18 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

 I really hate the look of the SLV's with their cheap looking grey plastic bulbous head. I've only ever used one briefly after I inherited if from a late astronomer friend, but moved it on because it was ugly. I think it was a 25mm but can't be certain as it was a few years ago. I might take a closer look at some of my friends to see if its time I moved them on too, but then again, having ugly friends has the advantage of making me appear better looking - possibly?!

 I did however really love the old LV's across the range. A pair of 15mm LV's in my barlowed binoviewer gave me the best defined view of the Alpine Valley's central rill that ive ever had, and that was in a FC100DC. And using the same scope in 2016, an early morning Mars through the 2.5mm LV was simply gorgeous. If the SLV's got rid of the grey bulbous bit, I'd probably like them. I love the clean, simple look of older eyepieces coz I'm a bit of a fossil.

Glad you said it Mike, and  I agree, and the Morpheus are little better to look at.  It doesn't really matter so long as they work, but if all things are equal, then I choose looks every time.....

16 minutes ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

 

Keeping one scope is more complicated than it seems!

It is, indeed.

I would have to say it would be my APM ED152, a great all rounder, but, with more than 71 trips around the Sun so far, it may well be the scope that I haven't yet got that I settle for.....

Since I have been using my APM ED 152 I have not enjoyed very good seeing more than a few times, but I have had one occasion when the seeing was near perfect and that showed an image scale with super sharpness that I have rarely seen, and on that basis I would never trade it for a 4" of any make !

Portability is not an issue of course because it lives permanently in my Dome on an AZ100

I didn't know it was that good Joe, can I have it back....🤣😂

It is a very good seat and I am pleased that it is exactly what you wanted,so enjoy it Joe....

6" F8 homemade reflector

TAL 100R  x 2

Skywatcher Evostar120

Skywatcher ED100 1x black livery

                   ED100  1 x Champagne livery

Skywatcher 200P Newtonian

Skywatcher 200P Dobsonian

Skywatcher 300  Dobsonian x 2

Meade Lightbridge 12"

Starwave 102 f11 refractor

Tal/Skywatcher hybrid 100mm

Takahashi FC100DC

D&G Optical 5" f15 refractor  ( Andromeda)

Lyra Optic 102 f11 refractor

Bresser 10" Dobsonian

Orion Optics VX12L  12" F5.3 Dobsonian

Current scopes

APM ED152  refractor

114mm f14 AE Luton Ltd ( Arcturus ) refractor

Vixen ED103Swt

Orion Optics 12" f4 Dob

Although one of these will soon be leaving.

5 hours ago, Flame Nebula said:

. It was my first time in the southern hemisphere, and I can remember seeing an upside down Orion. Couldn't quite get my head around Rigel and Betelgeuese swapping places. 🤪

Yes, it pulls you up at first doesn't it..😅

Mind you, it would be fun listening to a 'flat Earther' explain that one away..🙂

1 hour ago, Elp said:

A lot of astro farms have their own equipment you can rent so if you're likely to visit one of these places this isn't necessary, just enjoy the trip.

My feelings exactly. I will be going on a long visit to Australia and New Zealand next March principally to visit my daughter  and her family and fully intend to spend time under the darkest skies. I am already investigating Astro observing opportunities  with larger instruments that could not be taken with me, and in truth I don't want the bother.

In 2019 I was able to observe under Arizona sky with a 28" DOB. Dedicated Astro trips into the Bush are available  around Alice Springs.

It makes my decision simple to make.

I would select the 152mm f8 refractor sitting in my dome, as the one to keep.

Stu...I will check my medication just in case I can NOW go shopping...😁

It was great to finally meet you Joe...

Only four now I have just sold the Lyra Optic 102mm f11

In my signature..

It will be different again after PAS...😁

On 08/03/2024 at 19:56, John said:

Visually, it's tough:

"....Really, it's like trying to see a little bit of nothing with a little bit of less than nothing resting over it....."

Jeremy Perez, 2006

Edit: Unless you are using EAA of course 🙂

Must try that, I'm good at seeing nothing just lately....

Yet to see this one.

Very nice shot !

But no worse Stu than spending hours in the cold hoping to see a barely visible smudge of grey.  That, my wife cannot understand...😁

On 07/03/2024 at 23:52, Stu said:

I was thinking about this earlier, and suspect one reason I haven’t seen it is that I really don’t enjoy observing Sirius much of the time; it often seems to be a glittering ball, dancing around, and I find the process of trying to spot a tiny fleck of light nearby quite unrewarding so I don’t put in the time to actually find the Pup. Does that make me a bad person? 😉🤣

yep, definitely.....

7 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

I notice even Mr peach can't spell Albireo 

And you can't spell his name correctly...Mr Peach....

16 hours ago, Captain Scarlet said:

In my 7 or so years of observing I’ve never got organized enough to put together a seasonal List _before_ the season. Occasionally I’ve compiled a list more or less after the event, then forgotten it for the next year.

Now, thanks to @Stu’s latest session, I have already got a good list going. I want to add some PNs, a session for which I’ve never actually done.

See the screengrab below. What else should I add, and please share your list!

Cheers, Magnus

You should definitely add M81 & M82 and M51 around Ursa Major  Magnus, but I'm sure you know that already...