Saganite

Must agree !

A fine session Stu. I had hoped for one myself last evening but it did not happen. The cold crisp winter nights need to start happening soon ! A few nights ago I had a brief session and managed E&F but not the Pup..... Love the set up.

Stunning , as always ....

That really shows the difference Tim, thank you for that.

Me Too, Getting smashed at Dobble by my Grandchildren. Just crept out for some relief, but I am being summoned back for more punishment. Merry christmas all...

That was excellent Chris, just very sorry that my efforts to get there were thwarted, but next time !....

For sure, next time Ade.

No I did not unfortunately. I originally intended to go on Friday, but my Grandson whom I collect from school and look after on a daily basis, fell sick on Thursday and I looked after him all day on Friday, which is why I hoped for Saturday, but alas things conspired at home . I look forward to the next show though and will hopefully meet some of you all next time. I hope you had a good day........

The Japan made Meade 3000 series plossls are very good Doug. I use a 16mm pair for binoviewing.

Oh dear another SM.

I had not realized that, but you are right. Look forward to that Ade !

Oh Dear, so many senior moments since last we met. Sorry Chris....

Saturday for me , I hope.

Always a smile Chris ! I hope to be there on Saturday and and it would be great to meet up again and have a chat.

That is a stunning close up, Avani !

Terrific views of the transit between 12 .50pm and 2.15pm through a Hydrogen Alpha set up, with a large prom thrown in for good measure. There was some thin cloud about but mostly glorious sun. We even had an Airliner cross the disc of the Sun flying inverted ....most impressive

Our Society Observatory is planning to be open on Monday for this event, and I certainly hope the weather is compliant. I have never managed to see a Solar transit by Mercury so my fingers are crossed as well...

Very nice session Doug. Transparency here was/is poor, but a quick binocular session is better than nothing.

The Rowan AZ100 + encoders + Nexus DSC is available fromFLO @ £1490 , is nicely inside your budget, and as John has said, it seems to tick all of your boxes....

Look forward to your review Dave. I still have those Tento 7 x 50's, superb binoculars and keepers for sure.

It is indeed John. The pier, plus heavy duty dovetail plate and NEQ6, has reduced it to about 2 seconds maybe a little more and I have had to accept that with such a long moment arm, that is about as good as I will get, but in an attempt to eradicate movement of the image upon focusing at high powers, I am fitting the Moonlite High- res stepper motor. I will report my trials and tribulations eventually....

Fair point Louis. I did also change to a Berlebach tripod, and the whole is now as solid as a very solid thing on a solid base.... I would add though that I put the Berlebach castor mount onto the steel tripod when I first got it and it was still very much better than the other Alt Az mounts that I tried, but as I have said, I have zero tolerance for damping vibration, hence the wooden tripod.

Hi Rob, I would definitely go for something like the Skytee/ Ercole, or Berlebach castor. These give virtually zero damping time with my 4" f7.4 Neither the AZ4 nor AZ5 could give me this at high powers and were soon sold on.

Definitely an excellent and effective product. The tin which you supplied with Andromeda 4 years ago is still going strong despite regular polishing.

Seeing Saturn for the first time, through a 6" reflector, circa 1975 was my first WOW moment. Since that time I have had many, but I agree wholeheartedly with MikeDknight, binoviewers have been a game changer. Seeing the surface of the Moon and Copernicus in particular through a binoviewer simply took my breath away, and still does. My finest ever view of Jupiter was another WOW moment, again with binoviewers and my 5" F15 frac. So much fine detail on show ,it is etched in my memory.