Saganite

That is a superb shot ! Cloudy here unfortunately.

The sky last evening was clear when I got home at about 8.30pm. It was not what was forecast but a treat all the same. Having my telescopes permanently set in an Obsy is a great bonus so I was observing within minutes. Rigel, Mintaka, the Trapezium and Sigma Orionis quickly revealed that the seeing was pretty fair, though F was intermittent. The main course for me though was Lunar, so a quick change to the bino and Powerswitch and a pair of 20mm WO eyepieces and I was in business moving all over the surface with mags of 84x ...rock steady, 120x ...also rock steady, and 150x...slight undulations but very good, certainly good enough for me to count the sink pits along Rima Hyginus. Since I discovered some years ago that what I thought were ' weird straight lines of craters ' were in fact sink pits formed by volcanic action, it is a favourite area which I always spend time on. It is wonderfully relaxing to spend the best part of an hour, dare I say, gazing at the surface, but soaking in the details in and around the Craters; very cathartic. Feeling now very refreshed, I removed the binoviewer and put in the 30mm UFF before swinging the APM 152 onto the Double Cluster in Perseus. I really love this eyepiece for deep sky views , and particularly star clusters. You really can fill it with stars edge to edge and they remain sharp and focused. This pair of clusters are a magnificent sight , as we all know. My recently acquired APM 20mm XWA was then put into the focuser and I got what I had hoped for, the same view but at 60x rather than 40x, so the gorgeous diamond stars were set in a darker background. This was very pleasing and so too is the prospect of doing the same again, in a little while, when Lunar is not lighting up the sky. I won't be parting with the 30mm UFF though. Both eyepieces have their merit .

My Vixen ED103 lives most of the time now on the SP mount and tripod.

I should add that I often spend an equal amount of time trying to focus single eyepieces before realizing that the OCS IS in the diagonal .........😟

I spent a similar amount of time trying to focus the Moon tonight by putting different lengths of extension tube in the focuser despite knowing exactly what was required, before I realized I had not screwed the OCS into the diagonal.....

I sold my 30mm Pentax XW last summer for a Stellalyra 30mm UFF and have no regrets.

+1 for the Svbony zoom, a very good buy at well under £150. My offering is the humble Tele Vue 11mm plossl @ £99, a superb performer. I had to buy two of course for binoviewing but in my Denkmeier with power switch and Vixen ED103 Swt I get... 101x , 145x, and 180x without changing eyepieces.

Congratulations Nigella, That is cool. I almost fancy having a go at imaging .....😨

The largest I have ever bought by a long way, this mint condition APM eyepiece came today courtesy of an esteemed colleague on this forum. For use in my 12" Dob and my 6" refractor, for deep sky observing, it will yield a 50% increase in power over my 30mm UFF eyepiece and give a darker background, with the same FOV. As is usual, I will have to wait a while for first light.

It is looking good for tonight here as well so I hope to have the chance to try the LVW 3.5mm.

What more could you wish for Dave? It is more stable, lighter, and, like Trinity, at the top of the Premier league. It certainly looks superb on your tripod. Maybe I should trade in Foxy for one of those...🙂

I think it highly unlikely that anyone who spends four hours plus in the freezing cold is just gazing. I engage with what I look at and concentrate for detail and I know this to be true of many of my colleagues on this forum. I have no real problem with Stargazer but nor do I with Amateur Astronomer.

This is how I feel, and when asked about my interests I reply that I have a great passion for Astronomy and that is usually enough to elicit interest and questions.

Try typing into Google, " What is a Stargazer " and it comes up with someone who is an Astronomer or Astrologer.......simples ..

I am a wannabe Astronomer.... I love the peace and tranquility of observing. I get my kick out of using a beautiful and powerful instrument to do so.

Light the touch paper why don't you .....😨

Fine report Joe, and I look forward to seeing the Southern Sky in 2025 when I next visit my daughter and granddaughters.

But more extensive than mine Paul.. The drawers are full of Astro essentials though..

As well as through them..😁 I agree 100% with your statement.

Unless they are baby blue !......

Just one item, my Nagler 26mm T5 2" , a wonderful eyepiece . Not seen one for sale since that time.

I couldn't put a dome around that pier Al because it would have exceeded the 8' max height allowed in close proximity to a neighbours boundary. The pulsar dome which is around that pier now is a 2.2m diameter and just under 8', so is fine...

So I will do the same Jeremy, except I will show just the refractor love of my life. A shame I couldn't put a dome round Andromeda 5" f15.......😍

Not so Mike, at least not for me. When I put the recently arrived Lyra Optic into my dome, replacing the Vixen ED103, both beautiful white tubes, my wife entered to see what I was 'fiddling around with ' and it took about 30 seconds before she said, looking at the dew shield, " Lyra Optic, when did that arrive and where is the Vixen" I have not parted with the Vixen I hasten to add.

That scope is a worthy replacement particularly in the looks department. Congratulations Dave..👍