Nogbad

I have viewed Mars before but Saturday evening Sunday morning (10th/11th) was the best viewing I have ever had. Real detail visible with red plains, dark brown band and polar regions. It was also a beautiful, still, clear evening which made it doubly wonderful. If only there were more evenings like that.

Through the wonder of birthdays and Christmas my collection has grown a little.

I have a small collection of 4 Seben filters too which I gather are not entirely high on street cred here...although they seem identical to every other GSO wratten filter as far as I can see and perform very well. I have had some lovely views of Jupiter using them. The only irritation being Seben have stamped their name on the side but not the number which makes sorting them in the dark a tad tricky.

Excellent article, I take it the good seeing last night was the exception rather than the rule for Mars then

I meant this set of course.

Thought about the 15mm rather than the 5mm but on balance with the 18 and the 12 I wasn't sure the 15mm would get a lot of use. The 12mm is a particularly good lens. I might get the 15mm for completeness at some point but I think that would be collecting rather than needing

Getting on pretty well with the Starguiders so added the 25mm and 5mm. Thought the 5mm was a bit of icing on the cake and wouldn't be used much but it seems to be very easy to get on with. Looking forward to trying it on Jupiter. I also bought a UHC filter from Alan. Not entirely sure about the filter. It darkens the sky well but it is quite fierce - really does turn stars very green indeed. The Pleiades were spectacular in their greeny wonderfulness...I might come round to it...the jury is out.

Having laid my hands on the BST starguiders I have spent a pleasant morning playing with my Maplin box and a craft knife. It looks kind of neat (apart from the bottoms of the holes which are a relief map of the moon - there is presumably an art to sculpting foam but it eludes me).