paulastro

Popped into Works today, and took the following pics: I had bought the Saturn V and the Rod Pyle books before I started this thread - both bargains also at £6 and £5 resprectively. Also, I would like to state that I am not employed by Works, nor do I own any shares in the company!! 😄

Nice bit of kit. Makes me want to buy a dob. 😁 - johninderby John - I don't think I'd go that far!! 😱

Out at 3.20 this morning after having seen a lovely bright waning crescent Moon through an upstairs window. By the time I was downstairs it was pouring with rain, but I waited a few minutes and managed to get a few pics, though and in and out of cloud. I wouldn't have bothered but Copernicus was right on the terminator , the rim lit up but the interior completely black, very spectacular. Likewise in the south Wilhelm and Longomantus (separated by Montanari which was partly illuminated) were also only lit by their outer walls. Alas I only had a total of 33 mts with the Moon in and out of thick rain clouds before I gave up, never havind had the chance to use my binoviewer. While I was set up with the 120ED on the AZ4 with the Olympus E-M5 Mk11 at prime focus, it actually rained a bit and two rather close flashes of lightening illuminated the whole scene. The whole Moon shot was cropped to show Copernicus, and the photo of the southern highlands is a crop from another photo. The seeing was rather poor and variable so no single picture was sharp across the whole Moon. Whole Moon pic taken at 3.24am, 1/200 of a second at 800 asa.

Many thanks Chris. Thinking of putting the alarm on and trying again Friday morning, At 4am the Moon will be 27 degrees altitude up here - but there could still be thundery showers about,. I'm setting the alarm for 3am, but not sure if I'll get up 🌘.

Put alarm on at 2am, out observing 2.20am to 3.35am. Excellent views at first, surprising good for such a warm night, excellent in binoviewer at x150 with 24mm Orthos. Started to get thick hazy clouds interrupting later which really affected the image. There was also a lot of moisture in the end, the outside of the scope was awash with moisture by the time I got in. Still some excellent views early as I said, and very enjoyable. Also managed to take some snaps, using the SW 120ED. The pic below is a single frame, Olympus E-M5 Mk 11 giving an effective focal length of 1800mm, 1/400 sec, 400 asa. I've cropped the image to highlight some of the best features. Not as good as the views visually of course, but ok to show what was on offer. Mount used, push-pull AZ4.

There's a chance to observe the last quarter Moon in the early hours tomorrow morning - Thursday. It's forecast to be clear over most of the country, and the temperatures here up north a nice cool 16 degrees C. May as well get up and observe if you're indoors laying away in the sticky heat! At 2.05 am the Lunar altitude is 13.5 degrees, at 03.00 it's 22, at 04.00 it's 30 degrees. Dawn is at 04.23 when the Moon's altitude is 32.5 degrees. Of course if you in the south you will gain another 3 degrees or so depending where you live.

John, many years ago I owned one of the Meade 7 inch Maks, and a friend of mine also had one for some time. As I said, it was a long time ago, but I remember thinking the optics were good also, though it was too long ago for me to make a comparison to more modern incarnations. I also remember it was very heavy, and not unusually took a long time to cool time. I seem to remember that it had a weight at one end of it to aid with the scopes balance some how. Generally in modern incarnations I think the various 127mm models are rather good, great for the roving planetary and lunar observer.

John, inspired by the fact you ordered yours on line, I persevered (I hate ordering things on line!) and ordered a copy of Apollo 11 for collection from my local store, many thanks.

Blimey John that is a great double. I'm very jealous though as I haven't got a copy of the Apollo 11 one - I've been looking out for it in works for a couple of years. I may have to buy it full price if I can't get it by the 75th anniversary! 🥴

That's great heliumstar. On its' own your response has made the effort in posting the thread worthwhile, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 👍

Agree with all the positive points folks make about Maksutovs, particularly for lunar and planetary observing. For me, it is evident after using many telescopes over a long period of time that the 'big three' in respect of planetary performance, with the best being first are as follows. (that is comparing same aperture scopes) 1 Apochromatic refractor. 2 Maksutov-Newtonian. 3 Maksutov. For visual observing, this is a gimee as far as I'm concerned. As pointed out by others, on any given night in first class seeing (very rare) a larger aperture of other configurations of first class optical quality may be a better choice. However, it is far, far more often that a smaller aperture scope from 'the big three' will outperform larger scopes of other optical systems. The main work horses up at The Astronomy Centre (Todmorden) are two 16 inch SCs, and for the multi uses the scopes are used for this is not surprising. It is still often the case though that a 4 inch apo (or more) will give the better view of the Moon and planets. I'm sure Peter remembers years ago when we took a 16inch SC to Kelling when Mars was favourably place and it gave superb views of Mars, in fact I will readily admit that in the excellent conditions we had that morning - it was the best view of Mars I have ever had. Likewise, many many years ago I had the best view of Saturn I have ever had using an 8.5 inch f6.3 (I think) Newtonian with top grade optics by David Hinds. Having said this, to me these are exception that proves the rule. It's not for nothing that people using other optical systems sometimes state that on a particular night when their telescope performed particularly well that the images were 'apo or refractor like'. Now I just have to hope Peter will allow me to visit TAC still ! 😱

Staff - not sure if I should have put this in another category, please feel free to re-locate it.

This book is available now in some branches of Works, at any rate it's in the Keighley store. I have many of the Haynes Space/Astronomy series of Haynes Manuals I have bought at a bargain price at Works and this is a good one, if you have any interest in the Moon and Apollo go and get it before they sell out. This one is a good one and one I have been hoping for some time they would stock, didn't want to pay £22! Link to Amazon below so you can read more about it. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moon-Manual-Owners-Workshop-Haynes/dp/0857338269/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=moon+haynes+manual&qid=1563873261&s=books&sr=1-3

I set up the 120ED around 10pm ready to make the most of the historical anniversary. Like others I had problem with cloud early on, out at 1.45am and was only having glimpses of the Moon, mostly through cloud. Like others I took some 'panic snaps' as the omens were ominous. It was reasonably clear by about 3.00 to about 3.30 am but with even more ominous cloud approaching from the W, By 3.50 cloud was intruding on the Moon. I managed five pics while it was 3.56, so at least I had something at the actual time Aldring steppd on the Moon. I also had some good views at x150 with my binoviewer early on and had some nice views, though not good enough to be certain I had seen any of the three craters named after the astronauts. Easy enough to pinpoint the site of the landing though and reflect on all that unfolded there fifty year ago. Also took the odd moment to look the Apollo 17 landing site which was also very favourable. The first pic below was the best of the 5 that I took at 3.56am, through bits of cloud which affected the image, still pleased to have it though. The second one was taken 3.47am when the sky was somewhat clearer. Both taken at prime focus with the SW !20ED and my Olympus E-M5 Mk11. Overall, very pleased, some nice views and photos to commemorate the anniversary. I will probably re-visit some of the other landing sites when they are favourably placed.

Thanks Mark. I think the latest is a new edition of the one I have on my laptop. It doesn't look as if there is an app version. It's brightened here so I'm starting to think it really will be clear!

You're welcome Mark. Yes the weather looks fairly optimistic for most of England later on. I'm glad I know the forecast, as looking out of the window you'd never think it was going to clear. I suppose because you hadn't been married long, that time must bring all sorts of memories back. Is the Moon Virual Atlas an app? I have a version of it on my laptop and I had also done the same thing you did (except image reversed as I will probably use a diagonal on the 120ED, though I do have reasonable good quality 2 inch erecting prism). Your version is quite different to mine, whilst yours is photographic, mine is based on a map, I prefer your version. If it's an app I might take a look at it. I've also took a pic of the landing site on my phone from Rukl's Atlas which is more detailed. Clear skies for tomorrow morning Mark, we should both get a view with a little luck. Paul

Thanks Dave. Actually the Apollo 17 landing site is well placed for observations as well, folks may want to take a look also - it's an interesting area to explore. Though not at exactly 3.56 am (BST ) which should be reserved for Apollo 11 tomorrow morning of course.

IMPORTANT I've just noticed that If you use the landing site guide ( on page 52 of the S@N magazine )you may get a little confused if you're not familiar with the Apollo 11 landing site. The photograph on the page is fine, but the little circle on the full disk of the Moon at the top of the page indicates the position of Apollo 17, not Apollo 11 !!!!!!!!!!!!! If you use the wall chart of all the landing sites which came with the magazine you will be fine. On the chart the blue circle indicating the position of the Apollo 11 site is correct, and the photograph is better as it includes Theophilus which is an and easily identified crater from which to start.

I was 14 years old, and every time I see a replay of any of the Apollo footage from any of the missions I have the same emotions as I had all that time ago. Everything from nervousness and joy, to tears at what befell the Apollo 1 astronauts. It made a lifelong impression on me.

Great Paul, you will have an hour and fifty six minutes before the actual moment Armstrong walked on the Moon. If all goes well with the weather I'll be hoping to take a picture exactly at this time. Wow, there's been an awful lot of water under the bridge since I saw this live on the TV!

maw lod qan, great stuff, it's nice to know others will be observing at the same time, it will make it more special some how.

It will be good to have your company Steve, also with the FC100 you'll have a top-notch view! I'll be using my SW 120ED and will also attempt to take a picture of the historic anniversary.

I only know about this as S@N highlight it in their August editorial. The site of this historic achievement will be almost perfectly placed for observing at the exact moment Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface - 02.56UT (03.56BST Sunday morning) fifty years ago. The Moon is very nearly at it's highest altitude due South at this time and 'the phase placed nicely to bathe the south western region of the Mare Tranquillitatis in dramatic shadows.' There is also a page with a detailed photograph of the area and description of all the salient features. The weather forecast is set reasonably well for most of us, and I for one will be at the telescope at the set time to observe the area and ponder the moment Armstrong stepped on the Moon as I saw it 'live' on the television exactly 50 years before. An amazing coincidence that the site should be so favourably placed for us to observe exactly 50 years after the event. Credit to Chris Bramley, the editor, for pointing this out.

I was wondering about the length of John's arms too!

Just finished checking through my pics. As I said in an earlier post, I was lucky it cleared just about at maximum eclipse. The conditions were not the best, but overall I'm pleased with what I got - it could have been nothing ! The pics in sequence from the top and left to right were taken at, 2237, 2252, 2258, 2316, 2324 and 2335. All taken with my SW 72ED with an Olympus EM5 Mk11.