kev100

6 hours ago, Stu said:

Just found a sharper image, think I got all seven ‘stars’ when compared with Paul’s picture.

Hi Stu, would you be ok for me to use the picture of 'the stars' in a piece I'm writing for a local freebie magazine (The West Dorset magazine)? Happy to credit you however you wish.

I downloaded this app onto the iPad last night … seems pretty good- https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/moon-globe/id333180321

I particularly love the 10s of km long shadows cast by the peaks in the center of the craters 

I don’t usually do much moon exploration, but I have to admit that this thread has been very inspiring … even had a go at trying to capture the ‘stars’ with my phone and the 10-inch dob … plus a few other things … I’m a changed man 😀

Thanks 👍

Great phone, not quite the leap in astrophotography I was expecting. There is a subtle but noticeable improvement on the 4a ...

Some snaps from last night, and a 7a/4a comparison....

Just wanted to bump this thread to say a big thanks to FLO, who are now stocking my books  - including the new one (The WOW! List) - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/kevin quinn/

Thank you. 👍

7 hours ago, AstroMuni said:

Try inserting teflon strips into the gap(s) to reduce the rocking. Thats what I had to do on my Celestron Astromaster which needed 2 strips to reduce the slop.

Hi, and thanks for the tip. Can you point me to the strips you referred to?

Hi,

Can anyone suggest a way to reduce lateral movement in the above focuser? It's always been like this and I've just accepted it, but it's getting annoying now ... In the video the grub screw is a little loose so the issue can be seen, but even when cranked up tight there's still some movement, especially with heavy glass installed ...

Kev

I made a couple of lists by constellation (Messier & Caldwell). i found them useful ... link

8 hours ago, Mike Q said:

Kevin.... Finally had a chance to write the review.  5 stars.... Well done. 

Awesome! Thanks Mike ⭐️ Super pleased you liked the book 👍

I've got some sky glow to the south, and some neighbours bulkhead security lights to contend with, but the Bortle class 4 sky is pretty good here.

2 hours ago, RobertI said:

Just read your book Kevin, and I have to say I REALLY enjoyed it. I love the way you have managed to mix in descriptions of your favourite objects (some of them not so well known) with interesting backstories about where you were and what was happening at the time. And it seems like you have travelled plenty and seen much. I also like the way the book can be used either for reference or just as a good read. I think anyone on this forum would enjoy your book, whether novice or experienced. Well done and more please.  

[Five star Amazon review submitted 😇]

Wow, Rob, that’s awesome, thank you 👍 . It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed it. As for more, well, I’m thinking hard about what to write about next … 🙂. Thank you ☺️ 

1 hour ago, RobertI said:

Just ordered “A decade in stargazing”. 🙂 Also thinking about getting ‘Demystifying’ for my friend who is just starting out - I have lent him my Heritage 130P and he’s had a squint at the moon already. 

Thank you. Really hope you enjoy it 🙂👍

Hi all,

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the kind comments and feedback. It's been ... emotional ... 🙂

To those of you who read the books, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave a short review on Amazon...

No worries if not 👍

Cheers,

Kev 

15 hours ago, Sunshine said:

What I would like to do is use it as a guide, I will choose  a particular constellation and make notes of objects within so when I'm out on a dark sky session I can chase down those same objects. For someone like me who hasn't seen most of these objects, this book will be my goto for those times when I can take my dob to darker skies.

That's fantastic! Thank you 👍

9 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Just finished the book. Super read 👍🏻

Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it

I didn't, no. I seem to remember there were other SGLers there that night ... @AdeKing ?

19 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

When I read about the trip to Namibia I had another one of those close the book for a moment and wonder, I tried to picture your surroundings, I can’t imagine what the sky must have looked like but I had fun imagining. 

It was incredible! https://theastroguy.wordpress.com/?s=Namibia+&submit=Search

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/394837-stargazing-holiday-in-the-southern-hemisphere/#comment-4248055

For most things the scope was amazing, but oddly, it didn’t do well on the eagle neb, or stephans quintet .

sorry, forgot about the bins. They’re your standard Celestron SkyMaster 20*80s. I know there are better makes, and there are often quality control issues mentioned in relation to them, and indeed this is my second pair, but for around £100 (at least that’s what they cost me), they’re fantastic!

kev

12 minutes ago, RobertI said:

I was thinking exactly the same!

Go for it 🙂

9 minutes ago, RobertI said:

Great review @Sunshine, gives a good taste of what this book is all about. Congratulations @kev100 on a fantastic achievement. Will probably place an order myself. I certainly agree about the joys of “two in a view”! 

Thanks Rob. Who doesn’t love a ‘twofer’? My favourites are M46/NGC2438, M13/NGC6207 … there’s just something about the scales of distance between them…maybe we should start a favourite ‘twofer’ thread 🙂

7 hours ago, Mike Q said:

Well your book has made it to the USofA.   What a great little book for beginners.  It will be handy for beginners.  Well done Kevin

Hi Mike, I'm glad it got there ok. I'd really appreciate your thoughts/ critiques etc when you get a chance. 

Cheers,

Kev 

6 hours ago, Sunshine said:

Hi Kevin! I wrote a review of your wonderful book, I only wish I was a more talented writer, I hope I was able to do it justice. 
 

 

Hi @Sunshine thank you so much for the review (I've read it twice already 😃, and I'm sure I'll reread it several times more). I'm so grateful for the effort and time you put in to it. 

Cheers,

kev 

Thank you so much @Sunshine for your thoughtful and generous review. I'm so glad you got what I was trying to get across with the book 🙂

Kev