jetstream

You would think UK astronomers and astronomers everywhere would care- and yet @Sunshine made a great thread in the Lounge about dark sky designations in parks and there was not much interest. Yes, I know we referenced Canada but as an astronomer and one that lives with nature I'm excited to hear about nature reserves or dark sky parks anywhere in the world. Puzzling.

Just saw this- I dislike long heavy eyepieces in my refractors. The Televue Naglers and Delites seem to be "made" for the fracs IMHO. I dont find myself reaching for the Delos etc in them instead enjoying eyepieces like the Nagler 16t5. I must mention- my stock TSA120 focuser easily handles the massive ES 30 82/ heavy Zeiss/Baader 2" prism diagonal at zenith. It is also easy to adjust and holds adjustment well.

I'm curious what others experiences with refractor glass are. Has anyone actually damaged one or had something happen from use? I'm not really counting a crash off the mount but these experiences are welcome too.

I think your zenith sky is darker than one might think...

They are vg scopes Never know till you try- I think youll get Barnards E.👍

I see no vignetting in the 17E or 21E to my eyes using the PCII.

@globular you will see Barnards E from 20.4 skies if its transparent out. It will appear washed out grey, not black (my eyes) and if a narrow TFOV is used finding an edge is an asset. On these I like widefield views but my 15" has no problem with them. I play around with the SQM when the moon is setting to see what sky lightness does to these types of objects. Just curious, I see you have a C8- any other scopes?

Years ago I reported 2 dark patches in the NAN, another member called them the "Great lakes" or something like that. From dark skies they are easy and lie opposite to the easy "great wall" near the gulf. Some images show them and they are also worth the challenge. @scarp15 you remember these 2 features?

Yes good skies mean a lot. I'm thinking the "Eagle" is your friend and Tarazed is a great guide.

My hat is off to you!! Very nice scope and I eagerly wait pictures and reports!

I'm not sure really- Im usually too busy checking objects out to think about this stuff. I can check the 42mm LVW and 30ES 82 at some point- thing is I dont use these in my dobs, I have, but just playing around with the exit pupil thing. I really like the PCII.

The shear number of dark neb can be overwhelming and some are extremely hard to see. I prefer the easy ones lol! Some like more focal length, some widefield, some like more mag in a small scope etc etc. My motto? try everything you have lol! I gotta repeat- no "special" scope is needed to see these! The 24" dob shows them...as does the 90mm.

B174 in Cepheus might be worth trying...

Glad you mentioned Aries John. Valery is one of the best if not the best optics producers out there. I would absolutely love one of his scopes and it absolutely wont happen lol! Valery Deryuzhin of Aries, designed the AP Mak-Cass 10" 23% CO and no doubt countless others IMHO.https://astro-physics.info/index.htm?products/telescopes/10mak/10f146mak "This telescope was developed for those desiring a no-compromise high-power instrument for all visual and imaging needs. Ideal for lunar/planetary, double star and high-resolution deep-sky observing. Advanced Optical Design The heart of this Maksutov is a special variation of the Gregory design using an elliptical primary and low-power corrector to achieve the lowest possible central obstruction, yet still maintain a reasonable focal ratio. The optics were designed by Valery Deryuzhin of Aries Instrument Company in the Ukraine. The design is coma-free and totally diffraction-limited from deep infrared right into the ultraviolet - a perfect match for today’s premium CCD chips. The small obstruction results in a telescope that shrugs off poor seeing as if it were a refractor, delivering high-contrast performance with super-tight star images. "

I use the Paracorr II that will work with just about any eyepiece regardless of focus position.Had a great chat with senior Mr Nagler years ago who told me how to do it and I developed a lot of respect for him and Televue out of that conversation. I also went down the path some are considering and figuring out, in this thread- and thankfully I saved up for the PCII and purchased one.

Its the glass IMHO, in a tough package.

Ok OK, I'm thinking of a flourite lens but but- what about the dew?! the dew! will it melt the lens? what about temperature change?!! will the lens crack? what about storing the scope!?!😲 what exact angle does it need to be?!

Great to hear Alan! I too have had issues, the most recent being 2 hips replaced within the last 3 months. It feels so good to be able to move my scopes again. I'm glad you are all fixed up and I wish you continuing success with your imaging.👍

How many of us have tried observing the frustrating Cocoon nebula only to find ourselves lost in that jet black inkspot of B168? Of course there is the multi lobe Triffid nebula... M20 -the lobes defined by B85... Yes, the dark ones are everywhere.

Excellent report! Eagerly waiting for more!

Eagerly waiting reports!

Opacity is a good parameter to search Stellarium with as is size https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/W3Browse/nebula-catalog/ldn.html "Opacity A visual estimate of the cloud opacity on a scale of 1 (lightest) to 6 (darkest). These estimates were made by Lynds based on a comparison of the neighboring fields for the particular Palomar photograph on which the cloud appeared. Both the red and the blue prints were used for this comparison. The clouds just detectable on both prints, as evidenced by a slight decrease in the surface intensity of the general field, were designated as having an opacity of 1. The darkest clouds, of opacity 6, were those within which the star density, on the average, amounted to 120 stars per square degree, down to the limiting magnitude of the red photograph. In addition to the minimum number of stars per square degree, the opacity 6 clouds are those which appear to be the darkest - many seem darker than the general background in the neighboring clear regions. The areas of the sky which contain heavy obscuration usually exhibit clouds of several degrees of opacity. In this catalog such clouds are subdivided into areas of the same opacity: thus a single cloud may consist of an area of opacity 3 covering several square degrees and contain within it smaller condenstaions of opacity 6 and areas of hundredths of a square degree. These sections are listed separately, but have been assigned a common value of the parameter ID_Number (q.v.). "

They dont let starlight through and have a shape, I was observing the dark oblong blotch above Cass the other night naked eye. These do need dark skies but the ones in Aquila are more forgiving. Filters are of no use and any scope will show them, just lower the mag like you would for filtered use and try them. Our H130 is perfect for them as are many other scopes. Obviously certain scopes will outperform others but it doesnt matter- lower the mag and giver a go!

B352 and B353 near NAN, B142,B143 near Tarazed and B92 and B93 in the beautiful M24. All these are easily viewed and are nice accomplishments. There are so many dark nebs in the sky its mind boggling and observing them is great fun.

Exactly IMHO.