hobsey

You have the South Downs not far from you. Is there a place you can use there?

I figure it's more a disposition of heart, so to say. I don't own a car. I don't have a garden. I live in a city. But there's no way any of that is preventing me from getting out with my scope. If the heart's not into it, so be it.

ive regreted selling my gear Hobsey. but you gotta go with what you feel.

Yeah, cheers for giving me the heads up about it. More expensive than the scope but will work out better for me in the long run.

Works well with the 1.4 and 2.0x extenders as well... and extension tubes for macro...

:)

Yeah, been looking at them. I think the 1.4 will be next years purchase.

It does suck, getting fed up now. May sell up and get the very large fish tank I'm after. Fish keeping it a lot easier.

haha! Sounds like a plan, we have a lovely tank! Has been a few problems along the way with dominant fish though! :D

noooo you cant sell up buddy! you just need some patience! when the time comes and it all clicks into place you will be loving it! dont let it get the better of you mate

I've been waiting for one to come up on the used market but I think I may have to buy new as they very rarely come up.

The new Williams with field flattener built in looks good the ZS71 has a bit of blue bloat to deal with.

Yeah, I just don't have that sort of money though.

You two are like kids in a candy store :)

Yep. Maybe getting on towards middle age but still young at heart.

oh yes! :D

wow that starsense looks a wicked bit of kit! 1st time ive seen it, really amazed by it! :)

Chin up mate, come through to the pub on thursday, lets catch up and make plans for a session. I think you just need a good un to get you buzzing. This terrible weather has made many of us question why we do this.

Yeah, I will be there Chris.

Cheers. The set up will be a ST80 with a DSLR. And with my CG5 mount I can also do a polar alignment through the handset to make it that bit more accurate.

niceee! how can you do a polar alignment via the handset then mate? that sounds a very handy option, when you heading out then

Dunno, its a feature celestron mounts have. You align it the best you can through the polar scope, do a 2 star alignment, then do 2 calibration stars then do a polar alignment through the scope and handset. I will be setting up just as the brighter stars star to come through so I have a bit of light to level off the mount and use a compass to get true north.

Im trying to raise for a Skywatcher 250px Sync GOTO

Good luck.

regardless hoe big you go it never goes away!!!!

Nice one . Congrats to you.

Congratulations.

Cheers fellas.

worry about it later

Just say that it is specially designed for not having a garden and that a happy half makes a happy whole!

Just say you gave the C8 steroids

I got some solar film the other day but it is awful to use. Was too paranoid about damaging it or getting finger prints on it.

Couple of months wont do me any harm.

see you soon buddy

Cheers Martin but I will still be floating about on here. I need something to do when its quiet at work.

My 127mak is a Celestron from a nexstar so the dovetail and finder is in the correct place.

thats handy, you will love the AZ4 i rarely use the EQ mount these days

I hope so. Seen I can get my C8 on there which is a result. That one I may have to move things around on.

How did u get on? Please say u got good news :)

No clear skies last night.

What I meant by ready was that I've got everything now that I need to start imaging.

Same here I just need my gear to get delivered now so I can start imaging again , clear skies for both of us mate, but u know what comes with new gear..... Lol :(

Are you a masochist ?? Its a nice mount

I wish I hadn't sold mine.

Oh don't, I'm feeling sick with the guilt of buying it, even though I haven't bought it yet.

Just got back, lovely store and friendly staff.

what did one come back with tho thats the question.....mwahahaha :D

20x80 bins and tripod for the in-law, and a 2.5 barlow for myself. Didn't really need one but as I was there it would have been rude not to come away with something for myself.

aww [removed word]! hope you get some clear skies tonight then buddy!! :)

the removed word was bug ger lol not a swear word lol

Thats cool. I tend to use that word quite a bit on here forgetting it gets removed.

You decided against the Atik 314l?

Is it your fault that the met office is now forecasting a washout for the Easter weekend?

Nope, I point the finger at everyone else as the weather was showing crappy before I ordered it.

hope you have a good time, and good luck with the weather.

Cheers, I will report back.

I will also be popping down to FLO to pick up a Tracer power pack.

Best avoid the Wiveliscombe area, some shady characters around there ;-))

Fair enough mate, I just know how annoying it is.

Have a lovely time down there, great part of the world.

I learnt to keep a trolly bag in effect for each scope, although one supply would do two scopes I bought 2 supplies. Means grab scope, grab bag (check bag) and everything should be in the bag but also everything is in one place for checking. Bit OTT but has made life easier.

Hope you get better skies than I did the other week. It kinda blew.

Sorry to hear that, it's frustrating when the forecast teases but doesn't deliver. Those clear night when the kit all works do make up for it.

Our weather is part of the reason I dislike the cry to buy the biggest scope you can. One may be nice but an 80mm refractor or 127 Mak will get used a lot more. Best to consider "astronomy" as an occasional hobby, at least the actual observing aspect.

All the large stuff is going to be packed away until I move to somewhere with a garden where it will get more use.

It's enough to make me consider 'specialising' in the Moon!

I've never imaged the moon but I may just have to friday just to get the scope out.

I was hoping for a clear night. The Moon will be the white thing near Alderbaran :) and Callisto occults Europa. ;)

All you can do is try! fingers crossed

How did/is it going ?

Pat

Terrible, couldn't get it tracking properly to get a long enough run so I could adjust the settings on sharpcap.

Not too bad Martin, Yourself?No, don't need the funds. Just be nice to have some spare cash as I'm getting a new camera lens next week. It will be a good one for Wings and wheels.

I'm very good thanks buddy, had a lovely night out last night with a couple of friends at our local dark site :) spare cash? What's that lol :) ohh very nice, be wicked to put a face to your name at this years W&W :)

Don't worry fella, I will be there this year. Like wise, be good to finally meet you.

nice one, were you trying panning? ive not tried panning yet, looks very cool

Yes, with terrible results.

MotoGP for me next weekend. I went to Brands once as a kid. I love shooting motorsports. Tried the slow exposure panning for the first time at the Pirelli Challenge. Some pretty good shots lots of throw aways but the good ones are really good with the blur on the tires and background.

Have a good time there.. try to get out of town and on the cliff path... its really dark! (great views)

Oh, let us know if the beach has recovered - it was a right mess this time last year (cos of the winter storms).

I will do. Going to go to St Agnes to get the milky way behind the old tin mines.