Nakedgun

On 13/10/2022 at 05:42, JeremyS said:

Leofoto Carbon fibre tripod for air travel set-up courtesy of @Second Time Around

I discovered Leofoto products for myself about 18 months ago and find they are an excellent value.

I have no proof but believe they manufacture tripods for several higher-priced brands.

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Sometimes you have to yell at somebody to get their attention. Guess they listened.

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Why I did not buy one of these when they could be had new is a mystery to me. I bought all the other Type 6 models new, and have been waiting (and missing a few classified ads) for someone to part with theirs for some time, now. Collection finally complete. 

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5 hours ago, andrew63 said:

Just been having a look at Vesta tonight, it's low down here but Saturn is a good signpost!

Andrew

Definitely helps. Try for Juno, as well.

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Pretty much.

4% Moon & Venus.

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I've been tracking Vesta each morning this week.

10x50s.

On 28/07/2022 at 11:10, CentaurZ said:

It’s nearly time for my monthly New Moon spotting challenge. I use the term New Moon in its classical sense of one’s first sighting of the Moon after its monthly solar conjunction (Dark Moon). Sharp-eyed observers might attempt to spot the more than one-day-old Moon after sunset on Friday, July 29^th.  Most others should have better luck the following evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curt,

I looked at your page before going out this evening with binos and camera. Foothills west of me complicate windows of opportunity with regard to sky brightness, not to mention neighborhood trees, as seen from my driveway.

I was able to obtain this image, about 33 1/2 hours after New.

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From the backyard, 5% Moon.

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1% illuminated waxing crescent Moon.

Binoculars showed it, but, at no time could I see it in my camera's viewfinder, I simply guessed.

Photo heavily cropped.

Moon may not appear on some monitors.

Aged: 25 1/2 hours.

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From this morning: 2% illuminated waning crescent Moon and Mercury.

Had quite a weekend, observing-wise.

39 minutes ago, Whistlin Bob said:

Now that is a beautiful machine!

Indeed it is.

Astro Sky structure made by James Grigar, Lake Charles, Louisiana & excellent 12.5 f/5 primary by John Stevens, Portland, Oregon. Both date from early 2006.

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Tracked and confirmed Pluto over the last two nights through the 12.5" dob, the 10" no longer a viable option from my backyard.

Then, set up a 90mm refractor on a Meade LX-70 with RA drive to observe: Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, Venus, the Moon & Mercury.

First time all were seen, by me, on the same night (morning).

Last item to put away.

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4 minutes ago, bomberbaz said:

Towards the bottom, after you click the show more button there is a picture with a play icon arrowhead ">" in it, press that icon. 

Thank you, didn't see that.

Reminds me of the film score for "Forbidden Planet" at higher speed.

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How do you play the audio portion?

Particularly when you make reasonable preparations: 

A little Earthshine thrown in:

Now with Mercury just above the palms:

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Atmospheric conditions today, not to mention the mountains west of me, had me convinced I would see nothing before it dropped out of sight, so I grudgingly stepped out and scanned the ridgeline with binoculars while taking out the trash. Stunned, I hastily grabbed a camera I keep in the Tundra and managed only this noisy image: 

Aged 30h : 42m.

Nothing quite like a missed opportunity!

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>Non-astro<

Just got this leveling base for attachment to this gimbal, which should aid attaining a more rapid level, when needed:

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Produced from 1984 to 2005, this excellent-condition teleconverter arrived today.

I have owned the 2x version since the mid-90s, when I left Canon for Pentax.

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Use purposes for the viewers of this website are, naturally, night sky observation, where aperture is of paramount importance. However, for general daylight binocular observing I can recommend this modestly priced Kowa model, available in 6x or 8x variety, 30mm objective (now mfd with green rubber armoring). At their price-point they are excellent, in my view:

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The World Famous Pocket Borg:

25mm f/7 achromatic doublet, focus achieved by sliding the objective assembly.

A novelty, but not a toy.

It struggles a bit on deep sky....

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Tele Vue...

...& VERNONscope dielectrics:

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>Non-astro<

Produced from 1987 to 1991 this F-series lens arrived working flawlessly:

I'm not a collector, but the SMC Pentax F-series would be a nice set to have.

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Meade 114mm Newt on a flimsy GEM which I struggled with until finally giving it away and moving on to better things.

No photo.

This story sounds all-too-familiar at this time.

A clear indication the future looks very dim, indeed.

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