Paul73

Can’t fault the methodology!😁

The Vixen SLV range are worth a look. Paul

Another vote for the dob. For visual, simple is best. Paul

At least with Delos, you know that you are getting the best there is..... there is a considerable saving time be made buying second hand. Delos owners generally look after their eyepieces. Paul

Well worth a drive out to somewhere with decent horizons! I’ve done all of the planets in one night, but never all at the same time. That must be really unusual. Good luck for tomorrow. Paul

After a couple of months of wanted ads and scanning the classifieds, this baby came up! This joins the 8mm Delos and a 24mm 82° ES to complete my “minimalist” eyepiece collection. Paul

I’d live with the cooling issues......

Sadly not. This comet promised so much....

That is a very fine image. Paul

It seems to be subsiding now. Not quite the beast that it was earlier! One of the few upsides of the current enforced home working is that the solar gear is getting a good airing. Paul

Have just been observing it. Well worth a look! Paul

Hi Guys Is anyone else enjoying the big (but faint) prom? It’s a corker! Paul

Very good. He certainly has a talent for making videos. I bet that it wouldn’t work like that if I tried it!! Paul

What is a “Stalin”?

I’ve been watching this one too. Wasn’t going to bother lugging the big scope out until I saw this thread. Glad that I did! Paul

They certainly benefit from having a light shroud fitted. The difference was noticeable in my 10” Flextube. Paul

Most likely to be that lovely rural sky. There isn’t much else in the area.

My dobs live in the garage with a light dust sheet keeping the spiders at bay but leaving space for the air to circulate. Paul

Agree with John. 5053 needs some dark sky. I can’t see it in my 16” Dob from home (NELM 5). Paul

SkySafari. A splendid app!

Great report. I’ll have a look at that area tonight. Thanks for posting. Paul

Speaking with bitter experience of the UK weather.......

Yes. They do raise a smile! 😊

Hi Guys I’ve just come in from an enjoyable hour with my 16” Dob in the garden. Things didn’t start well with the neighbours bathroom lights shining onto my observing spot. Nothing for it but to crack open a cold beer and wait it out in the semi darkness while reading SGL posts for some observing inspiration. Ablutions completed, my neighbours settled down for the night and darkness ruled. First up, the Leo triplet. I nearly packed it in there and then as all that I could see was a single faint smudge where two bright Messier’s should have greeted me. After a couple of expletive laden minutes I realised that, in my haste, I had settled on NGC 3593; a mag 10.9 galaxy about a degree to the right of the triplet..... I felt like a Muppet but the triplet looked lovely. Next up were the globular M53 and the Black Eye galaxy (M64). This one really shone with its dark dust lane showing clearly. Then down into Virgo for what will probably by my last look for the year at Markarian’s Chain. Then 10 mins of zipping around the Virgo / Coma boarders hoovering up unidentifiable galaxies which was fun. I finished my galaxies off with NGC 4565 (The Needle) and NGC 4559 (a bright irregular blob) in the top of Coma. How Mr Messier missed these two is a mystery. Lastly The Great Cluster in Hercules (M13) brought a big grin to finish a really enjoyable little session. Hope that others got to enjoy the clear sky too. Paul

I used to stay up crazy late to catch a new set of targets as they come into view. Nowdays I’m a little more patient and wait for things to be on display at a sensible time. I’m generally tucked up in bed by 1am. Paul