Fozzie

17 hours ago, cloudsweeper said:

Like the EP slots in the tripod legs BTW!

An unintended benefit of the design, the SLV's are very snug & secure but you'd need nerves of steel to put a Delos in there!

Hi everyone e, it's been a while since my last post, hope alls good on SGL!?

First bit of solar for me in an embarrassingly long time...  grabbed a quick 30 mins on AR2880, nice group, some steady moments brought out much finer details, the larger spot of the group surrounded by the Penumbra had a lighter boarder before the dark numbra.  Some fine little filament bridges spanning  both of the numbra lobes.. delicate hints of granulation in really moments of calm..

Nice to sit back and enjoy a tea and kitkat with a bit of solar..

Anyway the clouds are here and the kids are a shouting..

Ta

Fozzie

here's an updated list to accompany the map on the original thread..  the moon wiki has changed to the moon.us wiki

https://the-moon.us/wiki/Concentric_crater

12 minutes ago, paulastro said:

I use a binoviewer with Orthos for Lunar and planetary sessions and find it a big improvement over any single eyepiece I have ever used -  irrespective of cost or reputation.

I have to admit, last time i used Binoviews was with the F11, I enjoyed them, but keping the mag usable was an issue, with a GPC in play, you're obviosuly finding the use of BV's friendlier at F7..  do you mind me asking what the set up is, GPC/barlow nose piece and focal length of EP's..  

ta

Fozzie

Great single frame Paul.. 

I have to say, i've been following your progress with the tecknosky 102 ( i have the AA variant) you seem to be enjoying it.. 

I was very impressed with views on offer, Ptolomaeus cratlets really popped out last night, didn't ever manage to catch them before in the F11 achro, the  Rima Hyginus area really contrasted well, being slightly darker, you've picked that up in your image..  I thought Birt took on an almost fluorescent quality in the shadow of the great wall with just the embankments of the crater illuminated from the dark shadows. 

seeing was ok, considering im not far from you, local thermal i suspect, but 5mm EP gave 140x bit wobbly but very crisp in between.

Feel like I've not been out in ages with one thing and another, but I've had two nights in the past week, with a bit more effort on my behalf.

hoping for clear again tonight.. Stadius Range should be well placed.

Bit late to the party on this.. I've got a nice bag for my 102/f7 which is similar if not the same Paul.. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0899YVDDW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_89e5FbWQJ1NF6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Plenty to choose from on Amazon.. 

The one I have is padded on base, tbh I'd like more padding to the sides but then it's a quarter of the price of manfrotto or geoptik bags.

HTH

Seasons greetings

Fozzie

Amazon.. search "padded carry bag" world's your oyster then.. loads to chose from..

1 hour ago, Saganite said:

Cheers Dave,

It was a very enjoyable session, and I am delighted with this Vixen telescope.

Ooooooo that looks a beauty, many congrats, lovely vintage vixen..

That is a  monster that's appeared on the limb..  Activity is on the up for sure..  Thanks for the the post and update!  Might follow suit and bring in my WL set up to work over the next few days..

Nice.. the 17mm shows similar to a 24/68.. is your pan (if you've got one!) feeling the heat I wonder!?  i was looking at it over the week end along with the 12mm, i thought i'd read some where shorter lengths in the range in the future..   

Alas i don't think this is on the agenda for next year, a typo by all accounts in the formula..

https://www.sciencealert.com/kic-9832227-cygnus-binary-star-collision-prediction-was-wrong-data

and from wiki

The merger of the two stellar cores was predicted to give birth to a new, hotter, more massive main-sequence star. However, a reanalysis of the data in September 2018 revealed that the prediction had been based on a wrongly-timed observation, negating the predicted merger.^[6][7][8]

The period of the variations in KIC 9832227 has been observed to be growing shorter since 2013, leading to the prediction of the merger in 2022.^[9] In September 2018, it was announced that the original prediction was based on a timing offset of 12 hours in one of the datasets. This shows that the period had actually been increasing up to about 2008. The cause for the period variation is still unknown, but it is unlikely that the system will end in a merger at the predicted time.^[6][7][10]

I've used a 200p and Skytee combo in the past, it's a nice combo, does need a counter balance though..

No wonder I get confused.. the EP states 50, the vixen blurb says 45..

Still a lovely view irrespective!

Keep forgetting the SLV is only 45deg... I use a tracking mount so that's probably why I don't see a narrow FoV as too much of an issue..

I'm in the SLV camp, very sharp and comfortable EP to use, yes only 50deg but I have a tracking eq mount, quite accurate pa, so I can keep most objects I view for well over 5mins.. and that's with a 2x Telextender in play... 

Very neutral cool colour tone as well.. 

ES do a 52 LER at 5.5mm for £70 ish.. fairly new EP.. another in the mix for you..

Ordered! What an accomplishment, well done! 

Bravo...  those are spectacular! 

A few years back there was a venus/jupiter conjunction in the evening skies.. seeing both planets in a 24/68 exsci so was great..  Venus in the Pleiades, and recently mars has been spectacular..

Best I think though was not so much the sights, but the quality of views during the beast from the east.. absolutely stunning conditions.. cold but stunning!

great report, i spent some time looking around Mare Nectaris last night, when i could drag myself away from mars..

Noticed Messier A impact rays really stood out also..

2 hours ago, cloudsweeper said:

That's true Rob, but a hideous orange glare - without blinds - just a few metres away does detract from the whole experience!  😠

Doug.

I've a street light that, is usually behind tress, but as the leaves fall it seems especially bright and detracting, so i can totally relate to that..

CS

Fozzie

Lovely Stu, a few of us were enjoying the conditions last night, some really defined contrast between the regions were to be had, I was using a orange filter, really helped bring out the darker region of SM, which contrasted with Hellas nicely..  packed up at half 10, the dew had dropped, everything was getting a soaking/dripping wet...  must be because i live near a river that it's especially bad this time of year..  Some times the thermals from it spoil most things to the south..

12 minutes ago, globular said:

Nice one Fozzie.... and signed too 😉

So I can tell it's mine on the side of the fridge, strong competition in the house with a 2 and 5 year old!

Still putting on a show.. some really nice moments lots of detail coming through.. liking the new scope alot at the moment..  I'm using an orange filter, really showing some nice contrast between regions.. and I've even attempted a sketch which is almost becoming as popular as scope handles..

Might swing over to lunar for a looksie soon..

Ta

Fozzie

2 minutes ago, Dantooine said:

That’s pretty good. The Es extender is close to the Powermates from what I’ve read. I think I would see floaters crawling around on mars at thr point 😂

I don't know the scope yet, so I was really just messing about, especially with all the clouds around.. not even sure why I chose to go with that combo.. I'll be more serious about it next time out...  what I saw though defo impressive!

2 hours ago, Dantooine said:

The phone idea is one I have thought about but I ended up just using a RDF. So Far I’ve found this good to use on its own. 

I did give it a try, but I'm not sure the alignment is good enough, will try again on auto alignment to see, and maybe on the alt az mount... 

It was close but not close enough... 

In my case I had a 5mm SLV and 2x Explore scientific extender..