Fozzie

Yep.. sun dog... which reminds me I had a cracking "display" in August, never got round to posting an image..

A few feature in these..

Upper tangent arc, circumzenithal arc,  upper suncave arc..

Nothing on show in Leeds at the moment though..

Ta

Fozzie

7 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

That was my assumption, but I don't actually know as I've never seen one. Picked info up from FLO website: 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-observing-chairs/berlebach-hydra-ii-observers-chair.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-observing-chairs/berlebach-nix-ii-observers-chair.html

Many Thanks..  So assuming it is (we cant both have deduced incorrectly!) then the overall height is in the region of 120 - 130cm.. im guessing looking at the pictures and guesstimating

that actually helps a fair bit..

Thanks

Fozzie

It would be nice to have a bit of WL activity/contrast for the 11th Nov transit... seems to have been ages with not a lot going on (in WL)..

13 minutes ago, Rusted said:

 Violent thermal shaking.
 

Haha this comment reminds me of the wife's reaction to a glass of good rioja.. she gets all giddy, and fidgety with a hot brain as she puts it, and that's after one glass, two and I have the evening to myself!

not sure why I had to share that bit.

Ta

Fozzie

On ‎19‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 17:38, JeremyS said:

Anyone have experience of the Berlebach Hydra II or Nix II Observer's Chairs?

The main difference is the former has adjustable height from 25 to 75cm and the latter 25 to 95cm (which also makes it a bit heavier + taller i.e. no so compact for travel).

 

Might just highjack a bit of this thread.. can I ask @JeremyS the height ranges you've mentioned above is that the (im assuming) the range at which the observing seat can be placed..

Think I'm going to have a go at making one.. it would be useful to know the height range..

Thanks

Fozzie

@Lurcher How's the chair going...? 

I'm thinking of making one shortly, any retrospective do's and dont's.  I'll be making a proto type first our of Redwood Pine (won a Wicks voucher through work, so thought why not) then maybe going for a full hard wood version in the new year..?

All the best

Fozzie

On ‎21‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 09:34, Gfamily said:

If that's all you have on I'm not surprised!

Bet he doesn't even fasten it up either..

On ‎27‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 09:30, kirkster501 said:

Drive to a farm field gate in a darkish area and set up there.  That's what I have done.  Highly unlikely the farmer will want access to the field after dark.  You may get plod occasionally pull up and ask what you are doing (oh sorry, I forgot, we don't have police that actually drive around anymore do we?)

I've done that a few times, although around the harvest you'd be amazed how late our farmers stay out till.. Last year I had one turning over his field at 1 in the morning, he was very interested in what I was doing and looking at whilst blocking the entrance to his field.

37 minutes ago, Alan White said:

But beware of other nocturnal users of such locations who will not be pleased to see you set up.
 

That's true.. don't go flashing a bright torch around, it'll annoy the astrophotography types....

In all seriousness though, according to "go stargazing" location maps there are loads of Dark sky discovery sites and better all over, and I bet locally they are all known for other "extra curricular" persuits..   I've turned around on many a clear night for the fear of being unwelcomed (or worse overly welcomed when parking up!) 

It would be more helpful for the operators of these areas  to give genuine advise other than stock flip chart answers..

Welcome along!

Just over a year in and the Iroko wood has darkened alot.. almost hoped it would stay lighter than this.. but hey ho.. the grain running through, gives a fantastic contrast! 

Amazing how it's aged, much better than me that's for sure!

12 hours ago, Peter Drew said:

Yes, very happy for others to bring their own telescopes.    😀

Great, thanks for the confirmation!  

5 hours ago, Peter Drew said:

The Astronomy Centre will be open all day for this event. Eclipse glasses will be handed out for safe naked eye viewing for the keen sighted, various telescopes with white light and Ha facility will be in operation as well as large format screening. A link from elsewhere will be used if cloudy.     😎

I've taken the day off for this, and my intention is to head over to the astronomy centre, good to know there's an event -event on... undoubtedly a daft question but I assume your happy for visitors to bring their own scopes etc, or should u leave it home!?

1 hour ago, Alan White said:

I too have the same Fever going on, but already have a C8 SCT and a 10" OOUK Dob, but....
Well I do fancy a larger Refractor myself as somehow the Refractor 'does it' for me a lot of the time.
The 152 f6.9 has a siren call for me, I thinks it is the red paint job.
I know why you like your F11 4" if for no other reason, it looks the part.
 

At present having a Daughter at Uni and just replaced her car that is needed (Paramedic Science),
so this limits my hankering to just that at present.

Exactly the same, I do keep considering a SCT, but I feel im a refractor man..  My F11 has never disappointed me.. the seeing and transparency and good old weather, continue however to be an abject disappointment!

Fair play on the Paramedic Science, a Worthy and Nobel undertaking.. wishing her all the best!

1 hour ago, John said:

Interesting that they are using FPL-53 element on this one and at around the price (or a touch less) that APM use FPL-51.

Having owned and used a few 6 inch refractors over the years I'm happy to stick at 120mm and 130mm as my largest refractors now.

 

Both fine scopes John, the 130 (triplet?) must be similar in weight. to the 8kg?  Is this for handleing or size or just pleasure of use?

9 minutes ago, Alan White said:

So are you hankering for Aperture?

might have a bit of a temperature yeah... Would just like to go a bit deeper than I can with the 100mm, I have been tempted to go for the star travel 150 or 152mm F6.9's (but there's always another Bill to pay..) and for some reason the thought of a newt or Dob isn't doing it for me.. although you could get a lot of mirror for the price of a 150ED

the 8kg is interesting, the EDF125 is listed as 7.8kg.. not a lot of difference..

This looks new...   a 150ED doublet in the offering from Altair..  I liked the look of the 125EDF , but I like the look of this a tad better...  has some interesting specs too..

From the Blurb..

The focal ratio of F8 and the FPL53 ED Glass element allows excellent colour correction for high resolution imaging, and visual use.

Colour aberration is almost non-existent and the doublet lens acclimatises quicker to ambient temperatures, reaching optimum performance faster.

Not only are the optics top quality - so is the CNC machined optical tube, 2.5" Rack and Pinion focuser, tube rings and sliding dewshield with super-durable powdercoated finish.

Each Altair 150EDF refractor comes with an interferometer test report showing a Strehl ratio of 0.92 or more in green light. The test report is logged against the lens serial number, and as usual, always the pick of the best optics when assembling any lens.

Weight is 8kg and length is about 1.2m assembled, allowing another 40cm for the dewshield extended. We recommend the iOptron CEM120 or SkyWatcher EQ8 for imaging and/or visual use, however the EQ6 mount will handle the scope for visual use, and/or solar system imaging. 

https://www.altairastro.com/Altair-150EDF-Refractor.html

Thoughts!?

Ta

Fozzie

Link Attached!

So yesterday I was in the loft getting the cases down for next week's holiday, and I thought.. i known I check on the Tal 100rs i have stored up their, just to make sure the box is not getting damp or being attacked by anything.. 

If your wondering why it's in the loft, it's because I bought it when my now five year old turned one, as a gift when/if he's curious enough to want his own scope..  it's "mint" as in I've never removed it from its packaging, seen the lens or taken it out of the green bag.. it will stay that way too.. looks like it was a 2011 scope from the shipping label so will be 13 years old when my son's 10..

Anyways, as I was checking it I thought need to sort a mount for this, and would you have it one pops up in the sale section a short hop over to Burnley.. not just any old mount, a Tal mount for a 100mm refractor...

A bit of astro fate! 

Thought itd be a good thread to see if anyone else fallen on the good side of this?!

Ta

Fozzie

I keep thinking about calling along.. it's only 15mins from me..  probably should.. I could do with a shot in the arm of astro enthusiasm as it happens!

Nice to see Jules..

LunarMap HD is my go to resource during my outings, I like the fact you can click on a feature and it tells you some basic information, such as length of feature or diameter, origin of name and location etc..

It used to be linked to something called the moon wiki, which would open another browser page and give real in depth detail, origin, geology, name sake, feature information and obiter photo's but alas that part has since been closed by wikispaces.. bit of a disappointment that..

thanks for sharing the Derek view website @Stu, will have a look at that..

Ta

Fozzie

On ‎03‎/‎07‎/‎2019 at 21:14, Helen said:

I've spent a few days with guys from the University of Arizona.  One session was with the lunar missions' photo archive, and the guy showing us had spent quite a while working out where the ball could have landed and eventually located it!!😎

That I can imagine is a fair amount of effort, I struggle in a bit of long grass sometimes, let alone in reduced gravity, dusty white, cratered, inhospitable environment like the moon..  I wonder, did he ever tell you har far it travelled?

Easy... which bunker is it in!?  If it's even landed yet..

Think I've just been watching them too.. never seen them before so I'm always a tad doubtful.. my sister has the DSLR, so all I had was an basic point and shoot..

Excellent thread, there is some different class workmanship you've done here, no stone left unturned during the refurb.. looks like it was made for that little mac too.  Very enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing!

A few thoughts...

Observing reports – award for the most engaging and imaginative descriptions  (you don’t need a camera for this, but could be fun..!)

Sun dogs/Halos

Moon Halos

Green Flash

Brocken Spectres

Meteors/Showers

Multiple star systems – star colours!

Oh and absolutely revisit the old ones, new year new conditions, new targets lots still to do!

Ta

Fozzie

13 hours ago, Paz said:

I did see the moon/m44 event. I was so absorbed in just seeing them together that looking out for occultations didn't occur to me at the time - doh!

I was watching the Moon/M44 conjunction with a pair of 70mm bins, from the back garden.. watched until HIP 42542 was occulted.  I probably should of set the scope up, but it was quite relaxing, laying back on a chair with the bino's (on a stand) in front.  I have to say, for a £60 pair, the opticron Oregon 70x15 are a great buy, very pleasing image.

@Moonshane, nothing but respect for the amount work you've put in across the garden Shane, looking forward to seeing how the Obs progresses!