Fozzie

in with the clouds, out with the sun spots... these appeared suddenly didn't they..

Heads up.. Just noticed this on my daily window shopping of @FLO.. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/binoviewers/baader-maxbright-ii-binoviewer-with-case.html Baader maxbright II BV's... These look very very nice... Ta Fozzie

Poor other frac, imagine the excitement of a new owner, and looking forward to some alone time under the stars, playing nicely and drumming up a happy relationship… only when you get there, and get unwrapped, to see that your other flat mate is bloody super model and you’ve no chance other than a sympathy vote every now and again… Wicked man Mike, wicked.

Its a picture of perfectness for sure, many a rewarding nights ahead, congratulations Mike.. Although, i do think you need to be honest with yourself, your wife already knows... this is fact and partly my fault, as i accidentally told my wife you were getting a lovely DZ, she's already told her mum and her sister, who have told their best friends and work "sisters", who in turn told their great mates over a glass of soave, one of them told their great aunt, Sylvia, who lives down the road from you at number 23, who told your dear wife when they put bins out last week Thursday....

I might end up selling, and going for a hard wood build.. this was supposed to be a demo.. if I do your welcome to first dibs... lol.. Final few bits done on the build, I've added grab handles to the end of the dowels, for fairly obvious reasons.. and I've also used some longer screws to secure the back plate to the serrated support sections, so it's not just glued in to place.. Iv e some sample osmo products on order to test for the final finish.. Handles below.. Ta Fozzie

Yep, last few nights there's been way more then I expected, star link aside.. I was shocked, every direction possible, very regular..

Totally a bitter sweet event..

Too true, spectacular but.... for our imaging friends... bad times indeed. Looked good in the bins.

Evening all... just seen this on line.. might be worth a view in the bins around 20:40 subject to launch going ahead as planned.. https://www.meteorwatch.org/starlink-launch-from-cape-canaveral-watch-it-fly-over-the-uk-20-minutes-later-times-and-info/ Ta Fozzie

I'd say that is true, when researching cats perch chairs, it was defo the American offerings that are more ornate than the European functional ones.. the wood wonders cats perch are lovely looking things, not just the engraving but the wood used.. I wonder do berlebach offer different stains for their chairs as they do the planet tripods.. that nut brown colour is of the chart nice..

Sounds about the right sort of time, I'd stepped out for the first of the two starlinks, about 21:20 and is was almost straight away.. just over betelgeuse.. less of a streak, more of a "molten drip" appearance as it broke up.. didn't catch colour unfortunately.. blink and you miss it! Caught a couple of long streaks directly over head around 10ish too..

Wouldn't that be a thing, get out of this construction lark (which is totally bobbins currently) and be my own boss (apart from the wife, the two kids and the goldfish...) i reckon i could knock out a cats perch style chair a day, even with my humble "workshop" and DIY skills.. and i'd love to tell the boss i was leaving to make wooden things for astronomers. they'd have kittens, alas though that day might have to wait until i retire or i can set up a proper workshop.. Nice thought though!

Just seen my first one... south west near Orion... Decent one too..

Few final bits added, corners made, a good sanding.. think that's everything other than finishing with a stain or varnish.. Thanks for looking.. Ta Fozzie

Just noticed a few prices, from an Italian based astro supplier.. links from a recent CN post.. Ta Fozzie

Quick Heads up on this.. lyrids go from roughly the 16th to the 26th April, with peak around 22nd.. Will be near a new moon too.. Let's hope weather plays ball, Ta Fozzie

Bit more work done, seat cut and made... it's on the the finess bits now and figuring out what to finish the chair with.. for the record in a good 18st, still carrying a bit of holiday weight... from several holidays..

I've got 2 spreaders, a silver one and a black one on homemade tripods... that's my princely contribution! One day I might treat myself to an actual berlebach tripod to put them on..

That planet is stunning in that shade... what shade is it if you don't mind me asking?

I did, read it recently as it happens, be interesting to over lap the cycles in an image!

Another sapele fan here, nice to work with, and the change when you introduce it to a bit of teak oil... love it.. Here's my tripod I made for my vixen GP I've also used iroko for a tripod, but found it splinters when drilling with certain types of bits, forstner or flat bits especially, not bad, but enough to annoy me, although the heart wood is beautiful also.. Only tip I have is take your time, plan twice cut once so to speak.. right tool for the job is massive, that's where my DIY let's me down, always! Good luck with the project..

Just made a fair bit of progress on this chair, helps working from home this week, not sure if get away with the mess if I tried to do this round the office.. Spreader and foot rest completed.. good news is, I've stood on it and it didn't break! Somehow...!

Here's my collage of the Venus Pleiades conjunction over the last 3 nights..

Photo bombed by the only plane over northern UK.. rare to see one of these currently! Lol...

Nice wide field views