bish

Incredible!

Yes I have notebooks and make sketches that I do refer back to now and then. I send variable star estimates to BAAVS and AAVSO. I used to draw craters as a kid but they have been lost over the years.

It is on the wane. I have always been observational, other than a dabble with planets when I had an EQ mount and a few with the phone I can"t say I wouldn't be tempted , if I had spare cash, to try narrow band from my light polluted sky. As Carole said there is only so many times you can look.at the same things. I tend to track asteroids, comets, variables and try splitting doubles. I will probably always want a bigger scope with visual, and then will never tire of revisiting the lollipops. Having said that, the moon is still captivating. To me you can"t beat being in a cold dark field and finally tracking down a faint DSO. To look through a 30" + scope from a really dark site would be on my bucket list. Even if I did imaging I would want to be outside under the stars. I wouldn"t knock anybody for how they enjoy the hobby, but for me remote imaging wouldn't give me the same buzz. I can appreciate the satisfaction you must get from producing the amazing images you see though.

Can"t beat sweeping bins around a dark sky for relaxing observing!

I was working in Swindon. I didn"t even bother to go outside to look at the clouds.

I have an ironing chair to perch on. Saves my knees and back on long sessions.

An old encyclopeadia and sneaking out at night as a kid got me interested, SPM certainly fuelled the interested as I got older. Others do a good job on TV but nobody will match his infectious enthusiasm in my mind.

Welcome Rich. You will find lots of help on the forum.

Yes. I bought mine from the school book shop. It was my only new book, the others were old library books acquired from somewhere.

Watched the live feed for the totality. Not quite the same as being there!

I hadn’t paid much attention to that but it will probably get on my nerves now! 😂. It can’t be as bad as the awful heavy vignette they used for most of ‘Wonders of the Universe’. That really was distracting, I am enjoying it, but then will happily sit and watch most things astronomy related even if doesn’t have much new to offer.

I used to stay up until 2 or 3am but these does only stop up through the night at star parties. I have set my alarm for 3 or 4 if there is a comet that is visible around that time. I have to be careful about waking up my wife or neighbours. She will say it’s fine on the night but if she is really tired the next day because I disturbed her then it’s a different story!

Thanks. There are a couple of fish shops close by.

Thanks for your replies. Wish me luck, I am a bit clumsy! LOL

Thanks I will google to see if there any close by.

Hi all, does anybody know if the battery top up water in Halfords is distilled or de-ionised? As I understand it needs to be distilled to clean mirrors. thanks

I had some great views last year, although I don’t think they were as low. It does mean having to take my kit up the road tiny father in laws for a better horizon. I chopped back a thick bush that helps keep the neighbours lights at bay only to find Jupiter was still a bit too low.

Very nice. I’ve never seen noctilucent clouds.

Thanks for the advice, I will be careful.

Thanks both for your help. I assumed it would need replacing, didn’t think I could just change the battery in it.

Hi all, My 10 year old Celestron 17AH power tank has packed in. I only need something for dew control (2 strips and a hair dryer). Can anybody suggest a cheaper alternative? thanks Bish

Thanks. I will need to get to a dark site for that.

Excellent. Goes to show what can be achieved with bins and a phone. You must have a steady hand!

I had planned to try and see this years eclipse but couldn’t afford it. In 2017 I did hire a car for my holiday but booked with an organised trip for the time of the eclipse as it was good to be with a group and they scouted a great location For 2020 and/or2024 I will probably do the same again. Chile is fantastic but the roads can be a bit hit and miss.

Great capture. Can’t beat an eclipse.