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Nice report. Can"t to get back to darker skies for some DSOs. Hopefully it will be a bit warmer than where you are!

You"ve got that right. I"ve got lists of lists!

I plan to be in the middle of Texas for 2024. I went over for the 2017 eclipse and saw it from Idaho, then drove down through Utah and Arizona. Not sure of my entire trip plan for 2024 yet. Last time I was in Florida it was for a rocket launch, the next time hopefully for the star party.

Excellent. Thanks for sharing. Something I have been meaning to do but not got around to. Making plans for the 2024 eclipse already though.

Better dust off my double star atlas.

Great image.

I've one of the adjustable Skywatcher torches as mentioned by David above. It"s been fine for me. I've been at star parties where people have a bright head torch with flimsy red film over it, and completely dazzles you.

Thanks. I"ll have to book the day off work.

Thank you. Fingers crossed for a clear night soon.

I think air quality is a huge thing. I saw the triplet under bortle 8 skies with a 6" reflector. I lived on a hill and I think a lot of the surrounding sky murk sank below me. I moved 2 miles down the road in a dip. Despite having a street light shielded garden the sky is never as good as my flat balcony. Don't think I would see them from my garden in the 6", even though it"s much more shielded.

They were a struggle with my 6", where I live. Easy from a dark site though.

I went to Japan that year. Wonderful country. I didn"t see the astro shop though. Will have to go back!

I vowed to do that recently after another post about doubles. It's been cloudy ever since!

If I had £1500 to spend I would buy a 12" flextube, shroud, dew shield, hair dryer, power source and a nice ep.

Great images. I went to Lapland a couple of years ago. I did see the aurora but they weren"t as strong as that.

Thanks John. I used to regularly read his reviews, but haven't been on in a while. He"s certainly looked through a lot of scopes. Not at all jealous!

Being purely a visual person I prefer dobs. Having said that I did have a 150p and 200p on EQ3 and EQ5 for years. I have a RA motor which was very useful for keeping things in the fov at high power. I did like being able to go and get a cup of tea and not have to re-align. I never used polaris, just aligned it North. Obviously AP and GOTO are a different matter

I"ve reached the point where if I get a bigger scope it would have to be now. I am currently fit and still train, but have had enough injuries to know that one bad strain would mean not using a big scope for months, if at all. Might have go live the dream vicariously through your reports. LOL.

Great report. What it's all about. I like the bit about faint smudges being a source of excitement. I made the mistake of showing my wife a faint galaxy. Her draw did drop - but not in good way. Never got her back to the EP again. At least we all understand! Would love a 20" dob. Now I"m over 50 I worry too much about my back going.

Sounds fantastic. Always satisfying crawling into bed after a great observing session.

I will still only be 89. Might see it after all!

You beat me to it.

Great books. The only downside is that they fuel your aperture fever!

Iv"e not managed it naked eye, even when M31 has been obvious. It's nice to be able to spot it with a small pair of bind, no chance from my back garden.

Excellent image. Always like to take a look at M33 when I make it to a dark site.