bish

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

On 08/12/2020 at 23:26, Paz said:

. I think astronomy in general lends itself to lists (collections of observations) and there are many you can go for - double stars, variable stars, different kinds of deep sky objects and so on.

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

31 minutes ago, MarkRadice said:

Thanks Bish, it’s thoroughly recommended. Where are you going in 2024? I have my eye on the next eclipse in Spain but that is still some years hence. 

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.

19 hours ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

Nor me. Probably impossible under Bortle 8 skies. 🙄☹️ Easy in Bortle 4. Especially with goto. 😉😁

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!

15 hours ago, John said:

 

I'll dig the Cambridge Atlas out and give it another chance though, next time it's clear.

 

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

14 minutes ago, Ships and Stars said:

Thanks, had to laugh, I do understand! I think it was 5473 last night, it was all I could do to detect it by tapping the scope a bit and using averted vision. I don't think too many people would be impressed at 2am on a cold night... 🤣

My dob doesn't really have any way to use wheelbarrow handles, but the more traditional dobs are easy to move around this way I've heard. Mine breaks down quite a bit, but the 2 heaviest parts are still over 30kg each, and one is glass!

It's ok for now, I'm dreading the day I have to sell it though. Hoping to find a nice dry shed on a farm or estate someplace local but dark for it to live. Someday!

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!

On 14/01/2021 at 19:16, callisto said:

Beautiful images....the first looks like a Apollo shot 

 

Mark

You beat me to it. 

On 26/12/2020 at 14:33, HollyHound said:

Already posted on the “what did the postman bring thread”, but it’s a Christmas present so here it is...

The Night Sky Observer’s Guide Vol 1 & 2... these books are an amazing resource and will be great for exploring more targets with the 10” dob 👍

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

7 minutes ago, endless-sky said:

Thank you! I must admit that I have never spotted it naked eye, but I took a look at it with my C8, from home. I would definitely like to see it - and Andromeda - just with my eyes!

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.