mikeDnight

Mine aren't that large Stu. 😢 How large are yours?

New to me, a mint condition GPDX to carry my FS128. 😆

An imager friend once complained to me that he'd done very little imaging from the UK, and chose to go annually to the US for an imaging holiday. By contrast, I as a visual only observer had logged a significant number of hours at the eyepiece throughout the course of the year. He found imaging from the UK stressful, where as I found visual observing relaxing and therapeutic. I suppose it depends on individual mind set and how patient you are. Because of my mind set, I have zero patience with technology and so have no desire to image, but if you like battling with gadgetry and constantly kicking yourself as you look for perfection, then imaging might be for you. I love the challenge of seeing with my own eyes as much detail as my scope and the local seeing will allow, and find visual observing an almost tactile experience.

There are none as blind as those who won't see!

Be careful Alan. Just one more side to fill in on your observing area and you'll be looking to put a sliding roof on it.

William Herschel summed it up nicely when he wrote - "...to take nothing on trust, but to see with my own eyes all that other men had seen before." His humility makes me smile as he became one of the greatest observers of all time. But even if he hadn't achieved greatness, his goal would still have been met, and his passion for his hobby filled his life with purpose. Similarly, wether we are astro imagers or visual observers, it's about the personal adventure and sense of achievement and purpose it gives each of us. We are very privilaged when you think about it, as how many people who you pass in the street ever see the things you see visually or via images made from your own back garden?

It would certainly add complexity for me. The less I'm distracted by technology the better, but I'm the kind of person who would happily go back to the 60's and be in my element. I'm also happy to patiently sweep a region of sky until what I'm looking for comes into view, or not. Either way I'll have had fun searching, seeing beautiful star fields along the way.

That's a nice mug and a very nice sketch. The first of many for your shelf no doubt!

And Alan Heath - a wonderful observer and Saint - uses large apertures such as his 8" SCT. Alan is pretty hot on using filters though, as each really does highlight subtle differences in detail.

Some eyepieces such as Naglers can add a yellow colour tone, but it could also be atmospheric. At times I've seen Venus display a nicotine yellow tinge when using my FC100DC, then on another night while using the same scope it's appeared silver white. It has so far appeared white in my DZ, and in my FS128.

There could be something in that theory. I know its not a massive aperture jump, but I do find the cloud detail a bit easier to detect when using my 100mm. When I observed Venus through the FS128 a few weeks ago, it struck me that the cloud detail was not so obvious. In my FC100DZ, although still subtle, it if easier to discern. Colour filters would help on larger apertures!

It's not bad etiquette Malcom. The more contributors the merrier as far as I'm concerned, and to see your observations and Kon's image really brings the thread to life. Please feel free to gatecrash anytime!

Thankyou for your kind comments Malcom. It really is nice to learn my posts have been appreciated as well as being useful to you. I always use Universal Time/GMT when recording time, so the Venus observation would have been 7.20pm British summer time, so not too different to you if you used BST. It's relatively easy to find Venus in a finderscope or by using a low power eyepiece in your scope if you're certain it's at focus, and you've a rough idea how far the planet is from the Sun. I won't be parting with the 100mm and will still post observations made using it, so you can still have your 4" fix. The DZ is still my favourite scope despite its smaller aperture. 💕

Unfortunately for me I have a high woodland to my south west and its on a hill, so Venus is near impossible to observe as the Sun sets. Tonight I decided to catch it while it was still in broad daylight just as the Sun hides itself behind the trees. I set the FS128 up in the observatory and focused my 30mm Ultra Flat on a passing aircraft then swept the sky in RA until the planet came into view. Exchanging the 30mm for the Maxbright binoviewer, 25mm Parks Gold, and 2X Ultima SV barlow, Venus presented a beautifully sharp crescent in a steady, almost turbulent free sky. The cusps were strongly curved, while the dusky clouds along the terminator were strikingly obvious, more so in the south. I made a sketch illustrating what I saw in the eyepiece without the use of coloured filters. As Venus nears the Sun I suspect more of us will be trying for daylight observations as we follow it until it shows the finest slither of a crescent/almost annulus phase. It's worth trying in daylight if you haven't already done so. Small apertures seem to be quite successful at revealing the wraith-like clouds, possibly because they aren't blinded by the planet's brilliance.

Here's my Taky DZ with a Baader solar film filter playing in the Sun this afternoon.

Fantastic! It's sad to imagine a perfectly good and capable telescope like that could be discarded on a scrap heap. I'm really glad you found it and gave it some TLC.

Very nice sketches! It's not easy drawing in the dark while holding a pad and pencil, and controlling a telescope. Usually my eyepiece sketches are quite rough with scribbles and crossing outs, so I'll often make a cleaned up version in a nicer sketch pad soon after the observation, and while everything is still fresh in my mind. Taking an image and turning it to negative can present a more realistic impression of what the object looked like through the eyepiece. It's also nice to include the time, date and Telescope, as well as magnification and seeing conditions for future reference.

I wouldn't imagine moderators have "full control". FLO will always have a tight hold of their baby, but I do think it's a brilliant idea which will have taken a lot of forethought, time and effort to create. I'd imagine the primary purpose is to provide a loyal customer base for FLO, but SGL also serves as a place of encouragement, communication, and a place to share experiences, observations, and build friendships.

I'd go for the Starfield 102ED in a hear beat. The Starfield will give you both rich, wide, low power vistas, while also offering piercingly sharp, clean, high power views of double stars. The Planets and Moon will be crisp with great contrast and definition. You may even be pleasantly surprised at how bright many deep sky objects look through the 102ED. A 4" refractor can be an awesome companion as it is easy to set up, quick to reach thermal equilibrium, and is a great all round performer. It would also give pleasing images!

It's good to vent from time to time Victor. I bet you feel better after that! You must be telepathetic - you put into words exactly how I feel.

These are terrific, and really enjoyable to look at. I like them all and can't really pick a favourite, as each has something different to offer. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure they will inspire for a long time to come. 🏆

It's the black box not the red one. What I'd really like is a brand new Takahashi EM200, but Takahashi are reluctant to sell me one at a price I can afford. 😟

Do you know of a source?

That has a vintage look to it Roy, and is probably the kind of thing I was meaning. Being Tak though, I suppose it probably wouldn't work on a non-Tak mount such as a Vixen GP?

I was reluctant to spend on a new drive for some time and just used the manual slow motion until recently. A few weeks ago a friend gave me a SW RA & Dec drive. I just wish someone would make a old fashioned RA drive built like a tank and with adjustable tracking speed that's indestructible. I think Tak mounts are reportedly some of the best, but £££££