laser_jock99

In Warwickshire the night time crime went down 30-40% with the switch off......

I don't know where you are based- but Mid Wales might be worth a look? There's an astonomy biased glamping site near me: https://www.wigwamholidays.com/hafren

Good job.

Fantastic image- I like that!

Bortle 2-3 I'd say.

I wouldn't go as far as 'expert'! I have certainly fettled these things to try and get the best performance. There is a bit of fun/sense of acheivement to be had from modding scopes - but there is also a slight chance the main mirror is a complete lemon and you won't get anywhere with it. At the end of the day though these are 'budget' scopes and I would set my expectations accordingly.

Free to me- one of our subsidary companies is an engineering shop. I cashed in a few favours!

Quite right. I'd avoid the 'leveling bolts' approach. So many times we see good solid piers sunk into x tonnes of concrete- only to have the entire scope balanced on some M12 studding!!!!! Another issue to be aware of with wider brake discs is the possibilty of the scope clashing with mount. This could become apparent when pointing the scope close to vertical. A better solution is to get a local machine shop to make a custom, drop in puck for your steel tube. A drawing I made for the puck.

I remember Hale Bopp well. Best comet I've seen. Wouldn't mind another like it!! My best shot- 300mm lens, Kodakchrome 400 film & homemade tracking mount.

....and still relevant! And my pier is still there!!!

Nice image and great town- love Cartegena!

Do the rain detectors detect snow? I left my gear going once and came back outside to a near blizzard!

Stack of five, three minute exposures- trees don't stack well!

....four years ago today (according to Facebook!).

Worth a look if you haven't seen it already.