Paz

I think the suggestion put forward makes no sense, but for skeptics there's many ways to test the suggestion for yourself. One would be when you are looking up at the moon, keep looking at it and don't take your eyes of it. I predict that you will see it eventually move below the horizon and at that moment it's not "there" in your sky any more, and that disproves the suggestion that the moon is always visible at night. You might have to wait many hours but you can save time by waiting until the moon is close to the western horizon before starting your vigil.

I went out last night to have a look at the moon. It was constantly cloudy across the sky with the thickness varying over time amd from one spot to another. I was checking out a 55mm TV plossl that I got for use with a quark but haven't had a chance to check yet. It was all good (except that it needs a huge amount of back focus) and funnily the low-power view of the moon was sharp as can be despite the clouds. Low power also meant no hassle tracking and no wind vibes or other wobbly stack issues. I ended up enjoying this nice and easy going view of the moon with the clouds scudding by for some time with the 55mm at 18x and a completely unusable 7.1mm exit pupil, who would have thought? Most stars were not visible through the clouds but I switched to a 4.5mm Delos and checked out Castor at 217x. The cloud was no problem, and it would have been a fine view except for the wind vibing my scope. Over in Leo Regulus was just visible naked eye and Algieba was coming and going. Both were a clear but wobbly sight , I then hoped over to 54 Leonis which was invisible naked eye and another clear but wobbly view presented. I think in recent months when it's clear (or at least not completely clouded out) it often seems to be because storms are going through and so cloud problems are just replaced with wind problems. I've been mulling over getting a stronger mount because of this.

That is a good idea, one thing I would say generally is that bucket list targets could be on the list for many reasons. Being an observing challenge is one but there may be other reasons like being an amazing object or more obscure object. I had 2 objects on my bucket list when I started observing, before I learned about the well known lists we all use (I didnt know about things like the messier or caldwell lists back then). They were Cygnus x1, which to me was an amazing object even though it turned out in observing terms to look just a normal unremrkable star hanging out in cygnus. I think this is a great object to have on one's list just to think about what you're looking at. Another was BL Lac, a blazar I had read about long before I was an observer. It's just a faint random variable star that turned out to be a quasar. I've still not seen this, it's in the middle of nowhere in Lacerta. I'll resolve to have a go with the VX14 when it gets higher after the clocks change in the autumn.

I don't know about the photography specifics but the general issue of going out for a session that turns into a bit of a disaster is familiar, and so is the conundrum of not awakening or otherwise annoying ones other half. I wonder sometimes what our partners would say about our endeavours from their perspective. Perhaps a self help sub forum for astro-partners should be put in place, with a ban on any actual astronomers being allowed in? 😀

Everyone has different approaches to this, I have found a few things have helped me over the years. One is if I don't really feel like observing I don't push it, I missed loads of great observing opportunities during the early months of the covid lockdown when the skies were constantly clear as I just wasn't up for it at the time. Another is that I organise and fettle my kit so that if opportunities or half chances arise I am ready to take them with minimum effort. The last one is I have another hobby that doesn't depend on clear skies and I focus on that through the cloudy spells. All of the above mean that in the long run I'm still motivated and I make the best of it when clear skies coincide with my mojo!

I've done similar, trying a 2.5mm SLV in my VX14 with a paracorr, so going over 700x, locating the leading edge and then letting a dim, grainy and wobbly view of the moon fly by as if I'm looking at footage on an old black and white tv. Ignoring the varoius limitations of observing with a scope, at that kind of magnification the view is as it would be if you were only hundreds of kilometeres above the moon.

Congratulations on completing this list. I've been observing for over 10 years and I've not seen all the Messier objects. I've been slowly picking through my notes to work out which ones I have not seen and then aim to pick them off. Give me another decade and hopefully have done them all and I can join the club!

The funny thing about mirror diagonals is the objective lense in the scope rotates the image 180 degrees so it's upside down and left is right, and then the mirror flips that upside down but does not change left/right. So in final state that is presented, up is up and left/right is reversed. So it is the objective not the diagonal that is doing the left/right reversing.

I started out using raci diagonals and I really disliked mirror diagonals and their confusing views but as time went by I got a mirror and gotnused to the improved quaoity of the view and gradually I used that more. Nowadays I don't often use a raci diagonal but I still have one just in case.

When I used to have a telrad on my ST120 I wrapped a couple of zip ties around the ota and over the tetrad base, and had a bit of sleeping bag roll mat under the base and zip ties to protect the ota. This held the base down firmly enough and was reversible without damaging the ota. This is a much smaller scope, but some of the principles might translate to a big Dob.

I have had a VX14 for 8 years or so. I agree with the comments to consider where and how you will store a dob and all the steps you will need to take to get it set up to observe. A observatory is best 😉, next best is a fully set up scope on a wheelbarrow that you can roll out and start using straight away. Next best is a scope where you have a base and a fully set up ota (i.e finders heaters, etc already fitted) that you can carry out, plonk one on the other, and start observing, etc. From there the more bits you have to put together and take apart each time the more time you spend setting up and taking down. My scope is stored in a study downstairs so my set up process is.... 1. (Optional) Carry out eq platform from garage. 1. Clear my other scope stuff out of the way which my Dob is stored behind. If I had space I would rearrange everything to eliminate this step. 2. Carry base out (I think about 20kg including a small motorbike battery that is tucked in the corner of it). It's never more than 20m to carry but the back garden entails awkward tight gaps and a flight of steps, hence wheelbarrows are not an option for me. 3. Carry out ota (well over 20kg including finders, heaters, and metal ota reinforcement and extension modifications). I have a strong strap looped through one of the mounting rings so that I don't have to bend over it to pick it up and put it down. Finders are pre aligned and heaters are preset, being a solid tube I can leave everything on the ota between sessions. 4. (Optional) Collimate 5. (Optional) Connect and switch on heaters and primary fan 6. (Optional) Insert Paracorr 2. 7. Insert eyepiece. 8. Observe. I list the above to illustrate that depending on your circumstances you may end up with different steps affecting your set up time. I imagine a common trade off is the one between storage convenience and setting up convenience. If I could have a huge Dob sitting proudly in the middlenof my kitchen on a trolley ready to go at a moments notice, and get my garden levelled to make a trolley viable I would be much happier... and my other half would be much unhappier!

Solar eclipses don't last long, this must be fast acting to make a difference in the time available during an eclipse. Also annoying that it didn't work out in Cornwall in 1999, I was there!

I took my ST120 a d Delos eyepieces around to the village hall for a low western horizon to have a look at 12P Pons Brooks. I could see a fairly extended core but couldn't see a tail or elongation for sure Jupiter was a bit low and the ST120 showed some noticeable CA here but the main belts were clear. M42 was a fine sight. I had a filter wheel and could flick between...clear focusing filter, UHC L, OIII, Hb, and C2 SWAN. There was so much direct light pollution that no filter was best, but with my observing hood on the OIII was very good. None of the filters made the comet any better. The UHC L is fairly new to me, I think it doesn't seem to know if it is a uhc filter or a light pollution filter , but it is promising. M45 was pretty, I had settled on a 10mm Delos by this point and didn't want to change eyepieces again. Castor was slightly too bright for the ST120 to keep full control of the colours but a fine sight even at only 60x. At around 20:50 I saw a very bright meteorite heading straight down towards Sirius and burning up and disappearing above Sirius. It appeared and burned out faster than I could turn my head to look at it directly. M34 was pretty and M35 even better, a fine scattering of faint stars. The eskimo nebula was not seen but I didn't want to change from the 10mm Delos and 60x was maybe not ideal for this target. I looked for this for a while and my brain just wasn't getting it, so I gave up on this one. Cloud was slowly moving in from the north west, so I swung around to Leo and had a go at the triplet but they were too close to the line of sight to a street light to be visible. A great session, just wandering around familiar objects and it brought back lots of good memories of my early observing days with this scope.

I had a quick look in white light this morning g and AR3615 is looking very good and is right up to the limb.

I've still got my C8 but then I've only had it for 6 years or so. The reason I got it by the way was because I had spent ages trying to get a 180 maksutov second hand and failed, then gave up hope and switched to looking for a C8 and got one pretty much immediately upon looking, as they are more numerous.

I didn't know if I would have time to go to this so made no plans but I did manage to drop in briefly this morning as I happened to be near by. I may have accidentally purchased some stuff and I made the mistake of talking to the Rowan people as I have been fantasising about simplifying from 2 mounts (eq5 when i want tracking and skyee2 when I want easier set up) to one that can do both. I need to put such thoughts out of my mind!

I got out for the first time in a while for a short look at the moon, through cloud, obviously. This was with the Stella Mira 125mm, 15mm SLVs, Binoviewers, a 2.6x gpc and T2 prism diagonal.

I can't comment on variations in scope quality but owning a C8 I can say it relies on good conditions, being cooled down, and being collimated. Occasionally I've had some great views but more often it's disappointing. (I'm visual only).

I'm content with my lot really, the only additional scope I might consider is a dedicated solar Ha scope but that may never happen as I'm doing ok with a quark. Another potential development for me is night vision instead of more aperture, but that is unlikely unless the costs come down. Sometimes I fantasise about trading up to the very best scopes but I don't think my eyesight is good enough to warrant it.

I'd probably keep my 5" refractor out of my current scopes and then step down to a 4" if/when circumstances require it. ... but if I could only have one scope it probably would not be any of what I have currently... I'd be very tempted to go for a 10" dobsonian.

I've got a few... ST120 Refractor - with lighter tube rings and a dual speed focuser. I had innumerable good times with this in my early years of observing and on all kinds of targets. Simple, built like a tank, and great value for money. MC127 Maksutov - the other scope I started out with and used a lot in my early years. Great scope but 4" and 5" refractors have seen more use since I have had those. ST80 - very light for the aperture but I don't use it much now as my one doesn't have good facilities to put finders on it. VX14 - my favourite scope. C8 - This often disappoints due to conditions and my laziness in not putting it out to cool properly or not bothering to perfect the collimation, but now and again it delivers an amazing view and I then feel guilty about how badly I treat it. Altair 102ED f7 refractor - became my most used scope by far once I had this. TS 72ED f6 refractor - use only for travel really as I am not a fan of small apertures. Stella Mira 125ED f7.8 - my most used scope since it arrived. Really I could get by with the 72mm and 125mm refractors plus the VX14, but I don't think I would now want to part with the ST120 for sentimental reasons.

I would not find it easy to say a best scope but I can say the following... Best view of Venus... a draw between C8 and 102mm f7 refractor(!l). This was during a spring / evening season experimenting with observing in broad daylight with very strong dimming. Best view of Mars.... not sure, I've never had any view of Mars I would call epic partly as I've never had many good opportunities to get used to observing it when it is close. Best view of Jupiyer.... VX14, one evening still in dayligjt/twilight I guess the wobbly stack all lined up for.once, the seeing, scope cooling, planet altitude, collimation etc. Shockingly good views I have to say, the best view of any planet I've ever had and I still think about it years later. I was (selfishly) annoyed at the time by neighbours choosing that session to come over and have a look and chat which meant less time for me at the eyepiece, I said how amazing the view was but no-one really appreciated it. I guess you have to experience the bad times in order to appreciate the good ones.

I do sketches now and again, not to have a nice sketch but more because the process of sketching makes me see more. I have an A5 pad and a single HB pencil/rubber and that's my lot. The other aspect of my sketching set up is that I have to be using a tracking mount and I have to have my observing chair otherwise I find it too difficult.

I don't observe late in the night, and I observe all year round. The sun, moon, and planets are all good daytime targets. Then there are many double stars, showcase DSOs, asteroids, etc doable without needing dark skies or late nights.

Assuming £2k for the LZOs id a good price, its only a good thing if you actually want one. I agree with John's comment re what is the aim of having a SM125 and would the LZOs do better. The SM125 does well in terms of price, weight, aperture, cool down, and quality. I'm sure the LZOs is better quality but aperture counts for a lot also. I admit, if I was going to go for a top of the range 4" for visual I'd go for a doublet e.g. a Tak[censored]i and just wait for one to come along second hand. You would have epic quality and even less weight and faster cool down etc. I have a SM125 and a C8 and I think they cover different bases so having one doesnt make the other redundant, but a 4" is even further from a C8 so there's less risk of those scopes competing for attention.