Paz

The lists idea arose from reading through my observing notes and realising that my best experiences of observing something (be it a particular object or class of object) is usually the first time I saw it, and so identifying what I haven't seen should open up a whole new world of new "firsts" to discover.

I think my problem has been the fear of missing out if I don't set up the binoviewers, but now I have clocked this I am finding it easier to pick cyclops or binoviewing on the merits of the circumstances and enjoy both approaches just the same.

I have been reading through my observing diary and this December will be my 10th anniversary of observing. It has got me thinking about my habits and I've identified some things I intend to change. After 10 years maybe I ought to have a shorter list of improvements I could make, but I've found it very useful to write things down and I thought it might be useful to put it out there. Here it is: Observe away from home more often - not just for darker skies at night but for cooler more stable skies for solar and daylight planetary. I live on a fairly modern estate with lots of domestic security lights left on even after the lamp posts go out at night, and in the day roads, drives, pavements, etc make for a heat haze all day long that limits solar and planetary observing quality. Put scopes out earlier to cool down properly - I often put a scope out at the last minute as I don't know until then if I am going to observe or not, and so I have to accept tube currents, I need to put scopes out sooner even if it's 50:50 if I will observe. Be mindful of when to go for binoviewers or cyclops. I find binoviewers simply better for the views the majority of the time but the extra hassle and workload involved in binoviewing has I think been a downer sometimes and I am finding I am enjoying going back to the simplicity of cyclops just as much as I enjoy the quality of binoviewing. Get back into observing DSOs next winter - I have drifted away from observing DSOs as life is busy, the skies where I live are not great for it, and they are the toughest things to find and observe - but with the right planning there's no reason to miss out on them. Sketch more often - I never used to sketch in the field but recently have done more of this, not so much to have a sketch but because it is a discipline that makes me really concentrate and it improves how much I see. Use Sky Safari more for planning in advance - setting up specific target lists and using them in the field. Start using observing lists as checklists (Messier, Lunar 100, etc) to identify what I have and have not seen and focus on observing things I haven't seen yet. I have never used lists as a tick box exercise, for example I have no idea how many of the Messiers I have seen, but I do think I am going around in circles on the same targets too much and need to break out of that habit. Spend more time properly reading the astronomy books I've got, and more time reading up on the targets I am actually observing around the time I am observing them. Have a one-hand-carry grab and go set up ready to go at home (bins or a travel scope) - I think I am too fixated on only observing with 100mm+ scopes at home and only using smaller gear when travelling, but there's a lot to be seen in short sessions with smaller apertures when conditions are not on for bigger set ups and longer sessions. Do more observing in groups with others, but this will be tough as the reality is that any arrangements to meet are cancelled the majority or vast majority of the time due to the weather. Put most of my attention into enjoying what I have and only a little into considering equipment upgrades. I should say no further equipment upgrades, but never say never!

I saw my cat sitting on my eyepiece case, and then I half blinded myself taking a picture! 😧

I would add one other thing potentially... good eyesight. I've concluded over time that allowing for differences in other factors such as experience I think I do struggle to see the same detail as others especially at smaller exit pupils which are especially the case for planetary observing in small scopes. The bigger exit pupils get the closer the details that I see get to what I read others can see.

That sketch is very useful to see, I did a first ever sketch of Venus a few weeks ago and although the patterns were different the look of it is very similar, but exaggerated just like your sketch. The actual contrast in the features was much less than I sketched, and on the boundaries of what was detectable to me, so my sketch was more schematic than realistic.

I've had some great views recently in daylight, and have seen faint cloud features for the first time recently, but I have to say finding it in daylight is really tough despite knowing its altitude and bearing, and I've had quite a few fails on that front.

Nice sketches, it must be interesting having white light and Ha available side by side at the same time, that's something I haven't tried yet. There's been consistent sunny weather here but I know I don't enjoy observing the sun so much if its really hot so I have stayed off observing it for the last few days.

Great report and very interesting. I am one of those observers who probably spends more time thinking about what I am looking at than how it looks. The distances, speeds, temperatures, history and so on are amazing when you think about it. On the topic of distances I often notice quite a lot of disparity sometimes between different sources about how distant objects are. Some of this might be to do with newer sources tightening the accuracy up but older sources still being in circulation, and some may I guess just be that there are still different assumptions and methods one can take up for measuring and estimating distances.

Always an important consideration when getting things, sometimes I wonder if this is why eyepiece collections can get so big as they are less conspicuous!

It is always nice to see collections together. I've spent a long time going around in circles looking at 120-130mm refractors and nearly going for one, only at the last minute to come back to the issue of the the size/weight of them and the issue of scope collection complementarity which keeps stopping me at the last minute. Your photo and your comments about the 120mm, 100mm, and your dob sum it up. ...I'm still thinking about it though!

On a similar note I think we are the last generation of natural moon observers. Once the first visible artificial establishments go up on the moon those of us who saw it before will become a silent memory soon enough.

That is a really good aid I wish I had known of before! It can be tough identifying things on the moon due to the lighting changing, sometimes I sneak into the imagine sections to see if anyone put up a photo at exactly the same time I was observing in order to work out what something was, but this website does it all!

A great post and epic achievement, it shows that you get out of this hobby what you put in.

I had quite a challenge getting the ND3 out of my Lacerta wedge, I had been trying and failing for some time to get it out anyway, in order to allow me to use a Baader ND3 filter instead as I wasn't sure of the provenance and quality of the one that came with the wedge. The idea of trying the wedge on Venus increased my motivation to try harder and In the end I got it out with judicious use of rubber bands, a huge adjustable spanner and a vice which enabled the right forces to be applied in the right places.

That's a good way of keeping your head in the shade. I use a scope cover but it can get hot under a cover and it adds to the vibes a little. Unfortunately I don't think I would get political approval for an awning.

Great report - I bet they will remember that for ever.

I'm very happy observing in the summer as I don't cope very well with the cold in the winter, which isn't very helpful in this hobby. A session in the twilight with whilst not being freezing is a good session in my book!

For just observing stars (doubles and variables) I don't use filters but for solar system objects and DSOs I'll use filters depending on the target/circumstances.

I had a good session observing the Sun in white light yesterday evening. I don't sketch often but gave it a go, there's a lot to see at the moment.

I use a polarising filter with a daystar quark and that can tune the brightness to get a better view depending on exactly what feature I'm looking at, but it relies on the quark itself polarising the light first. I don't know if the Coronado you have polarises the light or not.

Glad to hear the operation went ok, hope you are back out observing soon.

Yes, if I remember rightly it's effect is stronger when it's further away from the eyepiece but you can dial in the right strength with the adjusters. The reason I have it there is to make balancing easier and by the way it is simpler to orientate there in that if you rotate they eyepiece to the side like in the photo you don't have so many complications reorientating the adc. In this set up it's a short path diagonal plus t2 connectors so is not too much further ahead of the eyepiece.

I've used an adc visually for quite a few years now. I find it to be a trade off in that it reduces atmospheric abberations but it adds scatter. I've found it works best for me on Jupiter amd Mars, and quite well on Saturn. It's not so useful on Venus as the added scatter is not worth it, and on the outer planets they are dim enough that atmospheric scatter doesn't matter for me. Here's a picture of mine on action. It's in front of the diagonal to reduce how far off axis the eyepiece mass is.

I agree with the recommendation of a 4" refractor, and the 102mm f7 apo that gets a lot of mentions is a great option. I've had one of those for about 3 and a half years and its been my most used scope since I got it. Two things I would highlight are mounting - mine is fine on a Skytee 2 and an EQ5, but is a bit vibey on a Porta 2. I have not used the mounts you mention but looking at them the azgti and az5 look like they would be a bit vibey, the gem 28 would be fine if as advertised it can handle up to 12.5kg. It depends on your sensitivity to vibes - I am very sensitive to vibes so I only use the Porta 2 if I have to. ..the other is complementarity if you have a number of scopes. I agree with the comments that it would compete directly with the 130pds and that other than light gathering on dim objects where the 130 wins by sheer horsepower the 4" refractor would be on a par or win on most other things. I would get a 4" refractor, sell the 130pds, and run with a 10" dob and 4" refractor - that is as good a combo as you can get. My main scopes are a 3" refractor for travel, a 4" refractor for grab and go and general purpose, and a 14" reflector for epic observing, they complement each other very well and don't compete with each other. It is worth keeping in mind the limitations of 4" of aperture and that it is the combination of the quality of the views, ease of use, and versatility of the scope that make it a good prospect.