JeremyS

Not sure if you realise it, but your image shows Nova Cas 2021 (V1405 Cas). I have marked it on your image:

New mount Malcolm?

Watch out for the diffraction spikes on bright stars and planets. I’ve still not got used to them with my Mewlon. I find them distracting

Sparkle in star clusters is the realm of refractors, not SCTs (or CC for that matter)

Impressive, Stu? Have you had a chance to compare at 3mm? Eg with your NZ 3-6? I had the impression it might lose a little at that end. But I have been amazed at what Ive experienced so far

Can you draw us a map, Alan? Struggling to keep up 🤣

If it’s stressy it’s not worth doing in my book But I do know what you mean. I sometimes put myself under pressure before a session. In that case I have to have a strong word with myself.

These are planetary/ high res scopes so on axis is what really matters. That and the legendary 1/20 wave Tak optics + baffling

The small scope I never ceased to be amazed by for its gem like quality: Tak FOA 60Q. The 3-inch scope that thinks it’s a 4-inch, but can go everywhere, even on a plane: Tak FS 76DCU The 4-inch scope which could be the one and only lifetime scope: Tak FC 100DZ The almost 5-inch scope that masquerades as a 4-inch scope by virtue of is low weight and compact size: Tak TSA 120

The M210 is lovely too 😊 Mewlons are the only scopes that would deflect me from refractors, visually

And there’s the nub. Nothing much between them, but the little there is can make all the difference on the best nights on certain targets. Much the same argument for scopes.

Splendid 👍🏻

I’m with Mrs Stu in this one 🤣

You certainly don’t hang around when there’s a job to be done, Nigella! 👍🏻

Wonderful 👍🏻

Great sketches John 👍🏻

The distance to reference stars can be related to how bright the variable is. You might need to work on fainter variables. With my C11, the field is also very small on the chip, but I am measuring stars typically fainterthan mag 13, so there are usually plenty of comparison stars available. Comps should be similar brighter to the variable.

Looking good, Nigella 👍🏻

What a splendid sketch 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Does he say “you’ve got the best Pentax eyepieces”, Don?

Not you by any chance @Sunshine?

This book is his rarest, @Alan White. Hence arm and leg territory if you ever see one on sale. There is very little astronomy in it. It’s more about life at his final property- the one he describes in Starlight Nights. Lots about wildlife. It’s another beautiful read. Utterly charming. Which reminds me, I “did” Starlight Nights for O Level. The schoolmaster knew I hated Eng lit (I could have done with @ollypenrice), so he let me choose any book from the library to read and write about. It took me a whole term to read the first 50 pages of The Mayor of Casterbridge, but only a day to read Peltier. Trouble was I couldn’t find any Brodies Notes covering Starlight Nights 😊

Not tried that @Sunshine. Don’t you get a bit taste of rubber on the in breath? i might have been involved in the other things you mentioned, so perhaps I should give it a go.

That’s the edition of Nortons I started out with in 1974. Still have it, though it’s a bit battered.

Forget the comets, Alan - we’ll have you as a variable star observer! 👍🏻