RT65CB-SWL

Mmm! tough decision... Something mystical and magical about them... apart from the physical size... my TeleVue 13mm Nagler's [type1 & 6].

Hi @Grwmp and welcome to SGL. I had my 'scopes out more times whilst I was on furlough, then I did during the past two years. Having cloudy skies is part of the initiation ceremony.

Hi @mrsbuzzy/Dawn & husband and welcome to SGL. As per what @NGC 1502 suggests as it is one of the most popular type of 'scope here in GB/UK. One of my work colleagues has the SkyWatcher 200 Dobsonian and is very pleased with it. He originally purchased for his then six year old son a few years ago and dad gets more use from it. The son now somewhat older has now got other interests, but occasionally looks through it. The one you have shown, I think is what is referred to as a 'Bird-Jones' design. Basically they have a built-in Barlow lens in the eyepiece tube/holder, which can be a cause of grief when it needs collimating. They are best avoided... unless you know what you are doing. I myself have a TeleVue 70mm refractor, a 're-modded' ETX105 and a Celestron C6/SCT-xlt.

Hi @Milzy/Mike and welcome to SGL. I have the ETX105. Optically they are super... mechanically* they are rubbish... customer/after sales support... awful. Below are some images of my ‘re-modded’ ETX105. *the gears in the drives are nylon or other plastic.

Objective cell/body is from a 50mm binocular with a short [50mm] delrin tube to accept a 1/4” BSW fitting and 1.25” mirror diagonal, topped off with my TeleVue 13mm Nagler (type 1 & 6). 🤪 I made it for a bit of fun, but will eventually end up as a finderscope. Works out to be about f4 or thereabouts.

I posted these earlier in the year, in another section of SGL, whilst I was on furlough... ...and "yes!" It does work. 😜

Hi @Diana73 & son and welcome to SGL. Not sure how good this is... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-heritage-100p-tabletop-dobsonian.html but if you are able or in a position to increase your budget, than these would keep him and you occupied for many years to come. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/sky-watcher-heritage-150p-flextube-dobsonian-telescope.html Unfortunately FLO are out of stock, as maybe other stockists. Try and avoid buying 'scope from such places such as high street stores, (unless dedicated astro-reseller), online auction sites/warehouses, etc.

I have got the following day off as I am working early shift that week. I just got to find a suitable location with a clear SW horizon near me or near my lady-friend that lives in West London near LHR.

Managed to book an annual leave request at such short notice and accepted by my employer. Same here!

Glass solar filters need to be checked before each and every use too for scratches and pin-holes. I have a Thousand Oaks one.

Hi @Kris123jack & partner and welcome to SGL. +1 for the comments as above. There is photography, astronomy... then there is astro-photography/imaging. My advice would be to start off visual only and ignore online warehouses, online auction sites and high street stores... (unless they have staff they have someone highly knowledgeable, about ‘scopes and astro-imaging). Add another zero to the two hundred GBP and multiply by two will get you started in astro-imaging with results to be proud of. It does not come cheap. If looking at secondhand equipment you can look here in the classifieds/for sale section or UKAB&S.

Mine is more like 'pea-shooter' for comparison.

Very nice @chiltonstar

To give you an idea of what things will look like, have a look at... http://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/ - just fill in the boxes.

Hi @timothy4 and welcome to SGL. As your Celestron Nexstar is an SCT, do leave it time to acclimatise. I have a 150mm SCT and a 105mm Maksutov and I allow a minimum of thirty minutes before putting in an e/p and start observing. As they are notorious 'dew-magnets' a dew shield is a must have accessory.

Hi @VaderAG & daughter and welcome to SGL. As much as I like National Geographic, (the magazine that is), I would never purchase anything they do optical. If you can stretch you budget to one of the SkyWatcher Heritage series, (i.e. 130 or 150), then you both will have a scope that will be far superior and rewarding.

Sad to see another established GB/UK astro-reseller/business close its doors.

Hi @keora and welcome to SGL. Ripples and eddies are normally trapped air currents in the tube. Best to leave the OTA for about 30 minutes to acclimatise to the surrounding air. Do not observe through a window. Window glass is not perfect... and believe it or not glass is classified as a 'liquid' even in its 'solid' state... (a little bit of useless info via i'net). With higher magnifications you maybe seeing floaters. This is 'normal' and is cells floating in the eye. 4mm is way to much for your OTA - sorry! You could try these... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces.html or these... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/vixen-eyepieces/vixen-npl-eyepieces.html

For me, it's the only hobby that keeps me sane. It's just the maths and equations that drive me insane.

Hi @_steffastrostuff_ and welcome to SGL. I am not into astro-imaging, but my guess is that it is diffraction spikes.

Hi @spottedhaggis & wife and welcome to SGL.

It looks quite 'chav' / 'blingy' like! 😜 Seriously... the UV rays from the Sun changes the anodising finish and is perfectly normal if left out. I have a Meade 20mm Plossl and the chrome nosepiece is going the same, (unless it's me over polishing it)! 🤪

@Pixies I just found this GB/UK supplier of 'O' rings... https://www.barnwell.co.uk/content/uploads/2015/11/Metric-Range.pdf

Hi @Soloula and welcome to SGL. Sorry to read of your LP problem. I am baffled/confused as to why your neighbour has to have four [in]security lights. As others have said, be diplomatic with your approach and/or invite them round when something interesting is happening. During mid-December [2020], Jupiter & Saturn are in close conjunction, so that maybe a 'sweetener'.