Oldfort

Gary, the Rowan website says its fits with EQ5, and that's what my tripod top is (I think - it says Vixen GP, but I also use an AZ EQ5 on it). The UNI 28 is good and stable. I got the whole kit (other than the Nexus, which I had already) direct from Rowan. I ordered it last weeekend, got a confirmation on Monday and delivery Thursday.

John, mine has the add on for an M10 thread, and an EQ5 type post.

My head said no, but my heart said yes. It's well packed with partitions between the major parts. And here it is And here again, with a tripod, scope and Nexus.

Message sent.

There's nothing that matches what you saw on a fireball monitoring website that I looked at. https://ukmon.imo.net/members/imo_view/browse_events But its a great resource.

I'd second the AZEQ5. I use it for an APM/LZOS 105/650 and it performs well. If you don't want a goto then the Giro II is fine, but it benefits from counterweights. As a halfway house, ie push to, the Tecnosky Elle v2 with the Nexus computer also works well.

Threads and fasteners, and a dabbling in metallurgy.

If they are not M6, then probably 1/4 - 20 UNC.

I agree its a shame these are not manufactured locally, but I guess it's a small market. Telescope Express have realtively reasonable postage charges from Germany to UK (16 euro) and do have an M68 f to M54 m adapter https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p7254_TS-Optics-M68-System---adapter-from-M68x1-to-M54.html If you buy some other stuff as well the postal cost is not too bad.

Light pollution.

I think guiding rings would work, but they are more of a fiddle to remove than the ones than open on a hinge. I got some rings for my Televue 76 from Ali express. They were just slightly larger than I wanted but a bit of felt had them sorted out.

I find that Autosol metal polish works well. Easily obtainable from motor parts shops or on-line, and not expensive. Plus you can buff up the chrome on your car or bike as well.

Like Paul M, I subscribed to S&T for many years. However I felt the quality of articles started to decline, and the magzine got thinner. When my sub came up for renewal about 2 years ago, I did try to renew online, but their system would'nt let me. I contacted the helpdesk, but it was no help at all, so I gave up. This was such a contrast to my experience several years earlier, when one issue never showed up. I phoned up and spoke to a lady, who was very apologetic (sounded genuine), didn't try to blame anyone else and just sorted out the problem without delay.

I have used efoam as well, and was very happy with them.

This is a great part of the world for dark skies (when not cloudy). From a site a few miles west of Penrith, I got a fabulous view of Comet Hyakutake in March 1996. It was spread across the sky like a faint gossamer cloud, absolutely gorgeous.