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Knighty2112

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Everything posted by Knighty2112

  1. Knighty2112
    As per everyone else an ALt-Az mount is much easier to use than an EQ mount. I don't do EQ mounts either and find my Alt-AZ and Goto mounts (which are also Alt-AZ mounts too) just fine for widefield views and close up views of the planets and moon etc. You don't need to use an EQ mount at all to enjoy astronomy at all. You can gat a Skywatcher Startravel ST80 on an AZ-3 mount (an Alt-AZ mount) for quite a reasonable price, and it should perform as well, if not better, than a spotting scope which is more suited to daytime terrestrial use rather than for nighttime astronomy. However, you could also get an erecting lens for the ST120 to use for terrestrial use too if you wanted it for dual purposes. The scope will out of the box show views eversed left to right and vice versa which is what all refractors will show without an erecting diagonal. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/startravel/skywatcher-startravel-80-az3.html
  2. Knighty2112
    Happy birthday Derek. You'll love the Skyfi USB. I have Skyportal wifi for my 6/8SE got mount, and control it with Skysafari Pro. It works a treat, and it is so easy to select an object to view, and also control the mount too. Enjoy your new toys!
  3. Knighty2112

    Just managed to catch 5 minutes of observing the shadow of Io on Jupiter before clouds fully rolled in. Also managed to see a nice bright green meteor though also at 22:56, which must have been bright as I saw it through thin cloud/haze in the direction of Leo. :) 

  4. Knighty2112

    Managed to bag Venus just before I went behind houses, and Mercury too for the first time for ages. Pushed the mag a little, but could see the phase of Mercury very easily. Had a quick peek at Mars too! :) 

    1. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      It went behind houses, not I. ?

    2. orion25

      orion25

      Haha, I was about to ask, what were you doing going behind houses. :hiding:Happy for your planetary delights; the planets always please.

       

      Regards,

      Regie

    3. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Thanks Reggie! :) 

  5. Knighty2112

    Looking good for clear skies tonight! Hurrah! ;) 

    1. xtreemchaos

      xtreemchaos

      same here, think its going to be a vis night with the newt by the look of the sky, jupiters deff on the cards, and leo trip and a few more galaxys in leo and virgo. fingers crossed of course. what you planning at looking at ?. charl.

    2. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Just got back in giving my new scope, Celestron Goto mount & wifi Skyportal connection a good test out. All went well. Now back inside warming up, but most likely try Jupiter later on too. :) 

    3. xtreemchaos

      xtreemchaos

      just been looking at Jupiter, its a bit woberly with being so low, but it still looked nice with 4 of its moons showing.  charl. 

  6. Knighty2112

    New scope arrived today! Only quite small, so smallish cloud penalty right? ;) 

    1. Chris

      Chris

      Go on, what you bought? :) 

    2. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Just a wee small Opticstar AR90S f5.5 'frac. :) 

    3. xtreemchaos

      xtreemchaos

      nice one Gus, I got a weeks worth of the silver terror for the Quark, but it passed qwickly, it must be over now cus ive had 3 clearish morning on the trot. hope you get chance to try your scope. charl.

  7. Knighty2112

    Hopefully looking good for a few hours cloud free tonight. A quick bite to eat and I'll be straight out! ?

    1. Show previous comments  1 more
    2. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Thanks Reggie. Managed to get a couple of hours at the very least. :) 

    3. xtreemchaos

      xtreemchaos

      hope you got some nice views Gus, the seeing and cloud here was terrible, I tried for a hour and pact in, the seeing isn't any better thismorrning, sols just a fazing mess mate, I have a nice prom image, ill post as soon as ive finished processing.  clear skys, charl.

    4. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Thanks Charl. Was testing out the new Goto mount, and worked a treat. Saw a couple of M's I'd never seen before. Wish I'd took notes 'cos I can't rember the numbers, but a new Galaxy see, plus a new glob and some open clusters too. :) 

  8. Knighty2112

    Can't wait to test out my 6/8 SE Goto mount when I get back home, so hoping for some clear skies for Friday night and the weekend! Fingers crossed! :) 

  9. Knighty2112

    Woo hoo! Forecast is for clear skies tonight. Fingers crossed! I'm getting excited already! Hehe! ;) 

    1. Show previous comments  3 more
    2. orion25

      orion25

      Sending you clear skies, my friend!

       

    3. xtreemchaos

      xtreemchaos

      goodluck Gus, nothing but wicked, spitefull clouds here for 4 days, I must of do something real bad in a pre-life.:evil4: charl.

    4. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Thanks Guys. Was nice to have some observing time again. Only downside was the glare of the moon, but hey I'll take what I can when the chance permits! :) 

  10. Knighty2112

    Managed a quick smash and grab session for 20mins between clouds on Jupiter and the Moon with my grab n'go Porta mount and ST120 frac. Seeing was poor on Jupiter, but not too bad on the moon. :) 

  11. Knighty2112

    Finally, managed to grab a few hours observing between cloud belts! Great to see some old friends again (M81 & 82, M42, M36, 37 &38, along with Venus, Mars and the moon!) :) 

    Only wish it could have lasted longer, but it was better than the zilch that I've had for the last two weeks! :( 

    1. xtreemchaos

      xtreemchaos

      sounds like you had a good night Gus, I had a few hours lastnight, seeing wasn't too bad, had a trip to the triple in leo then bagged a few more galaxys in virgo, then finished off with Jupiter, all in all not a bad night. hope you have more clear skys ,charl.

    2. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Yes, it was Charl. Amazing what just an hour or so of observing will do after what seems like an eternity of clouds! ;) 

  12. Knighty2112
    Tricky work too. And how long it will take is anyone's guess!
  13. Knighty2112
    Well, the ST120 was the first frac I bought new. The next was the smaller Saxon 705, but I bought that really for the AZ3 mount it came with really as the full scope and mount was on offer new for a ridiculous offer that was under half the price of a new AZ3 mount anyway, so it was a no brainier really, plus I don't use that OTA at all I just use the mount. The next scope I bought new was the Altair Astro Starwave 102mm f11 for better lunar and planetary views than with the ST120. The Celestron 120mm Omni OTA was bought second hand off here, and the plan is (eventually) to evaluate the best views between the ST120 and the Omni with the plan to sell one of them off. The ST80 ED DS-Pro was again bought 2nd hand (ABS) for a great price and I use that on the Skywatcher Stardiscovery AZ Goto mount simply for the lightness of the OTA and the better quality optics. The Celestron 4SE Mak I bought of Chris Lock on here so as to be able to use my binoviewers without using any Barlow to focus them like I need to in the other scopes, plus I plan eventually to maybe keep the 4SE in my car when I am away for use if I get any clear skies whilst away for work in the U.K.. And the big you know what scope which we can't talk about is just a glorified finder! Convaluted a little bit, but the plan is to eventually slim down two or more scopes out of the collection. Only trouble is I need to get some clear nights to be able to evaluate between them!
  14. Knighty2112
    My thoughts exactly! Saves on fuel! Hehe!
  15. Knighty2112
    Phew! Got away with that one just! Now, where did I put my cauldron? Hehe!
  16. Knighty2112
    Silly me! I forgot to mention that is just what it is for my superior ST120 'frac!
  17. Knighty2112
    Uh oh! I see a crowd coming up the road with pitch forks and torches, and shouting something about burning someone! Yikes!
  18. Knighty2112
    Here a couple of images with both scopes on my Skytee II mount to give you a better idea of scale together on a mount.
  19. Knighty2112
    Yes, it is bigger than I thought it would be too, but a very nice scope as long as you have a good mount to support it. Only got it off ABS a few weeks back so not had a chance to do a lot with it due to the weather, but what views I have seen with it are very impressive.
  20. Knighty2112
    Yes, it is a SW 200P-DS which apart from the focuser is the same as the 200P. That is indeed the ST120 to the left of it too.
  21. Knighty2112
    My frac's seem to be breeding. And there is a newt and a Mak in there too so sorry!
  22. Knighty2112

    British weather sucks! It's official! ;) 

    1. Show previous comments  3 more
    2. David Smith

      David Smith

      Amen to that. Solid grey here too :angry7:

    3. goose35

      goose35

      i have managed 2 outings since October. the few clear nights there have been have fell at inconvenient times due to shift work ect.

    4. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Yeah, slim pickings for all us Brits alas! 

  23. Knighty2112
    Thanks Derek. Will order a couple when I get paid. Cheers! And @Paul73 I hope you realise to us Northerners that Watford Gap services is most definitely a southern service station! Hehe!
  24. Knighty2112
    Nice! Did the handle on the scope come with it too? Wouldn't mind one (or two) for a couple of my 'fracs if they are available to be had at all!
  25. Knighty2112
    Drooling at the mouth! Looks very nice!
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