Bruce Leeroy

Theres some good info on this website. This error generally means one of the files in the hand control is corrupt. The fix is to reload the hand control firmware following these instructions: How to Upgrade Hand Control Firmware - NexStar+ and StarSense https://www.nexstarsite.com/OddsNEnds/HCFirmwareUpgradeHowToNexStarPlus.htm https://www.nexstarsite.com/OddsNEnds/HCInvalidPackageError.htm

Could it be an optical cement failure?

There may be a repeat tonight.

I get the same from a Celestron SE mount.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11842575/Star-gazers-DIY-telescope-snaps-photo-Milky-Way-rivalling-NASAs-16bn-Hubble-telescope.html

Well done on making the Daily Mail 👍

Might do the same.

https://www.nexstarsite.com/ There's a lot of info/tips on this website for SE scopes and mounts. HTH https://www.nexstarsite.com/download/Nexstar8GPSAltitudeRepair.pdf

I salvaged a mirror from a "JVC telecine adapter TA-P55U" I had lying around, the mirror is coated on both sides but the best side was facing out as I removed it, the other side seems tinted, using a lazer pointer and looking at the reflected dot it's quite apparent that 1 surface is better than the other. My mirror is 200mm x 140mm and was a charity shop find at around £3. There are a couple on ebay atm but there from America. Stock image.

Agreed, I had an old alt/az tripod doing nothing so I attached the monopod straight to the saddle using heavy duty cable ties, the monopod fully extended is just long enough to use standing or seated/reclined, it's currently dissasembled and waiting for me to machine a piece of hardwood as there was just a little too much flexure, ideally the pole should be squared over the saddle to stop slippage. It's quite fun to throw the binos round and have another pair greet you when you counterbalance with another pair of differing mag binos. Eveything works quite fluidly once you get the tension correct on the alt nut and the binos just sit wherever you place them.

You can counterweight that with another pair of binoculars👍🙂, I've tried most ways of mounting binoculars and for me the hands down winner is a mirror mount it's like sitting at a microscope and if you like to have a drink or smoke while your viewing then it's no problem the downside is you get a mirrored/upside down view....galileo type binoculars work best, a telescopic mobile phone selfie stick can also be useful to suspend binos but you need a stiff selfie stick similary you can use the stick to rest on your belly/chair to take the weight off your hands, works best on a swivel chair. If you want to lie on a reclined lounger I would go with the setup Dave is mentioning above just make sure the fluid head has a tilt option I use a manfrotto monopod attached to an old alt/az tripod with 20x80's one end and 8x40 at the other end the pole does flex a little (I need to make a hardwood pole) but you have the convenience of spinning the pole and using 2 pairs of binos without getting up. The pros are hands free viewing upto the zenith. With a tripod viewing the zenith isn't going to be easy and your going to be sat at a chair or standing. The pros are this setup is a little easier to store and setup. The mirror mount is very compact and quick to setup. I use mine on an old fork mount, viewing from horizon to zenith is very easy-you can even view whats behind you. You would need a 1st surface mirror I got my mirror from an old video transfer unit. HTH

Night vision equipment 👍🙄

Not sure, I would guess a sattelite reflecting sunlight then slowly rotating to deflect the sunlight👍🙄.

Nice little meteor at 20:16.30.

I think it's for an illuminated reticle.