Moonshane

I don't disagree Iain but at least this gives a decent idea of which places are worth traveling to and test with a SQM for future use? Otherwise you might end up wasting a lot more time. I may be wrong but do these stated measurements not generally reflect the best case scenario and in general the prevailing conditions won't be such so readings will naturally be lower on average than in optimum conditions?

Whilst it's never going to be as accurate as single or multiple SQM readings at specific times I actually think it's a fairly usable estimate as for most it seems to reflect average conditions or be just a little off. If you live in say a Bortle 7 zone and want to use it to try and find somewhere accessible and darker than where you are, I doubt a small difference in readings will matter. If you want to get serious about levels then I agree a meter reader would be a useful investment but as this is free and you can get a rough idea of 'the world's' light pollution from the comfort of your armchair I think it does pretty much what it says on the tin.

In fact on my laptop, the box comes up every time you double click or single click anywhere

I did it on my phone as follows. Click the link and then keep double clicking to find your street / house (like Google Earth) I then double tapped on my house (well, where my house is) and the box pops up.

Just a bit of advice. Make sure you obscure your detailed coordinates. Don't want to advertise expensive kit in gardens unecessarily ? There are some lucky people ? I am hoping I can build an observatory at the end of the garden and hide myself away from lights / face East which should give me a shot ?

According to https://www.lightpollutionmap.info my sky quality is as shown below. This broadly matches with what I suspected as I gauged my NELM to be about 5.0 and Bortle scale between 6 and 7. This will probably brass me off but what's yours?

Sounds great but very expensive.

I could have made this but taking into account that I'd need to buy a full sheet of plywood and the bits and also the fact I made the rough prototype I am still using seven years later I thought i should just buy one and enjoy it as stated above! It's a Christmas gift. At 6'4 and 17 stone and using dobs and fracs it will be good to see how it performs. They look beautiful and great value.

If someone really wants to get in, they would cut a hole in the side more quickly than cut the bolt I'd suspect. Fantastic build.

Lovely scope and glad I could help ?

For that it's actually a hammock

Very nice! I had the same issue and went for Velcro on each leg

I am toying with the idea of a UNI28 or Planet Berlebach but I always seem to find something else to spend my money on before I commit. My latest projects to convert my 16" to a truss, make an observatory and seat all seem to be of higher priority to me. Maybe if I make a pier (I am thinking maybe one that is an adjustable height to cover different scenarios and scopes) I won't need one, although it's useful to have options. As lovely as wooden tripods are, maybe I am trying to tell myself something. Stick with the steel for now.

?

Plus the other side, eyepieces cannot fall out if you forget to tighten the thumbs.

I suspect that the ability to adjust play in the worm gear (that Skywatcher install as standard - certainly in the HEQ5) would have more capacity (if done badly) for premature wear than a slightly different belt. As could overtightening the adjustment on a focuser or an adjustable objective cell in a refractor. I appreciate that the sentiment is one of trying to help people avoid warranty issues or damage/wear but I agree with Stu it could be done in a more 'SGL' way. Personally, I tend to agree with you in principle (that fiddling creates problems if you don't know what, but you really have no idea of the skills of the people discussing the issues, their background and knowledge. You clearly know a lot about motors and gears but I am sure others do and would not all necessarily agree with all you say.

Linked to astro through being used for my notes, I love getting new pens! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uni-Ball-Ballpoint-Line-Width-Pack/dp/B074JD5C4D/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_229_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4TTQAX8F06F67RTQA1EF

Nice to see my old wedge still in good use.

I like the olive one.

I just received a Skyscan handset to convert my HEQ5 pro to GOTO. My back will thank me.

I should add that I just bought a new to me HEQ5 to take the edge off.

no changes so far!

I think the SLVs are pretty good for mono viewing but not for BVs unless you get a matched pair. Even then I found the build quality a bit suspect. I find this more or less every time I try TV alternatives. If you can find one, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat a used TV Radian 12mm taking into account the price, the comfort and the clarity. The Delites are a step up though although they only do 11mm and 13mm in your desired range.

To be clear it was a double gloat as I have dobs and a 120ed Equinox. ? Hope people don't think that I am showgloating. That said I'd love a 150ed of some kind eventually on a mount in my obs (when I have one).

I'm already gloating ??