Moonshed

Hi @DPF, There is nothing like getting the bins out and doing a little stargazing to lift the spirits. Hope things are going better this week. All the best, Keith

Thanks @jjohnson3803 that does look interesting.

My new book “Binocular Astronomy” by Stephen Tonkin arrived today and after a quick perusal have to say I am really pleased with it. Thanks to those of you for recommending it, I can’t wait to get started but fear the weather is going to delay that for some time to come. Thanks again Keith

That’s disappointing, I was thinking you had a weird obsession about watching gears mesh. Hmm, that sly wink.......admit it, you broke the cover.

Hi Micheal, I am curious as to why you have exposed gears on your mount. I’m sure you will have a very good reason for it. Cheers Keith

My Bresser EQ5 had no problems with my 8” Celestron with flip mirror, Barlow, Zwo, Telrad and JMI motor focuser, and was rock steady and good for 3 minute subs.

Keeps you fit though 🏋️‍

Thanks for the link to astroleague, it looks to be an interesting site with some very enjoyable looking observing programs. I reckon I am going to have to join! Thanks again. Keith PS Totally agree with your comment about the summer Milky Way and a pair of binoculars etc. You can’t beat it! So glad now I sold my heavy scope and instead can pop outdoors at a moments notice and start observing immediately, something I have missed for many years but didn’t realise it.

Thank you, the book looks perfect for the job and the author really knows his subject well. That’s just what I am looking for. I’ll leave a note for Santa! The website is going to prove very useful, I have no doubt of that. Thanks a lot, Keith

I have just sold all my Astro gear and now rely solely on my bins for stargazing, I have a Canon 10x30 IS and a Bresser Hunter 10x50, and getting a great deal of enjoyment out of using them I must say. While rummaging around in my astro shed I came across an unused Philip’s Star Chart which I feel will come in handy as my bins don’t have a GOTO function for some strange reason 🤪. I would really appreciate some advice on which book/s to buy for binocular use that highlight interesting objects to observe and how to locate them. Although I do know my way around the sky it all looks so different through the bins, and when observing star clusters so much better than through the scope. Cheers Keith

You patiently wait for hour after hour then along come two together. They must be some form of interstellar bus.

When I see the problems you have with light pollution from your neighbours and what you have to do to try to overcome it, it makes me realise just how lucky I am. Your determination to overcome your problems, not just light pollution but poor health as well, is why I have to take my hat off to you. Keith

Yes, binocular sessions can be very rewarding. Having just sold all my gear and now without a ‘scope I am instead observing with binoculars, and have re-discovered what a joy it is. Like you I looked at M45, always stunning, and the Alpha Perseus Cluster. The seeing was good and so I spent some time simply drifting through the Milky Way. I eventually called it a day after a long look at M32, surprised at how large it appeared, more than usual that’s for sure, can only be due to the excellent observing conditions. My love of astronomy has been re-kindled because of a pair of newly purchased binoculars. To answer the OPs question ”What did you see tonight?” I saw thousands of stars. Keith

Now that’s put the mockers on it! Back to the couch lol.

I have just come back indoors having spent 15 -20 minutes looking through my new binoculars at the night sky. My goodness it took me back a few years! The sky tonight was particularly clear, no moon and no clouds, the Milky Way easily visible arcing across the sky. The C8 I used to have while a pretty good all rounder had a very small FOV due to its long FL of 2032mm, no such problems tonight! I started with a look at Jupiter and could make out some of its moons, but could only be sure about seeing two of them. After that it was straight over to the Pleiades star cluster, what a little jewel box of sparkling diamonds that is, simply stunning! Then on to the Perseus double cluster, what a delight, followed by a quick tour round Auriga. After that over to Pegasus and after a couple of star hops managed to find the Andromeda spiral galaxy, but could only see a hazy patch, nothing more, but knowing what was really there made it so much more interesting. I ended up just scanning through the Milky Way and every now and then coming across an interesting fuzzy patch, well it kept a well know astronomer by the name of Messier very busy lol. That was all, nothing remarkable really, except it filled me with that wonderful feeling of amazement and general well-being you get after looking at the stars. I haven’t felt this good in years. The binoculars were a wise choice and I am so glad I made that decision. Great to be back observing again, and so enjoying it. Keith

If only.......

I am looking forward to using my new binoculars because even my older small bins were pretty good for simply browsing through the Milky Way, I can’t wait so see how it will look through the larger ones. Keith

ONE DOOR CLOSES..... It has taken a while to get to this point, yet here I am. I thank all of you for the sound and very helpful advice you have given me. It seems obvious now that the main problem I had was struggling with a rig that had become too heavy for me, and the solution, that so many of you recommended, was that I sell my heavy gear and buy a lightweight grab and go kit, ideally a small refractor. I looked at a number of ‘scopes but hadn’t settled on any one in particular. So after a lot of careful thought I advertised all my gear for sale, and it has all gone, lock, stock and barrel. It was hard to see the old C8 go, I’ve had it for 32 years and it was the first “serious” ‘scope I had purchased. I was only 45 years old when I bought it from Telescope House back in 1991, and carrying it about was not any sort of a problem then, unlike today. So it’s all gone now and the old Moonshed looks rather bare, just a table and chair left where I would place my laptop for working on APT for my DSO images, and a very old and grubby Philip’s Star Chart pinned on the back wall, oh, and the Bahtinov mask hanging from a nail on the wall that I’m keeping as a souvenir of my imaging days. No, that’s not a tear running down my cheek, don’t be so blooming daft, it’s just where the wind caught my eye. AND ANOTHER OPENS. I decided it would be almost impossible to completely give up astronomy, it’s been a major part of my life and who I am since I got my first ‘scope back in 1961, a 4” reflector, and I have never been without one since, until now that is. After a lot of thought I decided against buying a new lightweight ‘scope on the basis that even though it solved the lifting problem it didn’t solve the other problem which is I am at the age where I no longer want to go out in the cold and dark to look through a ‘scope at the stars. Yes, I want to stargaze still but with no hassle at all, and the simple answer to that is binoculars. I already own a small pair of binoculars, Canon 10x 30 IS, and often use them to drift through the Milky Way and enjoy observing our galaxy. However, they are not really large enough now that I will be relying solely on my binoculars for stargazing so I ordered a larger pair that arrived today, Bresser Hunter 10 x 50 wide field, and I am impressed with the quality of them because I wasn’t really expecting a lot considering they only cost £48 delivered. All I need now is a clear sky, okay you can stop laughing now! I have started reading up on what to look for and I am excited at making a new start. So again a big thank you to all of you that have been so helpful in guiding me towards a satisfactory conclusion. Thank you. I’m back in the game! Keith

My thought too.

Hi Nikolai, A great photograph, the detail shown is very good, and taken only 6 years after Einstein’s theory of Relativity was confirmed by the solar eclipse of May 1919. I would struggle to get anywhere near as good a photograph today with all my latest high-tec gear, that’s because the weakest part of the system is the idiot pressing the button. Keith

Just as well really considering how much cloud we get to see.

I remember the first time I saw Jupiter and its four major moons, it was back in 1992 , I have never forgotten how amazed and excited I was. Phones didn’t have cameras in those days lol.

I love the little alien running along the lower edge of Tycho, that’s some scope you must have.

Hi Matt, Thanks for the info, looks interesting. cheers Keith

It’s for my Celestron 8”SCT OTA Thanks. Could you please be more specific about the “local self store facility” as I don’t know what you mean. Thanks Keith