Alan White

Chris
Very sorry to read of Marc's passing and your loss, my condolences to all.
Your completing his scope is a very fitting tribute.
 

I always get this behaviour with Parcel Force and DHL.
Either not in, when I am and waiting or
we cannot find your house, odd my house is 130+ years old and not moved in that time,
unlike Jeremy's that's 30 years up the road 😉

 

Firstly, welcome  to SGL as a poster, no one bites, all are happy t help, just ask away.

As to the condensation on the eyepiece, I doubt you need a new one.
You will no doubt be breathing onto it in the cold and causing the problem and not realise you are doing it.
It's a hard learnt art keeping your breath from the eyepiece in the damp laden air.
 

That is great news Avtar,
Nothing worse than thinking you have bought a Friday Afternoon version of something.
Very pleased for you.

10 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

It appears to be a "Dark Star" brand Dobsonian.  Keith, the original proprietor used whatever mirrors were available or specified by the customer.  Some were very good so you could be lucky.   Worth the purchase price plus the recoating if necessary.    🙂

I thought the same Peter,
but not having owned one was using the old grey matter, which is a dangerous thing these days!

Looks worth a re-coat.
I think the Russian angle is being determined from the orange / red light fitted by a previous owner.
That light looks like something off a life belt or vest.
 

14 minutes ago, jetstream said:

As an interested, potential XW customer can I ask why?

Eye placement and comfort, just didn't work for me.
Kidney bean hell, but wow what clarity.

The DeLites are more comfortable for me, don't kidney bean with me and deliver great clarity too.
As I said, we are all different and what suits one, does not suit another.
 

I would go for a 9mm TeleVue DeLite and use similar FL scopes as well as a 1200mm FL Dobsonian.

I have had a Pentax XW 10mm, very nice indeed, but it and I did not gel.
We will all recommend something different, we all have differing eyes, scopes and opinions after all.
 

Watched on replay just now, as much fun as watched live.
I think we would all love a ride in one.

Omegon make a ready done one I believe.

Merry Christmas to you all.
Thanks for the help in 2019 and this fine site.

UPS person delivered a big box earlier.
Nice new padded bag for the OOUK OD150 f5 scope.

Stock picture from the supplier.
Bag is well fitted and well padded and cheaper that the Geoptik one I had before and reviewed on here.
I hope the black one will offend Mrs W less than the red one did.
Another review to come I think and this one does not get stopped by rain and wind.

 

4 hours ago, Davey-T said:

New illuminator for my Explore Scientific finder, usual excellent service from FLO 

Could maybe have done with a bigger box in case it got damaged 😂

Dave

There you go, box now the correct size 🤣

In reality, the box was making space for the enclosed cloud.

I have owned a full set of SLV and rather enjoyed them.
Only replaced as I got TeleVue fever.
I still have a 6mm LV, which is the earlier version of the SLV and enjoy it a lot.

At shorter FL then the 50 degrees works for me, longer FL, then I like 60 degrees plus.
But I use all underiven push long mounts.

You have found the art of observing,
this is the step beyond sneaking a peak.
Sounding like you are already a step along the astro journey,
keep looking up.

42 minutes ago, Paz said:

I've been following this with interest and saw the mount at the IAS.

A smaller lighter version would be up my street but it would have to have slow motion controls.

I can't envisage me using encoders but I can see the benefits of them and guess the facility/option to have them would hold up the resale value.

I agree on all but the slow motions.
A smaller encoder fitted mount from Rowan would be great.

I tried other 32mm Plossl but then came back to the TeleVue 32mm.
Used either without extender and with or without glasses, 
but also have the DiopTrx for my astigmatism.

 

Amazon delivery person delivered yesterday.
As recommended on another thread.


 

Bright White, Spread White, Red.
All adjustable to bright to dim.
Memory of last setting and colour on switch on.

Impressed with a walk about outside late last night.

1 minute ago, Stu said:

Coincidentally this arrived yesterday, rather excitingly a Berlebach Planet to use with a future AZ100. I'll try the test unit out on it next chance I get, should be a useful stability improvement even over the Uni 28.

Can't be opened until my birthday tomorrow! 😁😁

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Stu 🎂

So far in the 53 years I have looked up nothing has been a Hobby Killer, but many things have been Hobby Challengers....

Lack of Money, Kit too Expensive, Kit Not up to the Job, Money available and kit available but work stops play, Children through the ages etc.
But I have always looked up, even with just the MK1 eyeballs and been entranced.

The one thing I have stuck to is much like John, by keeping it simple and uncomplicated.

 

The eye relief was a problem for me first time around and what undid the 32mm for me, 
however,
The exact opposite now applies, I thrive on longer eye relief and just really enjoy it.
Something has changed about me not the EP.

 

Interesting use of Dexion type material.
Watching with interest.
I take it this is for imaging.

I saw the BAA bulletin before coming on here,

nice one Nigella, nice image, very well deserved publication.

1 hour ago, Ben the Ignorant said:

2 hours ago, Alan White said:

both are not the TV Plossl that I am writing about

You should have said that to all who mentioned other eyepieces more than 40 times in this thread, and to yourself, 13 times

Ben, I sense you are offended, if that is the case sorry that you are.

I rejuvenated a thread from 2016 about not liking the 32mm TV Plossl.
Other options were indeed discussed and I went off in another direction at that spot on the dial.

Roll forward to October 2019, bought another 32mm TV Plossl to see if anything had changed.
It had, I liked it and still do, very light, very sharp, very nice.
I updated this thread quite clearly and was not looking to restart an options available,
it was already done in this thread previously.

 

And both are not the TV Plossl that I am writing about.
 
This is a re-post about not liking and then in time liking the same one.
I started this in 2016 ans did not get along with them.
NOw in NOv 2019, things have changed.

Yes the 68 degrees is nice, a Panoptic 24mm does the same, but with a Dioptrx unit the extended Eye relief on the 32mm
does not reduce the field visible, it does in the wider eyepieces, notably as they are much shorter eye relief.



 

The 32mm got used again tonight and again I loved using it.

Funny how these things work out.