Alan White

Now that's a thought.

I will only be using alt az mounted scopes, mainly the 10" OOUK Dob. Do you find it a nuisance at your 14" Dob at all?

A question please Richard. When using the 10" seated, does the dioptrx have to be rotated as you move the scope to keep the correction working for you?

I find I am seeing odd thing on low power EP with my 10" dob, thought my mirror was out, but it's fine. Compared views against another identical Dob and swapped EP with the other observer and the same anomaly shows at low powers, I think I am seeing some coma but it is f4.8, so surprised that I do. I wear glasses for driving and star spotting, I am a low tech star hopper with a Telrad, But cannot get on wearing them to observe. Having had a good read all over the net, I think I am seeing my own astigmatism, which my glasses of course correct. Its not massive but would require a 1.00 Dioptrx. Would this be a worthwhile addition for me, it will require a few EP changes, but I am happy to do this. Because is its more Astigmatism than Coma I am seeing then Dioptrx is a far cheaper alternative to a TV Paracorr.

I agree John, I stopped using the RA on my Dob as it sits too high. Looked at surgery, for the bracket, but being pot metal was not sure I could do a solid job. I know what you mean about that Vixen bracket!

@johninderby tyres by post, interesting, do they self fit? 😂 I had a sudden deflation yesterday on a major A road while driving between sites yesterday, had to drive a mile on a flat to get safe place to stop, wrecked the nearly new tyre, grrr. On the Astronomy theme, post person delivered a fine used booked as recommended by @Wookie. The practical astronomers deep sky companion. A bit like the O'Meara books in that is shows you what the objects look like, work for my simple brain. Bought used from World of Books just over £18 used.

Double posted, had glitch as it posted! Can a Mod remove please 😘

In answer to the OP as I have only just seen this post. To tell someone else what scope to buy is akin to telling someone else what car to buy, we are all different. But, based on your question and my multitude of scope changes I feel ok to comment. I have found reflectors far more comfortable to use and therefore use them more, it's the seated position that I find easy on my back and now knees. The reflectors are also more cost effective £ per mm of aperture. If dobsonian mounted even more cost effective. I own a 10" OOUK dobsonian and love it, good aperture, light for a 10" and a sublime metal dobsonian base. I also own a C8 SCT that does not get used in favour of the 10" and a 4" ED Vixen refractor that I love when I use it, but I pass it by for the 10" based on comfort for me and the aperture. So in answer to your question an 8" Dobsonian such as the Skywatcher 200p Skyliner is well regarded as a great all rounder and superb value for money.

Sounds like a cracking session Nick, you were lucky to get such a decent sky. When I looked out at 10 here last night it was still clouded out so made for my bed. Love your writing and sketches, it brings the session to life. Thank you for sharing.

@tooth_dr was that First Class delivery? Looks wonderful, good luck with the base build and assembly.

So what about the eyepiece James? 😂

Looks like I might have found an interim solution with the offer of a working OC1-M single speed. This will get me back observing for now, which is great. Thank you for the offerup of the focuser. 😁 You have to love SGL for the camaraderie.

So am I Shane. Visual and very happy with that sitaution too.

So what focuser to buy then. A Feathertouch, sadly, no. Way outside my funds as much as they are so nice. A Moonlite OC1, I am used to the single speed? A Baader Steeldrive Diamond NT? A good old R&P unit of some kind if I can find one? Your experience and thoughts please folks.

Thank you @markse68, very much appreciated for taking the effort. Clearly the OC1 is not a direct copy as the dimensions are smaller. Diameter of tube 56.15 mm Distance at flat 54.6 mm mainly but varies with the wear. Thanks @Moonshane, I have done similar on other focusers, but this one has irregular wear in it. I think this is from where it has sat loaded with photo kit in its previous life.

Mark, that is a good suggestion, but no idea how sizes compare. The OC1 May look Moonlite like, I think that was intentional, but that’s the only similarity I think, if the sizes are the same then happy days. Have you got the Moonlite measurements at all?

My OOUK 10" focuser which is of 2007 vintage and the OOUK own OC1 model is worn and slipping. Adjusts from slip/slop to too tight with less than 1mm turn of the allen keys. Any ideas or your experiences please. I know it is probably time to replace, the scope was used by its earlier owner for imaging so it's carried a load. If this is the case what have you done, why and what do you think of it now?

Sounds like you were pleased Mark, I too had one of the TeleVue filters from the recent sale. I too was out last night, but only used my favoured Orion UltraBlock on the Veil's. Totally forgot to try the new filter, but did try my 9mm DeLite from the same sale, With which I delighted (get it 😂), so much so I might look at other DeLites. Your comment on M57 and a filter was interesting, was looking at it with direct vision in the 9mm last night and was most impressed, what does a filter on this particular target bring out?

Hope all is OK for everyone, it was torrentail a bit earlier down here in Essex.

Post person was busy today, lots of bills ☹️ But also some goodies 😀 'Another bit of pointless car park stone' says Mrs W or Meteorite slice to you and me.

Love my Telrad, you will need some dew protection though. I fitted one from Dew-Control, works very well:

Very good...... 🥁 (best drum roll I can muster)

This will look super on a Berlebach.

Short answer John, yes listed at £999 with clamps, tripod and 6” riser at RVO. Load is 35lbs per side, which is about 15 Kg. Not sure if the AZ8 has an encoder option though and it’s not made in the UK of course.

🤣 I have heard that line before, just before something new and shiney tempts the wallet!