Alan White

Thank you Agnes, yes it certainly is bringing me much pleasure, which is most welcome at the minute.

That 4” advantage is a big one and the 4” is a very versatile scope too

Michael, CO app is great but very often wrong, don’t be disheartened from that app. Its had clear spells many nights when CO is all red. I think finding something positive to focus on might be a good idea perhaps.

I when I read Michaels opening post thought 💭 he is right, but it’s in my DNA to look up. Michael please hang in and it will improve as it always does, it always feels a longtime during cloudy spells. Of course, on order it cleared last night at the very moment I was due up the wooden hill, but not wanting to miss this had a great hour of amazing seeing before the cloud again closed in. Never has m13,m29 and m57 looked so wonderful, capped off with a nice double double etc and a good mooch around a darkening sky.

Great having a sudden clear spell and all my 'in person' meetings cancelled by others 🙂 Managed a chunk of the morning observing on and off in Ha and WL.

I did, sadly never got a badge though ☹️ Even wrote in a few times trying. Amazingly, I have all my digits after said carving, which is rather pleasing.

Just a couple more images of the localised light polution 😉 Clearly the camera makes the brightness look more than it is, the outside lights are for setting up and taking down only. The lights in the Store and the Khazi are switeched seperately, so only on as needed. The Khazi one is dimmable, always has been and is the one used to read Star Charts etc. That is it for now, probably the last 2023 Observing Area post from me.

Post or DPD delivered two focusers for my Lunt LS40, one damaged and one with holding issues, it would not hold the blocking filter and a small eyepiece, just shot out. Terrible considering they were new FT focusers! Both rejected and order cancelled and will stick with the Helical unit going forwards. Also had waited months (7 plus) for a Lunt case, still unavailable, so cancelled that too, which leads to the nexty delivery. A case from Maplins, foam (solid) inside. Now cut out for the LS40 Lunt an set in focus. Very happy with this, especially as the case was under £40 delivered, the Lunt ones are £139 and not available.

Yes, @Stu has done this I believe.

I truly feel your pain and the disbelief in what has happened. I hope they are in collimation and still usable. Last year I dropped from my mount my ED103 and had to claim for it on household insurance, the claim was fully settled. The real issue was a suitable repairer, but for biniculars you have a choice I believe.

Marian, that is such a spot on statment.

The 152 5.9 is a lovely scope for what you want, I know as I recently had one for a short while. Be warned it’s a far bigger lump than a 120 and heavier, mounting may become a challenge with the step up. Wide or Richfield in the right conditions is so much fun, but if it’s for use in town, then the light pollution may just spoil the party.

I expect the white paint is the critical part here, the metal, although heavier will make a better long term fix in your climate.

Hmmm, best not dwell on how many. But several cases exist.

Look on the brightside, we have all kept up and caught up on our sleep though.

I note with sadness that the IAS for 2023 is not happening and one is now due in 2024. The organisers Martin and Graham had stated, no show in 2023 due to venue refurbishment. Thank goodness we had the return in 2022 and also the PAS at Kettering. A shame as I was looking forward to cathching up with folks later this year ☹️

That is an interesting experiment @John, looking forward to reading your findings.

Well a busy weekend replacing a failed water heater for one of my daughters now done 😁 and a little more on the Store etc. done this afternoon. Lighting inside and outside red lights at 2w led for the pad when setting up and putting away. Also some security bolts etc added. But not dwelling on that on a public forum. Now off to a darkened room to lie down…

But they make kit with compression rings ….. Anyway back to the Takahashi ep, if they are special, then they may have a place in some folks cases, but a tracking mount might be advisable.

Clearly a yes, they would not expend time and resource otherwise, it say Tak on the side, it will sell.

As a sufferer of it, I know Vixenitus has no cure, it’s clearly demonstrated above and my own behaviour. But I had no idea it was contagious, watch out SGL! What a nice set of LVW you have built up @Space Hopper, I have been watching your progress and wishing you success. I loved my past LVW’s and also regret the sale of them, still have a 22 and often hanker for the 13 etc. I must stop reading these threads as trying to not buy things at present, but it’s getting mighty difficult.

Steve, that’s a very well set out posting and the end result looks great. I know very little about spectroscopy other than what I have listened to from a fellow Astro club member and most recently at the BAA Comet section meeting. How are you going to produce your spectrum for analysis?

Indeed. I should comment on the Takahashi eyepieces, Great no undercuts, but why 48 degrees? I love Japanese optics, but this just feels plain quirky to me.

But David Nagler insisted I was wrong suggesting such a thing, flat refused to believe me that the undercuts were an issue….

DHL delivered a missing in action parcel that unboxed itself, wrapped itself in a plastic bag and then delivered to another address. Suffice to say the long awaited FT focuser was not as dispatched ☹️ New one now being supplied in its place, watch this space.