Alan White

I am a visual only member of the clan, but I have dabbled in the 'art' side of the hobby for a trial and hated it.

I hated it for the very same reason that I started to dislike terestrial photography time,
which is too much technobabble, too much to give grief and too much time sat fiddling with software to manipulate the image from what it was to something else.

I find the sheer pleasure of sitting observing quietly, with nature (and others sometimes) for company most relaxing,
The photons hitting my eyeballs are mine alone and have travelled for quite some time for me to get in the way.
 

2 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Sounds like a few of us, Alan 😊

Indeed it does, me included, but more on the well padded side of things.

8 hours ago, cajen2 said:

And no doubt a reasonable price because it doesn't have the word "astro" in its name! 😛

Actually no, as its a Photographic case its afflicted by the same thing,
but in reality the price feels'reasonable' for the quaity, very well padded and very soildly built.

Post person aka Parcel Farce delivered my latest smaller purchase, a decent bag for my SD103.
Easier when lifted in and out with great access due to a wide aand a decent top opening, I struggle when tired with a single central zip as most cases have fitted (why?).

Well padded and ballistic type nylon material.

It is a Calumet lighting stand bag, others use them for tripods, next month I might be doing the same.

Welcome to the sketching road, it’s long and winding , but great pleasure can be had on the journey.
Don't do yourself down, the stars are in proportion and the correct pattern.

I sketch from time to time, just in pencil for record purposes, it’s still not artistic even after a few years.

You have to love The Coathanger or Brocchi's Cluster AKA Collinder 399.
Its a lovelly Binocular target and I can see why you have sketched it,
a very nice sketch indeed.
 

2 hours ago, John said:

Has anyone used one of these 2 inch format long focal length eyepieces in a refractor with a focal ratio of F/7 ish ?

I'm wondering how they do, edge correction and other distortions at that focal ratio, actual AFoV delivered etc, etc.

Can anyone shed any light (so to speak 🙂) on these ?

StellaLyra 40mm 2" KITAKARU RPL Eyepiece | First Light Optics

StellaLyra 45mm 2" KITAKARU RPL Eyepiece | First Light Optics

Many thanks in advance 🙂

I have not used these, looked at them often with similar thoughts.
They have been available I think with other branding as well.
Surely someone has tried them?

On 27/06/2023 at 21:19, stuy said:

228 F9 lzos big heavy and long but visually stunning!! 

Only just seen this posting and my oh my, What a Biggun.
Lookng through a scope like that on a good night (if only we had those) will be amazing.
I have looked through an 8" triplet in my locality and it was super, so speak with a kimited experience.

 

Prompted by two things, @jjohnson3803 post above and my desire to get a BB tripod again after many years absent.

Slow mo was done to death during the early parts of this and @Stu thread as well.
As designed, its smooth so I and others now think no need for SM, but others think otherwise.
Put it this way I use a 3mm ep with it, I find it just fine on Lunar etc.

I fitted my long in its wrap, pan handle and just wow, makes the AZ75 even more magic.
And I hope this answers the above question to.

It’s on the SW 1.75 for now, just working out height for either Uni18 or Uni28…

Thanks for the heads up, also cloudy tonight as well.

I do both, encouraged to give Binoviwers ago by some of the maestros here on SGL.

I find binoviweres harder to use than normal binoculars oddly, but not enough to cause an issue.
But as others have said if tired, then the Binoviewers stay in the box.

Lunar with a Binoviwer is very 3d and quite something.

If I had to give anything up, it would be the Binoviewer and BV eyepieces as its an addition rather than the main game for me.

Monoviews, well thats how I started and no doubt will end my Astro journey.

7 hours ago, dweller25 said:

Anymore jokes like this and we will get frozen out 

 Just Let it Go......

15 minutes ago, NGC 1502 said:

On 28/07/2023 at 11:44, Sunshine said:

but I guess you have no issue with such a large refrigerator on your DX? I can’t imagine my GP handling such a scope.                
 

 

                                  Epic predictive text strikes again 😁😁😁

Indeed a chilled experience. 
Nice spot Ed.

Predictive text is a real pain in the rear at times for me at least.

2 hours ago, badhex said:

One question though, does The Khazi come with slow-mos? 😂

Yes, but thats my dodgy knees doing that 😉

Rob, I felt like that using my DSC and that’s only a digital red display.

The convenience adds to the experience, you retain sky knowledge if you make a conscious effort and I work a hybrid.
Some sessions use the DSC, many nights I don’t, just go on memory and familiar points to step from, find less, but satisfaction in finding it myself.

The Starsense however looks to have super powers in less favourable skies, let’s face it, that’s what we are getting at present.

Great to see new technology being made simpler to use.

Then a Luddite like me will be able to cope with it.

Super that you got such a pleasant session Rob.

42 minutes ago, Ags said:

It looks amazing, it must be a pleasure to use!

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

1 hour ago, Mr Spock said:

It's looking clear at the moment. CO says cloudy tonight - BBC says clear. Who knows?

One advantage of having a 4" is it can be outside and in use in a couple of minutes.

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.
 

Just now, Franklin said:

You've made a nice clean job of cutting that foam out Alan, did you watch Blue Peter back in the day?🙂

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.

1 hour ago, Hans Joakim said:

Stupid question perhaps, but here goes: Has anyone used one of the AZ100 pier risers with the AZ75? Judging from the schematics over at Rowan, it seems like these risers are fully compatible with the AZ75. It would be nice to have some extra distance to the tripod legs when observing with a front-heavy scope. Thanks!

Yes, @Stu has done this I believe.